Help running Apple Diagnostics on mid-2010 iMac 3403D

Question

Level 1

8 points

Help running Apple Diagnostics on mid-2010 iMac 3403D

I have an iMac (21.5 inch, Mid 2010) with 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 processor, 12 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory, ATI Radeon HD 4670 256 MB graphics card, serial number YD****DAS.

About a month ago, my wife was using the computer for a zoom meeting and suddenly vertical lines appeared on the screen. An inquiry to a local Mac technician resulted in a recommendation that the time had come to upgrade the computer. We purchased a new Macbook Air, and have made the transition.

Now, I'm readying the computer for sale. I've wiped the hard drive and performed a new installation of the operating system, High Sierra, version 10.13.6. There appear to be no issues with the screen - looks great. But I'm concerned that there might be some underlying problem with the computer, and I'd like to be able to describe this to the buyer of the machine.

I found an article https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731 describing how to run diagnostics. But I am not successful in running it. Holding down the "D" key on restart, the process results in "Starting Internet Recovery. This may take a while" and then an exclamation point followed by "apple.com/support - 3403D". The same article states:

"On an Intel-based Mac, if you can't start Apple Diagnostics with the D key, try these solutions:

Press and hold Option-D at startup to use Apple Diagnostics over the internet."

I've tried restarting using this alternative method, and it results in the same "3403D" error.

A related discussion suggests that resetting PRAM and/or NVRAM may help. I've been through this procedure, to no avail.

In case it might be related I am using a Mac wireless keyboard.

I called Apple support, and they told me I'd have to bring the machine to an Apple store to have it evaluated. Before I do so, I'd be curious if anyone else has been through this, and what the results were, or whether any solutions might be suggested.

Thanks,

Al

[Personal Information Edited by Moderator]

iMac 21.5″, 10.11

Posted on Dec 6, 2020 10:06 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

91,354 points

Dec 6, 2020 12:10 PM in response to Al Thorp

The Apple Diagnostics only works with 2013 and newer iMac's.

With the older iMac's, there were 2 ways to run the Apple Hardware Test.

1 was the onboard Apple Hardware Test, but it was likely erased by a later macOS and/or reformatting the drive.

2 was to run the Apple Hardware Test that is on Disc 2 of the original Install Disc set that came with that iMac.

Have a look at > https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/diagnose-problems-with-your-mac-mh35727/10.13/mac/10.13

Reply

Answer 2

Al Thorp Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 6, 2020 4:10 PM in response to den.thed

Thank you for your reply. I have the original discs that came with the computer, including one that is labeled “To use Apple Hardware Test, hold down the D key as the computer starts up”. I put this disc in the computer and restarted. I held down the D key. The disc popped out of the drive, and computer started as before resulting in error.

Do I need to downgrade the OS before running?

Separately, I believe the SuperDrive may be at fault. Can I use an external drive for this purpose? Any special instructions in that case?

Reply

Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

91,354 points

Dec 7, 2020 8:36 AM in response to Al Thorp

Al Thorp wrote:

Thank you for your reply. I have the original discs that came with the computer, including one that is labeled “To use Apple Hardware Test, hold down the D key as the computer starts up”. I put this disc in the computer and restarted. I held down the D key. The disc popped out of the drive, and computer started as before resulting in error.

Try using a USB keyboard, if yours is wireless.

Do I need to downgrade the OS before running?

Shouldn't matter.

Separately, I believe the SuperDrive may be at fault. Can I use an external drive for this purpose? Any special instructions in that case?

I haven't tried that in years, but I do recall being able to startup and install OS X using an LG external disc drive.

Personally I'm starting to wonder, if it's even worth the time and trouble to run the Apple Hardware Test.

The Apple Hardware Test was never very good at testing or reporting graphic's issues.
Those iMac models had a reputation for both graphic's and display issues.
That iMac is hard to repair and will cost more to fix than it is worth.
That iMac can not be updated beyond High Sierra.

I know it's not what you really wanted to hear, but it's time to consider replacing the 2010 iMac with a newer iMac.

Reply

Help running Apple Diagnostics on mid-2010 iMac 3403D

Similar questions