27 Inch iMac, new memory upgrade and won't start now

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Level 1

11 points

27 Inch iMac, new memory upgrade and won't start now

Hi. I have a 27 Inch (2009) iMac. Was working perfectly. Thought I'd give it a treat and upgrade to 16 GB memory (Kingston). Restarted after the easy install and performance was sloooooow. Took forever to startup and just got worse. I restarted, thinking it might help. Nope. Ran Disk Utility and it said HD needed repair. Then it couldn't repair. So I started from an external disk and Disk Genius couldn't repair. Before I reformatted the disk, I tried to reset PRAM. After that, nada. The iMac restarts on a grey screen with the spinning wheel. The progress bar moves about a quarter inch and thent the computer shuts down. I can't even start from the external disk anymore. Grrrrr. Help?

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Nov 26, 2013 12:41 PM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Nov 26, 2013 12:42 PM in response to 99996bip

Run Apple Hardware Test in Extended Mode 3x in succession, if errors appear take it in for repair.

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Answer 2

99996bip Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 26, 2013 12:48 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Wow, thanks for the quick response! I'd like to try your suggestion but don't know how. I can't even get the computer on to do a test. Is there a trick I'm missing to simply get it to boot up?

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Answer 3

Paul_31

Level 6

14,160 points

Nov 26, 2013 12:53 PM in response to 99996bip

Have you tried taking out the Kingston RAM re-instating the orginal modules and testing?

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Answer 4

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:09 PM in response to 99996bip

You can always use Google to search. Here is Apple's link on Using Apple Hardware Test:

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

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Answer 5

99996bip Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:36 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks. I had found information on how to do such a test. The point is the computer won't even let me get that far. I hold down the D key and still get the Apple logo, spinning wheel, and ultimately the progress bar moves a bit then the computer shuts down.

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Answer 6

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:38 PM in response to 99996bip

Then I'd recommend following Paul_31's suggestion, remove the Kingston RAM and use the original RAM that was in the machine. You could have failed RAM, unseated RAM or incorrect RAM.

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Answer 7

99996bip Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:39 PM in response to Paul_31

Thanks, will try this. When the memory was first in, it showed up in the system so the computer recognized it. And it started with the new memory in it the first time. Wouldn't that mean the memory was ok?

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Answer 8

99996bip Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:44 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Ok, will give it a shot. Thanks! The new RAM is 4 modules of Kingston 4 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SODIMM. That is what Apple listed for my unit. Does that sound correct?

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Answer 9

Paul_31

Level 6

14,160 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:45 PM in response to 99996bip

Wouldn't that mean the memory was ok?

You would think so, but there are many threads on here where Kingston RAM can cause problems for some. I think taking out the Kingston and putting the stock RAM in is your best next step.

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