I have an imac running OSX leopard 10.5.4, and a flashing question mark comes up on the screen. I opened disk utility, and in the sidebar my hard drive is not there. I also did the Hardware test supplied with the install CD, and "no problems were found".
note: I have not done the extended hardware test yet.
Can we assumed that the Disk Utility you used was not on your hard disk? If it was on the hard disk you can ignore most of the advice here and we should start again.
I am am a retired Electrical Engineer with many years electronics and IT experience and advise that whilst it is likely that the hard disk has failed and may never work again this may not necessarily be the case.
Do you normally hear or feel the disk running and has this changed?
Have you moved, dropped or hit your Mac while the disk was rotating? - never good for disks.
Even if the disk is not rotating it may not have failed - there could be an imperfect connection, damaged pcb track, a Mac electronics failure such as disk power etc.
The disk could be working mechanically and there could be a break in the data route to or from it etc.
Getting at disks inside some Apple assemblies can be tedious but probably not as bad as you may think - Google for instructions and pictures.
Much may depend upon how important information on a troublesome disk is. Even with a totally dead disk 90% of data can normally be extracted - ocasionally I have been lucky enough to do this at home - a few years back several experts were offering to to this for about 1,000 USD.
Trying the disk in another enclosure was good advice.
You could try gently moving your powered up Mac to see if anything changes.
It is technically possible for a software (unlikely as issue still exists booting from DVD I assume) or firmware issue to cause your symptoms so it might be wise to try every type of reset you can find before going any further. Firmware normally resides within the electronics - it often affects booting and power supplies etc.
Good luck.
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Disk utility recomends backing up files after hard drive can not be repaired?
My Mac mini will not complete the boot process. I am able to get to the disk utility by using the Snow Lepard disk that I recently purchased and pressing the option key. Disk utility is telling be that my disk can not be repaired and I should back up as much data as I can and reload the software.
Is there another disk repair program that could possibly fix what disk utility can not? Is it worth a try?
If not...
How do I back up data on the mounted disk since I can not access it? Do you recommend a perticular external hard drive and software to manage my backups?
Thank you.Welcome to Apple Support Communities allensood!
You will get a wider audience and won't confuse the original poster with solutions that don't apply to them, if you start your own topic here
https://discussions.apple.com/community/desktop_computers/mac_mini?view=discussi ons
Unless you have a solution to try for the original poster, it is always best if you start your own topic. -
I have an Imac running snow leopard and have recently installed a cannon i-sensys lbp7750Cdn printer since then I can't get the printer working and the air port has lost the DNS servers; if it ever had them!!! but it dose not look happy and it is telling me so. Can any one help please?
Snow Leopard breaks quite a few drivers - my Canon exhibited the same problem.
I eventually found updated drivers on the Canon website. You can try that with the HP, but if the all-in-one is more than a year or so old, don't hold your breath.
You can also try Software Update to see if it will offer new drivers, or failing that go to the Support Downloads site and search for HP updates.
In fact there's a new one for HP at the top of the list just now.
You may not necessarily want the latest one, though - check the specs to see if your model is covered; if not, search for the previous update etc. -
Rephrase..Have 2009 iMac running snow leopard should I upgrade to Mavericks
Rephrase..Have 2009 iMac running snow leopard should I upgrade to Mavericks
If your machine meets the specs, the latest is Yosemite; make sure you check all the requirements as your machine falls right at the back end of being supported - meaning that it will not run at its maximum speed due to an older processor. You'd also need an absolute minimum opf 4 GB RAM - 8 would be much better.
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Have older iMac running OSX 10.6.8 what OSX upgrade should I go to?
Have older iMac running OSX 10.6.8, need to upgrade OS, what version should I upgrade to?
Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mavericks, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion at the Online Apple Store. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
Lion System Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
or Xeon processor
2. 2GB of memory
3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
4. 7GB of available space
5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Upgrading to Yosemite
You can upgrade to Yosemite from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Yosemite can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for FREE.
Upgrading to Yosemite
To upgrade to Yosemite you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Download Yosemite from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Yosemite is free. The file is quite large, over 5 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
OS X Mavericks/Yosemite - System Requirements
Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Yosemite
1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 7,1 or later
2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 5,1 or later
3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 2,1 or later
5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
7. Xserve (Early 2009) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
Are my applications compatible?
See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps.
You do not have to upgrade to Lion in order to upgrade to Yosemite if your Mac can run Yosemite. -
I have a imac running snow leopard 10.6.8 and have adobe cs5. Is it safe to update to mountain lion 10.8.2 and keep adobe CS5 running properly?
You should not. But it never hurts to have a backup because bad things can happen.
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Why to I have a blue haze on the photos and on the menu bars of apps. I have Intel iMac running OSX 10.7.5. This problem just started. All my photos are corurpted with a blue haze.
Here is another photo with the wierd blue circle in the sky taken with a DSLR. This did not appear until recently and now I see it on all photos and also when I print the photo.
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I have an imac running osx 10.4.11 and need to upgrade to at least 10.5. Where can I find it?
I have an imac running osx 10.4.11 and need to upgrade to at least 10.5. Where can I find it?
Not having enough space on your hard drive is a problem in itself, OS X likes 10-20% free in order to operate smoothly. Right click on your hard drive icon and choose Get Info to see how much you have free. There are several free applications that will help you identify what is taking up so much space just Google it. Here's a CNet article on one
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20103652-285/find-out-whats-taking-space-on- your-mac-hard-drive/ -
I have an ipod touch 8gb that is disabled. on the screen it reads ipod disabled connect to itunes. But when i connect it to itunes, it says that it cant work with the ipod because it is locked with a passcode. what now?
Place the iOS device in Recovery Mode and then connect to your computer and restore via iTunes. The iPod will be erased.
iOS: Wrong passcode results in red disabled screen
If recovery mode does not work try DFU mode.
How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
The previous responses did not say how to place in recovery mode or DFU mode -
IChat video chat not working between two iMacs running OSX Leopard 10.5.1
My mother in law just got a 20" iMac (metal) and is connected to her wireless router.
I tried doing a video iChat with her, and it is not working. I am able to successfully test iChat with the three apple iChat test AIM buddy accounts.Screen names of Test accounts are here http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/ContactTesters.html
9:40 PM Wednesday; February 20, 2008 -
I have an eight year old iMac running OSX 10.6.8 and just installed the latest Flash Player but the audio won't play on the youtube music website. What else do I need to update or install to listen to the music?
just installed the latest Flash Player
Did you uninstall all the previous versions of Adobe Flash Player? Did you repair permissions and restarted your computer after the installation?
Which browser & version are you using? Have you tried other browsers?
Please advise. -
The volume only works when I have earphones plugged into the jack, otherwise when I try to adjust the volume it has a circle with a cross. Ive tried restarting it with and without the headphones plugged in. However it does make that mac sound when turning on the machine before the apple logo comes on and takes me to the desktop screen. Is there anything I can do to fix this??
I'm having a very similar problem.
I've got a 2010 iMac that I've got hooked up to my Pioneer Elite via HDMI cable using the Moshi adapter.
It's been working great for months, but today the audio began dropping out -- a fraction of a second, every six seconds or so.
I installed the latest Snow Leopard update today. Does anyone think there might be a connection?
thx! -
I have an IMac running OSX 10.5.8.
We have 2 ipads in the house set up using icloud.
I cannot see icloud listed on the options on the imac so presume i need to upgrade the system.
Is this possible and if so how do i do it?You will first need to upgrade your iMac to Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, which is back on the online Apple Store, at least in some countries. In the US:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
If it's not listed on the web site of the Apple Store in your country, call the online Apple Store, they may still have copies of Snow Leopard available .
From there you would need to upgrade to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Lion may still be available if you call the online Apple Store, though a couple of recent threads have reported it as no longer available. If the Apple Store still has it, they will ask for your Apple ID and credit card number and will then send you a code which you can redeem in the Mac App Store. Mountain Lion, if your iMac will support it, can be purchased directly from the Mac App Store.
System requirements for Snow Leopard and Lion can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4949
System requirements for Mountain Lion can be found here:
http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/
You will want to confirm that all your applications and peripherals either support Lion or Mountain Lion or can be affordably upgraded to do so before you upgrade. In particularly be aware that old applications that were written only for PowerPC-based Macs will not work after you upgrade to Lion or Mountain Lion.
Regards. -
What does problems were found with the partition map mean
Why is there a problem when I run my disk utility that says "problems were found with the partition map that which might prevent booting"? Why is there a problem????????
You have to repair your partition map. It's the most important part of the hard drive related to software, because if the partition map doesn't work, the whole hard drive is useless.
As you have OS X Lion, you should be able to repair it while OS X is started. Open Disk Utility (in /Applications/Utilities), choose your hard drive at the top of the sidebar, and press the button to repair the disk. What do you see in the blank box?
Also, after choosing the hard drive in Disk Utility, tell me the SMART status, at the bottom of the window. You may also want to check the Macintosh HD status -
I recently updated my 20-inch, Mid 2007 iMac with the latest OS 10.8.5 now my external hard drives will not show up. They show up when I boot them up on a machine running and earlier OS. Is there a fix for this?
Can you see them in Disk Utility?
If so, can you select and Mount them?
If not, disconnect them, reset the iMac's SMC and then reconnect them.
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Unplug the computer's power cord.
3. Wait fifteen seconds.
4. Attach the computer's power cord.
5. Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
If you still can not see them, connect them back up to the iMac running the older OS, open Disk Utility and look to see how they are partitioned and formatted.
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