Replaced HDD in early iMac but won't boot up

Hi,
I'm new to the Apple support communities and require help please.
I have an early 2008 iMac and was currently running ML; however it suffered a HDD failure. I have replaced the original 500GB HD with a 1TB WD Black Cavier HDD and started the machine up using the original disk with 10.5 and formatted the new HDD by using Disc Utility from this. I then carried out a complete restore to my last back up using Time Machine/Capsule. However when trying to start up with the restored 10.8.5 the machine won't boot up and just goes around in a cycle that also produces kernal panic. I have also gone back and loaded 10.5 and the machine works fine and then restored 10.8.5 again but the same happens.
I have carried out the AHT three times using the extendered version and each time there was nothing reported with regards to the hardware. I have also tried all of the various methods mentioned within various threads but none work.
Do you please have any ideas that may help or should I just take the machine straight into my Apple store?
Many thanks

I don't think you have a hardware problem since you can install 10.5 and the machine boots up normally. I believe your time machine backup is somehow corrupt. Maybe something on Pondini's site can help you
http://pondini.org/TM/Home.html

Similar Messages

  • IMac with bootcamp and parallel boots into windows 7 but won't boot intoxc lion.

    IMac with bootcamp and parallel boots into windows 7 but won't boot into Mac OS lion?

    Hi,
    Thanks for your suggestion. Actually that was not the problem, because I had the Mcintosh drive set as my boot drive. The answer was that my Lion Os got somehow corrupted and I had to reinstalll Lion. This was all after I discussed the situation with the Apple Support people.

  • IMac 2007 won't boot

    I have a strange problem.
    My 24" iMac 2007 won't boot.  It won't boot either from CD/DVD or anything.  It will display the white screen with the Apple logo, and the spinning wheel under it, until the spinning wheel will stop spinning.  Using my old Linux knowledge, I find that it seems like it freezes on "Login Window Application".  Before this happened the iMac would occationally freeze, creating strange wave-patterns across the screen.
    I have tried the following:
    1) safe mode - same result
    2) reset NVRAM - same result
    3) single user - I can fix the filesystem, delete loginmanager files - same result
    4) boot from Apple CD - same result
    Every time the computer hangs, the strange waves will appear on the screen.  My guess it is the video card that's causing this - and I need to replace it. 
    Can anyone give me heads an idea to confirm my suspicion - or to find the real culprit?
    regards

    OK, thanks, that was a helpful reply.
    Somewhere in my browsing, I gathered that any Mac OS install disk would have the AHT.  After searching around, I found the CD/DVD.
    After extended testing, the AHT says nothing's wrong, but I find two things strange:
    1) the AHT tells me that my memory is 1 GB, while it is 2 GB.
    2) the AHT tells me nothing about my HDD - as if it's not there.....
    I make two conclusions from that;  namely that one RAM block is faulty and the HDD is invisible seen from AHT.  The latter would stress me immensely, if I hadn't seen the entire drive from single user mode before.  There could be some faulty sectors though that would mean that the OS is behaving strangely.
    Please advise on hints on where you would go next - anyone?

  • I have an iMac that won't boot up.  I've read all posts on this subject to no avail.  When power is switched on, it chimes, Apple logo appears, spinning wheel, then loading bar starts to fill.  It gets to about 25% then switches off! Help please!

    iMac that won't boot up!   When power is switched on it chimes, Apple logo appears, then loading bar, then spinning wheel.  Bar seems to load up and gets to around 25%, then reverts to the start again, gets to about 20% on the bar and then switches itself off leaving a black screen.  Tried all the remedies on internet with no avail so would welcome some advice other than binning what is a relatively new computer.  Earliest appointment Apple could offer was Thursday 17th, really useful for a business user _ not impressed,

    You've probably tried this, but will it Safe Boot? Restart holding down the Shift key until you see the grey progress bar. You'll need to input your admin password during bootup. If it will boot you can then try to eject the disk using the various suggestions here that you haven't tried already:
    http://osxdaily.com/2009/08/28/eject-a-stuck-disk-from-your-mac-dvd-super-drive/
    Or this (not tried this myself, but if things are desperate): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7NYW9Dr448

  • Upgrade from snow leopard 10.6.8 to montain lion on a iMac system won't boot getting a crossed out circle

    Upgrade from snow leopard 10.6.8 to montain lion on a iMac system won't boot getting a crossed out circle

    Clean install OS.10.6.8 update it completly. May be you ignored some firmware update.
    I have two incedents.
    My thunderbolt port stopped working after upgrading to ML 10.8. I booted from external 10.6 , 10.7 still didnt work. Then i clean installed 10.6.8 and ran software update it updated the thunderbolt firmware and all is well now. This firmware update for some reason didnt show up in ML 10.8.
    Secondly , when i upgraded my Brother's Macbook from 10.5 to 10.6.3 it would install but stuck with crossed out circle. Then i downgraded checked for update found an efi update , then the 10.6.3 worked fine.

  • IMac G5 won't boot from CD drive, Please Help

    My iMac G5 won't boot from the CD drive. There is no operating system on the hard drive so I want to install a fresh copy of Leopard. I have tried a couple different methods, but I keep getting the same end result. The first method I tried was booting from the CD drive by holding the C key during start up. The Leopard disc was automatically ejected after about 20-30 seconds. The second method I tried was booting the iMac to the "question mark file screen," which is when I inserted the Leopard disc. Usually on other Mac computers, this is when the computer will show the Apple logo and prompt you with the installation process. Not this iMac, it just ejects the disc shortly after I insert it. I'm not sure if it's the CD drive that is having the issue, the hard drive, or something else.
    If you have any ideas, they would be greatly appreciated!
    Thank you,
    Chris

    Where did you get the CD from?
    If it is from another Mac, it is probably specific to the hardware in that Mac and is not capable of boot your iMac.
    Allan

  • IMac G5 won't boot up

    My iMac g5 won't boot up. The indicator comes on, but the screen stays black. Help!

    Looks like you have both an Intel and an older iMac G5 PPC. Do you hear the chime on startup?
    The chime is quite meaningful. It means the computer passed the P.O.S.T / Power On Self Test.
    http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/mac-101-whats-happening-when-your-mac-is-starting -up/
    See
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1367

  • 27 inch Imac Intel won't boot up. Screen ligthts up, then shows a flashing file folder w question mark. What can I do to find the problem?

    27 inch iMac Intel won't boot up. Screen lights up, then shows a flashing file folder w question mark. What can I do to find the problem?

    Please readd Apple's trouble shooting steps in Flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

  • IMac - it won't boot up.

    I have a 2 yr. old 23.5" iMac that won't boot up.  Is there a history of power supply failure or mother board failure on these macines?

    Have you tried resetting the SMC? Unplug power cord for 15 seconds. Plug back in and then press power button.
    Here is the link for info about resetting SMC.

  • I have an iMac that won't boot up. Chimes, Gray screen w/ apple icon, spinning gear and progress bar at bottom, about 20 sec then shuts off.

    I have an iMac that won't boot up. Chimes, Gray screen w/ apple icon, spinning gear and progress bar at bottom, about 20 sec then shuts off.
    Please Help

    The internal drive is malfunctioning. What backups do you have?

  • HT2452 just got a replacement wireless keyboard for imac but comp doesn't recognize it and won't connect. can't type or use it. any suggestions?

    Just got a relpacement wireless keyboard for my imac but the computer won't recognize it and b/c i can't use the keyboard (type) there's little troubleshooting i can do. how do i reconnect this? thanks!

    You may need a wired keyboard to carry out some of these steps. It's a good idea to keep a cheap wired keyboard and mouse or trackball as backups for a desktop Mac anyway, because Bluetooth isn't completely reliable.
    Step 1
    Follow the instructions in these support articles:
    How to set up your Apple Wireless Keyboard
    Apple Wireless Keyboard: Difficulty during pairing process
    Step 2
    The keyboard should pair automatically when you reboot. You may have to press and hold the power button on the right side of an Apple keyboard until the LED starts flashing.
    Step 3
    Reset the System Management Controller.
    Step 4
    Back up all data.
    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
    Right-click or control-click the line and select
    Services ▹ Reveal
    from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Reboot.
    *If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combinationcommand-C. In the Finder, select
    Go ▹ Go to Folder...
    from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
    Step 5
    See these support articles:
    Bluetooth keyboard may not pair during Setup Assistant
    Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference
    Bluetooth: Unreliable wireless performance may occur when USB 3.0 external devices are close
    Step 6
    Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

  • IMac will turn on, but won't boot unless I wait until the next day

    I've searched this forum, but can't seem to pinpoint my problem. I received this iMac for my office last March, and everything worked just fine. Lately, for the past 3-4 months, I can turn it on in the morning and everything runs fine.
    I turn it off in the middle of the workday, thinking I won't need to use it for the rest of the day.
    Of course, something comes up, and I need to turn it back on. When I press the button to turn it back on, nothing happens. Just a black screen and if it's quiet enough, I can hear the hard drive running.
    It won't boot until I come back the next morning, almost as if I'm giving it time to cool off.
    Any ideas?

    Turn off Energy Saver and use Screen Saver instead. Energy Saver is sensitive to certain non-Apple USB devices and may cause such a problem.

  • My early iMac 2008 won't turn on suddenly...

    My early iMac 2008 is having a problem that it doesn't turn on although the plug is connected to the power source.
    It worked and turned on in the morning but suddenly became unable to run in the evening.
    Here's my Mac's overview;
    -4g mem
    -OSx lion
    -250gb memory
    -2.3ghz
    Above are what I remember so far and it maybe not fully correct (sorry that I couldn't check it since its not turning on)
    Please share any comments related to this issue
    Thanks.

    If it makes no sound at all then it is probably a failed power supply. Does it make any sounds at all, if it does then run Apple Hardware Test in Extended Mode. If it does not report errors run AHT in Extended Mode at least 2 more times to be sure. If it reports errors then it's time to take it in for repair at your local Apple Store or AASP.

  • New HDD installed in PowerBook G3, won't boot from installation disk.

    I just installed a new hard drive in my G3 Wallstreet and I can't get it to boot from the original Apple CD.
    I've tried holding the C key as well as +⌥+⇧+⌫, but to no avail.
    The CD tests fine in my old iMac G4, so maybe the culprit is the optical drive, but then again, I'm not so sure.
    Is there a way to either boot my PowerBook or install OSX from my iMac G4?
    Message was edited by: rick268 Also, I can boot into Open Firmware just fine.

    Thanks for your help.
    WeLoveMacs wanted $50, but I just scored an entire topcase on eBay for $15, shipped. We'll see what happens.
    Allan Jones wrote:
    I maintatined three Wallstreets for a friend for years. They stayed in regular service from new until he replaced them with MacBook Pros last summer!
    In the years of keeping the old soldiers almost relavent, I ran into a "won't boot from a system disk" issue on two of them. In both cases, replacing a dead PRAM battery fixed the issue. Don't ask me why but that was the only thing that fixed them.
    When I was supporting those, you could still get new Wallstreet batteries from Other World Computing. Today they no longer show them. I'm not sure where to steer your for a new one. USed batteries are like used chewing gum, IMHO.
    You can try disconecting the wire from the PRAM battery to the logic board. That might help. Requires some take-down:
    http://www.ifixit.com/Device/PowerBook_G3_Wallstreet

  • OS9.1, OS9.2, OS10.2, iMac 600SE, Won't boot to CD, Trying to Reformat, Hel

    I got this iMac 600SE new in 2001. Over the years, the CD-RW drive got fussier and fussier and finally pooped out. It now has what the System Profiler says is CD-ROM Drive, vendor LG, driver version 1.4.4. I want to deep wipe, partition the 40GB HD in half, and do half 9.2 and half 10.2.
    I was still having problems with the CD drive. It reads OK but would not boot from the original Software Restore, or an eMac 9.2 disk. It did boot from a Jaguar 10.2 disk. I thought for sure the disk that came with it would work. All I got was this gray screen that does not change. So I tried the Jaguar disk.
    When going to the Install menu I wanted to wipe the drive, but the option to install OS9 drivers was grayed out. I tried Partition, and that showed the OS9 driver option already checked, and it would erase the drive. OK. I did that and installed X on one partition. No problem so far.
    Could not install 9 on the other partition. When I tried it just wanted to open Classic wheich there's nothing to run it with. Tried with both 9 CDs, same. Still could not boot from them. I dragged the System folder stuff from the 9.2 CD into the second partition and was able to select it to boot from. Now all I get is an error message, "The system software on the startup disk only functions on the original media, not if copied to another drive." (Restart) but I can't click the Restart because the cursor for the mouse doesn't show up. I have to pull the plug to restart and try to boot, and now it won't even boot fronm the Jaguar disk.
    Have I hurt my HD?
    Is it a problem with the CD-ROM drive?

    I've had this thing this long...well, up until now I've never needed to know about the startup manager. Yes, thanks, it got me back to my X partition.
    I started it up this time connected to an Apple keyboard instead of the whatever brand one I was using, just in case that was a factor. Held down the C and it didn't start from the disk, but it did spit it out. Hit Option while it was still thinking, and got the startup manager and picked the right partition just fine.
    After I had properly selected the correct partition, I thought I'd use the X disk to delete all the bad stuff on the other partition. Now all it will do is spit the disk out. It spits all other disks out, too. I think I will definitely need a replacement CD-ROM or CD-RW drive in there.
    Is there a list anywhere of the drive model numbers that came with the different iMacs? This one I bought May 5 2001 and it came with OS 9.1. I'd kind of like to get either the same kind or something better.

Maybe you are looking for

  • 2 iPhones + 2 Accounts = Sharing

    I have a 1.66 mac mini with the latest OS that I use as an HTPC that my wife and I use for music, movies, email, iChat, etc. We're both getting the new 3G iPhone when it comes out this Friday so now I need to create a user account for her so she can

  • SharePoint 2013 CAL and External users

    Hi, We are setting up an extranet site(SharePoint 2013 standard version) on Rackspace, Both employee and non-employee will use this site. Employee will use company existing SAML 2.0 based authentication and non-employee will use FBA to login to the p

  • Hiding the mouse on two screens

    I have a FLEX project that I export to AIR. It has two separate windows that talk to each other, located on different screens. I dynamically resize the windows (setting them to fullScreen after moving them to the needed screen). After, I call Mouse.h

  • Help with a CS2 issue

    hey there. I have a strange issue going on with my Photoshop CS2. When I open the program and begin to work with my image the program closes without any warning. I have never had any issues before and have done high quality graphics before with it. M

  • Older versions of Firefox

    I need to download an older version of Firefox (which works on PowerPC G4-G5 iMacs) and need to know where to find this. Thanks.