Q: SOS beeps - Geniuses can't help
After installing an OS X update on Thursday night, my iMac didn't start up again on the required restart. Instead, all I get is the computer beeping SOS, then shortly after a white screen with loading bar, which fills up in a few seconds (vents running up while it does) and then shuts down - and repeat. Only way to break this cycle is to plug out the computer, which I have done after repeating this stuff about 10 times in a row.
I have of course researched on the internet about this, but there is no clear guidance I can find. Some people say it's the logic board, some say it's the EFI firmware. I am totally confused, because I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what either of that is. I use Apple products because I don't want to busy myself with crap like that, I use them because I want a product that is easy to use. Well, not so much it seems.
I then went to my local Apple store's Genius Bar and showed them the computer. The sad result was that the guy had never heard of it, and neither had his colleagues. The only 'solution' he offered me was to basically buy a new computer.
I went back home and have since tried to boot it from a bootable OS X USB drive which I created, which was about the only thing I found reportedly worked for other people this situation. Not for me though.
From my research, this kind of thing has always happened to people after an OS update.
I have added a video of this for illustration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrcBp55LmwY
It is completely unresponsive to any keyboard inputs.
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), Happened on updating El Capitan
Posted on Nov 15, 2015 7:30 AM