IMac 24 wont startup even with install disk -

I only get the apple gray screen with logo and endless twirling wheel.
I can hold "T^" and startup in slave mode. But no need to to this. - The genius bar got it working a couple weeks ago but it stopped again - i think it is a goner. When I hold control shift I do get a readout that includes words like; security auditing service present..does this mean the CIA is coming to take my flying saucer away from me finally? - can anyone suggest something--(I dont care about any files..There is only 50 gigs of info/apps on my 500 gig HD)

HI,
Go here ...
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
Carolyn

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20 inch imac wont startup or re-install OS

hi folks
i had been off work for 4 weeks due to a knee op and on my return i was informed my 20 inch imac wont start up.
it chimes then the grey apple appears, but the circular bar at the bottom just keeps ticking away, nothing at all, even left it for 15 minutes.
So i tried the command option PR, second chime went fine, then the same thing.
So i launched from the install CD, this gave me the option to reinstall my OS and archive the old one, retaining all my user settings, i opted for this and it failed to install twice, saying i should retry the installation.
any ideas?
i am contemplating using it as a T target disc and grabbing my necessary files then re-formatting.

hopefully they mean expedite rather than escalate? but who knows with apple support!
Basically I wondered the same as you, what if we only had one mac????
I guess i would be mac-less and they would resolve things, i think it is under warranty still.
T mode is achieved by pressing T upon startup, this turns your mac into an accessible hard drive via firewire, you are in T (transfer i think) mode once the firewire logo floats around the screen and this enabled me to grab everything essential and stick it on my MBpro.
T mode is also an option when first installing, and transfers everything over from an old or alternate mac, internet connnections, applications, network settings, the lot, it is absolute genius compared to the old mac days!
If your machine is stil under warranty then the least they can do is replace it if they cannot fix it!!!!

My imac wont read Windows 8 install disk

Hello,
i am trying to install windows 8 using boot camp. Boot camp is up to date. when i put in the windows 8 disk (brand new) into my Imac I can hear it trying and then it just shoots it out. I tired this with a windows 7 install disk also and it did the same thing.

Hello christopherfromconcord,
The following article contains information that may be helpful in getting your iMac's optical drive to read your Windows install discs.
Apple Computers: Troubleshooting the slot-loading SuperDrive
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801
The drive accepts discs but they do not mount or are automatically ejected
Check the disc's surface for scratches and dirt, since these things can prevent the disc from appearing on the desktop.
The MacBook Air SuperDrive is designed to be used with MacBook Air and Mac mini computers that do not have a built-in optical drive. For best results, connect the MacBook Air SuperDrive directly to the computer's USB port instead a USB hub.
Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
Ensure your drive can read the specific type of disc being used. The System Profiler or System Information may provide additional information regarding what media your computer supports.
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or earlier: Open Apple System Profiler by choosing "About this Mac" from the Apple () menu. Then, click More Info.
OS X 10.7 Lion or later: Open System Information by choosing "About this Mac" from the Apple () menu. Then, click System Report.
If the disc continues to not be recognized, contact Apple, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or make an appointment with an Apple Retail Store for additional troubleshooting, evaluation, or service.
Cheers,
Allen

My imac wont boot from the install disk

My IMAC will not boot from the install disk.

Hello, your installation disk is running under OSX??? If no the media has a problem!!!
1. Restart your mac and hold the alt (option key) to select media to install.
2. Restart you mac and hold the "c" key to boot.
an other solution is to make a partition on the hard drive and put a restore image of the Mac os X Installation dvd inside it then Restart your mac nad hold the "option" key and you will see the partition with mac os x installation and you can make a new installation from there.

HT5037 Iphoto Still wont open even after installed the prepare file

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Go to Applications /Utilities. Find the upgrader app there. Double click on it to run it.
I haven't felt this frostation since window 5
Sorry, no idea what this means.

Need to erase hard drive and reinstall system on iMac but have misplaced original install disks. Tried to use a my copy of Snow lepord 10.6 from my Mac pro but will not boot. Can original install disks be replaced. Thanks

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when i try to install snow leopard with install disk, it has me restart the computer instead of installing. can anyone help me figure out how to get the disk to actually install?

Ok, it's just a glitch that it's not auto-rebooting from the disk.
Please backup your personal files off the machine to a regualr external drive and disconnect all drives before doing anything
Take the 10.6 disk out and clean and polish the bottom with a very soft clean cloth and a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol to cut the oils.
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Following these suggestions, I startup from the Install Disk holding down C. The installation process proceeds as far as "Checking disks..." (part of Select Destination) but hangs up there: the barbershop pole just spins and spins... What do I do next? This is on an old iBook BTW, 2001 G3, OS X, 10.1.2.

Likely, but can you try to erase it/format it?
   3. Click the Erase tab.
   4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
   5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
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Connect iPhone to Wall Charger for 10 minutes, it may turn ON itself. If still nothing, keep on charger and Reset, hold both home and power buttons for about 20 seconds until the iPhone begins to start.

Screen with folder and "?" on startup. No install disks.

Saturday I dropped my Macbook Pro 8,1 and afterwards it was working completed fine. A day later I was working on PowerPoint and it froze (which isn't very unusual) so I re-started it. After re-starting I got a blank screen with a folder and a "?" From my understanding I need my install disk which unfortunately is a 3 hour drive from me at the moment.
The one thing that I do have is my external hard-drive that I've used Time Machine on before to back-up my Macbook. Unfortunately I hadn't backed up my latop very recently and I have important files on my Macbook that aren't on my external hard drive, so I don't want to restore my Macbook back to whatever was on the hardrive. So my questions are:
Is the any way the hardrive can be used in place of the install disk? If not, can I buy and download install disk online and but on flash drive?
Will fixing my problem result in all the files on my Macbook being lost?
Note: when I turn on my macbook using the hardrive I can get into disk utilities. However, when going into "First Aid", I am unable to select "Repair Disk"

Melanie443 wrote:
Saturday I dropped my Macbook Pro 8,1
If it had 10.6 from the factory, it's a Early 20011 13", and yes you need the 10.6.7 gray/black machine specific install disks (call Apple if they are defective), the 10.6.3 white ones from Apple online retail store won't work.
If it had 10.7 from the factory, it's a Late 2011 13", there is no disks, Internet Recovery and Recovery HD (on a bootable partition)
After re-starting I got a blank screen with a folder and a "?"
Firmware doesn't know where the boot volume is, may be a easy fix.
Folder with question mark issue
From my understanding I need my install disk which unfortunately is a 3 hour drive from me at the moment.
If disks came in the box, then it's a Early 2011 with Snow Leopard, unless you upgraded to 10.7 or later, which you use Recovery HD or Internet Recovery instead, unless your going to restore the machine back to Snow Leopard. (many do)
The one thing that I do have is my external hard-drive that I've used Time Machine on before to back-up my Macbook. Unfortunately I hadn't backed up my latop very recently...
If you haven't backed up TM since dropping the machine, that's a good thing because it sounds like the boot hard drive is corrupted and may not restore properly or at all if the TM drive copied that junk over.
I have important files on my Macbook that aren't on my external hard drive, so I don't want to restore my Macbook back to whatever was on the hardrive.
First try the easy mehod by holding the option/alt key down at boot time and seeing if you can boot OS X, then head to System Preferences > Startup Disk and set it again, this will tell the firmware.
Once your in, backup all your users files to a external drive, (not TimeMachine) and disconnect. You might have to do it in small bunches because there could be damage to the platters were the heads struck when you dropped it.
If you can't boot OS X, then use this method
Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive
If you can't even do that as the machine is broken
My computer is not working, is my personal data lost?
Melanie443 wrote:
Will fixing my problem result in all the files on my Macbook being lost?
Yes if you don't do data recovery first or the drive is actually mechanically dead.
Fixing your problem may be easy, doing a zero bit erase on the entire Macintosh HD partition or drive (for 10.6) may map off the bad/damaged sectors and thus you can keep using the machine.
You can install 10.6/10.7 and then restore from TimeMachine (if not defective) and return the copies of your recovered files from the external drive.
Note: when I turn on my macbook using the hardrive I can get into disk utilities. However, when going into "First Aid", I am unable to select "Repair Disk"
To repair disk you need to do so while c or option/alt key booted from the 10.6 disk or the 10.7/10.8 Recovery HD partition or via Internet Recovery, that's why it's grayed out.
Don't do this until you have recovered your files first, as you don't want Disk Utility knowing the drive has problems and then lock you out on the next reboot.
Don't do Safe Mode either yet as this forces a fsck drive check and also lock you out from a easy recovery of your files.
Once you've got your files off the machine to a external storage drive (don't trust TimeMachine) then you can do whatever.
Most commonly used backup methods
Step by Step to fix your Mac
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
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Did Mid-2011 iMac come with install disks?

I bought a new iMac today, and I want to sell the old one. Should I have install disks? I don't remember getting any.
How can I wipe the hard drive and install an OS without them?

Click here and try using the Internet Recovery system. If it's not available on that Mac, you need disks; if it is, it can be used to erase the internal drive and install a fresh OS.
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IMac won't boot to install disk, normally or in safe mode! Please help

Hi everyone,
I'm using my iPhone so please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors.
I have a 27" quad-core iMac bought about a year ago.
Today I went to reformat the harddrive as I'm selling the machine to a friend. First the iMac would not boot to the install disk - it just gets stuck on the apple logo screen, but with no spinning wheel - now it won't even start up normally! I've attempted to start up in safe-mode but again it gets stuck on the apple screen and there's a strange clicking noise, which sounded like it was coming from the cd drive area.
It's a shame this happened today, right before I was supposed to give the computer to it's new owner. I really don't want them to think I was trying to sell them a computer with problems.
I've tried a basic hardware test and it came back with no problems.
Can anyone help?

Try using the original Install Disc that came with the machine, do not try any other DVD. Put it in the SuperDrive, while holding down the power button also hold down the Option button on the keyboard. It should start and give you the option of starting from either the internal HD or the Install Disc. Choose the Install Disc, select the language, choose the Utilities Menu, Disk Utility, then select the internal HD, select the Erase tab and set it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and click erase. Then exit Disk Utility and continue with the install process to reload OS X.
Roger

Mouse not working when reinstalling OS X with install disk

I am trying to reinstall OS X 10.3 on iMAC G5 after a hard drive crash with the help of the original install disks, but my wireless mouse does not work anymore. Any ideas how I can solve this or go through the installation process with the keyboard alone? I couldn't find a keyboard shortcut to tab from a list in a window to the select button...

How is your mouse not working? Is it dead?
Is the wireless mouse a Mighty Mouse or a 3rd party mouse?
Does you mouse need batteries?
*Just in case it's dirty:*
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302417 How to clean your Mighty Mouse
Take a piece of bright white paper, turn the mouse upside down on it, press down on the ball, and run the mouse quickly in circles over the paper. This will remove all the gunk that's building up on the ball
TIP: To get to the gook inside the scroll nipple use a plastic toothpick.
"Other Options:" Wear latex disposable gloves. A box of same can be purchased from your local Dollar Store or Pharmacy.
Some cell phone leather cases actually fit right over the Mighty Mouse.
Clean/wipe the Mighty Mouse off with a damp cloth/rag prior to going to bed each evening.
Some users have found using the small alcohol pads quite successful. These can be obtained from any drug/pharmacy or Dollar Store.
Only do the following if your warranty has run out:
Cleaning inside and dismantling the Apple Mighty Mouse
If so, then I suggest (if your 1 year warranty is not up and/or you have Apple Care Protecton Plan) you call Apple Tech Support & ask for a replacement.
=========================
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IMac wont startup (grey screen of death??)

Hi my iMac G5 wont start up. When I power on I only get as far as the first all grey screen. The fans are running continiously until I have to shut it down. I tried inserting the recovery disk after rebooting but no joy (and now I can't eject the recovery disk).
Any ideas?

1. Have you tried the SMU reset? (Disconnect every cable from the back of the computer and leave for a few minutes; then reinsert power cable while holding power button in and hold power button in for at least 10 seconds; then release power button and press it again to power on the Mac).
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If neither of these work, and you've tried Safe Boot, and the Install disk, then it may turn out to be the logic board :-( (if it was your HD you should get as far as a grey screen displaying a folder with a blinking ? ).

Trouble with install disks - is it OK to make a copy of them?

Finally, I am trying to make a copy of the install disks that came with my MBP. This was recommended in several threads for preserving the original and having backups just in case.
I used Disk Utility to make a disk image - choosing DVD/CD master, no encryption - as I was instructed on another thread. I made the disk images fine of the 2 disks - they are now saved as disk images in the .cdr format. While I was at it, I made a disk image of the TechTool Deluxe CD that came with my AppleCare.
When I inserted a CD (and then I tried a DVD) into the slot to Burn the disk image of the first (and then the second) install disk, I got the message that there is not enough room on the disk I am trying to use (for either disk). I had no trouble burning a disk of the TechTool Deluxe - I did that on a CD.
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When you make images of the discs, it is compressed. So when you get info of the image, that is smaller than the actual disc size. You said disc two was 3.97gb but really uncompressed it is likely over 6GB. For both install discs one and two, you need dual-layer DVDs to burn.
Thanks for your help, mdpeterman.
I wondered about the compressed issue - but since I chose CD/DVD master, (from Disk Utility Help: "If you want to use the disk image with a third-party application, choose CD/DVD master. The disk image contains a copy of all sectors of the disk, whether they're used or not, and copies them to other CDs or DVDs bit for bit") with no encryption I assumed that the size of the disk image was identical to the original.
What you say tells me I'm wrong - that even with DVD master bit for bit, the image is compressed. Right?
I'll get back to you when I have solved this...
Mrs H
Mrs H

IMac 24 wont startup even with install disk -

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