Graphite iMac Won't Get Past Startup

I recently inherited a Graphite 600mhz iMac with 1gig of RAM and a 40gb HDD from my Television productions class. I used an iPod ripping program called iPod Access to load about 10gigs of music to the computer. I also installed a few programs like VLC and WMP. The computer was running a little slow after these installs and transfers, so I figured I'd restart. I did, and the computer made it to the gray Mac loading screen, where the little wheel revolved and revolved. As of now, the computer will not get past this point after many attempts. Is the HD shot? No hardware has been changed. Could it have something to do with my iPod?

Can you start from a Bootable CD? Hopefully, you inherited the 10.3 disks, or a copy of a 9.2.1 disk along with the iMac.
I'm guessing that the disk is full and the Mac has lost track of some important startup file. OSX writes a lot of files to the disk in the course of operation that are invisible but take up space. If you don't do regular house cleaning you loose a whole lot of space over time.
Some music import proceedures make two copies of each file, and that adds to the problem.
I'm guessing. At any rate, you are going to need a bootable CD to trouble shoot this situation.
David

Similar Messages

  • IMac won't get past startup screen, no matter what. Pls help?

    I just inherited a mid-2010 iMac from a friend. It hadn't been used for months, and now when it is started up, it won't get past startup screen. It shows the 'slot' looking image on the bottom of the white loadup screen, then it's just the apple symbol and the whirly thing going around forever. I've had it going for over half an hour at one point, and nothing changes. I have tried all the different reboot key combos, such as C with a startup disk in it, D for hardware test, command S for safe mode, etc. The only thing which makes any difference at all is using the T key at startup, when I do get the three-pronged white symbol floating around screen.
    It is a 21 inch with 500gig, and I believe it's running Snow Leopard. They never had a problem with it before, but now after the months of disuse, it is doing this. Please, can anyone help? Thanks!

    I'm not sure if a dead PRAM battery would give you these symptoms, but one possibility is that if the computer was off wall power for months, the PRAM battery, a small coin cell battery that controls certain functions, may be drained and  dead.
    But, in any case, try an SMC Reset. You must follow the timing for this exactly.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
    And then a PRAM Reset.
    Hold down Option-Cmd-P-R together at the startup chime, listen for two more chimes, total three, then release all the keys to finish booting.
    You might also try a Safe Boot by holding down Shift at the startup chime. (Cmd-S isn't for Safe Boot, it's single user mode.) Give it much longer to boot than usual, but if it doesn't finish in perhaps 5 or 10 minutes, then you'll have to give up on that.

  • Comp won't get past startup

    My comp won't get past the startup page without haveing the "you need to restart" popup show up.Someone please help me!

    I assume you are getting a Kernal Panic. KPs are usually associated with a hardware problem. Look at these links.
    What's a "kernel panic"? (Mac OS X)
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106227
    Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ
    http://www.macmaps.com/kernelpanic.html
    Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ
    http://www.index-site.com/kernelpanic.html
    Resolving Kernel Panics
    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html
    Cheers, Tom

  • Imac won't get past start up screen

    My iMac can't get past the start up screen (white screen with apple logo). How can I get past this?

    The following support article is somewhat outdated. Where it refers to booting from an installation disc, you should boot into Recovery (if running OS X 10.7 or later) by holding down the key combination command-R at the chime. If your startup volume is encrypted with FileVault, you’ll have to unlock it in Disk Utility before you can do anything with it.
    Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

  • Intel Imac won't get past Apple on startup

    One of our 17" Intel Imacs (early to mid 2006 model) will not get past the Apple on startup. I have done the following:
    1. Replaced the ram. No luck.
    2. Zapped the PRAM. No luck.
    3. Reset the SMC. No luck.
    4. Tried booting from several CDs including disk warrior. No luck.
    5. However, I was able to run the Hardware test from the system disk. It found no problems the several times I ran it.
    6. I was able to mount the drive using Target Disk mode. I then ran diagnostics on the harddrive. Fixed some things, but nothing major. Still won't boot.
    7. I tried the opposite approach and tried to run the machine using the other machine in Target mode. No luck.
    8. I downloaded firmware, created a disk per apple's instructions and tried to run it. No luck.
    I think that is basically it. I've been able to backup all the data and was going to reformat the harddrive, although I don't see how that would work considering that the machine won't boot up from either a CD or another drive in Target Disk mode.
    I'm thinking this machine is a goner. Any other ideas would be much appreciated.

    Have you tried the diagnostics? Insert the original OS X Installer Disc One that came with the computer and restart the computer. After the chime press and hold down the "D" key until the diagnostic screen appears. Run extended diagnostics and not any error codes reported.
    If you cannot boot into the diagnostics then take the computer in for service.

  • My iMac won't get past little apple screen icon

    When I turn on iMac, it never goes past the white apple screen and the little wheel just turns and turns for hours if I let it. I turn it off, unplug it, turn it back on...but nothing! Any ideas?
    Thanks

    Have you tried booting from your install disc? You should also have a disc with Apple Hardware Test on it, try and see if you can start up from that and run the test.
    It would be helpful to know which model you have (how to identify your iMac).
    Also, see if anything here helps: won't complete startup.

  • Won't get past startup screen

    I have a MBP with a busted Optical drive (it never worked) and warrenty is void.
    I have never reinstalled my system but now would be a good time becuase
    My computer when starting up now cannot get past the first Grey Apple logo
    and shows the wheel (not rainbow other one) spinning for hours on end.
    What should I do?
    I think i'm going to try to rescue my files by connecting through firewire
    from another computer I got it into firewire mode.
    But I dunno what I should do to actually FIX the computer?
    Any ideas?

    I'll let u know now that my next intent is to give it to a tech to see if he can dl the data from the disk and if not to just replace he optical drive and then try to startup from the system install disk then if not that then use unix prompt to connect to disk and dl files . I'm sure it possible to do these things. The probl is with bad blocks of data on the disk that has curropted essential information that is used in the startup and running of os x. If I were u I would reconnect the cd drive and try booting from ur system disks.=)
    Message was edited by: JupiterSpaceport

  • Macbook won't get past startup screen?

    I dropped my macbook, approximately from a 3/4 meter height. It beeped 1-5 times (i think)? Then froze. I Turned it off, then switched it back on, and it went through the usual startup phase, except it wont go past the loading screen and won't boot up in single user mode, help me please?

    You may have damaged the disk when you dropped it.  Here are some steps to diagnose that and possibly repair the filesystem.  (It may be some other problem but this is a good place to start.)
    Reset SMC:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
    Boot in OS X Recovery Mode overview.
        http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/
       If it boots in standard recovery mode then
       at least part of your internal disk is working.
       If it boots in network recovery mode then your internal disk may be damaged
       but the rest of you Mac may be healthy.
    While in Recovery Mode check the S.M.A.R.T. disk status, try to repair the system disk (Macintosh HD).
    If that does not fix the problem then reïnstall OS X.
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5477875?tstart=0

  • IMac won't get past the Apple page when turned on...

    I just bought a new iMac about a month ago. It is the 21.5" basic system. Of course the first thing that I did with it was update the software and have set it to update automatically, so everything should be golden there... Today when I walked by and turned it on it came on like normal, but that was it. The white screen with the Apple in the middle came on and then the loading icon popped up underneath it. It has been loading since... After about an hour and a half, I shut it off by holding the power button in, unplugged the modem, unplugged the iMac then plugged only the iMac back up. Turned on the power again. It powered up but did the same thing. Is something loading, updates maybe? If so it is something different than any of the other updates it has uploaded so far. THis is a new one on me.
    I might add that this is my first Mac. I went with it because I get tired of rebooting my PC each year (I actually just did my PC again...bummer). Now if the iMac has already crashed, I am severely dissapointed in Mac. I have not downloaded anything that I shouldn't have, or anything that was even suspicious. In fact the only real things I have downloaded are Firefox and some of the add ons and a trial version of PS.
    Can anyone help me, tell me it is normal and it will be ok?

    It sounds like the update may have bee interrupted somehow and became corrupted, possible a power spike at your house. However I wouldn't get too upset. You have 90 days of free telephone support so now is a good time to use it. The number is in your owners manual.
    You can also try doing a SMC and PRAM resets, this is probably what Apple will have you do to begin with so you can be pro-active and try them and if they don't fix the problem you can just let the tech know. The instructions for doing each reset are:
    _SMC RESET_
    • Shut down the computer.
    • Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
    • Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
    • Release the power button.
    • Attach the computers power cable.
    • Press the power button to turn on the computer.
    _PRAM RESET_
    • Shut down the computer.
    • Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
    • Turn on the computer.
    • Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
    • Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
    • Release the keys.
    Also this is a good time to plug AppleCare. AppleCare will extend your warranty and phone support to 3 years from the date of purchase. If you don't already have it I'd recommend it, Apple charges $169 however you can pick it up from Amazon for less. You can only get it while the machine is covered by it's one year warranty. Let it go 366 days and you're out of luck.
    Roger

  • Elite pavilion m9040n won't get past startup screen

    For the past few weeks, my computer has been unable to load past the initial startup screen( blue hp screen) . The screen goes to a black screen with a blinking cursor and then after hearing what sounds like a click and a loading sound it restarts over and over. After several attempts running startup repairs , I am able to get to the hone screen however it freezes every few minutes or so. I'm inclined to think this may be a hdd issue because I have been receiving the black screen message : A disk read error has occurred. Press ctrl+alt+delete to restart.
    I should add that I haven't changed any hardware or software prior to this problem.
    Any help would be appreciated

    Sosa70 wrote: For the past few weeks, my computer has been unable to load past the initial startup screen( blue hp screen) . The screen goes to a black screen with a blinking cursor and then after hearing what sounds like a click and a loading sound it restarts over and over. After several attempts running startup repairs , I am able to get to the hone screen however it freezes every few minutes or so. I'm inclined to think this may be a hdd issue because I have been receiving the black screen message : A disk read error has occurred. Press ctrl+alt+delete to restart. I should add that I haven't changed any hardware or software prior to this problem. Any help would be appreciated
    Hello Sosa70, When the system completes the POST (Pre Operating System Test) successfully, it turns control of the system over to the operating system, and you would see the black screen with the blinking white cursor.
    Sometimes when the operating system has become corrupted, it cannot boot into the Windows desktop.
    It is also possible that the hard drive itself has become faulty. Since you mentioned you performed the hardware test and found no errors, you may just have a corrupted operating system.
    Please click the White Kudos star on the left, to say thanks.
    Please mark Accept As Solution if it solves your problem.

  • Imac won't get past boot screen

    I have never had a problem with my mac, but recently I was surfing the internet, and the screen seemed to freeze.  I powered it off by holding the power button until it turned off, then tried to turn it back on.  the apple screen came up, then the rotating wheel, then a grey progress bar at the bottom.  The progress bar loads a few centimeters, then the whole thing just turns itself on.  Someone advised popping out the memory and reinserting it, but that did not work.  I have attached a link to a video of what it is doing, please let me know if anybody knows what could be wrong and how I could fix it.
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15260662/iMac.mov

    So that worked better than anything else I tried, got me to disk utilities.  Tried fist aid, but it said that the drive could not be repaired.  I did notice that most of the details at the bottom were missing (mounting, # of files, used disk space, ect.).  I also tried the option to instal a fresh version of the OS, but it said the disk was locked.  I did notice somewhere in all the searching around that my HD only had 130MB free space, which I imagine may have contributed to the issue.  Since I cannot get the computer to boot to the OS, is there a way I can back up my information to my external HD?  (I now see the importance of keeping backups.)  Or are there any other steps advised?

  • Help! Computer won't get past startup.

    Hi! I'm having trouble with my G4 since yesterday. I bought a new battery and installed it on friday. The computer worked fine until yesterday when it suddenly restarted but it never got past the startup screen (apple logo). I tried repairing the disk but it said it couldn't finish repair.
    I tried booting in safe mode to save some files before I erased everything from the hard drive but it just didn't respond. It remained stuck in the startup screen.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks
    Ana

    Ana:
    Welcome to Apple Discussions.
    First, if you do not have a good backup and you have access to a Mac that supports Firewire, try backing up via Firewire Target Disk Mode
    Next,try resetting the PRAM:
    1. Shut down the computer.
    2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
    3. Turn on the computer.
    4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
    5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
    6. Release the keys and allow to boot.
    Third, boot from your install disk,
    Go to Utilities menu
    Launch Disk Utility
    Select HDD (manufacturer ID) in sidebar
    Select First Aid in main pane
    Repair Disk Permissions.
    If you are able to do that, then Repair Disk:
    (Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel, and report)
    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.
    If DU reports errors it cannot repair you will need to use a utility like Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior
    Please let me know if any of these worked for you.
    Good luck.
    cornelius

  • My iMac won't get past the loading screen, it has a little loading bar which won't move

    I had the finder and Safari windows open. Safari was on youtube then it froze so I shut it down. It turned back on once to get to the login screen but then froze once again. Know it only turns on the apple loading screen with a little loading bar which won't move.

    Please carefully read and methodically follow the instructions in http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570.
    Good luck.

  • My husband(less technologically inclined than I am), decided to delete programs from our iMac, now it has a grey screen and won't get past it. If I insert the Application Install DVD, to repair the disk, will I loose all my pictures and music?

    My husband(less technologically inclined than I am), decided to delete programs from our iMac, he turned it off and now it has a grey screen and won't get past it. It won't start in safe mode and when I  If I insert the Application Install DVD, to repair the disk, will I loose all my pictures and music?

    With a corrupt disk, the install procedure is most likely going to fail.
    How old it the disk?
    You might be able to reformat it to fix the problem. Of course that means you lose all of your data.
    The other alternative is to get a new disk drive and put that in your Mac and install OS X
    Then put the old disk drive in an enclosure and see what can be recovered from it.
    Allan

  • My iMac starts, but won't get past the loading screen?

    My iMac starts up, but won't even get past the white screen with the Apple logo.
    It kept giving me black screens, and would not start in safety mode. After command + option + p + r, the black screens stopped coming, but it still won't get past the loading screen, if I let it load long enough the Apple logo is replaced by a "denied" symbol but that is the only thing that happens. By hitting command + d, I was told nothing is wrong. When pressing command + r and going to disk utility, it found an issue while verifying and repairing. At first it stated "invalid journal" but now it only says to reinstall everything and that the problem couldn't be solved. I cannot mount the harddrive, and Time Machine just searches for copies without getting anywhere. When I try installing OS X (Mavericks) again, the harddrive doesn't even show up. What do I do?

    The HD sounds like it has crashed, take it into your local Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), if you bought AppleCare this will be covered. If you don't have an Apple Store in your area and don't know of any AASPs then please click https://locate.apple.com/country to begin finding one.

Maybe you are looking for