2011 iMac won't power on; how to access files?

AliWonder wrote:

Thanks everyone - this is really helpful.

I should have clarified that I do have back-ups of all the files on the iMac, the issue is that a lot of it is personal & I don't want anyone being able to access those files. Hence me wanting to wipe it. I

can't see anything wrong with the cables; I have to press the start button a lot, & eventually it makes the usual start-up sound & the Home screen appears, but then it goes off again after a very short time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Okay. This is a very different question.

If Target Disk Mode (linked previously) and a cable to another Mac does not work here, then physically remove the hard disk and either use a USB sled to erase the contents, or physically destroy the storage device.

Or trust that Apple will properly destroy it.

This is also why using FileVault or using the built-in encryption of T2 and later Macs can avoid these sorts of problems; all gear eventually gets decommissioned, and encrypted data is less likely to leak.

AliWonder wrote:

I have three issues related to my 2011 iMac, which I've not used for a long time as it was going so slow:

1) It now won't power on; I've tried disconnecting the plug; it comes on for about 30 seconds then goes off again. Can anyone advise how to get it on please?

That depends greatly in what is wrong with it.

Could be a bad power cable, bad power supply, bad power socket, bad main board, bad internal cabling, bad memory, corroded connector,… well… you get the idea. Lots of possibilities.

Any beeps? Any startup chime?

2) I eventually need to get rid of this iMac and buy a new one, but I need to get all the files off it first. Is there any way of doing this if it won't come on?

From your backups, with backups being about the only way to mark data as being valuable.

Otherwise without backups, maybe target disk mode still works (unlikely), or maybe the Mac gets disassembled and the storage can be physically removed and relocated into a USB sled, or maybe it’s the storage that’s failed here and the data is going to be very expensive to recover, if any data can even be recovered.

3) How do you get rid of an almost dead iMac?

Apple recycles old gear for free.

1. If there is some hardware issue causing it to shutdown, like a short or overheating for some reason, you may not be able to on your own get it to power on. You may need to contact someone that has worked on Macs to get it to power on or at least get the hard drive out. See point #2 below.
2. If it won't power on, the only way to get the files would be to extract the hard drive from it, but that requires complete disassembly of the iMac.
3. You can sell it on places like Ebay or Facebook Marketplace for a low price, but make sure to state it won't power on. People buy old Macs to fix or use as parts machines for other Macs. But don't expect to get top dollar for it.

If the problem lies with the motherboard rather than the drive the following may let you access your user files with another computer: Target Disk Mode. If it works you should get this symbol on the screen:

AliWonder wrote:

2) I eventually need to get rid of this iMac and buy a new one, but I need to get all the files off it first. Is there any way of doing this if it won't come on?

Have you been making backups? If not, you definitely need to get in that practice when you get your next Mac.

3) How do you get rid of an almost dead iMac?

Apple will accept old Macs for free recycling. Some local stores (like Best Buy in the U.S.) may, too.

MrHoffman wrote:

This is also why using FileVault or using the built-in encryption of T2 and later Macs can avoid these sorts of problems; all gear eventually gets decommissioned, and encrypted data is less likely to leak.

The OP should note that should an Apple Silicon Mac, or an Intel-based Mac with an Apple T2 Security Chip, die, there is basically no hope of pulling the drive to recover data.

On most of those Macs, the flash chips for the internal SSD are soldered in, and on all of them, most of the stuff stored on the SSD is encrypted with keys held in the T2 chip, or the Apple Silicon processor. Separate the flash chips from the T2 chip or Apple Silicon processor, and the contents are so much meaningless hash.

Maybe a spy agency in some place like Russia or North Korea could retrieve the data anyway, if they wanted the data badly enough to throw huge amounts of resources at cracking the encryption. Maybe not. But neither you, nor a repair shop, nor your average scavenger, is going to be getting much of anything useful out of those chips should the machine be dead.

This makes crucial to keep backups if there is any data on the machine that you care about.

See the following support document, to erase the Mac and prepare it for sale.

click here ➜ What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

and here ➜ How to start up from macOS Recovery on an Intel Mac - Apple Support

Servant of Cats wrote:

MrHoffman wrote:

This is also why using FileVault or using the built-in encryption of T2 and later Macs can avoid these sorts of problems; all gear eventually gets decommissioned, and encrypted data is less likely to leak.

The OP should note that should an Apple Silicon Mac, or an Intel-based Mac with an Apple T2 Security Chip, die, there is basically no hope of pulling the drive to recover data.

Yep. But a 2011 Mac didn’t have T2, given the iMac Pro 2017 is the oldest with T2.