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Level 1

15 points

Mac not booting properly.

Had to force quit all applications in order to shut down. Now that shut down is complete will not boot. Tried clearing the NVRAM and booting to safe mode neither worked it still results to the apple logo for more than enough time (about 15 Min), I have tried using disk utility to verify disk no errors occurred. I have learned that I can reinstall the OS but I do not want Yosemite because it does not support the applications I want to run. I really do not want to lose my valuable data that is on the Mac nor do I want to be without those applications. I am fairly tech savvy but this one has me stumped and I'm not sure what I should do.

iMac (24-inch Mid 2007), OS X Mavericks (10.9.3), May vary, definitely Mavericks

Posted on Jun 9, 2015 4:51 PM

27 replies

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:02 PM in response to josh0525

Try restarting. Hold the option key down while starting and select the boot partition as your start up disk.

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:08 PM in response to josh0525

Your hard drive is getting dangerously low on free space.

josh0525 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:11 PM in response to SeaPapp

It went from the spinning circle under the apple logo then the screen flashed and now there is just the apple logo. Should I wait?

josh0525 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:13 PM in response to josh0525

Is there any way to free up some space without it booting? I didn't know that 20 GB free was a danger, could that be what is causing this?

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:35 PM in response to josh0525

Try again to boot into Safe mode. Press and hold the Shift key immediately after hearing the start up chime.Low disk space can cause a no start but it's usually much lower than 19GB. Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck - Apple Support

Have you reset the SMC Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

josh0525 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:42 PM in response to SeaPapp

Didn't boot into safe mode correctly.

No I have not reset the SMC. I wasn't aware of that, should I try that now?

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:44 PM in response to josh0525

Yes reset the SMC, it won't hurt anything.

THis thread solved by Linc Davis has step by step instructions. I think you've pretty much done everything but give it a look and see if we forgot something Stuck on Apple logo

josh0525 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:52 PM in response to SeaPapp

I'll read through it in a little bit. I saw the first step do you think if I could get a drive big enough to hold all of the data that I would be able to backup it up? My dad has terabyte drives that I could use soon.

josh0525 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2015 1:55 PM in response to josh0525

I am getting this loud obnoxious beep before the startup chime?

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Jun 10, 2015 2:00 PM in response to josh0525

IN order to back up you're going to need another mac and use Firewire Target Disk Mode How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode - Apple Support or you're going to need to get it started in Safe Mode, which you say you can't do. Look at all of the steps, he has some pretty good suggestions. I hadn't thought about a failed PRAM battery but that could be the cause too. I believe yous DOES have a PRAM battery. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+20-Inch+EMC+2133+and+2210+PRAM+Battery+R eplacement/994

josh0525 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2015 2:07 PM in response to SeaPapp

I do have another Mac that I could use to backup soon it's my dad's mac laptop. Is there any way for me to know if it is a failed PRAM battery? I think have most of the tools to fix it if it is that

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Jun 10, 2015 3:51 PM in response to josh0525

The only way to know for sure that the battery is bad is to remove it and check it's voltage with a digital multi meter. At that point if you've gone through the trouble of taking it out you would replace it even if it did check good.

Mac not booting properly.