Mac dies on boot, every time - but bootcamp Windows partition still runs

Hi there,
I hope someone can give a bit of advice.
I have a 17" Intel iMac, Core 2 Duo, the old white style, running OSX 10.4 Tiger.
When I got it I set up a smallish partition (80GB, the hard drive is 500GB) using the Bootcamp beta and installed Vista Home Premium on the partition. I went along for a while happily switching between the two. However, I am now completely incapable of booting into OSX.
When the computer is turned on, the Mac chime sounds, then it thinks for a second or two, and goes straight into Vista. If I hold down Option to go into Bootcamp and choose which OS to run, it will let me. However if I choose the Mac partition, the computer thinks for a sec, then switches itself off.
I've tried launching in safe mode. This doesn't work, the computer just boots into Vista.
I've tried inserting the Tiger install disk to run Disk Utility (holding C when you turn on), but the same thing happens - it boots in Vista.
I've tried launching in single user mode, but the same thing happens.
I've tried running Disk Warrior, but can't.
I've tried Cmd/Opt/Shift/Del to force it to run from the CD, but it just turns off.
Basically, I have the install disks for OSX and Vista, and I have everything backed up on an external HD, so I want to do a complete fresh install of OSX and start again - I might purchase Leopard and use its version of Bootcamp (because it's not beta, and would hopefully be more secure from this kind of thing).
Is there anything else I can do to make this thing run Disk Utility? I don't want to pay repair costs if I can somehow avoid it.
Thank you very much.

But there can't be much wrong with the HD if the Windows partition runs fine.
Sort of, sort of not, depending how you look at things... one bit going astray in the wrong place can cause anything to happen.
Does it boot into Open Firmware with CMDOption+of ?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642
reset-nvram (press Enter)
set-defaults (press Enter)
reset-all (press Enter)
Have you done a PRAM reset...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
Intel-based iMac, Intel-based Mac mini: How to reset the System Management Controller ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543
Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533

Similar Messages

  • Randomly when I plug my Iphone 4s into Itunes it will tell me that it can't detect my phone and that I need to restore it. It doesn't happen every time, but maybe every two weeks.

    Randomly when I plug my Iphone 4s into Itunes it will tell me that it can't detect my phone and that I need to restore it. It doesn't happen every time, but maybe every two weeks.I restore it and then it works for a while, but then a couple weeks later I'll plug it in and I get the same message again. It's very frustrating because even though I have all the settings to save to cloud, my apps and data don't all come back.

    Thank you both. I suppose I should have prefaced my question with the concern that I've read a number of other posts from people who have had a similar issue and when they tried to follow the directions, they ran into a multitude of other problems. As you might imagine, I'm hoping to avoid the creation of new problems as I try to solve this one. Thanks again.

  • After installing the latest udate of Adobe Reader on my MAC, the program crashes every time I open a pdf.

    After installing the latest udate of Adobe Reader on my MAC, the program crashes every time I open a pdf.

    This might help http://www.apple.com/support/ipodtouch/assistant/ipodtouch/

  • In firefox, the video from website "tv.vu.edu.pk" is not displaying even i have installed the latest version of JAVA. There rotates a circle around java monogram every time but video is not playing even it is working fine with internet explorer

    In firefox, the video from website "tv.vu.edu.pk" is not displaying even i have installed the latest version of JAVA. There rotates a circle around java monogram every time but video is not playing even it is working fine with internet explorer

    It's not working here as well with Java 6 U25 on Linux.

  • HT4236 I've been using the iCloud Photo Stream with my PC for few months already. It work fine every time, but suddenly not work for today

    I've been using the iCloud Photo Stream with my PC for few months already. It work fine every time, but suddenly not work for today

    Hey lalitgupta,
    Thanks for the question. The following article provides troubleshooting steps for Photo Stream:
    iCloud: Photo Stream troubleshooting
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3989
    Thanks,
    Matt M.

  • HT5552 I use my credit card every time but this time it say disline   But I have money in the card? And I don't have any other card

    I use my credit card every time but this time it say disline   But I have money in the card? And I don't have any other card

    Hello Ismailbusherin,
    From what I can gather, you are receiving a message stating your payment is being declined. You may want to revisit the payment information associated with your Apple ID to make sure the data is correct:
    iTunes Store: Changing your payment information
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1918
    Thank you for contributing to Apple Support Communities.
    Cheers,
    BobbyD

  • HT1597 How can I STOP iTunes from automatically trying to add podcasts to my iPod when I plug it in and sync it, so I can manage the files? I have already unchecked "Sync Podcasts" and "Automatically include,"yet EVERY time I sync it,it still transfers po

    How can I STOP iTunes from automatically trying to add podcasts to my iPod when I plug it in and sync it, so I can manage the files? I have already unchecked "Sync Podcasts" and "Automatically include,"yet EVERY time I sync it,it still transfers podcasts as the last step, and at other times randomly, when trying to just add some MP3's to a playlist, for example.  I can't seem to find any other option to uncheck, and can't find an answer from my so-far internet searching.

    erict, you blew me away with that suggestion! It was something so simple I couldnt believe I hadnt thought of it! But in the end it didn't work, which I was really surprised about. On Windows anytime anything was moved itunes was hoplessly lost, but on this mac it still kept up with everything. I tried renaming folders, moving folders, and even renaming moved folders but it still kept trying to import.
    I even went as far as deleting EVERYTHING i had moved to the Mac, which didnt really work. It still kept trying to import what wasnt there which made it continue to freeze up. However, after doing this it, the freezing was not nearly as bad. It gave me enough of a break to cancel it through the itunes dialog box at the top of the app. So in the end, thats all I really needed to do, only before I had deleted everything the freezing would not allow me to do it.
    So now Im reimporting everything again, only slowly, and only a few Artists at a time.

  • Just recently getting error message when downloading podcasts.  Says "The iTunes Library file cannot be save.  You do not have enough access privileges for this operation."  Doesn't happen every time.  Using Windows 7.  What can I do?

    Just recently getting error message when downloading podcasts.  Says "The iTunes Library file cannot be save.  You do not have enough access privileges for this operation."  Doesn't happen every time.  Using Windows 7.  What can I do?  The files seem to be there but I don't know if they are being backed up to cloud.

    Hi, DickmoAZ.  
    Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
    This sounds like a permission issue most likely with the iTunes Media folder.  Here is an article that will help you troubleshoot this issue.
    iTunes: Missing folder or incorrect permissions may prevent authorization
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1277
    Cheers,
    Jason H.

  • Have to startup database every time I reboot Windows

    Hi,
    I have installed Oracle XE on Windows 2003 Server. Every time I reboot Windows, I have to logon as sysdba with SQL and startup the database.
    Is it possible to have Oracle do this automatically after Windows startup?
    Thanks,
    Frank

    Hi,
    I encountered the kind of problem with my office PC , XP with 1G memory.
    Sometimes when I started my computer, as what you described, the listner is on, the db is on, but if you are trying to access apex, or a normal schema rather than sys, there would be a message showing some error message, and if you login to sqlplus as sys, it will show message *'connected with a idle instance'*, and then you type startup, everything go up to normal.
    I asked a few person at this forum, but not very good answers got.
    But I was not like your condition now, all the time, everytimes, I encoutered this problem 2 out of 5 times I started or rebooted the machine.
    First I don't know what to do, I just simply restart my pc, and it workes again, and then I found out that I can start it up manually under sqlplus as user 'sys', and I did that then.
    and then, after my upgrading my memory to 2G, and I give more memory to the db xe, it works fine, the problem is gone,
    So I think maybe you can try to allocate more memory to both SGA and PGA, or evern, add mor memory to your PC.(if without any other good solution).
    Thanks,
    Peter
    p.s. memory adding is the simplest way to get better performance, on both your PC and db.
    Edited by: PeterCN on Sep 17, 2008 9:08 PM

  • I made a windows partition on my mac but now i cant swap back to the mac part so is there any way that i can delete the windows partition whilst running windows 7 so i can go back to the mac part

    i made a windows partition on my mac but now i cant swap back to the mac part so is there any way that i can delete the windows partition whilst running windows 7 so i can go back to the mac part

    You are telling us you read and tried the normal methods?
    Boot Camp or Taskbar. Option on restart. "x" on startup. And none of those work.

  • HT3552 I have been trying to download apps from the app store and every time it tells me there is a problem with my previous billing and direct me to put in new billing information and every time i do that it still will not let me download any apps.

    I have been trying to download apps from the app store and every time it tells me there is a problem with my previous billing and direct me to put in new billing information and every time i do that it still will not let me download any apps.

    Have a look here >  http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1646

  • I am trying to update my mac to os x snow leopard but the cd won't run on my computer

    I am trying to update my mac to os x snow leopard but the cd won't run on my computer. I'm using an external dvd hardrive but I don't see why that would make a difference in wether or not it runs.

    Well, that may be the cause of the no install problem, as Snow Leopard does require at least 1gB of RAM. The Apple link below will show how it is installed.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1651#link3
    The link below is for a highly recommended site to purchase additional RAM.
    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/Macbook_ selector

  • Illustrator cc crashes moments after starting up every time on my windows 8.1 machine.

    Illustrator cc crashes moments after starting up every time on my windows 8.1 machine. There are no error messages. I have reinstalled illustrator, reinstalled creative cloud, and updated my video drivers as well as the wacom drivers. I have also disconnected the internet, and illustrator still does not change from crashing roughly three seconds after loading the main program window.

    When you uninstalled did you check the box to replace the Preferences? If you didn't, try that and you might try the Cleaner tool as well.
    Use the CC Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems | CC, CS3-CS6

  • Cisco IME express 7.1.1, service crashes every time I reboot Windows

    Cisco IME express 7.1.1, service crashes every time I reboot Windows
    Event Type:    Error
    Event Source:    Application Error
    Event Category:    (100)
    Event ID:    1004
    Date:        12/14/2011
    Time:        7:37:35 AM
    User:        N/A
    Computer:    ABN-WELLS-HP
    Description:
    Faulting application IMEServer.exe, version 0.0.0.0, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00000000.
    For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
    Data:
    0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74   Applicat
    0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c   ion Fail
    0010: 75 72 65 20 20 49 4d 45   ure  IME
    0018: 53 65 72 76 65 72 2e 65   Server.e
    0020: 78 65 20 30 2e 30 2e 30   xe 0.0.0
    0028: 2e 30 20 69 6e 20 75 6e   .0 in un
    0030: 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 30 2e   known 0.
    0038: 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 61 74   0.0.0 at
    0040: 20 6f 66 66 73 65 74 20    offset
    0048: 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30   00000000

    Upgrade to 7.2.1  seems to have corrected problem

  • How to prevent from starting oracle server every time i start windows?

    I have winXP professinonal, and i would like to know how to prevent from starting oracle server every time i start windows. Because it really slows starting the windows. Thanks

    The scripts above seems to work as intended with no errors and do indeed stop my five XE services. I created the second script to start them and they do indeed start and are listed as "Started" in the Services panel aferwards.
    My XE installation has the 5 services set up to start automatically.
    I was happy to find the script above because I did not know the starting order and using the XE shortcuts for "Stop Database" and "Start Database" just seemed to cause sqlplus to receive ORA-12514 "listener does not currently know of service..." after trying to use them to restart the database. Using the scripts above seems to leave me with a different error.
    I am pretty sure I eliminated my 9i listener and it is no longer listed in my Services panel or the registry.
    Restarting the laptop does start the services correctly, and now I am on to a more pressing JDBC error, so if I get a chance to use the script again, I will post my results. Thanks.

Maybe you are looking for

  • XML file not generate in MOPZ - system has not been registered in SLM

    HI, I need to install EHP4 in ERP 6.0. So to get the xml file i installed solution manager 7.0 EHP1 and post process of EHP1. ST -400 -21 the important Notes i followed. ================================================================== Note 1151784

  • Starting Up: Folder with Question Mark Icon

    I do not know when this problem began whereas I do not restart my Mac that often. But the problem is that whenever I boot up my MacPro now I get this icon that is a folder with a question mark inside of it, and it keeps blinking. The weird thing is,

  • My  sony hdv 1080i mini dv camera won't capture

    I've been trying to capture a video that I recorded with my SONY (HDV) HDR-FX1E camera from sony hdv 1080i mini dv but the camera would go on playing but it won't display any frame and it would show this error when i click stop stating that "recorder

  • How can I make a homemade video on iDVD transition from one chapter to the next?

    For example, I usually have 4 chapters for my projects.  I coach basketball so each chapter represents a quarter.  When quarter 1 ends, it goes back to the menu...rather then going right into quarter?

  • Help with the new Garageband?

    I'm trying to export a file to iTunes (it's about 3 hours long) and I didn't see an option to make a podcast on the new Garageband so I just went ahead so make a regular audio file. When I clicked on Share and tried to export it to iTunes, it said, "