iMac screen randomly goes black (to sleep?)

diacono · diacono #1 (**permalink**)

03-06-2011, 03:50 AM

Ok this is getting very odd.

I have a white Intel 20" iMac and the screen goes black sometimes quite frequently. The machine continues going so if we're watching videos we can still hear it however the only way to 'wake it up' is to put it to sleep and turn on again.

Here comes the really odd thing. This was happening before we replaced the hard drive but only as far as we can tell under one user account! Since then we've had a new drive and a clean install (no restore) and it has crept up again, but so far only under one account.

It's running snow leopard. I've played around with the energy and screen saver settings but have not found anything that solves this...

Any pointers or ideas?
Thanks in advance

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

03-06-2011, 02:03 PM

If it's only happening under one account and not the others, then it may be something unique to that account. Take a close look at the startup items for the account and login items. Compare the good account to the one that's acting up in order to isolate the problem.

Buzzard2010 · Buzzard2010 #3 (**permalink**)

03-06-2011, 04:11 PM

Check under System Preferences > Energy Saver and see how long you have it set to put the Display to Sleep.

Hope this helps
- Simon

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,968 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	03-06-2011, 02:03 PM If it's only happening under one account and not the others, then it may be something unique to that account. Take a close look at the startup items for the account and login items. Compare the good account to the one that's acting up in order to isolate the problem. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
iMac GRAY Screen boot problem	kokyaw	Apple Desktops	10	06-24-2011 02:37 PM
Does my imac go to sleep when screen goes dark?	mattg3	Apple Desktops	11	01-06-2011 10:00 PM
New Macbook Pro, screen turning black spontaneously	Justin	Apple Notebooks	2	11-30-2010 02:43 AM
iMac Black screen	vovin	Apple Desktops	3	06-15-2009 03:15 AM
Turning off iMac screen without sleep?	SogniX	Schweb's Lounge	0	02-11-2006 08:24 PM

iMac screen randomly goes black (to sleep?)

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

diacono #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 28, 2008 Posts: 2	03-06-2011, 03:50 AM Ok this is getting very odd. I have a white Intel 20" iMac and the screen goes black sometimes quite frequently. The machine continues going so if we're watching videos we can still hear it however the only way to 'wake it up' is to put it to sleep and turn on again. Here comes the really odd thing. This was happening before we replaced the hard drive but only as far as we can tell under one user account! Since then we've had a new drive and a clean install (no restore) and it has crept up again, but so far only under one account. It's running snow leopard. I've played around with the energy and screen saver settings but have not found anything that solves this... Any pointers or ideas? Thanks in advance
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)