Imac won't stay on

My older iMac won't start... when I turn it on, the power light initially comes on, then the screen starts to light up, but then . . . . that's as far as it goes, it just suddenly shuts of and won't start up again.
I do have a newer iMac also, but keep this old one around for some programs that will only run on OSX Tiger. Worst case scenerio, is there a way I can get the data off this machine, should I need to replace it?
Thanks for your help!

as far as getting it to work try an SMC Reset
SMC Reset: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
You may be able to use Migration Assistant to bring the information over to the new computer, but the programs may not work. You will probably have to use Target Disk Mode to transfer the information from 10.4.
(It might almost be more worth it to copy and paste the items you want onto an external drive to save it)

Similar Messages

My iMac won't stay connected to the internet, even though all other computers in my house stay connected

My iMac won't stay connected to the internet, even though all other computers in my house stay connected, and its connection is set up the same way my fiance's macbook is (his macbook is about three years older than my iMac). Every time my computer goes into sleep mode and I come back (even if it's mere seconds after giving the black screen) I have no internet connection. I discovered a workaround for it some time ago, but now that is working less and less, and now my computer randomly disconnects WHILE I'm actively using the internet. Just a few minutes ago, the connection refused to come back until I restarted my computer, even though once again all other computers in the house were connected. The workaround I discovered before and which doesn't work as reliably now, is to click opne Airport at the top right of the screen, click "Open Network Preferences," then click "Assist me," then click "Diagnostics," and wait for everything to turn green again, signalling a connection.

Let's check the quality of your connection since signal strength alone does not insure a good connection. The "bars" that you see at the top of the iMac screen are there pretty much for show.
Hold down the option key on the iMac while you click on the Apple icon at the upper left corner of your screen and select System Profiler
Look down the list of items at the left of the window until you find the setting for Network, then click on AirPort.
In the window to the right, look for any listings of your wireless network name. You may possibly see two listings for the wireless network name.
We need for you to list the information that you see for Signal / Noise. These will be negative numbers. Post back with your findings and we will continue.
In the meantime, please move any cordless phones that you have or any other electronic devices that are near the iMac as far away as possible from the iMac.
If the iMac is located in a corner or an enclosed area, give it as much room as possible since the wireless antenna is on the back of the iMac and it needs to be able to "see" the room.
Anything that you can do to minimize the number of obstructions like walls or furniture etc between the iMac and the wireless router will help the cause as well.

Imac won't stay connected to wireless network

I recently moved and now my imac won't stay connected to my wireless network. Every other device connects just fine, so it's not the service, or the location, because devices are all in the same room.
Every time my computer goes to sleep it seems to completely forget how to connect to the internet. There is only one Network (mine) listed in preferred networks. The computer will connect only if I go to System Preferences and run through the Network Diagnostics to tell it exactly what to connect to. Each time it says my connection and internet are fine, which I know.
Please someone tell me how to get it to remember my network so I can stop going through the Diagnostics every time I want to use my internet.

Though all of these steps may or may not be needed, I'm including them all.
Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712
10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…
System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.
10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x/10.8.x instructions...
System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.
The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.
If using Wifi/Airport...
Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.
For 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8, System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
(There may be better or faster DNS numbers in your area, but these should be a good test).
Click OK.
If that doesn't work try changing channels on your Router.

IMac won't stay asleep

I recently installed Lion OS. When i try to put my iMac to sleep, it does so momentarily and then wakes up.

Had the exact same problem. The trusty old mid-2007 iMac refused to stay asleep, whether I pressed the power button (with "Allow power button to put the computer to sleep" checked) or chose "Sleep" from the Apple menu or let it sit for the "Computer sleep" interval. It would immediately wake up again in all cases.
The problem was somehow related to the powered USB hub itself. Removing USB devices from the hub one at a time made no difference. Unplugging the hub from the iMac solved the problem (but also made it impossible to use, as the wired Apple keyboard is plugged into that hub.)
The solution was powering down all accessories (including the USB hub) and the iMac, then turning on power to all accessories, letting them start up, then turning on the iMac. There may have been some interaction between the USB hub, the iMac's PMU, and/or the iMac's USB controller(s) that prevented the iMac from sleeping.
(Note: it might be very useful to follow the advice in this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/message/17050677#17050677, which will show the specific reason for the machine waking up. It may not be necessary to shut down all external devices to solve the problem.)

My iMac won't stay asleep, or it will turn itself off when going to sleep

If I select Sleep from the Apple menu, the screen goes blank, the light waxes and wanes once and the computer wakes up again.
When I allow it go to sleep by itself (my screen saver comes on after being idle for 15 minutes, then it should go to sleep after being idle for 45 minutes), then the screen goes dark, the light waxes and wanes once and then the light stays out, the display stays dark and after a few seconds the fans start running at high speed. It won't wake up by mouse or keyboard, I have to hold the power button for a few seconds, until a faint click tells me it's truly shut down. Then I can restart. I have tried resetting the SMU twice and that did not make any difference. What else can I do to make my iMac behave?
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Does your Mac fall under this plan?
http://www.apple.com/support/imac/repairextensionprogram/

Why won't my 2007 iMac won't stay on?

It turns on, chimes, briefly flashes to the grey screen then shuts down. I took it to the Apple Store today and it worked fine there. She reset the PRAM and did diagnostics - no problems found. SHe suggested that maybe the time unplugged bringing it down also helped. I brought it home and plugged it in, started it up - worked fine. Left for the evening, got home, couldn't get it started again. Unplugged it for 10 seconds, and it did the chime, grey screen, shut down procedure again. Seems like the longer I leave it unplugged the longer it stays on.
Help

Nope - same problem. Did get about 10 seconds in before it shut down. And, I think it might just be going to sleep but I'm not positive. When it got to the main screen the App Store was open like it was earlier today. However, going to sleep before you can even get to the system prefs to change it seems very unhelpful.

My imac won't stay connected to a server. How do i fix this?

The only way i can join a server is if i restart my computer. After leaving the computer unattended for a while, the server wont connect. when i try to reconnect through Finder>Go>Connect to server, it doesnt open...
I also tried to go to my system preferences>accounts>{ admin }>Login Options>Network Account Server>Join.... the error message comes up that says "unable to add server, could not resolve the address"-- even when im connected to the server.
My question is this: how do i stay connected to the server or configure my computer to automatically connect to the server when i start up or not disconnect?

Try:
- Reset the iOS device. Nothing will be lost
Reset iOS device: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Go to Settings>iTunes and App Store and sign out and sign back in
- Download apps on computer and sync
- Reset all settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
All your preferences and settings are reset. Information (such as contacts and calendars) and media (such as songs and videos) aren’t affected.
- Restore from backup. See:
iOS: Back up and restore your iOS device with iCloud or iTunes
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.

IMac won't stay shutdown, turns itself on after shutdown

hey i leave my imac on all the time and have done s since i bought it but i figure its eating up a fair bit of power, so i decided to start switching it off at night and when im not home etc... but when i shut it down (apple>shutdown) it turns off, and within a couple of minutes turns itself back on again.
im running the latest version of snow leopard and have a 24" iMac - white.
i made sure wake on ethernet was unticked
i have formatted and this problem persists.
i have even disconnected the ethernet cable just in case, still starts back up.
if anyone can suggest some things to try.

Hi j4y Gr4y
Reset the SMC > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
+1. Shut down the computer.+
+2. Unplug the computer's power cord.+
+3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.+
+4. Release the power button.+
+5. Attach the computers power cable.+
+6. Press the power button to turn on the computer.+
Then if it still starts up on it's own, you may have a faulty power button that needs to be serviced.
Dennis

Won't stay logged in

My iMac won't stay logged in to one of the profiles?

Sure your not pressing Command + Shift + Q by accident?

Won't stay asleep. How to troubleshoot?

My iMac won't stay asleep when either put to sleep or when it "falls asleep". I've attempted removing or turning off all peripherals with no luck. I've tried unchecking Wake for Network access (however, I use Logmein so this needs to remain on). Is there a system log I can inspect to see what's waking the computer up? The iMac is connected via LAN, Skype runs in the background as well as a few other scheduling apps (Chronosync for example).
Any thoughts?
Thanks.

Sounds like a background or scheduled process is the problem.
See > Mac OS X: Why your Mac might not sleep or stay in sleep mode

How can I wipe a drive on an old iMac that won't stay on long enough to complete the task?

How can I wipe a drive on an old iMac that won't stay on long enough to complete the task?

Do you have access to another Mac? If so contact the two via a Firewire cable, boot your problem Mac into Target Disk Mode, Transferring files between two computers using FireWire,, and try to use Disk Utiltiy from the second Mac to reformat and erase your hard drive.

I have in stalled maverick on my iMac and now my contacts won't stay open..... any fixes?

I have in stalled maverick on my iMac and now my contacts won't stay open..... any fixes?

Try restarting first. This fixes a lot of issues after installing Mavericks.
If you have an iCloud account, you might want to uncheck Contacts in System Preferences > iCloud. Does contacts open now? If it's Gmail, Yahoo or other account that syncs contacts, uncheck in System Preferences > Internet Accounts.

My iMac won't boot up fully. It stays stuck in the gray screen with the pinwheel spinning, then after about 5 minutes just shuts itself off.

My iMac won't boot up fully. It stays stuck in the gray screen with the pinwheel spinning, then after about 5 minutes just shuts itself off.

Try SMC Reset (unplug it from the back of the computer for 10 seconds then plug it back. in)
Try PRAM Reset Cmd + OPtion + P + R on start up.
Try safe boot - hold down shift on start up.
Try booting to install dvd (C on start up) or recovery hd (CMD + R) and using disk utility to run a verify and repair. If you still can't boot after that reinstall the operating system. If you can't find the disc or it wont boot to the disc.
Try single mode which is cmd+S on start up. It will open with a terminal looking window in the terminal. type in /sbin/fsck -TL. If it returns *system has been modified* continue to type that command in until it comes back with macintosh hd seems to be ok. If after 5 tries it still gives you system has been modified. You may have to replace the hard drive.

Have an iMac G5 won't stay connect to the internet

Have an iMac G5 won't stay connect to the internet by cable/ethernet for more than minute or so. After I reboot the Verizon modem I have five green lights, ethernet, network settings, isp, internet server all green. Open browser, internet, server go red. Somehow my grand-daughter downloaded some program that gives me a world back ground "Not licensed evaluation use only". If I change the background the world background comes right back.

Aminiman:
What make is the router?
What are the firewall settings on your Vista? What puzzles me is that your steam connection is fine and yet you cannot browse the internet.
I am sure you have right clicked on the system tray icon (wireless connection) and chose to repair the connection right?
Axel F.
Message was edited by: Axel Foley

New iPhone 5s won't stay connected to my iMac,

brand new, up to date iphone 5s won't stay conected to my imac 10.7.5, computer says iphone lacks necessary services. seems to connect briefly before dissing my phone. what to do?

The little circle means you are connected to Edge data (if you are on GSM). It is the slowest of the data speeds. There has to be a reason you are losing your wifi. Have you tried to reset your wifi router? Does the wifi stay connected at locationis other than home? Steps to try for wifi troubles are after resetting the router, reset your phone, hold the sleep/wake and home buttons together until you see the Apple logo and then release. If this does not help, then go into Settings, General, Reset, Reset Network Settings. Understand this will remove all wifi passwords of other wifi networks as well. If this doesn't work, then you may have to try and restore the phone, first from a backup and if that doesn't help, then as a new device.

Imac won't stay on

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for