micfromaz

Q: iMac mid-2011, 2.5 GH, el Capitan

My iMac has a problem.  Here is what it does and what I've tried:

  • On startup, I can log in and then it freezes,
  • In Safe Mode, I can log in and it freezes
  • In Restore (command R), I can get the choices to use Time Machine, Reinstall Lion, and the other two...but I can only choose one, then when I click on that option the screen freezes again.
  • (Prior to this issue, I tried to Reinstall Lion using the Restore function but when it took me to Apple Store it said Lion was no longer available.  That is why I purchased Lion 10.7 on a thumb drive...I hadn't used it before trying to solve this problem today.)
  • If I use Option and choose my startup...1) the Mac Hard Drive freezes, 2) I have 10.7 Lion on a thumb drive and if I try to boot to that it freezes, 3) I have the backup on Time Machine and the boot to that freezes.
  • I have reset NVRAM (Cmd + Opt + P + R)
  • Reset SMC
  • I have recently installed a power supply and SSD with the help of OWC, had not problems for about a month.
  • Tried different keyboard and mouse, normally I use bluetooth.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), It is a desktop, assume it is iMac

Posted on Sep 5, 2016 4:47 PM

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Q: iMac mid-2011, 2.5 GH, el Capitan

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  • by Kappy,Apple recommended

    Kappy Kappy Sep 5, 2016 4:55 PM in response to micfromaz
    Level 10 (270,222 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 5, 2016 4:55 PM in response to micfromaz

    A good place to start is replacing the RAM. Defective memory can often be the cause of simply random freezes. A faulty startup drive could be the cause. If you replaced the startup drive then be sure you partitioned and formatted the new drive before installing OS X.

  • by micfromaz,

    micfromaz micfromaz Sep 7, 2016 3:49 PM in response to micfromaz
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 7, 2016 3:49 PM in response to micfromaz

    OK, thanks.  I did add to the RAM when I got it last fall, two news ones so might take the old ones out and try that.  The new SSD I got was done according to OWC, but you never know.  I have a hard drive ordered that has Lion 10.7 on it, the original OS for this machine.  Will see what happens!  Thank you so much, will keep you posted...at least on this site.