Tackling a visuals challenge on a 2006 iMac
Tackling a visuals challenge on a 2006 iMac
TL;DR: Grandpa's iMac is having persistent graphics problems—screen glitches, artifacts, and a strange black cross in Safari. Safe mode temporarily fixes them but isn't a long-term solution. The issue seems to affect icons and web pages unexpectedly. He described moving figures on the screen that can't be moved, which might relate to the artefacts. I'm trying to help him troubleshoot without using Mac OS much.
It looks like a software problem; I can try a reinstall if possible. Also, it’s probably not recommended to run OS X on that device anymore—it’s outdated and hasn’t received security updates for a while. If you need a modern setup, consider using Windows or Linux instead.
Based on this information I'd say there is a virus on the system. Better not use it for anything important (such as online banking or anything with sensitive data, including any email account which could contain credit card information or used to hijack more important accounts), back up important documents (scan them for viruses before using!) and erase the hard-drive and reinstall. Also, I'd say it is impossible to diagnose and fix via a forum. I've tried to fix computer-illiterate person's computer issues previously via phone, and it is impossible, these days I just say "this won't work over phone, I need to come over and see it some day". It's even more difficult, as now there is a chain of forum -> some forum user -> phone -> actual computer user!
Sure, ask him to capture the screen showing the About This Mac interface. This option is found by selecting the Apple menu in the upper left corner and choosing "About This Mac." It displays detailed information such as specs and model year, which can assist in diagnosing issues.
Hello everyone, thank you for your responses. I’ll review them one by one. I completely understand your point, but as you can see, my girlfriend’s grandfather is nearing 80 and seems reluctant to upgrade his computer. He’s familiar with saving important files on an external drive (virtual applause), so a fresh install seems more likely than purchasing a new machine. Changing the operating system wouldn’t be practical for him either, as it would take too long for him to adapt. I agree on security concerns, but because using his computer has become very difficult, he’s not utilizing it much as he normally does. I really appreciate your support and, under normal conditions, I’d fully support your opinion—but this person is over 80, and in France I’m restricted from traveling more than 100km from home (he lives farther away), plus the coronavirus risks are high since my girlfriend works in a hospital. A virus on his computer would be worse than him getting infected with COVID-19. That’s why I’m trying to resolve this remotely. I know it’s not easy, but I’ll ask him to share a screenshot of the screen (he doesn’t have much IT experience).