nflagey

Q: Cannot use Apple Hardware Test

Hi there,

 

I am using an iMac (27in, mid-2010) at work. It has OS X 10.7.5 on it but I think this is an upgrade because from what I found, those iMac came with Snow Leopard (http://support.apple.com/kb/sp588).

 

I have been running some intensive code, which, almost systematically, shuts down the iMac. Like if I just pulled the plug from it.

 

I've been looking at pages on support.apple and I found that one thing to try is the Apple Hardware Test (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509). Maybe one of the four 4Gb RAM chip is faulty.

 

So, I unplug all external devices except keyboard and mouse.

Restard, press "D" ... nothing happens, it's like a standard Restart.

Restard, press "option+D" ... got a window named Apple Server Diagnostics EFI3X111v5 and almost immediatl=ely after a pop-up window that says "Apple Server Diagnostics does not support this machine iMac (27inc, mid2010) (iMac 11,3/ Max-F2238BAE"

Only choice left: Shut down or Restart.

 

I then find this page: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4154 which tells me I should update the EFI Firmware to use the Lion Recovery feature.

Great!
I thus go to this page: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4904

Then select iMac mid2010 and download the EFI update 1.8 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1493)

... which refuses to get installed.

 

When I double click on the pkg file, I get an "Alert - This software is not supported on your system"

By the waym the Boot ROM version of the iMac is already IM112.0057.B01

 

I also tried something else: boot on the 10.6 DVD, but that shuts down immediately the iMac.

 

So, questions are: can I use the AHT? if yes, how? if no, what should I do instead to check the iMac memory?

 

Thanks!

Nicolas

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 16, 2014 7:38 PM

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Q: Cannot use Apple Hardware Test

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  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa May 16, 2014 8:26 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    May 16, 2014 8:26 PM in response to nflagey

    On a mid 2010 which came with SL originally, you do need to use disk 2 which includes the AHT using the instructions in your second link. D key won't work as it is for Macs which had Lion or later installed and there is a group of Macs eligible for it and others which are not - here is some info on the EFI update:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237

     

    So, you seem to have done everything right and if you cannot use disk 2, then you might want to consider a visit to your nearest Genius Bar (bring the disks). If you don't want to do that, I've heard of an app called memtest (have not tried it myself) and also, you can test the RAM by eliminating/adding back in one stick at a time.

     

    http://www.memtest.org/

  • by nflagey,

    nflagey nflagey May 17, 2014 12:21 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 17, 2014 12:21 AM in response to babowa

    Ah, silly me!
    To boot from the DVD I need to press the "C" key, not the "D" key.

    I'll update (and hopefully close) this thread on Monday.

     

    Thanks Babowa!

  • by nflagey,

    nflagey nflagey May 21, 2014 12:11 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 21, 2014 12:11 PM in response to babowa

    Well then, I used DVD 2 (AHT) for iMac, Mac OSX 10.6, unplugged every device except keyboard & mouse, restarted the iMac and pressed the "D" key as it is labelled on the disc.

    iMac shuts down after rebooting andapparently startint to do something (I barely had the time to see that a window poped-up ... could not see what it was about ... before the iMac shuts down)

     

    Does anybody know if there is a DVD 2 with AHT for 10.7?

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa May 21, 2014 1:40 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    May 21, 2014 1:40 PM in response to nflagey

    If your machine came with SL originally, you cannot use the method for Lion and later; you have to use the DVD and press D. Frankly, I don't know why it would not work for you - are these disks the machine specific disks for your machine?

     

    There is no DVD with AHT for Lion - machines that came with Lion or later include the capability and you only need the D key but again, that won't work with yours.

  • by nflagey,

    nflagey nflagey May 21, 2014 2:39 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 21, 2014 2:39 PM in response to babowa

    Thanks Babowa!

     

    Those disks are NOT those for this iMac, but they are as close as I could get: iMac & OSX10.6

    I have not been able to find those that came with this iMac yet.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo May 21, 2014 2:52 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    May 21, 2014 2:52 PM in response to nflagey

    Contact AppleCare and order replacement discs for that machine. Usually available for a nominal S&H charge <20 USD.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 21, 2014 3:01 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    May 21, 2014 3:01 PM in response to nflagey

    Those disks are NOT those for this iMac,

     

    Ahh, that is possibly the root of your problem..... install disks are mostly machine specific .

  • by nflagey,

    nflagey nflagey May 21, 2014 3:14 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 21, 2014 3:14 PM in response to babowa

    babowa wrote:

     

    Those disks are NOT those for this iMac,

     

    Ahh, that is possibly the root of your problem..... install disks are mostly machine specific .

    To what extent are they?
    If I get install DVD for a mid-2010 iMac (same as the one I use), wouldn't that be good enough?

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 21, 2014 3:36 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    May 21, 2014 3:36 PM in response to nflagey

    They are build specific and the same model iMac may have had several iterations (builds):

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159

     

    The mid 2010 had a total of five build versions and two different OS versions......

  • by nflagey,

    nflagey nflagey May 21, 2014 3:54 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 21, 2014 3:54 PM in response to babowa

    Hum, so my build version is 11G63b, which matches OS X Lion v10.7.5 (this is indeed what is installed currently).

     

    Does that mean I should go for the Lion AHT (restart, D key ... which failed for me) or find another way to get my original build version to give it another try at Snow Leopard AHT on DVD?

     

    As you told me the first time, it looks like I did everything I had to do, but for some reason, it fails

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo May 21, 2014 3:58 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    May 21, 2014 3:58 PM in response to nflagey

    Your machine shipped with SL.

     

    iMac (Mid 2010)Jul 201010.6.310.6.410D2322a, 10F2056, 10F2061, 10F2090, 10F2108

     

    As such, you can't use Lion's version. Get the replacement discs.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 21, 2014 4:24 PM in response to nflagey
    Level 7 (32,103 points)
    iPad
    May 21, 2014 4:24 PM in response to nflagey

    Hum, so my build version is 11G63b

     

    That is your current build version; what counts for AHT is what it shipped with.

     

    You will need the disks.