IMac as display only??

My iMac recently died. The apple care rep told me the mother board was bad. The computer will still turn on, it just sits there with a spinning wheel on the gray screen. Just out of curisoity, if I were to purchase a mac-mini, is it possible to use the iMac as a display only? Or will it always have a spinning wheel, and I won't be able to use it as display for a mini?
Just curious.
Thank you for any replies,

That's not how you start from an installer disc:
Booting From An OS X Installer Disc
1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.

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Imac-external Display only possible?

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Thanks,
Raller

I just found this:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imacg5_1.917.html
and then under: 2. display support: you'll find this link:
http://www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/supportlist_e.html
i'll try it as well
good luck

Using the iMac for display only?

I bought an iMac in 2008. I use it for the majority of my computing needs, and for the most part is serves my purposes for everything. One thing I would like though is more gaming power.
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...Its too bad the graphics card is not upgradeable. I'm also going to try and find out if there is some sort of external way to increase performance....
This is the inherent issue with all "all-in-ones", both laptops and desktops, both PCs and Macs. For the most part, they are not upgradable. You can replace HD and RAM, but pretty much everything else "is what it is" and upgrades are "external only." Don't hold your breath that you'll find any way to increase performance (video or CPU.)
In the long run, you may want to consider just selling the iMac and get a new Mac. A Mini or Mac Pro, both of which do not have built-in monitors so would require you to get a monitor anyway, then you could KVM it with the PC. (I have my Mini KVMed with a Dell Poweredge server, which is sitting under my desk.) Alternatively, the new 27" iMac does allow for video input so it could be used as a monitor for the PC.

Mid 2010 27" IMac Target Display Mode has stopped working

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When the display only shows the background, it's working in extended desktop mode. That's a logical extension of your desktop to the right of the MBP. Drag an application off the MBP to the right and it will appear on the iMac. When you close the lid of your MBP the iMac becomes the primary monitor in Clamshell mode.
If you want to mirror the MBP to the iMac then press CMD F1, press again for extended desktop mode. These settings are in System Preferences > Display > Arrangement tab.
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2008 iMac - Target Display Mode?

Hi! I am a little confused it looks like newer versions of the iMac 2009+ support target display mode but I can't find any info on older iMacs. I have a 2008 iMac that has a mini DVI on the back and a 2010 MacBook Pro with mini displayport. My question can I use the iMac as a monitor for my MacBook Pro? Can I take a mini displayport cable to DVI and a DVI to mini DVI to the back of the iMac? Or is the mini DVI on the back of the iMac an output only? If so does it allow you to use a second monitor?
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Guy

I hear you - I'm trying to make it 4 (at a little over 3 right now) because I have some camera gear I want to buy first. My iMac has been crawling a bit lately especially when running Aperture. Just did a fresh Lion install this weekend and it seems to have improved. Was thinking about getting a super beefy Mac Mini and a 27" Cinema Display instead of an iMac next time - that way I can upgrade sooner and not feel so bad about it. Keep the Cinema Display and replace the Mac Mini every 3. Else bite the bullet and get a Mac Pro - but not sure I want a giant cheese grater

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I just updated from a 24inch iMac to a 27inch iMac.
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All works fine until the "Sleep Display" kicks in, then the external monitor pops up the "DVI-I no signal" warning. This is normal but instead of going away after a couple of seconds it begins to blink as if their is communications going on between the monitor and iMac. So its blinking this message endlessly and thus the external monitor never really goes to sleep.
Since this worked fine on the iMac 24inch, I'm assuming it has something to do with the "Thunderbolt" port, using a miniDisplay port adapter.
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I added a YouTube video for clarity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Zm_U_7sbc

Go to: System Preferences > Displays select the Color tab > uncheck "Show profiles for this display only" and try one of the RGB profiles to see if it is better for you.
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Hi,
I have a spare 22" 1080p tv sitting around so I tried to set it up as an external display for my 21.5" iMac. I was able to get it working (MDP to HDMI) but the resolution and color is not so great, and when I look at the external display in System Profiler it says something about it being a tv (which it is). My question is can I do anything better than what I have experienced so far? Thanks for the help,
rc
Note - I also tried running the Color Profile app that appears on the external display and while it did improve it some once I clicked on save it never seemed to stick...

Go to: System Preferences > Displays select the Color tab > uncheck "Show profiles for this display only" and try one of the RGB profiles to see if it is better for you.
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Hey guys,
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Hi macboydesign
Welcome to Apple Discussions
Lots of practice!
Not included in the current lists there were a dozen other DYI profiles between the iMac and LG that were so bad, I had to delete them.
The following article is dated, but has some great tips and info:
http://www.computer-darkroom.com/colorsync-display/colorsync_1.htm
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Hello everybody,
I'm looking forward to buy the amazing new iMac.
My concern is that I use also a PC (it's my companie's choice) and I would like to use it with my iMac as a second display.
I found articles on the web that indicate target display only works with thunderbolt PC.
My old pc only have a DVI connection.
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Does the Apple convert from DVI to Mini DisplayPort is a good way to do what I want ?
Thank you for your help.

Hi Gregoare,
Nope, you can't do any of that conversion(s).
Try ScreenRecycler...
http://www.screenrecycler.com/ScreenRecycler.html

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Which is why I suggested that I need the newer product:
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pEst31 wrote:
That's a good point, and that's why I hope I'll be able to live with it.
However, Apple advertises that even if you use it for photo editing, everything will look great on the iMac screens. They don't specify like you did that it's not for serious and professional photo editing, they just say photo editing. So if I want to edit photos professionally, that makes it sound like I can! Especially since all the other tech specs are more than enough!!!
On top of that they advertise both screens as having millions of colours, so on this particular point, Apple has no defence if the 20" iMac has only thousands.
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The comments at AppleInsider on last weeks settlement were interesting reading. I.e. actually a display only shows shades of Red, Green and Blue and uses separation to trick your eyes into seeing other colour:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/03/26/applesettles_millions_of_colors_class_actionlawsuit.html
I don't have any gradient that I can perceive on my iMac 24".
cheers!
mrtotes

Imac Mirroring Displays

Is their a way to have the mac mirror the display onto the Vga cable which it works Fine.. But i want it to turn off the display of the imac and use only the lcd tv connected via vga.. Their has to be a way... some how

Yes, i have the same issue

Switch off imac internal display

Hello,
i bought an 24" external monitor yesterday. I want to use that external display only. How can i switch off the internal display of my imac?
Lowest brightness and a black desktopbackground are not very satisfying to me .
Thank you for any ideas.

Thank you Eric for your advice about the black desktop background.
But you have the opportunity to switch off the display on an apple mobile device. Why not on an imac? Just a few lines of source code
What will happen if i disconnect the lcd panel from logic board?

Imac, dual display, photoshop cs5

Hi
Quite a few things floating around the net how glossy displays, lion etc fail to work with Photoshop CS5
Myself, find that people over exagerating a bit. Yes, there are a few problems with lion and color matching..
Anyway, me being happy with all those aspects just got a new 27 LED cinema display and was wondering what's the best way to go about making it work with this set up (iMac 27, quite a recent model not sure on specifics but don't think it maters, 27 LED cinema display, Lion 10.7.1, Photoshop CS5).
Specific questions:
is there need to calibrate the monitors? (i tried with apple native calibrator didn't seem to make a lot difference, just a tiny bit lighter) so forget or get a hardware calibrator?
how to match profiles for 2 screens, i know its almost impossible to get the perfect match, but still how would be right to treat it?
and last but not least what color settings to run in photoshop is the most suitable?
Thanks
Pavel

Hi macboydesign
Welcome to Apple Discussions
Lots of practice!
Not included in the current lists there were a dozen other DYI profiles between the iMac and LG that were so bad, I had to delete them.
The following article is dated, but has some great tips and info:
http://www.computer-darkroom.com/colorsync-display/colorsync_1.htm
Oh' almost forgot to mention, uncheck that box "Show profiles for this display only" and try some of those sRGB and RGB profiles to see if you can get closer that away.
Dennis

IMac 24" Display - Black Cleaning Cloth

I mainly use the +black cleaning cloth+ that came with my iMac to keep the +tracker ball+ on the +'mighty mouse'+ functioning by spraying the black cleaning cloth with a cleaning solution and rubbing the tracker ball furiously against it. I'm sure you know what I am referring to.
This has been working fine up to now but I am now noticing a gradual diminution of the effectiveness of this method. I think this may be because the black cleaning cloth itself is getting clogged up with gunge and thus itself needs cleaning.
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I mean, to clean the black cloth, is it merely a matter of shoving the it into the washing machine on, say, 30 degrees with a simple 'non-bio' soap powder - or does it need something more drastic like Dry Cleaning or something?
El D

HI,
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*"rubbing the tracker ball furiously against it."*
That will only lend the black cloth useless.
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How to clean a Mighty Mouse ...
<a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://">http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1537
Carolyn

IMac as display only??

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