Intel iMac won't boot. Starting chime, then beeping. What's wrong with it?

I pressed the power button on my iMac to turn it on - I didn't hold the button down, it was just a normal press - and it made the normal start up chime when turned on, but after that it beeps twice, then after that it beeps three times every three seconds and won't start up. I pressed the power button and tried again, but still the same thing. I tried holding down the power button to power on to do whatever that does (I can't remember exactly). It makes the long beep sound, makes the start up chime, then the same thing. I'm not sure what to do. I've have some very important files and projects that I can't afford to lose... sigh Can someone tell me what to do?
Message was edited by: digitalhigh

I've just had a similar problem. My 24" Intel iMac was shutting off but itself. It will start fine and after a couple of minutes it will shut off, till I couldn't start it anymore. It even beeped 3 times a couple of times. Tried everything that was adviced, then I took it to the apple store and they told me the problem was the power supply from the computer, they replaced it and now it's working fine.

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My imac won't boot up. I get a white screen with the apple logo and the spinning spiral--any ideas?

my imac won't boot up. I get a white screen with the apple logo and the spinning spiral--any ideas?
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Intel iMac won't boot & Disk Utility error-can't verify disk

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Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
Do the following:
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
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If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.

IMac won't boot / start

Hi,
Since yesterday morning, I've been unable to boot my iMac into Mac OS. I've left it at the loading screen (apple logo + spinning wheel) for up to 2 hours, and it still won't boot. Tried restarting this several times, and nothing.
This morning I've started trying to find other solutions: I've tried to boot in safe mode (accepted the command, but still not getting beyond spinning wheel), I've tried the Apple Hardware Test (everything was fine, apparently), and I've reset the Parameter Ram (again, the command was accepted and the mac rebooted with the 2nd start-up chime, but not getting beyond the spinning wheel).
I also started in Verbose mode and it seemed to be hanging around the line: 'Warning - com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport declares no kernel dependencies; using com.apple.kernel.6.0'
Now, the only change that has taken place is that I installed a T-Mobile (UK) broadband USB stick, which worked but this has since been disconnected. I don't know if this has something to do with the problem, but even so, I can't get it booted to remove the software (like I'd do in Windows - sorry, a bit new to macs).
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Thanks in advance!
Paul

unfortunately, the disk repair didn't work.
In what way? It repaired successfully (or didn't find problems), but that didn't solve the problem? Or it failed to repair the disk?
I'm trying archive and install now - I hope that works because I don't want to have to erase (still saving for my Time Machine :[ )
Okay, now you're scaring me... are you saying you don't have any backups? If so, you shouldn't be doing anything until you've got your data backed up, if your problems aren't so severe that they interfere with that. Since you can't get the machine booted, you should boot from the Mac OS X install disk, run Disk Utility, then use the Restore tab to copy data from your hard drive to an external hard drive.

Intel iMac won't boot up when iPod is plugged into USB port.

I have a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of RAM and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. Purchased new from Apple in January 2007. Running Mac OS X 10.4.10. Purchased a new 80 GB video iPod (v1.2.1) from Best Buy in June. Computer stopped rebooting soon after. I began by deleting preferences of various kinds with no luck. I've reset the P RAM, the System Power Manager or whatever ya call it. I've even done an Archive Install of the Mac OS. Yet every time I try an' reboot with the iPod plugged into the USB port I get the start-up chime then the gray screen and that's it. No gray Apple, no log-in window. I shut it down, unplug the iPod and it starts right up. Please, I'm beggin' ya. I don't want to have to wipe the hard drive and start from scratch. Any suggestions?
Thanks....

ABStrange -- the apple tech believes that the iMAC is trying to boot from the iPOD which is causing the hanging. Interestingly, if you wipe the iPOD clean, it will work flawlessly. The minute you put one song back on the iPOD it will hang again. Hopefully on Monday or Tuesday I'll hear something back. I'll let you know what I find out. I did mention this thread on the forum to the apple tech. Hopefully they take this seriously. Maybe it is a serious enough flaw with our iPODs that will warrant a replacement?
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Intel iMac won't boot from disc or in safe mode - cannot repair disk

I have an early Intel iMac 20" (2GHz core duo) that generally works fine. I recently ran Onyx and it reported a startup disk error, suggesting I insert the install disk, hold 'c', and use disk utility to repair the disk.
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Note that my iMac appears to be running fine otherwise. I was just trying to perform some routine maintenance and have run across this problem.
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Hello Devoidarex
You'll want to use the Leopard Install DVD to Repair your Startup Volume and may want to try a USB keyboard if your using a wireless.
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Dennis

Intel imac won't boot with usb powered hub attached

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I see from other postings that this isn't too uncommon, but didn't see any fix.
Thanks

Can you determine if it is just one of the hubs? Resetting the PRAM probably didn't have anything to do with this problem but the SMC controls the power, try this reset:
SMC RESET
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord and ALL peripherals.
Wait 15 seconds.
Attach the computers power cable.
Wait another 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.
The 5 second timing is important to a successful reset.

Intel iMac won't boot up, please help.

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Thank You

Try this qst... Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), off the HD & use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, reboot once more.
If that doesn't help, Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.
3. Click the First Aid 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.
6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it finishes.
The usual reason why updates fail or mess things up, or things don't load/run, is if Permissions are not fixed before & after every update, with a reboot... you may get a partial update when the installer finds it doesn't have Permissions to change one obscure little part of the OS, leaving you with a mix of OS versions.
Some people get away without Repairing Permissions for years, some for only days.
If Permissions are wrong before applying an update, you could get mixed OS versions, if Directory is the slightest messed up, who knows!
If many Permission are repaired, or any Directory errors are found, you may need to re-apply some the latest/biggest updates again, or even do an A&I if you have enough free disk space.
If we still don't have it, try without a Tiger Disk, but try fsck...
To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
1. Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Hold CMD+s keys down at bootup. Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
2. At the command-line prompt, type /sbin/fsck -fy
3. Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found: ** The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK  If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message: *** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***   Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), off the HD & use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, reboot once more.

20" Intel iMac won't boot

I restarted my Mac by holding down the power button on the back of the computer after it froze. It will no longer boot. Instead, there is a flashing folder with a question mark.
I have inserted my install disc and held the C button, but that only gets me to the installer. Once there, disk utility shows my internal hard drive but there are no partitions shown under it and there is no first aid option.
I have also attempted to hold the shift key while it attempts to boot, as I've heard this will run some common fixes but it doesn't ever appear to do anything at all.
If I could simply get some of my data off the drive I'd not mind reinstalling the operating system.
Is there any way to get in any sort of maintenance mode to attempt to get some of my data off the drive?
Does the lack of partitions and the option for first aid mean anything about the state of my hard drive?
Thank you in advance for any help.

Hi Dustin
First try Testing and Repairing your Startup volume:
This link for 10.4
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=DiskUtility/10.5/en/duh1018.html
This link for 10.5
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8492.html
And then run the Apple Hardware Test:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509
Dennis

My Intel iMac won't boot!!!

I was recording a TV show with my Elgato EyeTV. It wasn't finished but I had to go out of the house so I just left it recording. When I came back my screensaver was stuck. Completely frozen. So of course I just decided to restart it. The Apple logo showed up and the spinning wheel started spinning, like it always does. But it didn't stop. The hard drive must have been full!
I saw [this thread|http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/124471-hard-disk- full-mac-wont-boot-up-cannot-install-leopard.html] about someone that had the same problem. He was told that he should reinstall Leopard, which would wipe out all the data on the hard drive. I do not want that!! I've got some really valuable things there!
Another guy said that by connecting another computer to it with a FireWire and boot up while pressing "T" I would be able to manage the files in the other computer. I did that, connected via FireWire, pressed T on startup and the disk "Macintosh HD" showed up as an external FW drive. But it seems to me that I only have a very limited time to do anything! After that it just shows up in "Devices" but I cant do anything! Once I was quick enough and I moved to the trash my EyeTV recordings. So I went to the Trash and hit the "Empty" button. The progress bar "Emptying trash" came up, but it didn't move! I wasn't quick enough.
So, what? Will I really have to reinstall MacOSX? Could I maybe be able to take it to an Apple Store and let them take a look at it?

If you are not afraid of using terminal.app, then you can boot from the install DVD and use terminal
to remove some files using the "rm" command.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Command_Line_Adminv10.5.pdf
If you do not have your install disks handy, you can boot into single user mode:
To start up in single-user mode:
Choose Apple menu > Restart, or press the power button if the computer is turned off.
Press Command-S as the computer starts up.
The computer screen is black with standard white text. You can now run the UNIX commands that you want.
/sbin/mount -uw / #mounts the boot volume#
rm /path/to/file #removes file#
example: rm /users/me/videofiles/bigfatvideofile.mov
#this will remove the "bigfatvideofile.mov" file#
Be careful with the rm command, if you are new to using it, I suggest you stay away
from using it with the -R (file hierarchy) switch and the wildcard "*".
Using those subcommands inadvertantly could quickly give you a lot more room than you bargained
for!
Oh, almost forgot, If using single user mode, "reboot" is the command to leave SUM when you are done.
Kj

Intel iMac won't boot from HD

About a month ago, HD booted to Loading OS X, then froze at blue screen before showing logon screen. Returned under warranty, techie used external FW drive and DiskWarrior to repair and system restored to normal. Now have my own external drive with OS X and DiskWarrior.
Last week, installed Parallels. Spent some time with networking to old PC in order to make transition from PC to mac easier (GBs of file transfers). Around this time, 4 of my prefpane files somehow reverted to Power PC, not Intel versions and I couldn't change system preferences on sound, speech, sharing and another beginning with s. Performed an archive and install, all seemed to be working OK.
Last night, screen went black with white power sleep light on constantly. Could only shut down with 5-sec power button push. Attempts to boot from HD get as far as Loading OS X, then freezes at blue screen (why are they always blue?). Restarted holding down option key. Can boot from FW drive. Ran Disk Utility and DiskWarrior. After lots of "node" messages and catalogue this and directory that, DU now shows drive green and OK. However, on trying to boot again from HD, system hangs after "Loading OS X".
Have reset PRAM, used command-s to enter console and did the 2 commands listed there but still no joy. Gone to apple support, have removed and reinstalled RAM iaw their instructions. Have done the SMC thingy, all iaw Apple's instructions. The mac is only 4 month's old and I don't know if anything else can be done before I take it back. Any assistance anyone could give me would be gratefully received.
All the best
jj
PS. Also updated firmware yesterday (1.2?). All seemed to go OK iaw Apple's instructions.
Message was edited by: jumbojock

{quote:} Last night, screen went black with white power sleep light on constantly. Could only shut down with 5-sec power button push. Attempts to boot from HD get as far as Loading OS X, then freezes at blue screen (why are they always blue?). Restarted holding down option key. Can boot from FW drive. Ran Disk Utility and DiskWarrior. After lots of "node" messages and catalogue this and directory that, DU now shows drive green and OK. However, on trying to boot again from HD, system hangs after "Loading OS X".{quote}
To return back to the Internal after a "Startup Volume Repair" from an (External HD or Install Disk 1) restart again holding the Option key (for Startup Manager) and select the "Mac OS X 10.4.10 on Macintosh HD".
Also go to: "Apple / System Preferences / Startup Disk" and select Mac HD, then click the lock so the system will allways attempt to boot from the Internal HD on startup or restart instead of searching.

Imac won't boot; needs repair. But what part to replace?

My iMac G3 tray loading 266mhz will not boot.. i press the power button, the screen makes starting noise and the i can hear the cooling fan.. but the screen is still black and the power light is orange.
Tried a new pram battery
Tried resetting the CUDA button and waiting for all power to be drained
Tried switching the ram
Tried new power cable
No keyboard commands work; computer does not boot at all
Now I just need to know what part to replace
Power supply?
Motherboard?
CPU board?
How can I diagnose which part is not working?

Flyback Transformer
The dark screen and a zapping or crackling sound are classic symptoms of a blown transformer.
There is a test you can preform to see if it is the flyback transformer:
1. Unplug the computer and remover the bottom cover of the iMac and disconnect the main video cable. That's the one held in by 2 screws.
2. Try to startup the computer with the video cable disconnected.
3. Listen carefully to the iMac. Does it sound like it is starting up? Do you heard the normal hard drive sounds? If so, then your flyback transformer is dead. If you don't hear the normal startup sounds and it shuts down right away, the the problem is something else. Like a bad power supply or something like that.
Special shout out & thanks to djon for the above valuable information.

IMac won't boot. Black screen. What happened?

I can hear the HDD spin up, but there are no chimes.
The computer will take the install CD, and I can hear it reading it. Then it will spit it back out after 3 or 4 minutes.
I did the SMC reset five times back to back. I did the PRAM reset. Still nothing.
One thing that I can make re-occur is having the fans blast real loud by having the computer unplugged, and holding in the power button while plugging in the iMac. Once I release the power button the HDD spins up and the fans start going nuts.
If I turn off the computer, and back on again, it goes into the same 'loud fan mode'.
However, if I do an SMC reset and turn on the computer there are no more loud fans.
The computer has always ran flawlessly. I simply moved it to another room, plugged it in, turned it on and now this.
What happened?

rad_thundercat wrote:
I took it to an Apple store. They plugged it in I assume did a diagnostic. The guy said it's "probably" the logic board.
So these logic boards just go out?
Apple quoted $500 to fix it. I called a few authorized Apple repair shops around here to see if it was cheaper, but those guys were saying upwards of $950 and suggested to just buy a new computer :/
Yes, this can happen. Remember your computer is almost 5 years old now. These types of parts can last 1 year or 10 years. If you were in the habit of turning your computer off frequently that can contribute. temperature cycles are difficult on electronics.If you leave them on 24/7 they would last longer as the temp stays fairly constant. I have 2007 iMac that runs as well as it did when it was new, one reason is I rarely turn it off or power cycle it.

IMac won't boot at first attempt

Hi
Recently I've been experiencing that my intel iMac won't boot at first attempt and I have to powerdown manually and then try again. Second time it boots just fine. It's usually in the morning (been shut off for the night), but not always. I've tried disc utility from the install dvd, have repaired permissions and reset the nvram and everything seems just fine. The thing is, this has happened after the 10.4.8 update as far as I can remember. Does anyone else see this or is it a coincidence and some other problem?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Best regards
Rico
intel iMac 20" Mac OS X (10.4.8)
intel iMac 20" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Oups, sorry about that wrong quote - I've been reading to many discussions lately
I've done all sorts of things today and I'm kind of curious to what is going to happen tomorrow morning when I boot up the mac. To sum up, here's what I've been doing:
Installed 10.4.8 manually, downloaded from: http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1048updateintel.html Read somewhere that the stand alone installer might help.
I ran repair permissions right after and got this:
Permissions differ on ./usr/standalone/i386/boot.efi, should be -r-xr-xr-x , they are -r--r--r--
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/standalone/i386/boot.efi
Permissions corrected on ./usr/standalone/i386/boot.efi
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Ran repair permissions again to check - all was good
Enabled automatically login in the accounts menu in user prefs - someone suggested me to do this, but I'm not sure what that might do, but hey, I'll give it all a shot.
Changed resolution and then back again to highest possible. Apple suggests this when the problem occurs on the 17" iMac.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303870
Unplugged power cord for 30 secs and reset smu (G5 article/idea though)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301733
Used Onyx to delete the content of library > caches which I read somewhere could perhaps help.
I'll post again tomorrow morning, and hopefully with some positive news

Intel iMac won't boot. Starting chime, then beeping. What's wrong with it?

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