Apple imac 21 5 inch late 2009 User Manual

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 51 2010-11-18
Pixel Anomalies
Unlikely cause: logic board, power supply, hard drive, optical drive, fans, speakers, camera, 
microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Pixel Anomalies
•  Dark dot anomalies
•  Bright dot anomalies
•  Debris on inside surface of 
glass panel
•  Debris on surface of LCD panel
1.  Clean outside surface of glass panel.
2.  See kBase #HT1721: About LCD display pixel 
anomalies.
Deep Dive
Check ResultAction Code
1....

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 52 2010-11-18
Vertical/Horizontal Lines
Unlikely cause: power supply, hard drive, optical drive, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Vertical/Horizontal Lines
•  Vertical lines
•  Horizontal lines 1.
  Boot from install DVD to determine if potential 
software issue exists.
2.  Verify if issue is visible on an external display.
Deep Dive
Check ResultAction Code
1.   Boot from Install DVD and 
verify if issue is still...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 53 2010-11-18
6. Isolate with only one memory 
module installed, then with the 
other one. Test with known-
good memory. Verify if issue 
only happens with specific 
RAM module(s). Yes
Replace affected RAM 
module. X02
No Go to step 7.
7.   Isolate with one known-good 
memory module installed in 
one memory slot. Repeat by 
testing in other memory slots 
Verify if issue only happens 
with specific memory slot of 
logic board. Yes
Replace logic board...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 54 2010-11-18
Non-Uniform Brightness
Unlikely cause: power supply, hard drive, optical drive, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Non-Uniform Brightness
•  Brightness not uniform
•  Color not-uniform 1.
  Verify System Preferences > Displays > Brightness 
slider is set above minimum.
2.  Allow 15 minutes for backlight to reach normal 
operating temperature and output before 
evaluating display.
3.   Visually inspect glass...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 55 2010-11-18
Cosmetic Defects
SymptomsQuick Check
Cosmetic Defects to LCD
•  Cracked LCD
•  Scratched LCD polarizer
•  Scorched or melted LCD
•  LCD impact damage
•  Foreign material on LCD or 
back side of glass panel.
1.  Determine if damage was caused by user 
environment, accidental damage, or abuse. If 
applicable, inform user that Apple does not 
warrant damage caused by accident, abuse, 
misuse, flood, fire, earthquake, or other external...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 56 2010-11-18
Mass Storage
Hard Drive Not Recognized
Unlikely cause: LCD panel, power supply, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Drive Not Recognized 
Drive No Boot
• Flashing Question Mark
•  Boots to Grey Screen
•  Boots to Blue Screen
•  Boots to Prohibitory Symbol 
(Review kBase #HT2674: Intel-
based Mac: Startup sequence 
and error codes, symbols) 1.
  Use a known-good mouse. A stuck mouse button 
will not...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 57 2010-11-18
6. Reseat hard drive SATA cable 
at logic board and hard drive 
connections, and verify if 
computer starts up. Yes
Go to step 8.
No Replace SATA cable.  
Go to step 8. X03
7.   Test with known-good 
bootable hard drive. Verify if 
system boots successfully and 
that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
reports no errors. Yes
Install user’s hard drive.  
Go to step 9.
No SATA cable verified or 
replaced and known-good 
hard drive...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 58 2010-11-18
Hard Drive Read/Write Errors
Unlikely cause: LCD panel, power supply, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomsQuick Check
Drive Read/Write Error 
Drive Bad Sector/Defective 
Drive Formatting Issues
•  Cannot save documents
•  Read/write error message
•  Hang when accessing or saving 
data 1.
  Boot from Install DVD. Use Disk Utility to verify 
S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drive.
2.  Use Disk Utility to repair disk.
3....

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 59 2010-11-18
7.  Test with known-good hard 
drive. Verify if system boots 
successfully and Disk Utility 
“Verify” function reports no 
errors. Yes
Reinstall user’s hard drive, go 
to step 8.
No SATA cable verified or 
replaced and known-good 
hard drive installed. Replace 
logic board.
8.  Reboot computer. Verify if 
system boots successfully and 
that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
reports no errors. Yes
Issue resolved.
No User’s hard drive...

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 60 2010-11-18
3.  Restart the computer. Verify if 
the noise is still present. Yes
Go to step 4.
No Issue resolved. Return system 
to user. H06
4.  With user’s permission, erase 
hard drive and reinstall Mac 
OS. Verify if installation process 
completes. Yes
Go to step 3.
No Replace hard drive.  
Go to step 5.
5.   With replacement hard drive 
installed, reboot computer. 
Verify if noise is still present. Yes
Replacement hard drive did 
not...