17" early 2006 iMac powers down during startup

I am running 10.5.2 on an early 2006 1.86GHz Intel Core Duo 17" iMac (white), 160GB HD, 8x Superdrive, 2x1GB RAM.
1MB L2 Cache (from memory), bus speed 667 MHz (also from memory).
Latest BootROM (forget which one), checked for updates about a week ago.
Am, or rather was. It died this afternoon. I came back to it after lunch and the hard disk was making a distinctive pattern of clicks - a slow 1 - 2 - 3, which sounded like regular clicks and releases of a button, and then a short burst, followed by the 1 - 2 - 3 etc. The noises themselves weren't unusual, sounding just like ordinary disk access sounds, it was just the regular pattern that was distinctive, and the fact that none of my open apps were responding. I had been copying some files to the computer over the network and the copy had errored out with only a few files left to copy. Over the next 30-45 minutes I managed to force quit all the apps (about 7mins per program), but still couldn't shut down or restart, and ended up holding down the power button to switch the machine off.
I gave it half and hour's rest and powered it up, but it got stuck after the apple logo and the circle of spinning bars appeared (they were both still there). The hard disk made the distinctive pattern of sounds again.
The next time I started it, I tried zapping the PRAM, but the machine got to the same stage before powering itself down. Trying to boot into Safe mode or from my Leopard install DVD or in Target Disk Mode also failed. Every time, the Apple logo and the spinning circle of bars appeared, then the machine shut off, I presume before it can do any of those tasks.
I have tried taking each of the RAM modules out - same result.
I am not sure whether the problem is the hard disk, or the logic board or power supply, or something else entirely. I have heard on another forum that some iMacs went out with faulty capacitors on the logic boards and that you can check on Apple's website to see if your serial number falls into that range, but I can't find the page (search terms were intel imac logic board faulty capacitors power supply serial number, and variations thereof).
Recently I have installed several freeware and shareware apps from magazine DVDs, and had particular problems with Intego Fileguard. It creates 'safes' to encrypt folders you specify, though when I asked it to put my emails, pictures, movies and music in four separate safes they all became corrupted immediately. In the case of the pictures and music I lost most of the files (nearly all recoverable from backups/original CDs, thankfully!).
Also, just yesterday the machine had crashed after a restart, reaching the same point as it does now, but this time it didn't power off. When I powered it down and gave it a rest, it started up normally.
This is my first dead Mac, and I'm realising what a traumatic experience it can be. Help will be much appreciated!

Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I would reset the System Management Controler.

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Early 2006 iMac Kernel Panics on startup

We have recently purchased a second hand 20" iMac, and after a few days it has started to kernel panic on startup, before the Apple logo disappears. A whirring when it begins to turn on has also appeared.
I shall photograph the kernel panic message if it helps. The local Apple Store have suggested that since there is a greater time period before the Apple Logo appears, the fault might be something to do with the motherboard/hard drive. Are there any suggestions here which may help us?
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KimGale wrote:
The kernel panic occurs before I can log in.
here's some to read up on:
_*Resolving Kernel Panics*_ and here _*http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2546*_.
for OS X 10.6 specifically, see this: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8965.html.
also
_*What is a kernel panic*_,
_*Technical Note TN2063: Understanding and Debugging Kernel Panics*_,
_*Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ*_,
and
_*Tutorial: Avoiding and eliminating Kernel panics*_
The disk is in there, and now we can't get it out
FWIW,
Kappy wrote:
Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive
Ejecting the stuck disc can usually be done in one of the following ways:
1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the left mouse button until the disc ejects.
2. Press the Eject button on your keyboard.
3. Click on the Eject button in the menubar.
4. Press COMMAND-E.
5. If none of the above work try this:
Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder. At the prompt enter or paste the following:
/usr/bin/drutil eject.
If this fails then try this:
Boot the computer into single-user mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.
JGG

24" Imac shuts down during startup, HD replaced

So my iMac (running Mavericks) was running really slow and wouldn't respond often. It got to the point where it was freezing up or getting the spinning wheel all the time. I assume the HD was failing and bought a new one. I originally had a WD SATA 1TB drive in it (original from apple) So I basically ordered the same thing from Amazon. A WD SATA 1TB. I followed all instructions on iFixit for HD replacement. Overall the installation went fine. Not my first time under the hood of one of my Macs. I ran the recovery mode, formatted the new drive and restored from the time machine backup. All going smoothly. Now when it boots I get the gray screen, apple logo, spinning gear then complete shut down. Zapped PRAM, rest SMC. I'm at a total loss what to do next. PLEASE HELP!!

Try to boot up in Safe Mode. Hold down the "Shift" key as soon as you turn on the computer. This will force a check of the directory, turn off extensions and login items and more.
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Lastly, if that doesn't work - go get a copy of DiskWarrior which is known to fix just about any hard drive problem. Everybody should have a copy of this on hand anyway.
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IMac shuts down during startup

My 1.8GHz 20" iMac G5 will shut down soon after I hit the power button. Sometimes I get a grey screen for a few seconds before it shuts down and other times I only see the power light before it shuts down. You can hear things running but I am not sure if it is the fan, hard drive or both.
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My iMac had been in storage for a while and seemed to boot fine when I first tried. I plugged a portable hard drive into one of the USB jacks on the keyboard and got an error message about USB overcurrent. Before I could even finish reading the message and react to it the machine shut down and hasn't been able to start ever since.
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Sean

"My iMac had been in storage for a while"
How long? It's possible you may need a new battery?
The CR2032 battery can be purchased/ordered for under $10.00 from: http://mac-batteries.com/
CR2032

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Sounds to me like you may have bad power supply units. I know of several people who had Rev B machines that were covered by THIS repair program.
Even though it says rev A machines are covered. It seems like some that were made early in the switch still used some of the components that were fingered out as not functioning properly. I would check your serial number.
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Shuts down during startup

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Hi Eric
When I put in my system DVD (I'm assuming that's the one with the operating system install) there was no change. I still hear the computer power up, I get the white screen (and now hear the DVD churn), get the Apple logo, get the white bar across the bottom of the screen that shows progress, and then poof, the computer shuts down (with my operating system DVD in it).
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JLW274, welcome to the forum.
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MacBook Shuts down during startup

My MacBook started acting slow the other day and then today when I started it up, it was in a constant lock up with a spinning pin wheel. No force quit commands or anything would work. So, I restarted it and now after the Grey screen with the Apple logo, the MacBook shuts down. The only thing I can get running is by holding C with the Leopard disc in there.
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Hello,
I am having this very same issue. It shuts down during startup. I can boot into Windows, and using the Leopard startup disc, Disk Utility could not work any magic. I do not have a second Mac or access to one for any backup purposes. I have no idea what else to try, does anyone know something besides backing up through firewire, on how I can either save my computer's data or resurrect the drive? Thank you for your help.

My imac shuts down on startup help !!

my imac shuts down on startup help!

Like this:
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support
Barry

Where can i download audio drivers for early 2006 imac?

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It most likely is disconnected or broken if someone has been working on that iMac.
Go to: Apple > About This Mac > More Info and in the Hardware secton select Audio (Built-in) and see if the Internal Microphone is listed there.
If it is, then go to: Applications > Utilities > open Audio MIDI Setup > select Built-in Input and fiddle around with the settings to see if you can get it working.
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My electricity went out and came back on a minute later. When my computer started up again the font was back to original factory setting. I then restarted my computer and every time it would load up it would shutdown. The computer chimes and then reaches a grey screen with an apple sign. Below it is a loading bar. This bar loads about 10% then goes back down and loads from 0%. A couple minutes later it shuts down after staying at 0%. It keeps doing this routine every time I start the computer. I then did a command s and rebooted the computer to factory reset it. The computer still shuts down and has the old habit of reaching 10% and 0% with the loading bar but now after the loading bar is at 0% it then disappears to the Apple sign and a loading circle. It then shuts down again. This iMac was originally 10.6.8. but i believe i updated it to 10.9.4 and was purchased new around 2008. I also tried to put in a CD with Firmware Restoration CD 1.7. but that didnt work. Can anyone help? or has anyone had similar issues?

Hello canwary
Good job on troubleshooting your issue so far. For most issues that deal with your Mac not starting up, consult the article below to see what the issue could be.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/en-us/TS2570
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My imac shuts down during the startup process - possible startup file corrupt..??

startup process begins normally...
grey screen - then the apple - then the spinning wheel -
sometimes shuts down during spinning wheel, sometimes it gets to the blue screen then shuts down

Zap the PRAM and Reset the SMC, then try again. If no go, Bboot with the SL install disc, launch Disk Utility, repair the disk, and restart normally. If that doesn't do the trick reinstall SL and then run Software Update if that does.

IMac shutting down on startup - Can't enter safe mode as wireless keyboard doesn't connect quickly enough

Hi all,
I was planning to use bootcamp to install Windows 7 on my mid-2010 21.5" iMac.
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Also, if the disk in drive is causing the problem, then I can't remove it because the wireless keyboard won't connect/register any keypresses.

Ok so, status report:
Wired keyboard is non responsive when I plug it in before/during boot. So i guess it needs to be plugged in before the iMac shut down. That's that out the window.
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Computer shuts down during startup

Hey everyone,
it shames me a little to ask for help about computers because I am usually ok with doing this stuff myself.
This time, however, I cannot seem to fix the problem indefinitely.I need a laptop for school and cannot afford another so any help would be greatly appreciated!:
I will just point the facts out:
After a few years use (two) it now shuts down during (windows) startup.
I ended up cleaning the Heatsink/fan yet the problem persisted.
The model is a Toshiba Satellite A200-PSAF6A.
I am no longer under warranty.
The school techs cannot help me.
A few oddities that I noticed:
It starts up fine when the power plug isn't plugged in.
It starts up fine with the power plugged in only in safe mode.
Using CCleaner and Defraggler temporarily fixed my problem (for about 5 minutes or so).
I hope that you guys can help me. It's just annoying that I cannot fix this myself..
If any further information is required please just ask and I will reply with as much haste as I can under my current circumstances.
Thanks,
Norak.

Linton wrote:
I have a couple of years old A200 satellite and have the same problem.
During a "cold start" I may get up to the windows login screen and then it shuts down and restarts. (sometimes it doesn't make it to the windows screen and turns off to restart). Then it will start to load windows and the little bar at the bottom will be loading windows and then freeze. I would have to hold the power button down to turn off and restart. Then I start windows normally and it usually works OK, sometimes I have to do this step again, but eventually I get into windows. Then if I shut down and restart it starts up fine, unless I wait for it to cool down.
Since this started happening, I have reinstalled vista 32bit to out of the box condition and updated to the latest bios, to no avail.
Computer has always run hot since new, seems to have very poor cooling. But the fan operates, most of the time on full boar.
Do you think this is a software issue or a component issue, or cold joint.
BTW it will not shutdown at all if I keep the computer in the F12 key settings area,im not sure what this place is called, but you choose to boot from cd here.
Okay, this is weird and I'm not sure if this has anything to do with what I had mentioned earlier. I was having some issues with my DVD drive, it was rattling bad and the spin off time was off causing coasters on almost every blank DVD, so I had the thing sent in for a replacement. They put in a new DVD drive, checked the status of my BIOS (V 4.2 which I had all along) and returned the unit back to me sometime around April 22, 2010 -- ever since the thing was working fine. I'm not sure if the bad drive had caused the unit to work erratically.
Before it was sent in, the issue was of course with the DVD drive, the startup then shutdown problems, plus a whole plethora of other small problems which I didn't bother to mention on my first post. For instance; the illumination lights that controls the media -- sometimes they would not turn off when I shut my computer down. The light stays on even after the computer powers off and I'd have to unplug the AC power cord for the lights to completely shut off.
My initial problems with the laptop was:
Media lights won't go off,
DVD drive rattles very loudly and burns bad media,
Shutdowns during startups,
The screen housing would creak every time when I wanted to adjust the position (this happens when I adjust it slowly).
After they replaced the DVD drive, everything seems to work fine. It's been almost two months now and I haven't had issues with any of the above mentioned problems.
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IMac powers down while starting in safe boot mode

My 2014 21" iMac powers itself down after about 10 seconds while trying to startup in safe boot mode. I'm not even sure why it is trying to start in safe boot mode. I shut it down after a power outage while plugged into an APS UPS. I'm guessing that since I interrupted the auto shutdown it is restarting in safe boot mode. Either way, I get a grey screen with a big apple and a progress bar. The progress bar gets to about a tenth full and the power just shuts off.
I've tried starting up while holding the alt key to select the Macintosh HD. The same thing happens.
I'm not particularly tech savvy. Any ideas are appreciated.

Thank you for the clarification and link. I ran the disk utility on Macintosh HD and it said it can't repair the disk, and that I need to reformat and restore. It has an invalid node structure. All of this happened just because I shut it down presumable while it was already trying to shut itself down after talking to the UPS?
At least I use Time Machine.
Thank you again.

17" early 2006 iMac powers down during startup

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