Apple 23" Display Problems

[stebesplace]

Apple 23" Display Problems

[stebesplace]

Well, its been about 3 months now that I have had my 23" display. It had never given me problems up until this day, actually last night. Totally out of the blue now, when I press the power button on the display, it normally should just turn the power off on the monitor, but instead turns the power off, only to them turn my mouse and keyboard power off, THEN to turn itself, and those USB devices back on. This has never done this before. My thinking is that there may be problems with the actual USB ports, as I thought I read this elsewhere. I do NOT have APP on it, but I can still get it if I want within the one year plan.

Any thoughts if it might be something I can fix? Its such a pain to have to box it back up and take it in.

[stebesplace]

Ok, after writing this, the problem didn't replicate itself. I think its being more spuratic.

[Paul Howland]

spuratic?  Sounds nasty.  Did you mean sporadic?

[OurFord]

hee hee! - I'm sure stebesplace appreciated that Paul <rolls eyes>

Does sound wierd though but sadly I don't have a solution (or a cinema display!)

[stebesplace]

Well, this is the tits right here...

The display no longer works! It won't power on, I have tested the power supply, and it doesn't seem to be blown, though I might be wrong. I have tested it plugged in, the usb ports, etc. It seems to be all not working. It might be surrounding the power supply, but I might just take it into Apple on Sunday and see WTF I can get done. I have not purchased APP for it, and might do that prior to getting it 'fixed' or 'refurbished' or whatever...

Thoughts?

[OurFord]

Does it power on when paired up to another machine (if you have one, Mac or <gasp> PC)? Does sound like power troubles though...

[stebesplace]

I have tried it on another mac, and my roomates PC. No dice. I have tried different outlets, power strips etc. Nothing. I am taking it back to the store I got it at, the Apple Store near me, and are going to have them try it out. My luck, it will work. I hope it is just a bad power supply, so I can get a new one and be on my way. My monitor is a 5XX serial number meaning that it does not have color issue's, so its a perfect monitor, nice a bright. I'll let you know how things go.

Side note: Do you think I should call ahead and let them know I am bringing it in? Do i need to call apple and go through a troubleshooting phase with them, or should I just be able to bring it in?

Thanks.

[gwimby]

I think you are suppsed to set up an appointment with an apple tech at the "geek bar" (customer service desk.)
I've heard that walk-ins can vary in help, depending on how busy the store is. Busy one you could wait an hour or more, or
not even get in.

So has the color-problem been tracked to a certain batch of them?

[stebesplace]

Color problems are corrected on the 5XX serial numbers, which is what I have. I love walking into the store and seeing some of the 23" displays with the pink bar at the top. Regardless, I took the display to the store today, and talked with the guys, setup some things, and of course, it worked in the store. He thought, after doing a lot of testing, that it might be the Mac Mini itself. I know that when you have a cinema display NOT plugged in via DVI to the computer, it will not power on, however the USB/FIREWIRE ports will work. So we tested a bunch of stuff, and everything just seemed to work. Ohh well, I'm at home and everything is working alright. So time will tell on what happens. He did order the replacement Mini parts like the logic board etc just in case i was having problems. So far he said nobody has brought back a mini that needed a replacement part.

[stebesplace]

Ok, well this is certainly very interesting. I have now hooked it all back up like previously noted, and again, it worked fine, until I powered it off, and then back on. Same symptoms as yesterday and the previous day. I then decided to unplug my USB and FIREWIRE connections. Upon doing so, it would at least light up the LED, then immedietly turn off, and not allow me to turn it back on.

My understanding as of right now is that the USB parts are SHOT on the mini to some degree. I am going to be calling them today, and probobly will take my mini, lcd, mouse, keyboard, and whatever else i normally have hooked up to try and see WTF is going on down there. I have noted that I am now typing this on my 23" display which is working fine on my girlfriends powerbook.

So I blame the Mini at this point. I have had problems with the mini, though I really like it, it still had heat issues (Fan running high), and while I like its small size, it only has 2 USB ports, which is a total drag. I will probobly get it fixed, sell it, and then consider getting a powerbook, or just nothing for the time being until I decide to get my powermac g5.

-- Stebes

[stebesplace]

I wanted to give an update for anyone following this adventure. The problem is with the Logic Board on the Mac Mini. IN addition to this USB problem, there is a DVI problem with this revision of the mini which is sending bad data accross the DVI line to the 23" display it is driving. I am going to be taking this to the store, and have them test, and ultimately install a new logic board into the system (hopefully a different version than the original one I have), and get it all back to running normal. Unfortunitly, this means that I will need to bring my keyboard/mouse, 23" display, and the computer into the store. Its a pain in the ass, but I want this problem fixed. I like the mini, but its got some issues. If they can not resolve the issues with the display (bad DVI) even with the new logic board, I am going to be pissed. With any luck, the new revision Mini might come out during this phase and I might get one. Time will tell.

I'll let all ya'all know what happens here.

[gwimby]

Well good luck, and remember that the mini is at 6-8 day ship times, so watch for next tuestday

The ol' 1st gen apple monkey curse strikes again.

[stebesplace]

Ok, well here is an update for anyone following...

I took the comuter, display, and all periferals in. They noticed right away the problem I was describing and said they had never seen it before. So they replaced the mother board first, and the power supply for the mini. They then booted, and noticed the same problems. So they replaced the power supply on the display. The problems, AND THE issues with the DVI (refering to the specks of color comming in the back regions) were fixed. All is well, and had I been out of warrenty, it would have cost nearly 500 bucks to fix everything. Thank got for warrenty. So just to get everyone up to speed i am outlining my ordeal.

Mac mini <- new logic board

23" Display -< new power supply (shot old one)

So I just needed a new PSU for the Display which was causing USB issues, AND DVI color issues (spots). I know those spots had been problems with other people, so I wanted to mention that here for others to read. If you are having those problems, get your PSU replaced. It might be bad. I have a 5XX Display with no color issues.

Thats about it for now. If anything flubbs up, i'll write it in here as an update.

-- Stebes