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I can't load Apple Hardware Test on Mountain Lion

I've tried various ways of loading Apple Hardware Test on Mountain Lion as descibed by Apple:

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH11342

https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509


Using a wired keyboard and with every thing else un-plugged I tried

Holding D at bootup

Option+D with WiFi on at bootup

Both ways failed.


Then I tried using my iMac's original Leopard DVD that has AHT on it. While it seems like its loading the mac dies before it actually loads !

I did that twice and both times mac died before AHT could be loaded- like some one yanked the powercord out.


How am I suppose to load AHT ?



I upgraded from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion on a 2009 iMac.


Thanks

Posted on Jan 15, 2013 9:11 AM

Reply
17 replies

Jan 15, 2013 9:13 AM in response to cute crow

If your Mac originally shipped with install disks, then that is what you need to use - did you see this part of the Apple article you said you checked:


  • For Apple computers that shipped with Mac OS X v10.5.5 to 10.6.7, Apple Hardware Test is located on the Applications Install Disc 2 and should be included with your computer.
  • For some Apple computers that shipped with OS X Lion, if Apple Hardware Test cannot be found on the hard drive, an Internet-based version starts up instead. An Internet-enabled connection via ethernet or Wi-Fi is required to use this feature. Some computers that shipped with Lion require a software update to use this feature. See Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery for more information.

Jan 15, 2013 12:52 PM in response to ckelly176

Well ever since I've upgraded to Mountail Lion from Snow Leopard, about once a week or so, my iMac just freezes. I have to force a reboot.


I have seen discussions with similar issues on Mac Book Pros where an SSD was causing a similar issue. I have see one dsicussion where an iMac was suffering the same. Someone was inclined to say that it was a sign of hardware failure, but others were saying its hardly a coincdence that all the freezing issues happen for all these differnt people just after a Mountain Lion upgrade.

Jan 15, 2013 1:08 PM in response to babowa

I think it may have some thing to do with the Nvidia grpahics card driver. I have come across mentions of an nvidia errors in console along the lines of

kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel timeout!

Usually my console log has nothing suspicious in it after a freeze. But recently there was an kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel timeout! error.


As far as an Apple Aproved Repair shop I'm not sure - possibly.

Jan 15, 2013 1:09 PM in response to cute crow

Freezing is quite often also a software issue; if it happens right after a major upgrade, the usual suspects would be incompatible software applications or a system that already had some problems (upgrading does not fix problems; instead, it makes them more noticeable). Also, since Lion and ML are memory hogs, the 2 GB RAM minimum is just that: a bare minimum - 4 GB would be a far most realistic minimum.

Jan 15, 2013 1:21 PM in response to babowa

I am convinced this is software based and directly related to Mountain Lion upgrade.

My iMac was working like a charm with Snow Leopard, no issues at all.


I have 8GB installed on it.


I did come across a great tip about incompatable 3rd party kexts. I had an old version of Soundflower and I was sure its kext would be incompatable and was the culprit. I removed it and installed the latest version. I was so sure that would fix it but it didn't.

Jan 15, 2013 6:17 PM in response to cute crow

Is there no way to download AHT an put it on a USB or something?


No. Assuming that the disc is not damaged or defective, the problem could be just a dirty lens in the optical drive. Try running a cleaning disc through it. Also make sure you've disconnected all wired peripherals except the keyboard and mouse, if applicable.


If there are no Apple Stores where you are, go to an authorized service facility.

Jan 16, 2013 12:05 PM in response to Linc Davis

From the Apple AHT page it is possible (at least for some macs) to run AHT from a USB.


So would it not be possible format a USB drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with a GUID Partiton Table and then using Pacifist extract the AHT .pkg and put to on the USB drive and get it to run that way?


I have my Leopard DVD disc open in Pacifist and I've located a package called "Contents of CPU_AHT.pkg" 38.9MB.

I can't load Apple Hardware Test on Mountain Lion

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