iMac issue - newbie

[Simcfc73]

Hi,

 

We got donated a imac from Auckland to run some seismology program which we are having issues with. It was running on a old PC but the new software was preinstalled simo we stuck with the mac. Its the only one in school so diagnosing an issue is all new to me.

 

It keeps showing the spinning rainbow when the user tries changing rue date range on the software (thing its called jamaseis) which stops us being able to click anything. The mouse still moves but rolling over any icons does nothing.

 

I read that holding the d key down would run a diagnostic of the system but I have been sat here for half an house looking at the apple symbol and the spinning little wheel after I booted up so I think that didn't work. As this doesn't work I thought that it was a hardware issue as it doesn't boot up properly sometimes after a crash.

 

Can someone offer advise please

[frazzlesgrant]

If you have the install disk, boot off that, pressing "c" on boot (i think) then load up disk utility from that and verify and repair the disk permissions. or you could do it from booted in OS X.

If that doesn't work, maybe run a fresh install of OS X

[Simcfc73]

Don't have any disks I am afraid, it was donated just as the box.

[3s-gtech]

You should be able to do a permissions repair on the disk as is, so long as you don't try to load anything else first. Open Spotlight and type in Disk Utility, then verify and repair the disk.

 

If you're still struggling, boot the Mac into Safe Mode first by holding shift after the startup bong, and releasing it when the Apple logo appears.

[Simcfc73]

Tried the safe mode and its hung on the apple logo. Not sure if its worth buying a disk to reinstall of its not even trying to boot up.

[computer_expert]

If the mac has 10.7 or above, try this (OS X Internet Recovery section). It will wipe the disk so make sure you have a backup beforehand.

 

It's a hefty download as well.

[Simcfc73]

Still struggling with this. It seems to lock up when it runs for a bit then wont do anything. I end up having to pull the plug and leave it.

 

I've managed to reset the passwords of the accounts so I can get in and do something with it. It wouldn't let me create a time capsule thingy to make a backup without one... then it hung when it tried to open the account after logon with a new password.

 

I did use the recovery partition to run a disk check and it said it needed repairing... when I ran a repair it says that it cannot repair the disk.

 

So do I need to physically replace the disk then or it it just the OS?

 

Spent ages doing this as every boot up takes 20 minutes.

[AntonioRocco]

The symptoms you're describing sounds very much like a failing disk causing the OS to be unresponsive.

 

If you've ran Disk Utility and says it can't repair the problem it means you either need to use a 'stronger' disk repair utility - such as DiskWarrior - or, if that fails, replace the disk. Probably replacing the disk will be the quicker option as DiskWarrior is another program you'll need to purchase? Of course you will also need to re-install the OS if you replace the disk.

 

Installing the OS is another problem as Apple does not offer disk media anymore and you will need a recovery disk partition to reinstall from the Internet which you won't have with a new disk.

 

Do you know of any schools nearby that already have macs that might help? Failing that take it to your nearest Apple Repair Centre and ask them to do the work for you.

 

Antonio Rocco (ACSA)

[Simcfc73]

I looked at diskwarrior but the price put me off and the machine was playing silly anyway so couldn't rely on it booting up.

 

It wont let me use the internet recovery unfortunately as it says its not available at this time... reading on the internet it seems its to do with the apple ID it was first installed with... which we don't have as its a donation so I need to reinstall from scratch. I did try a call to apple but when I put the serial number in it says its out of support and wanted £25... and its too heavy to lump around to the apple store so I bought some media off ebay and will reinstall it.

 

I might as well swap the drive over whilst I am at it.. I bought a cheap glass puller to remove the screen and get to the insides.

 

I have spent hours on this one machine, I suppose I would get quicker if I used them all the time but its not been easy at all.

[Simcfc73]

Right I am stuck again and am this close to going torrenting.

 

I replaced the hard drive but the only disc I have is a grey one which obviously wont let me install it (which I didn't know)

 

I have a old mac mini that I was using with Apple configurator which I hacked to get 10.8.4 on. Cant remember how I did it but I did pay for OSX ML at the time which sits in the app store purchases. For me to install onto the other iMac I want to make a bootable USB and download the package but it wont let me as it says the download is incompatible with this computer (even though I got it on).

 

I have already paid for ML, any idea what I can do. I don't have another mac to drag partitions about on and the mac mini is a mess with partitions everywhere.

[furby]

Will the app store let you download Yosemite?

[Simcfc73]

Nope, says incompatible. The mac mini was a early core 2 duo so wasn't supported on it.

 

I managed to get a DMG and install from a USB.. just updating to Maverick now.

 

Fans running constantly but the case isn't on right yet and I managed to move the magnets that hold the screen in place around