Intel iMac 24": Extremely slow startup (5min)

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Level 1

60 points

Intel iMac 24": Extremely slow startup (5min)

Hi all

I don't know how, but suddenly my iMac takes 5 minutes and more to start. First, there's about 2min the spinning wheel (grey screen), and then about 3 to 4min the blue screen, before the login screen appears.

I haven't installed anything in between, it came suddenly.
Tried all maintenance routine (OnyX), System cache empty, PRAM reset, ... nothing helped.

Any idea anybody?

Thanks

-Simon

Intel iMac 24" 2.8GHz 4GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Feb 21, 2008 12:35 PM

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Answer 1

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Monty1945

Level 3

694 points

Feb 21, 2008 1:43 PM in response to simima

Greetings,

I suppose you went to Disk Utility and ran a repair on the volume. You might boot from your installation disk, or the retail leopard installation disk, and run a disk repair and another permissions repair from it's Disk Utility.

I you look in System Preferences > Accounts > Login Items, and see what's in there. I keep mine clear and startup programs and processes when I want to do so.

Sometimes starting in "Safe" mode, and then restart normally, will help.

Good Luck - Cheers,
M.
*******

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Answer 2

simima Author

Level 1

60 points

Feb 21, 2008 1:53 PM in response to Monty1945

Thanks, I did that already except starting in Safe Mode. How do you do that again?

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Answer 3

Feb 21, 2008 1:56 PM in response to simima

Hold the shift key down when you restart. Here is an article from Apple regarding safe mode: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393

Is your iPod connected? This slows down my computer when I restart.

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Answer 4

simima Author

Level 1

60 points

Feb 21, 2008 2:23 PM in response to pardthemonster

Yeah, of course, thank you. I wasn't aware that it's called Safe Mode but I knew how it works.

HOWEVER, nothing of the above described helped. Still very long blue screen. In safe mode, the blue screen is less long... but it really can't be an extension, as I have changed nothing nor installed anything.

?????????

-Simon

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Answer 5

Monty1945

Level 3

694 points

Feb 21, 2008 2:54 PM in response to simima

Greetings,

Sometimes an external hard drive will cause this, or EYETV or that sort of thing - none of that I suppose? Try unplugging everything but the factory mouse and keyboard.

Cheers,
M.
***********

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Answer 6

simima Author

Level 1

60 points

Feb 21, 2008 11:37 PM in response to Monty1945

Hi

I tried unplugging everything, which seemed to help. Not sure though, because I also disabled TimeMachine, and I believe that there was the problem. TimeMachine always reported troubles with backup (??? write protected ???) just after startup, and I saw the TM HD light flicker during startup... so, in the end, not sure what it is still but I'm able to find it.

Other question: WHERE does Leopard STORE the users startup items? Can't find them... I want to restore a startup item, but can't find them.

Thanks

Simon

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Answer 7

simima Author

Level 1

60 points

Feb 22, 2008 1:21 AM in response to simima

Guess what: The printer was the problem. I don't know how, but restarting the printer resolved the problem. Guess it was waiting for a job that never arrived...

🙂

Simon

P.S. My other question is still open - where are the login items?

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Answer 8

lethal

Level 2

435 points

Feb 22, 2008 4:29 AM in response to simima

If you are asking about user-specific start-up items - these are set in system preferences under Accounts.

Once you authorize and select a user - can see two tabs - Password and Login items.

Other startup items are initiated by "launchd" process. You can manage these via the terminal (if you are careful, confident and/or want to do detailed config) or through each apps configuration.

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Answer 9

simima Author

Level 1

60 points

Feb 23, 2008 1:44 PM in response to lethal

Yeah, that I know that all.

My question was (well, I meant): Where are the files physically located which show up in the login items window (user preferences)? I want to reinstall the Microsoft AU Deamon, but can't find it nowhere.

???

-Simon

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Answer 10

lethal

Level 2

435 points

Feb 23, 2008 2:08 PM in response to simima

Under 2004 it was simply called "Microsoft Autoupdate" and lived in the applications folder. Not on a Mac with Office 2008 right now.

I can't see that they would have needed to move it. But with M$, who knows.

If you can't see it there, try searching for autoupdate in finder or spotlight.

The files are not moved when added to the login set - merely referenced. That is to say - you pick them and they are auto-started from their original location.

Message was edited by: lethal

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Answer 11

Feb 23, 2008 6:02 PM in response to simima

You can download the Office 2004 Autoupdater here: http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/Microsoft%20AutoUpdate.zip

When you open it and select your options, it will put the AU daemon in startup items.

In Office 2008, the have moved the application. It is now located in one of the packages. I found it one time, but right now can't locate the correct package file.

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