Late 2006 iMac starts with spinning gear and just keeps spinning

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Level 1

9 points

Late 2006 iMac starts with spinning gear and just keeps spinning

One of my computers is a late 2006 Intel iMac. I am trying to bott up and all I get is the spinning gear. I am running Snow Leaopard on it. I have run the Apple Hardware Test using the original install disc that came with the computer. It shows no problems. I have tried booting in Safe Mode and that doesn't work. I have tried resetting the PRAMS but I still can't boot up.The Install Disc that I have is for Leopard and not Snow Leopard. We upgraded to Snow Loepard online so there is no disc. I can boot off the original Install disc but that is an older operating system than what it currently running.

What can I do?

Thanks in advance.

iMac

Posted on May 31, 2014 10:51 AM

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Answer 1

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

May 31, 2014 12:06 PM in response to govinsky

I don't believe that Snow Leopard has ever been available as a download......legally. If I'm correct you should purchase Snow Leopard here http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

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Answer 2

govinsky Author

Level 1

9 points

May 31, 2014 12:17 PM in response to SeaPapp

I think it was a link sent by Apple as part of a phone call. If so, the link is in the email on the computer that won't start.

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Answer 3

govinsky Author

Level 1

9 points

May 31, 2014 12:18 PM in response to SeaPapp

It is definitely a legal install.

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

92,398 points

May 31, 2014 12:37 PM in response to govinsky

Sounds like your HD might have failed and it doesn't help that you do not have a Snow Leopard upgrade DVD.

Startup from your Leopard disc and navigate to Utilities > Disk Utility.

If you see the HD, then you are stuck without a retail copy of Snow Leopard.

If you do not see the HD, then the HD or someother hardware has failed.

Of course, if you have your User Folders backed up to an External HD...? Then:

1. You can replace the hard drive and install either Leopard or a retail copy of Snow Leopard onto the new HD, then migrate your User Folders from the backup HD into OS X on the new HD.

2. You can buy a new Mac and migrate the User Folders from the backup into it.

And of course if you do not have a backup, then you may have just lost everything.

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Answer 5

govinsky Author

Level 1

9 points

May 31, 2014 12:44 PM in response to den.thed

I do see the hard drive under Disk Utilities. From here I need the Snow Leopard Disc correct? If I can't find it then I need to buy one (again). Is there anyway to use Target Mode from a 2013 iMac and get the stuff?

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

92,398 points

May 31, 2014 12:59 PM in response to govinsky

What happens when you try to Repair the Macintosh HD from Leopard Disk Utility...?

The old Mac is to old for Target Display Mode and the new iMac would need a Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter for FireWire target disk mode.

If you do not have backup of the data on the old Mac, your best bet is to get it going again or use FireWire target disk mode.

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Answer 7

govinsky Author

Level 1

9 points

May 31, 2014 1:09 PM in response to den.thed

i get:

Invalid sibling link

Volume check failed

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit

i HFS volume check

1 Volume could not be repaired because of an error

The old Mac is not backed up:(. Not really my computer. The new one will definitely be though. I may have the Thunderbolt to Firewire cable. If I can't get it going, can I still get the data using Target Disk Mode? What about Diskwarrior?

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