Imac crushing 2 times in 1 month and lose everythink

Question

I've got imac 21.5inch. it has been working fine for 10 months. suddenly its stuck and after restarting its loading and then crushing. i have formated the pc and after two weeks the same thing happened. what should i do? what is the problem?
Please help my to find a solution because its the second time to lose everythink ( pictures, songs, iphone backup and many other thinks ) and i do not can to format again and lose again everythink!!

Answer 1

In my experience with computers in general, re-installing the operating system (which is what I assume you are referring to when you say "format") is always a last resort and never the first choice no matter how bad of a crash my computer is exhibiting and regardless of how frequently they occur. But that information is not much help to you now, of course. I mainly mention it because so many new things can go wrong with an OS re-install that if I had one problem to begin with, I might have two or three after implementing something that drastic. Sometimes, I can isolate the problem to a certain software program (on one PC once it was the anti-virus program that was the culprit) and then by un-installing only that problem program, things can return to normal functioning levels once again (often without that problem program or at least with a different version later on).
Now I hate to sound somewhat harsh here but there is a gamble involved whenever anyone buys any computer and decides not to purchase the extended warranty. The way I see it, I either spend the money upfront on the AppleCare extended warranty and I'm covered for most things (defined in the contract) for 3 years from my original date of purchase (if I am remembering things correctly). Or if I don't buy the AppleCare extended warranty, then even though I am saving some money upfront (that I could presumably invest although there are usually some risks that go along with that), I am taking a chance that if my computer starts having major problems after the 1 year warranty that comes with the purchase automatically expires, I will be the only one assuming the entire financial risk for any needed repairs but only because I failed to opt for what to me has always seemed like the wiser course of action = buy the AppleCare warranty before it's too late (before one year from the purchase date). I mention this mainly because you say it is unfair that you should have to pay money to fix your iMac and I say that it is not unfair at all since you had the same opportunity that every Mac purchaser has to buy the AppleCare warranty...and you even had an entire year to think it over.
So the only positive thing I can say (since it is not my intention to attach negative vibes to this message) is that if it is too late to buy the AppleCare warranty, you can apply the money you saved from not buying AppleCare to your initial repair (and it sounds to me like you might need a qualified service technician to repair your product unless there is some software conflict that is causing your problem...I'm assuming you have downloaded all the latest versions of all programs and in particular the operating system after backing up all of your personal files to an external hard drive and/or a CD and/or a DVD and/or to your MobileMe account if you have one). If it is not too late to purchase AppleCare, then I support the previous suggestion that you buy it and I would only add that you do it now without hesitation (if it is just past the deadline, call them up anyway and politely ask them if they can sell you AppleCare anyway...companies can often be flexible and accomodating if you give them the chance to be but you have to remain calm and respect their final decision either way = no loud cussing in your native language, for example, and don't mention the word "unfair" unless it is after you've already hung up the phone and even then, I'd reduce the overall volume to a faint whisper if not a muffled sigh of indecipherable incoherence since when all is said and done, frustration speaks to us all in the same language).
In Greece (that's my guess of your country of origin based solely on your username), the telephone number for Apple Technical Support is:
00800 44145417
Numbers for other countries can be found at:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
I hope things get better for you before they get worse.