imac having a hard time booting

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40 points

imac having a hard time booting

Hey guys, my parents iMac started acting up today. randomly while in use it will just power cycle. But when the power returns it wont boot, it just sits on a black screen starting the fan and spinning the cd tray for a short burst. there is no disk in the drive and it wont boot, without mucking around and unplug it, then it may boot, but it will then just crash again..

any ideas at all? if i do get it online, are there any log files i can look at to see why its crashing?

MacBook Pro 15" 2.4GHz, iPod Touch 32GB 2nd Gen, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 4:53 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 22, 2009 5:14 PM in response to spyd4r

+"Hey guys, my parents iMac started acting up today."+

Hi spyd4r, we will need more info on the iMac. Model, year etc. Click the blue Apple in the top left corner => About this Mac => More Info... cut and paste the Hardware Overview if possible will really help.

Message was edited by: Bob Jackins

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Answer 2

spyd4r Author

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Nov 22, 2009 5:14 PM in response to Bob Jackins

sorry having trouble collecting it since it is very unstable... i tried to run AHT and it froze about 5/6 of the way through the probe (made a funny colour square around the mouse pointer)

i'll try to get the exact model if i can it it online.

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Answer 3

Nov 22, 2009 5:19 PM in response to spyd4r

If you have not already, reset PRAM

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

and if that does not help, reset SMC

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543

which is basically unplugging all cables and power, and then reconnecting using a precise procedure. If the iMac is connected to an over-crowded or old power strip (surge suppressor), try connecting it directly to the wall outlet, at least initially. You should power it up with nothing but the power cord connected. If it starts up normally, only connect the standard keyboard/mouse and use it that way for a bit. If it continues to run normally, add one peripheral device (USB and FireWire) at time. If this problem recurs at some point, note which device was added last. It may be faulty in some way that is causing the iMac to not run reliably.

If the problem with booting continues, even with nothing connected, please post back.

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Answer 4

spyd4r Author

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40 points

Nov 22, 2009 5:23 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00
SMC Version (system): 1.29f1

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Answer 5

spyd4r Author

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Nov 22, 2009 5:26 PM in response to spyd4r

basically its currently sitting at a black screen, and it gives the fan a short burst, then sounds like its trying to eject a dvd(there is nothing in the drive). then stops... and starts all over again..

the only way to get it to boot, is to unplug it, and power it back on.

Message was edited by: spyd4r

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Answer 6

Nov 22, 2009 5:29 PM in response to spyd4r

Did you do the things I posted above? Unplugging it from power and reconnecting is not the same thing.

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Answer 7

spyd4r Author

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Nov 22, 2009 5:40 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

the PRAM step, i was unable to get it to boot after holding down option-command-P-R, it would go to the grey screen, then it power cycled, then went back into the weird power cycle.

i tried the SMC step, and its been up now for about 5 minutes. I am repairing some disk permissions and checking log files to see whats going on.

thanks, i'll see if it kicks out again.

Message was edited by: spyd4r

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Answer 8

spyd4r Author

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Nov 22, 2009 5:45 PM in response to spyd4r

hrmm it was stable, i installed system updates, and after it restarted its in the weird dvd eject loop.

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Answer 9

Nov 22, 2009 5:48 PM in response to spyd4r

What's the Mac OS on it?

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Answer 10

spyd4r Author

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40 points

Nov 22, 2009 5:50 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

10.6.2

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Answer 11

Nov 22, 2009 5:53 PM in response to spyd4r

Sometimes it helps to install the latest Combo system update using the stand-alone updater. You can download it here

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL959

It may have been updated to 10.6.2 incrementally using Software Update, but you can still apply the 10.6.2 Combo update manually.

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Answer 12

spyd4r Author

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Nov 22, 2009 6:17 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

my mom just informed it it all started this morning when my dad tried to print a pdf document. that made me curious as i currently have the usb cable for the printer unplugged, and she had tried printing a document since the imac was staying up without crashing... as soon as i plugged in the printer... BOOM, imac went dark. then when i tried booting up it went into the eject cycle again.

very weird

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Answer 13

Nov 22, 2009 6:25 PM in response to spyd4r

OK. Didn't I mentioned the possibility of interference from a peripheral device in my first reply...? 🙂

Since it is a printer, you may want to try going to System Preferences +Printer & Fax+ pane to remove that printer and then add it back. You can also right click on the printer list and select +Reset printing system+ to reset everything related to printing, then add that one printer back.

Be sure to run Software Update, because there were some printer driver updates released recently for Snow Leopard (at least there were for HP printers). If it's a less common printer, you may want to go to the manufacturer's web site to see if they have a recent update related to Snow Leopard.

You should also try another USB cable in case that one is defective.

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Answer 14

spyd4r Author

Level 1

40 points

Nov 22, 2009 7:06 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

system was online with only a keyboard and mouse for about 30 or so minutes, then just shutdown on its own.

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Answer 15

Nov 22, 2009 7:16 PM in response to spyd4r

Since the last time you had the printer connected, did you go through the SMC reset procedure again? Since connecting the printer apparently has an impact on the iMac, you should do that plus reseting PRAM again, then see of this unexpected shut down still occurs when it is just sitting there powered on with only the keyboard/mouse connected.

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