SOLVED: iMac 27'' (Late 2009) Poor Performance and Flash Issues w/ SOLUTION

Just curious:

Why 4 chimes?
How is this different from 3, 2 or 1 chime?

Thanks ... Ken

Frederico, what does this solution actually do? I mean, does it have an official name? What is it actually doing to the iMac?

These steps are resetting the PRAM and SMC. Would be interested to hear if this helps others as well.

This is basic Mac troubleshooting. Its always worth a try and if it fixes the issue then great! If you try this, it would be good to hear your outcome.

Had my 27" for 6 hours. Loaded all my software and when I started to try and change font size started getting bad behavior. Not sure if this caused it but safari would not work and when I tried to reinstall safari it said it was not compatible with this version of os. Yes I downloaded the correct version of safari. Finally the solution was a complete reinstall of snow leopard from the install disc. Works great now. Is it possible the Chinese factory install of the OS is corrupt on 27" iMacs??

has anybody tried this solution? is it a permanent fix, or does this problem persist?

i've had this imac for 2 days and i can't begin to explain how disappointed i am. if this is a sign of things to come, i will undoubtedly return this computer.

I've been running for around 1 hour since trying this solution, seems to be OK. Lets hope it lasts. Thanks for the tip.

Frederico please share where you got this information to follow these steps?

I ask because they are not the steps for either a conventional SMC reset on an Intel iMac, nor a conventional PRAM/NVRAM reset on an Intel iMac.

Dah•veed

this process does not work for me at all. i'm only getting to the second chime... what gives?

I also only get a second chime.

They are roughly analogous to the instructions outlined in the Technician Guide—formerly called the Service Manual—for the iMac 27 inch (Late 2009) product family, and are similar generally to those in an applicable technical note for iMac and Mac mini products which use an intel processor.

The actual instructions from the guide are these for resetting Parameter RAM:

• shut down the computer.
• find the ⌘, ⌥, P, and R keys. If the keyboard does not have an ⌥ (option) key, use the Alt key.
• pres and hold the power button.
• immediately press and hold ⌘-⌥-P-R keys combination. You must do so before the gray screen appears.
• continue to press these keys until the computer restarts, and you hear the startup chime a second
• release the keys

And these, for resetting the System Management Controller:

• from  menu, choose Shut Down or hold the power button for ten or so seconds until the unit powers off.
• unplug all cables from computer including power cord
• wait at least 15 seconds: SMC reset occurs automatically once an iMac has been unplugged from AC power source for several seconds.
• plug power cord back in, making sure power button is not being pressed
• press power button on back to start up computer

I and most technicians I know have always waited for four startup tones to insure a proper PRAM reset: this goes back to the days of OS 6. As you can see, his instruction steps to do both in a single set are a hybrid of Apple's instruction set to achieve each reset.

As you can see, his instruction steps to do both in a single set are a hybrid of Apple's instruction set to achieve each reset.

It is and it is not, which is why I am curious where he got these steps. What you quote from the Tech Manuals available to you are the same instructions available to all of us in the Apple Knowledge Base. And if you read the instructions in the KB you will see that Apple went out of their way to make sure folks who used to have PPC iMacs did not bring old habits of pressing the Power button with them to the Intel iMacs. And yet his step 3 involves a press & hold for the power button 20 seconds.

I have never seen an instruction to wait until one startup chime before pressing the key combo for the PRAM/NVRAM rest. And there are plenty of conversations around the web regarding bad experiences of holding the reset combo beyond two chimes. We also now have two folks in this thread reporting that their new iMacs will not do more than two chimes!

So I am curious if he made this up, read it somewhere or has access to Tech Manuals most of us do not have.

Dah•veed

Keep the four PRAM reset keys held down until you hear the chime repeat as many time as you want them to repeat. When you are tired of listening to the chime sound every five or so seconds, let go of the keys and the iMac will proceed with the startup.

+Is it possible the Chinese factory install of the OS is corrupt on 27" iMacs??+

Yes, definitely. A bad factory install has happened before, and will happen again.

In fact, although it was a different scenario, something similar happened within the past few years during an iMac introduction (I've lost track of exact time frame) - Apple had to ship out a replacement "Install Disc 1" to a substantial number of new owners. I'm certain those threads are still available, if anyone cares to search.