HT201314: About OS X Recovery
Learn about About OS X Recovery
-
All replies
-
Helpful answers
-
Jan 22, 2016 11:00 AM in response to Carl Pby Niel,Insert a Mac OS X install DVD and restart with the C or Option keys held down. Depending on the exact problem, you'll either need to use the Disk Utility to repair the internal drive, or install a fresh OS on it, or replace the drive.
There isn't a recovery partition on 10.6.8 or earlier.
(138689)
-
Jan 22, 2016 11:02 AM in response to Carl Pby K Shaffer,There probably isn't going to be a 'recovery' found on that old a system.
• Using Disk Utility to verify or repair disks - Apple Support
If you have the install-restore DVD, that could be used to start the Mac
and see if Disk Utility in there can find the hard drive.
• Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support
You could see if starting (attempt) in Safe Mode may help. However it
may be the old hard disk drive has failed. Do you have a backup copy?
The hard drive is suspect, at least to my thinking. Other opinions may vary.
Be prepared for the worst, then anything less could be a holiday...!
-
Jan 22, 2016 12:17 PM in response to Nielby Carl P,Thanks. I was able to get it a little further along by using the install disk. It allows the apple to appear, but then it ejects the disk and the folder with a question mark appears again. This computer had this problem several years ago. I took it to an Apple store where a technician plugged in his own disk, and was able to get it to boot from it right away. That solved the problem for many years, but now its back
-
Jan 22, 2016 12:19 PM in response to K Shafferby Carl P,Thanks, but the problem still exists. As I mentioned in a post to Neil, I was able to get it a little further along by using the install disk. It allows the apple to appear, but then it ejects the disk and the folder with a question mark appears again. This computer had this problem several years ago. I took it to an Apple store where a technician plugged in his own disk, and was able to get it to boot from it right away. That solved the problem for many years, but now its back
-
Jan 22, 2016 2:30 PM in response to Carl Pby K Shaffer,There is a fair chance the hard disk drive &/or the cable, may be at fault now.
The hard disk drive is old, probably worn, and likely is the cause or major
contributor to the symptoms. There also is a clock battery in the logic board.
These kinds of items could be addressed more easily in your old vintage iMac
G5 or early Intel model because unlike newer ones, it is more readily accessible.
The iFixit.com repair guides for Macs are helpful; sometimes general items not
in one guide, are summarily covered to a passable degree in a similar model.
Depending on this actual hardware build model you have, the guides will differ:
• iMac Repair - iFixit (from powerPC G3 G4 G5 -- to recent Intel models)
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac
The G5 was produced until the Intel based iMac (and other intel mac) arrived
in 2006 model year. However new old stock G5 were for sale past that time.
Since those transitional models look a lot alike, the devil is in the details.
The computer is now too old for the Apple Store (retail official) to offer a repair
though diagnostic may be available via the Genius via appointment. You could
then choose to visit an authorized Apple service provider who fixes older gear.
You could probably most carefully attempt to fix it. Notable issues are sensors
on or near the hard disk drive bracket, and other places where if the sensor is
not able to detect the heat or is disabled, the fans may always run fast & loud.
So there are 'details' in those details. Cause and effect... Or after-effects.