Bondi iMac refuses to boot CDs, crazy workaround suggestion, any comments?

Hi
Short question: can I bypass the CD reading process on my Bondi iMac entirely?
By 'cloning' genuine OS8 and/or OS9 CDs and/or Linux ppc distros onto a set of USB drives.
Then using these sticks to dd data onto a bootable partition of the hard drive using finnix (which is about the only distro I can get to work).
Boot from the new (and hopefully bootable) partition, and proceed with the install process from there; the target being a second partition.
Then just rearrange the partitions, tidy up and reclaim the space from the temp install, and there you have it, a working Bondi iMac which has effectively become a very lumpy netbook.
Anyone fancy spelling out in simple steps what to do?
Long explanation: So I bought a lime G3 iBook for spares. That worked out well, I sold the parts for more than it cost me, and I had some software left over. I should keep that; as I don't want to get into copyrighting difficulties, I thought.
So, I bought a tangerine iBook G3. Now by then I was starting to get intrigued. This seeemed like it could be saved, as a personal project. So I swapped the keyboard, battery, power supply, and even the memory for a while. Then I got into the software. Wouldn't load. Apart from finnix. So I put it up for sale - wiped - someone else's problem.
Except then I bought a Bondi iMac, same problem. CDs wouldn't load. Except for finnix, or I'd have given this up as a bad job ages ago...
So, I tried cleaning the opticals. No joy. I tried every OSX and linux distro I could lay my hands on. Nothing but finnix 86.1 worked.
I wondered about booting a net upgradeable distro on the USB, but it's USB1 and no firewire, so no can do.
But then, tonight, I think. What if... I can get (all of!) a genuine Apple CD contents onto the USB on a working CD-ROM, the USB onto a partition of the hard drive (using dd on finnix), boot the installer from the image partition, target the other partition for install, reboot, tidy up, reclaim space, and go about my business.
If that seems over-complicated, I know, I'm obsessive about old tech. And I'm very poor, so selling spare parts rather than buying them is key (or I'd just collect old CD-ROMs instead of the CDs to go in them). But when it comes to data I will not be beat, when I comes to electronics I can't change a lightbulb.
What I've got:
CD-R (lots)
Time (limited - my wife wants the iMac GONE or WORKING!)
A Bondi G3 iMac with a faulty (flakey - but very clean) CD-ROM.
A Tangerine G3 iBook with the same problem, but worse.
A working DVD/CD-R/W Windows XP machine.
A working Ubunbtu server with a CD-R (and with fairly tricky access - so no gymnastics please)
If you've got this far, you'll have had a similar problem.
I'm kind of at the meh, sell em, nah, fix em, erm, kind of stage. So sorry if I've wasted anyone's time.
Look forward to hearing from you.

I wondered about booting a net upgradeable distro on the USB, but it's USB1 and no firewire, so no can do.
The firmware doesn't support boot from a USB drive.
Robert

Similar Messages

IMac refuses to boot properly - hardware problem?

Hi all, I'm having some problems with my iMac (purchased last October) and was hoping some kind soul could shed some light.
Here's where I'm at now.
- The iMac doesn't boot. When I press the power button, it chimes, but then nothing happens and I just see the white/grey screen.
- I have disconnected all 3rd party peripherals, and only have original keyboard and mouse attached.
- No matter what keyboard combo I try, nothing happens either. I managed to eject the disc once by pressing the mouse button, but no other key combos work.
- I must have rebooted about 30 times now, and only twice did something happen:
1. Once it sat on the white screen for a bit, and then displayed a grey folder with a questionmark in it, but then nothing else happened.
1. Once I did get it to boot from the CD, and I got to the installation screen. At this stage I tried a couple of different things. First I tried Disk Utility, and the HD is indeed listed in the sidebar (although it's listed as 'disk0s2' rather than 'Macintosh HD'. When I picked the First Aid tab, both Repaid Disk Permissions and Verify Disk Permissions are greyed out (i.e. I can't press them). When I went to press Repair, I got the following error message.
+Verify and Repair disk 'disk0s2'+
+Checking HFS Plus Volume+
+Invalid node structure+
+Invalid record count+
+Catalog file entry not found for extent+
+Volume check failed+
+Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit+
+1 HFS volume checked+
+1 volume could not be repaired because of an error+
So, I could do nothing in Disk Utility. I then thought "well, I'll just surrender then and reinstall OS X", but when I went back to the Install screen and proceeded, and it asked me where to install the OS, there was nothing to choose from. Usually 'Macintosh HD' is listed along with any other disks. Not this time. So, I shut down the computer again, and now I can't back to the screen (i.e. it refuses to boot from the CD again and instead just spits out the disc).
So then I phoned Apple. But because I don't have their service plan (and the free one only lasts 90 days after purchase), he couldn't help much. He did say though that if it spits out the disc, it could be hardware problem, and my warranty would cover it.
So, should I just give up, realise my HD is screwed and my data is gone, and hand it in for service? Or can anyone here shed some more light on my situation?
Even a "yes, you're screwed, hand it in" would suffice, if that's indeed where I am.
Thanks,
Hanna
Edited for spelling by Nunis

Thank you, dwb. I did just manage to boot from the DVD again, but again I'm seeing the same problems.
Screencaps:
http://nunis.net/misc/screencaps/boot.jpg
http://nunis.net/misc/screencaps/boot2.jpg
And I have been backing up, but I just got back from vacation, so my last backup is 2 weeks old and the things I was worried about saving was the work I did on my vacation photos and video. Also, you'd be kicking a girl when she's down, which would be even worse.
I think I'll definitely hand it in now, and ask the tech to rescue whatever data he can. I don't care if it costs me a bit, if it means rescuing my vacation photos.
Thanks again, you've been most helpful.

IMac refusing to boot

Hi,
I had a nasty surprise this morning with my iMac (white iMac, C2D, 24"): I powered it up, the fans started blowing like crazy, and then it just powered back down. Nothing else, no display, no startup sound, just that. When I tried to turn it back on, it wouldn't do anything at all. I finally had to pull the power plug, put it back in, and it started again.
I'm wondering if this could come from the dust that accumulated inside the iMac. I'm already having problems due to the fans not cooling the CPU and GPU enough, so I had to increase the fans' speed to compensate. When not doing that, the screen goes crazy and displays weird lines everywhere, until it finally just crashes.
Could it be something else, or just using a vacuum cleaner to remove some dust would solve it ?

HI Fred,
Since you are experiencing startup problems, make sure your important data is backed up to an external source just in case.
If your iMac has trouble starting up again, try Resetting the PRAM
the screen goes crazy and displays weird lines everywhere, until it finally just crashes.
Try the Apple Hardware Test
Might be a good time to boot from your install disc, run Disk Utility to make sure there aren't errors on the startup disk.
Insert your install disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
*(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)*
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility window open, look at the bottom of the window. Where you see Capacity and Available. *Make sure there is always 10% to 15% free disk space*
If you cannot boot from your install disc, try booting in Safe Mode
Carolyn

IMac refuses to boot up - grey screen, first aid failed

Hope someone can help me...
Recently downloaded the latest intel mac securiy update - ver. 11 - since then my iMac began to take a long time to boot up. It started fine this monring but upon shutdown and subsequent restart this evening my machine reaches the grey screen stage and then seems to 'loop' continuously - no log-in screen is ever reached.
I tried power off, unplug all cables - no results
I tried safe boot - no joy either
Booted from back up cds - ran disk utilities
verify disk - it aborted at the catalog check with invalid node structure, 1 HFS volume could not be repaired messages
verify disk permissions - it froze
tried install and archive - message was installation failed
Is there anything else I can try apart from erasing my hard drive and installing from scratch?
This seems to have started since I downloaded the ver 11 intel security update...
any advice greatly appreciated
Hazel

Hi Hazel, and a warm welcome to the forums!
Don't try to Repair Permissions or anything else until the Disk Structure is fixed.
You must repair the HD, if Disk Utility or fsck should fail to repair it, your best bet is DiskWarrior from Alsoft, you'll need the CD to boot from if you don't have another boot drive...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
But sometimes fsck will work if you do it a few times, not likely, but possible.
Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...
/sbin/fsck -fy
Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.
(Space between fsck AND -fy important).
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Tough without the Tiger Disk problems, but try fsck...
To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
1. Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Hold CMD+s keys down at bootup. Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
2. At the command-line prompt, type /sbin/fsck -fy
(SPACE between fsck AND -fy important)
3. Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found: 
The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK  If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message: *** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***   Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Early G5 iMac refusing to boot-up

Installed sons new 'Battlefield 1942' this morning, all worked fine until he paused game (for 2 minutes or so).
Screen went 'all funny' many lines etc on screen etc - can't be more specific than that.
We restarted iMac, all appeared fine for a few mins, then problem reappeared.
Restarted again, installed a Sims2 extra (university) and with in 5 mins same problem
Rebooted and again, now having reset PRAM (twice), unplugged powerlead etc cannot get more than 15secs into booting up, before more squigly lines and a message about having to restart etc
Unable to even eject the Sims2 expansion DVD to reboot off iMac DVD
Am open to suggestions, even as to where in Norwich (UK) area to take it first thing wednesday am for open-heart surgery.
OK, so I have this power-book to write this plea for help, but important business files are on there! (of course)
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP
Patrick
G5 iMac, 80Gb Drive Mac OS X (10.3.9) 512mb RAM,
G5 iMac, 80Gb Drive Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Miriam, and all other readers, I am typing this response on my newly repaired iMac G5, although it seemed to take a long while I waited for my 'local' (40miles away!) AASP to reopen after the new year break, I was asked to take it to them, and leave it "for when our engineer finds time to look at it".
Now by quoting them it may seem a little unfair, as within 4 working days of leaving it with them, they rang me to ask to address it could be couriered.
It arrived back today, although with no explanation as to exactly which components were replaced, but. hey! its back, up and running and I resume no repair bill for me to pay.
In conclusion then, I would like to thank GeTech in Ipswich for arranging the repair, Apple for 'OK-ing' the repair, and Miriam, for pointing me to the article on these pages which let me know I was not alone.
I am really glad I had my older Powerbook to keep me connected (albeit creaking along at times!), and if only I could get that machine to print (anything) again it would be even better.
Yours sincerely folks, Patrick Beane.
BTW, does anyone else reading this know if the replacement parts are 'beef-up' to prevent this re-occuring? (I am going off topic here, back in the early eighties I had an HONDA CX500, these were prone to Camchain tensioner breakages, by the time mine failed and HONDA repaired it, I am led to understand by the dealers mechanics that that the new parts could tension an oil tanker anchor chain)

My older i7 core iMac refuses to boot off install DVD

Can't seem to reboot off install discs. Stripped & reformatted couple year old i7 Core iMac 27" for Wifey at Christmas, and no iphoto, and finally noticed no way to download. spits out install discs like chewing tobacco.
OS 10.6.8, 2.8GHz i7 core, 12gb ram.
What on earth is going on???
Anyone got any clues?

The first thing to try is a drive cleaning disk. A dirty optical drive can cause that symptom. The dry type with fine brushes works best for me.
As these cost only US$5-15, they are an ecomonical first step that may revice the drive.
A friend had a Mac doing what your is and was told by a certified Apple tech that his drive was dead and required replacing--about US$150 for his model. I loaned him my cleaning disk and that was sufficient to restore the drive to 100 percent function.

Bondi iMac 233 won't boot from hard drive,

I have a Bondi iMac 233, 192MB running OSX 10.3 which was being throw out at work, the hard drive (40GB IBM Deathstar) was failing but it would still boot up. I installed an original 6GB iMac Hard Drive, low level formated the drive and installed OS9.2. Now the iMac refuses to boot from this hard drive or even another 4GB Hard Drive.
The iMac will boot from CD and I can see and install a new OS onto the Hard Drive, OS9 or OSX, I can choose the drive under the Startup Control Panel but the computer refuses to boot from the Hard Drive.
I have zapped the PRAM,
Reset the NVRAM
Reset the CUDA chip.
Reset the Logic Board
Reseated Cables
Reseated Processor and memory modules
All to no avail.
Does anyone have any other ideas?
thanks
Bondi iMac Mac OS 9.2.x

I've been doing this with about 14 iMacs slot/tray that I'm prepping for inner city kindergartens in Chicago. I have had that problem where in moving from 10.3.9 to 9.2.2 the iMacs wouldn't recognize the HDs. Booting from an original iMac OS 9 install disc and selecting the HD as start up has always solved the problem for me.
However, and maybe this is related,
I've had the problem with a couple of tray loaders where in moving from 10 to 9 it wouldn't recognize the CD-ROM drive. I went through a bunch of drives before I figured out that booting from an iMac OS 8.6 CD made the iMac rerecognize the drive. I was able to reset?? all the drives that wouldn't previously work using this method. Weird but maybe there's a chip in the drive board that needed to be reset. Dunnno about the HDs tho' but it could be related.
Richard

Please Help :( iMac 20" refuses to boot up with anymore than 1gb ram?

Please Help iMac 20" refuses to boot up with anymore than 1gb ram? It was fine 4 days ago and had been working with a 1gb stick in one slot and a 2gb stick, which had replaced the orignal 1gb stick that I got it with, in the other and it had shown 3gb of ram and was working just fine with that since November? It went to sleep briefly 4 days ago while I was waiting on a customer and I came back to try to wake it up and it never would forcing me to hard boot it. When I did that it would only go to a black screen with a solid white light on the power indicator. Over and over again and same thing. I read and tried every suggestion I could possibly find in this and a few other mac forums to no avail.
I finally after reading about RAM issues etc. I decided to power off and take out the ram sticks and try them one at a time in each slot. So I took out the 2gb stick and did the SMC reset and it would boot up and work just fine with the 1 gb of ram. So then I went through the same process with the 2gb stick and it would not boot up only go to a black screen with white solid light again (NOT flashing). So then I tried the other original 1gb I had replaced with the 2gb and it worked just find like the other 1gb. So then I tried just 1gb stick in the other ram slot (back facing one) and with just the 1gb strip it booted up and worked fine. Tried it with the other 1gb stick and once again that one too worked just fine. So I determined it wasn't the slot itself I thought? I then tried the 2gb in the back slot and it would not boot only go to the black screen white solid light deal like before. So I thought well ok it's obviously the 2gb ram must have somehow went bad (even though I have only had it since November) and I thought well I will just use the (2) 1gb sticks in each slot and then that will at least give me 2gb because only 1gb really ***** LOL. So I proceeded to go through the same shut down process installed both sticks (I always push them to I feel them click and my fingers have a nice indention on them) reset the SMC and turned the power one and.... It would only go to the black screen with white solid light on power indicator???? I went through the same above process at least 3 times and again today a few times and I can't figure it out and I tried to search and search and I couldn't find anything like what I am experiencing.....What happened? Please help this slow Imac is killing me. It will work with 1gb ram only nothing more? Here are the specifics of my Imac.
It is a 20" Late 2006 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16 ATI Radeon X1600 256 MB graphics card and Ram with now only 1gb (did have 3gb) and I am running OSX Lion 10.7.5
When I go to system report and go under memory it shows this:
BANK 0/DIMM0:
Size:          1 GB
Type:          DDR2 SDRAM
Speed:          667 MHz
Status:          OK
Manufacturer:          0xCE00000000000000
Part Number:          0x4D342037305432393533435A332D43453620
BANK 1/DIMM1:
Size:          Empty
Type:          Empty
Speed:          Empty
Status:          Empty
Manufacturer:          Empty
Part Number:          Empty
Serial Number:          Empty
Any help I can get would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance
ALSO...Here is also a pic of the system log right before it happened. It even changed the date to 07/2014????
I have some more if needed???????????????
<Personal Information Edited by Host>

The Memtest just completed and came back like this? It only test the single 1gb chip because anything more in this computer it won't go past the black screen with solid white power light.
Memtest version 4.22 (64-bit)
Copyright (C) 2004 Charles Cazabon
Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Tony Scaminaci (Macintosh port)
Licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 only
NOTE: No command-line arguments have been specified
Using defaults: Test all available memory, one test pass, no logfile
Mac OS X 10.7.5 (11G63) running in multiuser mode
Memory Page Size: 4096
System has 2 Intel core(s) with SSE
Requested memory: 250MB (263086080 bytes)
Available memory: 250MB (263086080 bytes)
Allocated memory: 250MB (263086080 bytes) at local address 0x0000000101000000
Attempting memory lock... locked successfully
Partitioning memory into 2 comparison buffers...
Buffer A: 125MB (131543040 bytes) starts at local address 0x0000000101000000
Buffer B: 125MB (131543040 bytes) starts at local address 0x0000000108d73000
Running 1 test sequence... (CTRL-C to quit)
Test sequence 1 of 1:
Running tests on full 250MB region...
Stuck Address       : ok
Linear PRN          : ok
Running comparison tests using 125MB buffers...
Random Value        : ok
Compare XOR         : ok
Compare SUB         : ok
Compare MUL         : ok
Compare DIV         : ok
Compare OR          : ok
Compare AND         : ok
Sequential Increment: ok
Solid Bits          : ok
Block Sequential    : ok
Checkerboard        : ok
Bit Spread          : ok
Bit Flip            : ok
Walking Ones        : ok
Walking Zeroes      : ok
All tests passed! Execution time: 362 seconds.
logout
[Process completed]
Seems Okay I guess?

IMac 2.4GHz (MA877LL) refuses to boot with 4GB ram, boots only with 3 GB

iMac 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo 20" Anodized Aluminum (MA877LL)
iMac 2.4GHz (MA877LL) refuses to boot with 4GB ram, boots only with 3 GB
2 x2GB Geil GX2S6400-4GDCA
Computer refuses to boot with both chips installed 4 GB.
Computer will boot and recognize 3 GB..( Apple 1 GB + 2 GB GEIL)
Both Geil Chips will boot, when paired with the Apple 1 GB chip.
machine recognizes 3 GB ram.
Please advise...

Ensure the computer's RAM is fully seated down, and then try resetting the PRAM by holding down options-command-P-R at boot. The computer will make the boot chimes and then reset and chime again. When it chimes the second time release the keys and let the thing boot normally. Hopefully that will let it recognize the RAM.

Original iMac will not boot from new disk

I am having considerable difficulty getting a new disk to boot in an original 'Bondi blue' iMac.
I think I have researched this issue reasonably well and found a few references to it but no solution. I have more resources than most and have tried every trick I know. The story at the following link is not dissimilar to my experience:
http://www.applefritter.com/node/20518
Details:
iMac - original 233 MHz revision A with 160 MB RAM
New disk - 120 GB 7200 rpm Western Digital disk type WD1200SB
Format - HFS+ with 7 GB first partition and 107 GB second partition
Jumpers - both CD and disk set to master - normal for this iMac I believe
The iMac will seldom boot from OS X 10.3 on first partition or OS 9.2.2 on second partition with or without the other OS totally removed. I have reformatted several times and played with several disk drivers. I have zapped PRAM a few times. I sometimes get a grey screen but more frequently get a flashing question mark.
I can mount both volumes when booted from a CD and every test shows that they behave as expected. The disk boots properly in a G4.
I am prepared to try anything but I would particularly appreciate advice from somebody who knows what the problem is.

Eureka - it works - thanks very much.
It now boots from OS 9.2.2 on both partitions every time. I have yet to replaced the OS X that I removed earlier but I am not expecting difficulties.
My view is that http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25249 is badly written. I assume that item 4 should read 'OS X' and not "Mac OS". It may have been written on the assumption that users only want OS X and Classic on a single partition. My experience, particularly with early iMacs, is that it pays to have 2 bootable partitions and it is expedient to have OS X on one and OS 9.2.2 on the other with the OS 9.2.2 being used for Classic and for direct booting into OS 9.2.2.
My error was in paying insufficient attention to
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/stdadp.php?p_faqid=1277&pcreated=1095792241#jumper
which clearly indicates jumper positions for single drives although a few words about it would underline the point. I had already discovered that these iMacs normally have both CD and disk set to master so should have realised that strictly they are 'single drives'. I had initially used the clear, but misleading, drive silk screen printing, ie CS, slave, master to set the jumper but should have changed it when checking the WD site later. Perhaps they could use this thread to update their FAQs - I will mention it to them.
In answer to those, on this thread and elsewhere, who were not happy with my sloppy copying of OS 9.x, I discovered some years ago that as long as you 'blessed' the end result in situ with one of the free OS 9.x updaters it is surprising what you can get away with. - I am not advising anybody to do this unless it is within the terms of their Apple license!
Now I wonder if I should stick with OS X 10.3 or if it is worth trying OS X 10.4 with
http://eshop.macsales.com/OSXCenter/XPostFacto/Framework.cfm?page=XPostFacto.htm l
Does anybody know how satisfactory it is and if it has serious memory or speed implications? My only slightly unusual software is Cisco VPN client.

IMac will not boot from any mode except Target Disk

I have an Early 2008 Penryn iMac 24" MB398LL/A running OS X 10.7.4 (see specs below) that will not boot from ANY mode, It also has several strange vertical bars from top to bottom on the screen. They are about 10 px wide, with some pixels empty and looks a bit like a barcode if you squint at it.
I have tried Safe Boot, Force Boot, DVD Boot, FireWire/USB Boot, and it always gets to the same point. It gets to the apple screen with the spinning gear and then after about 8 seconds it freezes. The only way it works at all is in Target Disk Mode. It pops right up on my Macbook Pro and I was able to grab all my info!
I have run Disc Utilities and Tech Tool on it many times from my MBP and it passes every test.
I reformatted the HD and installed 10.7 again, it still freezes up at the same point.
I have tried using Single User mode and every time have had to run /sbin/fsck -fy twice because it always says the disk is ok but it was modified on the first pass.
I thought maybe it had a bad video card or logic board but and I ran the Apple Hardware Test on many occasions and it always passes. Recently I was told about Loop Mode and just completed running the AHT for just over 30 hours without any errors at all.
UPDATE...
Strange Part… I tried installing Mountain Lion in Target Disk Mode and everything went smoothly. When it restarted on its own the lines on the screen were gone for the moment, but the Mac still freezes up on the spinning gear and immediately restarts on its own. I have run every thing listed above on it and still nothing. Sometimes the lines reappear then in two more starts they are gone.
I did manage to have it start one time got a copy of the the error report (its at the bottom too) The Mac ran for at least 30 minutes with no problems, then the screen went crazy a few seconds and it became unresponsive. The mouse moved but that was all it could do. Now my iMac continually restarts itself, I don't have any more ideas, HELP!
Specs...
The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 24-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) features a 3.06 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (E8435), with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 2 cache, a 1066 MHz system bus, 2 GB of RAM (800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-6400), a 500 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics acceleration with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory, a built-in iSight video camera, and built-in stereo speakers underneath the 24" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1920x1200 native) display.
Error Report…
Sat Sep 1 17:13:12 2012
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff801a4b7b95): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7f9bab8654, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x0000000000000010, CR3: 0x0000000011803000, CR4: 0x0000000000000660
RAX: 0x0000000000000001, RBX: 0xffffff8050e00000, RCX: 0xffffff801aa8eb00, RDX: 0xffffff80602dba38
RSP: 0xffffff80602dbb60, RBP: 0xffffff80602dbb60, RSI: 0x0000000000000000, RDI: 0x0000000000000000
R8: 0x0000000000000000, R9: 0x00000000000000ff, R10: 0xffffffffffffffff, R11: 0x00000000ffffffff
R12: 0xffffff8050e00000, R13: 0x0000000000000000, R14: 0x0000000000000002, R15: 0x0000000000000000
RFL: 0x0000000000010246, RIP: 0xffffff7f9bab8654, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x0000000000000010, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0

Here is the complete error log...
Sat Sep 1 17:13:12 2012
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff801a4b7b95): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7f9bab8654, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x0000000000000010, CR3: 0x0000000011803000, CR4: 0x0000000000000660
RAX: 0x0000000000000001, RBX: 0xffffff8050e00000, RCX: 0xffffff801aa8eb00, RDX: 0xffffff80602dba38
RSP: 0xffffff80602dbb60, RBP: 0xffffff80602dbb60, RSI: 0x0000000000000000, RDI: 0x0000000000000000
R8: 0x0000000000000000, R9: 0x00000000000000ff, R10: 0xffffffffffffffff, R11: 0x00000000ffffffff
R12: 0xffffff8050e00000, R13: 0x0000000000000000, R14: 0x0000000000000002, R15: 0x0000000000000000
RFL: 0x0000000000010246, RIP: 0xffffff7f9bab8654, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x0000000000000010, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff80602db800 : 0xffffff801a41d5f6
0xffffff80602db870 : 0xffffff801a4b7b95
0xffffff80602dba40 : 0xffffff801a4ce4ad
0xffffff80602dba60 : 0xffffff7f9bab8654
0xffffff80602dbb60 : 0xffffff7f9baa218c
0xffffff80602dbbb0 : 0xffffff7f9baa20e2
0xffffff80602dbbd0 : 0xffffff7f9ba73554
0xffffff80602dbc00 : 0xffffff7f9aa8d470
0xffffff80602dbc40 : 0xffffff7f9aa8d3df
0xffffff80602dbc60 : 0xffffff7f9aa926ec
0xffffff80602dbcf0 : 0xffffff7f9aa8af20
0xffffff80602dbd20 : 0xffffff7f9aadacc7
0xffffff80602dbd70 : 0xffffff801a833b9b
0xffffff80602dbdc0 : 0xffffff801a862d57
0xffffff80602dbe30 : 0xffffff801a497cef
0xffffff80602dbe80 : 0xffffff801a420abd
0xffffff80602dbeb0 : 0xffffff801a410448
0xffffff80602dbf00 : 0xffffff801a4195fb
0xffffff80602dbf70 : 0xffffff801a4a5ad6
0xffffff80602dbfb0 : 0xffffff801a4ced13
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[2600903C-EEDE-321B-A023-169DC9B26EA6]@0 xffffff7f9aa81000->0xffffff7f9aab8fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8C9E06A4-13D0-33F5-A377-9E36F0ECC229]@0xffffff 7f9aa4d000
         com.apple.NVDAResman(8.0)[6A699209-FB98-316B-A3C0-DCA82AA8C86B]@0xffffff7f9aad8 000->0xffffff7f9addafff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8C9E06A4-13D0-33F5-A377-9E36F0ECC229]@0xffffff 7f9aa4d000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.4)[99CA4184-8D92-31B2-8726-46139E8E3DFF]@0xff ffff7f9aac4000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[2600903C-EEDE-321B-A023-169DC9B26EA6]@0 xffffff7f9aa81000
         com.apple.GeForce(8.0)[4B9BE287-5251-398E-96B0-BB16C9BFB2D9]@0xffffff7f9ba72000 ->0xffffff7f9bb34fff
            dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(8.0.0)[6A699209-FB98-316B-A3C0-DCA82AA8C86B]@0xffffff7f9aa d8000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.4)[99CA4184-8D92-31B2-8726-46139E8E3DFF]@0xff ffff7f9aac4000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8C9E06A4-13D0-33F5-A377-9E36F0ECC229]@0xffffff 7f9aa4d000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[2600903C-EEDE-321B-A023-169DC9B26EA6]@0 xffffff7f9aa81000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer
Mac OS version:
12B19
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 12.1.0: Tue Aug 14 13:29:55 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2050.9.2~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 3005059E-270B-3B9F-940D-7A66C05DDC9D
Kernel slide:     0x000000001a200000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff801a400000
System model name: iMac8,1 (Mac-F227BEC8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 26349024446
last loaded kext at 22534854703: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver          2.3.0f2 (addr 0xffffff7f9c489000, size 12288)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver          2.3.0f2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          2.3.0f2
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver          1.0.2d2
com.apple.filesystems.autofs          3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          4.0.9f8
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothUSBDFU          4.0.9f8
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl          3.2.6
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight          170.2.3
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          3.5.10
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl          1.0.33
com.apple.GeForce          8.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC          1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet          1.0.0d1
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          7.0.0
com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl          3.2.6
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController          320.15
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          3.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver          3.0.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless          1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib          1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache          34
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          2.2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          4.9.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          5.1.6
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224          600.36.17
com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2          3.2.3b1
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          2.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA          2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          5.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI          5.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET          1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons          1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS          1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC          1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC          1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient          196.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall          4.0.39
com.apple.security.quarantine          2
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          196.0.0
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          2.3.0f2
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.8.9fc9
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.6
com.apple.kext.triggers          1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          10.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI          1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert          1.0.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController          1.0.10d0
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal          8.0.0
com.apple.NVDAResman          8.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          2.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          2.3.0f2
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          2.3.0f2
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface          86.0.2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          4.0.9f8
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          3.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport          2.3.4
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily          2.3.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          3.1.3d11
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy          1.0.0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          5.2.0d16
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          5.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub          5.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite          5.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice          3.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily          1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily          1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily          1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport          3.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily          3.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily          4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient          5.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family          500.15
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily          3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily          2.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily          2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily          5.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily          1.8.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily          1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox          220
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch          1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet          7
com.apple.driver.DiskImages          344
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily          1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore          28.18
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform          1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily          2.7
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily          1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto          1.0
Model: iMac8,1, BootROM IM81.00C1.B00, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 3.06 GHz, 2 GB, SMC 1.30f1
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS, PCIe, 512 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 800 MHz, 0x2C00000000000000, 0x38485446313238363448445A2D3830304531
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 800 MHz, 0x2C00000000000000, 0x38485446313238363448445A2D3830304531
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8C), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.36.16)
Bluetooth: Version 4.0.9f8 10405, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD5000AAKS-40YGA1, 500.11 GB
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-875
USB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8502, 0xfd400000 / 2
USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x1a100000 / 2
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x820f, 0x1a110000 / 5
USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0x5d100000 / 2
USB Device: Hub in Apple Extended USB Keyboard, apple_vendor_id, 0x1002, 0x1d100000 / 2
USB Device: Trackball, 0x046d (Logitech Inc.), 0xc404, 0x1d120000 / 4
USB Device: Apple Extended USB Keyboard, apple_vendor_id, 0x0204, 0x1d110000 / 3

Adobe on Leopard, refuses to boot from disc, disaster?

After buying Adobe CS3 Web Premium, I found out I couldn't install it because my drive was formatted as case-sensitive. So, I was forced to backup all my important data and re-initialize. I zeroed the drive, but told it to skip zeroing just before it was done with the last little sliver in the progress bar.
So, I get all the whole system updated. Install Aperture, Thunderbird, Firefox... everything is going great. Then get the updates for Aperture, everything works flawlessly. I had never seen it run so well. Then I finally install CS3 and the install process seems to go without a hitch.
So, I've got CS3 on there, but I want to do some stuff with Aperture before I get into it. I'm working with Aperture and everything is going great. Good performance, really speedy. Then, I decide to open Illustrator CS3. To my horror, Aperture starts to go completely wrong. It gets to the point where I can't use it for longer than 30 seconds without having it crash. So, I quit Illustrator and the problem persists. Finally, I decide to restart the machine, Aperture seems to have fixed itself with restart, everything seems to be alright, for now.
Hmm, I think, maybe the CS3 needs to be updated. Yes, it did, 524 MB of updates. The installer downloads it all, starts the updating process and hangs silently (liquid in the progress bar still flowing). I get no notification except in Activity Monitor, where launchd and another process (I forget which) are going crazy with the CPU. I force-quit the updater from Activity Monitor, reopen it, press the install button again. It doesn't do anything, so I found out I actually have to say "Delete All" as in, delete all the downloaded updates. Then the updater quits itself and I have to reopen it and redownload and install whatever the installer thinks didn't get updated. I had to force quit, delete all, redownload, and install about 5 times before it said it was through.
Oh man, that was bad. Now the whole machine is pretty much a sluggish mess. Naturally, I thought, "I'll run Disk Warrior." I had run it with an earlier version of Leopard before, so I expected it to work. Insert Disk Warrior, Restart, hold C key, disc spins for a second and ejects itself. System ignores my command and boots from hard drive.
But everything loads and things seem alright, so I think, "oh well, I guess everything is alright." I do some work in Illustrator, everything seems good. Listening to music, but not working in Aperture. The machine works great for about 2 days. Then, I decided I want to install Final Cut - I put in the Install DVD, it spins for a second and spins back down, nothing happens. No desktop icon, no optical drive showing up in Disk Utility, Eject button on keyboard doesn't work, iTunes - control > Eject Disc, now my iTunes is hung. I try to force quit, nothing happens. Force quit dialog, iTunes is listed as if it hasn't crashed, click force quit, it remains in the list. iTunes icon remains in the dock, arrow still below, but does nothing when I click it and won't poof. iTunes doesn't show up in Activity Monitor.
Okay, "definitely gonna try Disk Warrior again," I think to myself. Restart, reset PRAM twice, hold option to boot select screen, press eject to remove FCE disc, insert Disk Warrior, Disk Warrior icon shows up on screen, click it, click the arrow to boot to it. Wait a second - BSOD, no cursor! Disc spins for a while and stops. Press any key, it spins back up again and eventually dies down again, doing nothing. Forced shutdown holding power button, press power again, hold the C key to boot to disc. Disk Warrior spins up again and spits itself out, just as before. System boots to hard drive instead.
What am I doing wrong? The Mac Pros at school run Leopard and CS3 and they seem to be flawless. Am I the only one having these problems? I can't figure out if this is hardware or software. I'm currently creating an image of the Disk Warrior disc. I plan to restore it to my hard drive's second partition and see what happens. I'll let you know what happens. Until then, can anybody give me any hints on what might be wrong with my system or at least give me some sympathy? LOL. This is beyond frustrating.
I'd had my system ignore what seemed like successful insertion of optical discs and refuse to eject them before the fresh install, but I've never had it refuse to boot from a bootable disc like this. Any ideas?

Excuse me, it seems there is some data in the CrashReporter log for VersionCueCS3. I had forgotten to remove my search filter keyword.
This is a copy of the top section (which seems like it might be the most significant). If you want to see the rest, I'll gladly post it as well:
Process: VersionCueCS3Status [1577]
Path: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Version Cue CS3/Server/bin/VersionCueCS3Status.app/Contents/MacOS/VersionCueCS3Status
Identifier: VersionCueCS3Status
Version: ??? (???)
Code Type: X86 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [1]
Date/Time: 2008-09-10 20:41:58.527 -0500
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.5.4 (9E17)
Report Version: 6
Exception Type: EXC_CRASH (SIGABRT)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 0
Thread 0 Crashed:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x90256b9e __kill + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x902cdec2 raise + 26
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x902dd47f abort + 73
3 libstdc++.6.dylib 0x948f9005 0x948b1000 + 294917
4 libstdc++.6.dylib 0x948f710c _gxx_personalityv0 + 1108
5 libstdc++.6.dylib 0x948f714b std::terminate() + 29
6 libstdc++.6.dylib 0x948f7261 _cxathrow + 101
7 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x00005a11 start + 14545
8 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x00005a39 start + 14585
9 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x000e6be5 0x1000 + 941029
10 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x00003fcd start + 7821
11 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x0000374a start + 5642
12 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f241aa -[NSObject(NSKeyValueCoding) valueForKey:] + 250
13 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f51d2a -[NSObject(NSKeyValueCoding) valueForKeyPath:] + 474
14 com.apple.AppKit 0x953a3cd4 -[NSBinder _valueForKeyPath:ofObject:mode:raisesForNotApplicableKeys:] + 876
15 com.apple.AppKit 0x953a38dc -[NSBinder valueForBinding:resolveMarkersToPlaceholders:] + 192
16 com.apple.AppKit 0x956e07bb -[NSObjectDetailBinder refreshDetailContent] + 96
17 com.apple.AppKit 0x953a2e77 -[NSBinder _performConnectionEstablishedRefresh] + 79
18 com.apple.AppKit 0x9539b0e8 -[NSObject(NSKeyValueBindingCreation) bind:toObject:withKeyPath:options:] + 744
19 com.apple.AppKit 0x953d771e -[NSNibBindingConnector establishConnection] + 166
20 com.apple.AppKit 0x951aeaa4 -[NSIBObjectData nibInstantiateWithOwner:topLevelObjects:] + 1211
21 com.apple.AppKit 0x951a4e12 loadNib + 264
22 com.apple.AppKit 0x951a4774 +[NSBundle(NSNibLoading) _loadNibFile:nameTable:withZone:ownerBundle:] + 946
23 com.apple.AppKit 0x951a43b7 +[NSBundle(NSNibLoading) loadNibFile:externalNameTable:withZone:] + 171
24 com.apple.AppKit 0x951a42f5 +[NSBundle(NSNibLoading) loadNibNamed:owner:] + 391
25 com.apple.AppKit 0x951a3fa4 NSApplicationMain + 434
26 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x000028d1 start + 1937
27 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x00002242 start + 258
28 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x00002169 start + 41
Thread 1:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x901e8506 semaphoretimedwait_signaltrap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9021a84f pthread_condwait + 1244
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9021c0d3 pthreadcond_timedwait_relativenp + 47
3 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f46e8c -[NSCondition waitUntilDate:] + 236
4 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f46ca0 -[NSConditionLock lockWhenCondition:beforeDate:] + 144
5 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f46c05 -[NSConditionLock lockWhenCondition:] + 69
6 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x0002720d devtech_private::ZString::ZString(char const*, unsigned long, devtech::EncodingInfo const*) + 339
7 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x0001d215 devtech::ZString::GetCString(char*, unsigned long, bool, devtech::EncodingInfo*) const + 2485
8 ....versioncueCS3.VCStatusMenu 0x00025738 devtech::ZString::GetCString(char*, unsigned long, bool, devtech::EncodingInfo*) const + 36568
9 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f00f1d -[NSThread main] + 45
10 com.apple.Foundation 0x92f00ac4 _NSThread__main_ + 308
11 libSystem.B.dylib 0x902196f5 pthreadstart + 321
12 libSystem.B.dylib 0x902195b2 thread_start + 34
Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
eax: 0x00000000 ebx: 0x902dd43f ecx: 0xbffff39c edx: 0x90256b9e
edi: 0x00115500 esi: 0xa0025578 ebp: 0xbffff3b8 esp: 0xbffff39c
ss: 0x0000001f efl: 0x00000286 eip: 0x90256b9e cs: 0x00000007
ds: 0x0000001f es: 0x0000001f fs: 0x00000000 gs: 0x00000037
cr2: 0xffe173cc
I suppose it would make sense that when items like com.apple.Foudation and com.apple.AppKit go wrong, the problems would spread system-wide.

24" iMac won't boot!

My 24" iMac is around four years old, and running Leopard v.10.5. It froze up yesterday while playing tunes in iTunes. I had to do a hard restart (with the on/off button on the backside). And now, it will not boot. I get the "tone", then the Apple icon, then a blank light gray screen. I tried booting from the OS disc, but this gives me a blank light blue screen, rather than the normal light gray. I even tried booting from my Alsoft Disk Warrior which I bought for my new MacBook Pro. Didn't work. I tried unplugging the machine overnight, but still no help. Tried zapping the PRAM, but nothing.
I replaced the HD myself last year when it crapped out. This new problem does not act the same as when the HD went bad.
Am I screwed? Suggestions?
Thank you-

Can you provide a little more detail around the grey screen? Does it get to the grey screen and then start the boot process and get stuck with the little spinning grey circle? If so I suspect that the boot sequence is getting stuck on a device driver (.kext file). Hopefully you can get into single user mode by pressing the cmd and S key during boot up. The other option would be to try to get into safe-mode by pressing the shift key while booting this might help you. I have a 24" early 2008 one and when I bought it off of ebay I need it had booting problems. It would get stuck at the grey screen with the apple and the spinning wheel. After pouring through the internet and taking a drive from my other imac that has boot camp installed I was able to get the machine to boot into Windows but not into the Mac OS. Fingured out the the video card was the culprit and Windows just set it to VGA while the MAC OS was more specific and refused to boot. I got the idea to replace the video driver on the mac side with something generic but couldn't figure out how to do it. I found on the net that I could just delete the offending .kext file from the Extensions folder and the machine started. However this does not allow me to change resolution and requires me not to do any updates that might reset the extension files. Let me know if any of the above works if not I might be able to at least help with getting the machine to boot.

IMac won't boot from HDD or CD. Help!?

Hi,
I recently came back from holiday for a couple of weeks and sat down to start my iMac (24" C2D). The machine just sat at a white screen and wouldn't go anywhere. Thought, ah, I'll just reset the PRAM (unplugged power cable for a min or so), and still same problem. Eventually I got the mac to boot by holding down the power button, the long beep sounded and the mac booted. All was well, until the next time I powered it down. Same thing, however same resolution didnt work...
After numerous attempts holding c, I've managed to boot into the mac installer, which said it couldnt repair the drive through disk utility. As I have time machine backup, thought I'll just start from scratch. Created a new partition (just to make sure everything was fresh), verified disk (no problems), started installer and it crashed towards the very end of the install (just over 1 hour in) with errors of being unable to copy files. After another few hours, managed to boot from CD again, this time install started, left it running overnight, only to find the mac in the morning on, but with a black screen. I've had to power it off and now I'm left with the same issue of a white screen and being unable to boot from CD.
Does any of this make sense to anyone? Could be a failed HDD, but why would I have the issue with the iMac generally refusing to boot from CD? Ran hardware diagnostic (extended) and no problems found.
I now have no hair left...

I assume that model has a back up battery in it? If so, have you changed it recently? If not you may want to replace it. In the meantime, try removing it completely and see if it starts up any better. If the battery is right on the hairy edge of good/too low, it might be corrupting the PRAM (or whatever they call it now on new models) causing start up issues. If you remove it, you won't retain a lot of settings such as Date and Time, but you should also be able to boot up eat time with all default values.
I had the same sort of issue with my eMac and pulling the battery cleared it up. That was many months ago and one of these days I might get around to buying a replacement battery... or not.
Cheers,
Patrick

HT3964 I am not able to reboot my Mac desktop. When I switch on the Mac, I get a white screen with the Apple logo and the little wheel below that goes round and round but the computer refuses to boot.

Hi, I am not able to reboot my Mac desktop.
When I switch on the Mac, I get a white screen with the Apple logo and the little rotating circle.
The system refuses to boot.
What can I do?
Marcus

We need to get you moved. This forum is for mini-tower Macs built between 1998 and 2005 and doesn;t get as much traffic ("eyeballs on the problem") as the forums for newer Macs.
Please do "About this Mac" from you Apple menu and tell us what that says for "processor" and Mac OS version. Looks like this:
or this for later Mac OS versions:
With that we can figure out which of the two iMac forums you need and get the Hosts to move your post.

Bondi iMac refuses to boot CDs, crazy workaround suggestion, any comments?

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