gregorioz
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: My Intel Mac does not start.

My Intel Mac does not start. When I turn it on I hear a loud beep (a sound I never heard before) and then I see the spinning wheel and nothing else. I tried to start from the installation disc, I also try to reset the SMC and the PRAM. Nothing worked. I replaced the RAM cards too. It is a IMac 24"/2  Intel. Model number A1200 2006.

iMac

Posted on Aug 20, 2013 12:58 PM

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gregorioz

Q: My Intel Mac does not start.

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  • by iheartapple1970,

    iheartapple1970 iheartapple1970 Aug 20, 2013 1:01 PM in response to gregorioz
    Level 3 (670 points)
    Aug 20, 2013 1:01 PM in response to gregorioz

    if it's just booting to gray screen w/ spinning gear try this article:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

     

    also can run the apple hardware test, this article tells how to do that:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

     

    good luck w/ resolving your issue

  • by gregorioz,

    gregorioz gregorioz Aug 20, 2013 6:28 PM in response to iheartapple1970
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2013 6:28 PM in response to iheartapple1970

    Thanks for your help. Unfortunatelly, it did not work. I now realized that the problem may have been originated when I had the bad idea to change the permissions to my files and my HD in order to be able write and save files from my laptop. I read a discussion on this issue where it was suggested to start on single user mode what I was able to do but I couldn't get very far after that.

    Thanks anyway.

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 20, 2013 6:45 PM in response to gregorioz
    Level 10 (124,483 points)
    Apple Music
    Aug 20, 2013 6:45 PM in response to gregorioz

    When I turn it on I hear a loud beep

     

    Beeps are an indication the RAM (memory) is failing or has failed.

     

    Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2

     

    If you feel confident doing this, you can purchase RAM online. Crucial comes highly recommended. You can use their scanner >   Memory upgrades from Crucial.com - Crucial Mac System Scanner

     

    And uninstall the bad RAM, then reinstall new >  iMac: How to remove or install memory

     

    Or, take your Mac to an Apple Store.

     

     

     

    The beep sound is not permissions related.

     

     

     

     

     

     


     

    Message was edited by: CS

  • by Drummerx04,

    Drummerx04 Drummerx04 Aug 20, 2013 7:37 PM in response to gregorioz
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Aug 20, 2013 7:37 PM in response to gregorioz

    If you edited the ownership or permissions of your system files, and upon your next boot your computer would not start all the way, then this probably your problem.

     

    If you can boot into single user mode, run the two commands you see on the screen

     

    fsck...

    mount...

     

    then run the command

     

    diskutil list

     

    This will display your hard disks: look for the one with the title of your Boot Disk. It will likely be disk0sX, where X is an integer.

     

    The command

     

    diskutil verifypermissions disk0sX

     

    will check to see whether the permissions need to be fixed.

     

    diskutil repairpermissoins disk0sX

     

    Should fix them.

     

    If you have the installation disk you should be able to start up that, and use Disk Utility to perform the same task. I only recommend using the Single-User mode thing above only if you are sure YOU cocked up your own system.

  • by Drummerx04,

    Drummerx04 Drummerx04 Aug 20, 2013 8:10 PM in response to Drummerx04
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Aug 20, 2013 8:10 PM in response to Drummerx04

    Actually when I tried this in single user mode it told me diskutil was not useable. So I probably just wasted everyone's time.

  • by gregorioz,

    gregorioz gregorioz Aug 20, 2013 9:01 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2013 9:01 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    About the RAM, I run a test on that. I removed the two ram cards I installed many years ago when I bought the IMac and placed back the original card and still no luck. I'm pretty sure that the problem is the permission screw up I did before the computer stoped working. And I saw a discussion on this issue that sounded exactly like the problem I have. I read that in fact permissions could be restored on single user mode but it is quite complicated and that's why the person did not want to explain it. My only chance is if someone who knows how to do it will be patient enough to show me. Thanks anyway.