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iMac won't boot at first attempt

Hi

Recently I've been experiencing that my intel iMac won't boot at first attempt and I have to powerdown manually and then try again. Second time it boots just fine. It's usually in the morning (been shut off for the night), but not always. I've tried disc utility from the install dvd, have repaired permissions and reset the nvram and everything seems just fine. The thing is, this has happened after the 10.4.8 update as far as I can remember. Does anyone else see this or is it a coincidence and some other problem?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Best regards

Rico

intel iMac 20" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

intel iMac 20" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Oct 9, 2006 9:54 AM

50 replies

Rico Jensen Author

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Oct 16, 2006 10:47 AM in response to Philippe Ziliani1

Hi Philippe Ziliani1

"seems to be as if the iMac was not really shut down the first time but was really shut down when I push the power-on button..."

I didn't think about that. I wonder if it's the power down that's causing the problem? Anyways, all the tins I mentioned earlier that I've tried didn't help. I also tried removing my ram yesterday and put it back in to place, but that did nothing either.

:/

den.thed

Level 10

91,846 points

Oct 16, 2006 4:36 PM in response to Rico Jensen

Hi Rico;

What model iMac do you have.
Is your power button set to sleep computer. (go to: System Preferences / Energy Saver / Options. Is box: Allow power button to sleep is checked? I like to sleep or shut down from Apple drop down or use: Put to sleep timer.

Dennis

Rico Jensen Author

Level 1

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Oct 16, 2006 10:20 PM in response to den.thed

Hi den.thed

Yes, the checkbox you refer to was checked, but I think it's always been like that. I'm not sure though and I'm definetly going to test it 🙂 I'll post as soon as I get back from work and the iMac has been "cold" for 7 or so hours.

Thanks.

Rico

den.thed

Level 10

91,846 points

Oct 16, 2006 11:53 PM in response to Rico Jensen

Hi Rico;

I also did graveyard shift a few years. I may be way off but, in your post it sounds like you put computer to sleep with power botton and the next time you pushed power button it woke up then shut down. (1st time sleep, 2nd time to shut down) But it has to wake up to shut down. OK Test this befor you change sleep setting, push power botton once to sleep, move mouse or press key to wake. OK shut down from Apple / Shut Down wait a bit Restart with power botton. Let me know how it go's, I'll check in on thread around 4pm.

Dennis

Oct 17, 2006 12:04 AM in response to den.thed

Yes...the checkbox was checked too. I checked it off yertesday evening (the 16th) and this morning, after a good night, the iMac started perfectly...
The problem is solved?

Rico Jensen Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2006 4:34 AM in response to Philippe Ziliani1

Hi again

I just got home from work and tried turning on my iMac - didn't work, even with the changed powerbutton sleep test :/ The thing is, now that's been fired up once I can't test this until 6-7 hours later. If I shut down now and try again it works perfectly, it's only when it's been "resting" (or pining for the fjords as monty python would put it).

I always power it down with the apple menu and then "shut down". I've read some other discussions where people say that they have to try 3-4 times to get their different macs booting, but mine is always only one failed attempt and after wards it works fine.

I'm not sure wether or not this is related to the 10.4.8 update anymore, since no one else seem to have this problem - at least what I've been reading up on.

I'll try putting the mac to sleep instead as a test and check to see if it will wake up again after some hours.

Thank you all for comments and thoughts on this. Appreciate it.

Rico

iMac 20" core duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Oct 17, 2006 1:30 PM in response to Dah•veed

To David-Austin-Allen: No doubt you're right about that last-minute firmware story. But since they solved the problem real quick and without problems I don't worry about the story. Important thing is: these problems mostly are caused by incompatible or defective RAM. Since this mac has run smoothly for some months compatiblity can not be the problem, there still is the possibility of RAM that has gone defective. But since there is no report of other Ram-related problems this too is very unlikely.
Sorry, no more ideas here. I hope the problem will be solved soon.
Hans

Abwati

Level 1

15 points

Oct 17, 2006 2:46 PM in response to Hans Rutgers

If it is freezing at airport, have you tired turning it on? Even if you don't have a wireless network, it may help. Good luck to you all.

den.thed

Level 10

91,846 points

Oct 17, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Rico Jensen

Hi Rico;

I though about this today at work,
1. I might go back and try SMC reset that David posted earlier.
2. If some how you can narrow the problem down to cold, then it may be a solid state relay or switch in the SMC. It's going to be hard to prove it at service center, but they should make it good.
3. Can you live with it? I let it sleep most of the time, I don't shut down unless it won't be used for a day or two. If you are using Ethernet you can go to: Sys. Pref's / Energy Saver / Options, "uncheck" Wake for Ethernet net. adm. acc. That will keep E-net from waking it, I feel better that no one from out side can wake and get into it. My DSL connects fast, not to bad when I woke and posted back to you.

Dennis

den.thed

Level 10

91,846 points

Oct 18, 2006 5:20 AM in response to den.thed

Rico.....

Scudder

Level 1

53 points

Oct 18, 2006 7:16 AM in response to Rico Jensen

Sounds like a power supply issue. Mine shut down on it's own and that was the problem. Take it in.

den.thed

Level 10

91,846 points

Oct 18, 2006 3:53 PM in response to den.thed

Rico.....were are you?

Rico Jensen Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 18, 2006 10:23 PM in response to den.thed

Hi

Sorry for the delay :/

Perhaps you're on to something with a problem in the SMC, and I think it's about time a call my local apple center. I've tried just about everything (thanks to this forum :)) but the problem persist. I suppose I could live with it, but I can't help think about if it gets worse - better get it fixed before that.

I'll give my apple center a call on monday and I'll let you know what they said.

Thanks all.

Rico

den.thed

Level 10

91,846 points

Oct 18, 2006 11:11 PM in response to Rico Jensen

Hey Rico!!! Man I was getting worried about you!

I was having a bad thought, like maybe we lost you altogether. I'm not going to ever help you again you scared the c... outa me. (ha ha) You know everyone seemed to get thru update trouble's, but you went on! Not sure what I would do, but I think maybe, soner than later, if it is, what we think it is, it will, (are you there), it is not good.

Dennis

taflorch

Level 1

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Oct 19, 2006 12:35 AM in response to Rico Jensen

Hello! I had the same problem, but right after unpacking - switching on on - a gong and then only the power light and no more screen display. The Applesupport was more than bad - a reason does not applecarepacket to buy - and then back by collection packing service - week long no Infomation - also in on-line repair inquiry - then called with the hotline - point again from nothing - with repair place called - there came then only the information, which is the specialist with Apple in the vacation - an unbelievable procedure! More badly as with Mircosoft! No apology or so - only after further 2 day iMac would be repariet now and it however still 5 days would take to the return would come when MACNEWBIE the most negative experience which one make can - can faithful-remain and is one there Mac or again back? Greetings from Deustchland - apology for the bad English! Thorsten

iMac 20'' - 2,33 GHZ Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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iMac won't boot at first attempt