imac screen replacement

[freemandela5]

i got a "old" sunflower imac 20" with a dead screen that i want to salvage for my daughter (the mac not the screen). after the screen went to screen paradise i'm now left with a connector and 20 000 wires....
the problem with this mac is that it needs a main screen when in admin or install mode and i MUST reinstall the system. so i have to find a way to hook up another screen to the video board not using the external dvi but the remaining wires coming out of the mac.
if i got a lcd screen could i use some of those wires to connect it ?
would the signal be good since i'd be using a lcd and not crt monitor ?
anyone would know wich of these 21 wires go where ?

having very limited knowledge in electronics i'm lost here....

thanks

[cheerful]

i can only answer the part if signal be good ... it should be as good as the original if you connect everything correctly, unfortunately, i'm no expert in the connection.

alternatively, you may try this solution.
a) install the system in an external drive
boot up on the external drive by holding the option key upon startup
c) once u're in the system, clone the external hdd to the internal
d) you can boot with the internal drive and use the current setup, not as beautiful or sophisticated, but at least functional.

nb: you probably still can use the video out port as the sunflower iMac supports *mirroring by default.

*you may want to check if it supports spanning officially or not as well, but it is kinda pointless since u now will be relying on this display.

[freemandela5]

i can only answer the part if signal be good ... it should be as good as the original if you connect everything correctly, unfortunately, i'm no expert in the connection.

alternatively, you may try this solution.
a) install the system in an external drive
boot up on the external drive by holding the option key upon startup
c) once u're in the system, clone the external hdd to the internal
d) you can boot with the internal drive and use the current setup, not as beautiful or sophisticated, but at least functional.

nb: you probably still can use the video out port as the sunflower iMac supports *mirroring by default.

*you may want to check if it supports spanning officially or not as well, but it is kinda pointless since u now will be relying on this display.

yes that is a good idea but i still need a main screen to do all this.
i think the best is to use some of the imac connector's wires and link them directly to a vga or dvi screen; i just to know wich one one these to use....

[freemandela5]

a great lesson !

1- never trust completly what the "geniusses" at the apple store tell you
2- if you take the main screen completly off the neck or the entire neck but this means to open the imac an gradually work your way through all the screws, disconnecting the wires off the motherboard and then putting everything back into place without omitting the thermal paste..... and than plug in an external display IT WORKS !!

you can go in root, admin, boot, install whatever, like before with the main screen.
so the problem is solved; it was too easy i guess....

3- last lesson: never trust completly what the "geniusses" at the apple store tell you and try it yourself !

thanks for your input

[cheerful]

thanks for the update.

btw, correct me if i'm mistaken, did you actually "open the imac an gradually work your way through all the screws, disconnecting the wires off the motherboard and then putting everything back into place without omitting the thermal paste"?

[flyermac]

Please contact an authorized Apple repair shop, and they will can help you out. Try e-mail: goapple@apple.com.

[kenta]

^I agree with flyermac. It's best if you go to an apple repair shop or contact any apple store. They could help you best.


Regards,
Ken