boblee84

Q: iMac Won't Boot

Hi everyone,

 

I’m having big problems with my iMac.

 

My hard drive space began to slowly disappear. I downloaded OmniDiskSweeper, which identified a few log files that were enormous. I deleted those files, and the hard drive space went back to where it was supposed to be.

 

I decided to restart, but now it won’t boot all the way. It gets to the screen with the Apple logo and progress bar, but the progress bar stops at about 75%. I’ve let it sit there for several hours, just to see what would happen, but it doesn’t advance.

 

I’ve tried restarting in safe mode, but the same thing happens. I’ve tried resetting the PRAM. I’ve tried fsck. I’ve used target disk mode to verify that everything on the hard drive is present and backed up.

 

I’ve started in recovery mode, which gives me the option of restoring from a time machine backup, reinstalling Mac OS, getting help online, and disk utility. Disk utility doesn’t find any problems with the drive. When I try to reinstall El Capistan, the installer gets as far as “downloading additional components,” but the time remaining just increases. When I open the installer log, it appears to have gotten stuck on “.LastResort” is used instead. After two hours of no progress, I don’t know what else to do.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Jun 2, 2016 11:48 AM

Close

Q: iMac Won't Boot

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 2, 2016 12:56 PM in response to boblee84
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 2, 2016 12:56 PM in response to boblee84

    Please review and follow the direction in If your Mac won't turn on - Apple Support

  • by boblee84,

    boblee84 boblee84 Jun 3, 2016 9:36 AM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 3, 2016 9:36 AM in response to rkaufmann87

    Thanks for your quick response! I should have mentioned that I have also tried the things on the page you linked to: holding down the power button for 10 seconds and restarting, and resetting the SMC.

     

    Any other ideas?

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 3, 2016 10:04 AM in response to boblee84
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 3, 2016 10:04 AM in response to boblee84

    Please read and follow-through on step # 7.

  • by boblee84,

    boblee84 boblee84 Jun 3, 2016 10:10 AM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 3, 2016 10:10 AM in response to rkaufmann87

    Thanks. Normally people have some other recommendations for do-it-yourselfers?

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 3, 2016 10:25 AM in response to boblee84
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 3, 2016 10:25 AM in response to boblee84

    Only Apple has the proper diagnostic tools, they do not make them available to the general public. This means if a do-it-yourselfer may create more work and expense for themselves by not knowing what they are doing. My advice, have a professional at least diagnose it.

     

    You can still take it to an Apple Store (assuming it's not too old) and they will provide a free diagnostic and repair estimate. You can then decide what you want to do. If you want to tackle the repair yourself, you are free to. If the machine is too old (currently 2010 or older) you can take it to an AASP for a diagnostic. Each AASP is an independent business which means it's up to them whether they charge for a diagnostic or not. My local AASP does however if I have them repair the computer they credit that charge to the repair fee.

     

    Best of luck.