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bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

MacOS Sierra bricked my iMac

So yesterday my 2014 imac prompted me to install MacOS Sierra, which I did, leaving it installing at 5.30 when I left work with approx 33 mins remaining.

I Come into work this morning to be greeted with the following screen:

I've tried turning it off and on and trying to boot in safe mode by holding shift when turning on, but nothing makes a difference, this comes up as soon as I turn it on and nothing makes it go away? It's flickering but not moving and nothing seems to make it respond.

Desperate for any suggestions!

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 2:28 AM

Top-ranking reply

LucoBrasi

Level 5

5,702 points

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 2:32 AM

This looks like hardware issue for me. Try to reset SMC settings and NVRAM

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

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36 replies

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2016 10:55 AM in response to Loner T

I Can give that a go. But I'm guessing I would have needed to back up before upgrading to Sierra, which I haven't.

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Sep 22, 2016 11:00 AM in response to bryanbenjy

If you can, set up a TM backup on Sierra and create a baseline, and then install El Capitan on an external disk and test.

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2016 2:45 PM in response to Loner T

Now I've tried these things I'm not seeming to be able to get to the login screen any more and therefore my second display wont turn on, so I can't even access it at the moment. So frustrating. It can't be a coincidence that it happened when I upgraded to Sierra, can it? But then I've not found anyone else with the same problem.

Sep 22, 2016 2:47 PM in response to bryanbenjy

Do you get a chime when powering on?

My upgrade from El Capitan stopped towards the end and the iMac appeared dead. Apple support were OK suggesting I try several combinations of key-presses at power up.. but if you dont get the chime bluetooth devices will not be connected.

If you have one, connect a wired keyboard and hold down Command+R while powering on. This will start in safe mode, do a hard disk diagnostic/repair and chances are it will continue with the upgrade after re-start.

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2016 2:51 PM in response to DarranPotter

Yes, I get a chime and I have a wired keyboard anyway. I will try that, I thought it was shift that put it into safe mode?

But when I had the second display working earlier, I was using it fine, so it appears it did the update fine, if anything it's just the driver for the iMac display which isnt working, or worse a hardware failure.

Sep 22, 2016 2:54 PM in response to bryanbenjy

Sorry you're right... Shift+R is safe mode, Command+R is recovery mode.

The latter is probably more useful to you at right now!

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Sep 22, 2016 3:00 PM in response to bryanbenjy

bryanbenjy wrote:

But when I had the second display working earlier, I was using it fine, so it appears it did the update fine, if anything it's just the driver for the iMac display which isnt working, or worse a hardware failure.

Is your iMac connected to regular power or through a UPS? If you had a surge at work, it can cause hardware failures.

Hardware failure on a 2014 iMac is unlikely, although possible, under extreme power fluctuations.

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2016 3:02 PM in response to DarranPotter

Well I'll try anything!! Slightly nervous that my 2.5 year old iMac might be dead!

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2016 3:26 PM in response to Loner T

Its just connected to a regular supply. However there are 4 other computers there and if there was a surge wouldn't they have been reset?

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Sep 22, 2016 4:09 PM in response to bryanbenjy

Are the other computers in the same catatonic state?

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2016 4:18 PM in response to Loner T

No, but only one other is a mac and that hasnt done the update yet.

Sep 22, 2016 4:57 PM in response to bryanbenjy

My iMAC is bricked also - I started up in SAFE mode and ran DISK UTILITIES on the HDD - this is what came up ...

SO HOW DO YOU RUN FIRST AID FROM RECOVERY MODE ?????

Checking prerequisites

Checking the partition list

Checking the partition map size

Checking for an EFI system partition

Checking the EFI system partition’s size

Checking the EFI system partition’s file system

Checking the EFI system partition’s folder content

Problems were found with the partition map which might prevent booting

Operation successful.

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Sep 22, 2016 5:03 PM in response to Jedi Larry

Boot into Internet Recovery (not Local Recovery) and click on Utilities -> Terminal. Run

diskutil repairDisk disk0

Use Command+C (Copy) to copy the output, quit Terminal, start Safari, and use Command+V to paste the output as a reply to this discussion.

Sep 22, 2016 5:13 PM in response to bryanbenjy

Sheesh. Blue Screen of Death solutions from Microsoft Windows may help.

bryanbenjy Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 23, 2016 11:46 AM in response to MuckyDuck

So, looks like it must be hardware! 😟

tried all of these things, spent 3 hours on the phone to apple support trying other things, and eventually did a factory restore back to OS Mavericks that it came with, and still got the same problem. Worst thing is now I can't even get it to register the additional monitor so it really is bricked!

MacOS Sierra bricked my iMac