IMac wont boot

[Hartbank3]

I bought the IMac new in Aug 2011. Brought it home and upgraded it to Lion.
Now all of the sudden I can't get it to boot. I turn it on and there is a bunch of writing on the left.

It starts with
panic(cpu 1 caller (then a whole bunch of numbers for 8 lines)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: hfs.util
Boot args: rp=file:///com.apple.recovery.boot/BaseSystem.dmg

Mac OS version:
11C74

Kernel Version:
Karwin Kernel Version 11.2.0: Tue Aug 9 20:54:00 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1699.24.8-1/RELEASE_x86_64
Kernel UUID: 59275DFA-10C0-30B3-9E26-F7B5DFB1A432
System model name: iMac 12,1 (Mac-942B5BF58194151B)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 70403461104

It won't start in safe mode.
I've unplugged everything.
I've reset the PRAM
I tried the interned recovery (it completed it and then restarted and froze)
I booted while holding the option key and then tried starting from recovery hd (it just froze).
I booted from the disk, opened utilities, and tried repair and verify(it froze on both).
I then booted from the disk tried to erase to do a clean install. I selected the 7 pass option and hit erase. It worked until there was about 4 min left and then it started doing a 3 beep patern.

Any ideas? I'm in Yuma AZ so there isn't an actual Apple store close to me.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Joe

 

[chscag]

It sounds like the hard drive may have died. Since your iMac is under warranty, I strongly suggest you take it to an authorized Apple repair service center in Yuma and have them trouble shoot it for you and change out the hard drive if necessary. Since your iMac is a 2011 model it uses a proprietary hard drive, cable, and heat sensor which means it must be replaced by Apple or it will not work right.

Also, if you have not already purchased Apple care for your iMac, you might want to consider doing so. Working on an iMac yourself can be difficult.

 

[Hartbank3]

Well, after talking to Apple it seems to be faulty memory. If you load the applications install DVD you can then reboot while holding down D. The Apple hardware test said the memory is bad and apple is sending me new ones.

I'm glad it wasn't the harddrive. They would of replaced it for free, but you have to take it to a Apple store. Being in Yuma AZ the closest store is 2.5 hours away.

All in all though Apple support was great and they fixed the problem.

 

[chscag]

OK, that's good. The Apple Hardware Test runs a memory check in addition to verifying the hard drive. I'm actually quite surprised that memory on a brand new iMac is bad, but I've seen stranger things happen.

One note of caution: When you receive your new modules from Apple... be very careful about removing the old modules. Pull gently on the tabs with a steady force to remove the old modules. Inserting the new memory modules in the slots can require quite a bit of force. Use a glove or cloth to save your thumbs.