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User profile for user: dreamsareweird
dreamsareweird Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

iMac Startup Problems

I'm having trouble with my C2D iMac (not the one in my sig). It's one of the white 20" models from '06 or '07, 2.16 GHz, and it's got 1 GB of Ram.

At first, upon startup I would get stuck in a "startup loop" which got me as far as the gray screen & the startup chime sound. If I'd shut down via the power button, it would all happen again. Eventually after repeating the procedure a few times the computer would finally start as normal.

Now I get stuck with a black screen & hard drive spinning. What I've found to work is:
Power down via power button
Unplug & hold power for 5 seconds or so
plug in & resart
get stuck in gray screen/chime loop
hold button and power down
do that twice
finally a normal startup

Obviously this is a ridiculous procedure.
I've run disk utility and according to it my drive & permissions are okay.
What now?

Macbook Pro, 15.4" 2.16ghz C2D, 3GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Presonus Firebox

Posted on Feb 3, 2010 8:11 AM

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7 replies
User profile for user: Rick Lang
Rick Lang
User level: Level 4
1,236 points

Feb 3, 2010 11:38 AM in response to dreamsareweird

You have done the reset SMC procedure. You could also try the rest PRAM procedure (holding down the OPTION COMMAND P R keys when you hear the chime - hold the keys down until you hear at least two chimes meaning it has boot again which is what you want in that situation. Might be tricky I admit the way you have to start your machine now.

Also check your System Preferences -> Startup Disk just to make sure the system is pointing to your internal boot volume, "Macintosh HD" for example.

Post back with your results. I hope the hard disk is not failing... or worse, your circuit board is beginning to die...

Do you still have AppleCare on the machine? If so, quickly call Apple.
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User profile for user: Dah•veed
Dah•veed
User level: Level 9
64,729 points

Feb 3, 2010 12:01 PM in response to dreamsareweird

I would try to start with a Safe Boot. (Re)start while pressing & holding the Shift key. This boot takes longer because the system is checking the HDD and making repairs as needed. If it boots then you are in Safe Mode. If it is not the startup volume that has issues then the HDD could be in the process of failing. Startup Disk Utility and check the SMART status of the HDD in the info in the bottom of DU. Afterward try to restart normally.

Dah•veed
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User profile for user: mesabamom
mesabamom
User level: Level 1
4 points

Feb 3, 2010 2:39 PM in response to Dah•veed

I have the 1st intel mac to come out and it froze with the spinning beach ball. I had to shut it down and now all I get is a flashing folder with a question mark when I try to start it. I have tried starting it while holding down the C key, starting it with the option key, and the option, command, P and R keys. When I tried starting with the shift key I got the apple and the spining wheel and then the apple turned into a circle with the slash through it. Any help out there or is my hard drive shot? I have 14GB left on the hard drive.
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iMac Startup Problems

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