iMac won't start-up

[badimac27]

iMac 27"/ Model 12,2 / Quad Core Intel Core i7 / CPU 3.40Ghz / running OS 10.8.5

Had a problem where my Mac wouldn't start-up, no chimes at all and wouldn't come up with any of the command key functions like hold Option on start, Command & R on start, hold shift key on start, nothing would get it to the login window. I would see an Apple logo with a spinning gear under it then all that would show was a Grey screen.
So I ordered a new hard drive & installed it but couldn't find a bootable disc or a bootable anything to format it and get it going. Ask about it on this forum and was basically told to reinstall old hard drive and try to fix it.

I purchased a bootable USB drive off eBay and re-installed old drive, swapped out USB connected keyboard and mouse that I use on a different Mac and used different USB ports to connect. After several key combinations that resulted in getting a folder with a question mark in it I finally got to where it gave me an option to select the bootable USB drive I purchased off eBay. After a minute or so the result is a black screen with vertical blue lines, tried it again and got a blue screen with black or grey lines.

Anybody have any fix or advice?

Please help . . .

Cliff

 

[MacInWin]

The folder with the question mark means there is no bootable system on whatever drive you tried to boot from. I suspect the boot drive you got from eBay does not have the proper drivers for your iMac. In your other thread you were advised to reinstall the original drive and try to fix that. Have you tried an internet reinstallation? Here is Apple's info on that:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

 

[badimac27]

Thanks for the info - Bad bootable USB, oh well. I can't run an OS newer then OS 10.8.5 cause I'll lose my Adobe CS6. So using an internet re-install isn't an option. Yesterday I found a replacement hard drive with 10.8.5 on eBay that I hope will get it going so I'll replace the old hard drive with the new one when I get it in.
I was very concerned when the screen turned black with vertical blue lines - still have no idea what that's about.

Thanks.

 

[chscag]

I can't run an OS newer then OS 10.8.5 cause I'll lose my Adobe CS6.

Who told you that? According to the Roaring Apps table of compatibility and many other users, Adobe CS6 is compatible with Sierra. No reason to continue using an outdated version of OS X.

 

[badimac27]

Hmmm - I'm not familiar with the Roaring Apps folks and I'm sure they're good guys but in the graphics world where I do my work, more then one has said that they've run into problems with CS6 and an OS newer then 10.8.5. If I update and it doesn't work out for me then I'm up the creek. But thanks for the suggestion. After I get my system working again and get caught up I'll talk to more folks in the graphics community and see if there is more info on Adobe CS6 and what exactly isn't working right with a newer OS.

Anybody have any idea about the screen turning black with vertical blue lines - still have no idea what that's about.
It happened about a minute after I selected my bootable USB with the OS on it that wouldn't work.

Thanks.

 

[chscag]

After I get my system working again and get caught up I'll talk to more folks in the graphics community and see if there is more info on Adobe CS6 and what exactly isn't working right with a newer OS.

Best information would be from the folks in the Adobe forums. They would know.

Anybody have any idea about the screen turning black with vertical blue lines - still have no idea what that's about.
It happened about a minute after I selected my bootable USB with the OS on it that wouldn't work.

Sounds like a graphics card failure in your iMac. Since you can't run the Apple Hardware Test on it, take it to an Apple Store and have them run diagnostics. The diagnostics are free at an Apple Store. However, unless your iMac is in warranty you would have to pay for any repairs you allowed them to make. You probably will have to wait until after the Xmas rush is over to get an appointment at an Apple Store.

 

[badimac27]

Way back when all this started I was able to run an Apple Diagnostic, the extended test version, and came up with "4MOT/4/40000003: HDD-1315" error. Everything I could find related to that error was being linked to a Fan problem. When I couldn't find a new Fan I ordered a new hard drive along with a Thermal wire from OWC. Then I couldn't find a way to format the new drive and get a OS that'd run the iMac, I thought I had, but found out you gotta have at least OS 10.7 to run an iMac Model 12,2. Then I got on this website and was advised to re-install the old hard drive and try to fix it. That's when I ordered the USB with a bootable OS 10.8 - and re-installed the old drive. It took me a few try's to get the system to give me the option to choose the USB but when it did it acted like it was going to work but after a minute or so it went to the screen turning black with vertical blue lines. I tried it a second time and it acted the same but gave me a blue screen with vertical grey/black lines. And that's an abbreviated version of the whole of the story. Needless to say I'm not feeling good about ever gettin' my system running again.
So, now I've apparently killed my graphics card also . . . hope they aren't to pricey and easy to install.
And after I finally get it running I have to figure out how to migrate my Adobe CS6 over to the new drive - no I haven't been running Time Machine, yeah I'm a **** dummy but I've learned a hard lesson. Will my nightmare ever end? Will my machine ever be any good again? ****, I think I'll just start working on my Vega again, load up a little extra oil and head for the beach . . .

 

[MacInWin]

Because three drives are involved, to keep them properly identified, I'm going to call them A, B and C. In a quick search for the error code, it indicates the hard drive (A) is dead, not a fan. So getting a new drive (B) was a right move.

In post #2, I pointed to how to boot from the internet. But the problem with that suggestion is that according to MacTracker, the Model 12,2 shipped with version 10.6.6 (not 10.5 as you said in the other thread), Snow Leopard. That may be why the 10.5 disks you mentioned in that thread won't install. You cannot install an OS that is earlier than what was originally on the drive. If that deduction is correct, you should have some disks with the installer for 10.6 (Snow Leopard) on it. If you do not have the original disks, you'll need to order them from Apple. It's about $20. That will let you install the original version OS on the machine, then you can upgrade to 10.7 to get access to the Mac App Store, and then to 10.8 (which you had at one time, from the original thread on this issue, and which should be in your Purchased tab at the store). Unless you downloaded 10.9, 10.10 or 10.11 from the store at some time in the past, the next available option is 10.12 Sierra. There is a way to get 10.11, too, but I've not tried it so I don't know if it works. I don't have the links to the Apple URL to get to that version, but maybe somebody does and will chime in.

The problem with the graphics probably isn't the card, but the video drivers on that drive (C) you got from the internet. Without knowing what's on it, I'd be very surprised if it had the proper drivers for YOUR system. It COULD be the card is bad, but before I spent anything on that, I'd try first to get the proper system installed on the new drive (B) with the proper drivers. Bear in mind that currently that machine is selling for about $575, tops, so you don't want to pour a ton of money into it.

The reason it was suggested to reinstall the old drive (A) was to try to fix it, but if it won't boot, it won't boot. In the immortal words of Bones, "She's dead, Jim." You MIGHT be able to pull your data and programs off that drive, if you can get the iMac booted and if the drive isn't totally duff, but that's a long shot. You may have to reinstall CS6 on the new drive after you get it all sorted out and just start over.

Is the oil for the Vega or for you to bake on the beach?

 

[badimac27]

All great info I didn't know. Wow, I'm getting a massive iMac education. Thanks for the details on what's going on in my iMac - everything you say makes since. I'm about to install a different drive I got off eBay - it's supposed to have OS 10.8.5 and hopefully that will get my iMac running again. Had know idea my machine had lost that much value! I was looking at what a graphics card cost and was shocked - they are not cheap at all! I also found out that my iMac was shipped with sub-par graphics card and had I known it I could of had it replaced for free. Apple decided that 4 years after purchase the machine wouldn't be covered - I bought mine in Aug 8th of 2012 and missed my cut-off by a few months. Apple knew the cards were bad - seems like they should've mailed/emailed a notice to iMac owners with that info about the machines having bad graphic card in their machine, like car manufacturers have to do. Just seems so wrong and illegal. I will post my results of the new install of the drive 10.8.5 - hopefully all will be well.

The extra oil would be for the Vega - mine's a self lubricating model.

Thanks for all the info - you guys are great!

Cliff

 

[MacInWin]

Unless that drive came out of an iMac that exactly matches yours, it probably won't work. Good luck with it!

 

[badimac27]

Your right, it didn't work.
With the new hard drive installed in my machine, it didn't "chime" when turned on but the Apple logo does show up and after a minute or two it goes to a light grey or white screen. So the good of it, seems that my graphics card is OK. Well, I'm going to follow your suggestions and see about purchasing a system disc from Apple - when I received my iMac originally it didn't come with a systems disc, you were supposed to order it separately after you received the machine. That's how MacMall explained it.
If I follow you, what your saying is I have to "build" my system up from OS 10.6 - I've got to "upgrade" the system from OS 10.6. up to 10.8.5 - I can't just purchase 10.8.5 and have it work. Yeah, that makes sense.
So, the hard drive I purchased off eBay doesn't actually have the complete OS 10.8.5 on it, just the upgrade - that's what I'm thinking. In my mind that makes sense and would explain why I ain't gettin' no satisfaction with the newly installed hard drive.

Will let you know when I get something that let's me get the machine running.

Thanks guys - Cliff

 

[ferrarr]

If you have acces to another Mac, you can download and create a bootable USB installer of Mavericks (10.8).

 

[harryb2448]

Cliff, if you should have received a system boot disc depends on when the iMac was purchased. OS X.7 Lion was announced at Apple's launch in June, 2012, and machines sold after that date came with Snow Leopard and the code for a free update to Lion and as you correctly say, you had to request it. With all your problems I suggest lashing out with $20 and purchasing a copy of Snow Leopard OS X.6 from Apple Online, formatting the eBay SSD and starting nice and fresh. If you downloaded OS X.8, go can download that. Go to the App Store and choose Purchases and see if it is there. For older items you may have to use Option + Purchases. And the OS X>8.5 on a used SSD would have whatever it was downloaded and installed with. A Mac Pro uses a different install to an iMac to a MacBook Pro etcetera.


http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

 

[badimac27]

OK - I receive a OS X 10.6.3 disc from Apple (thought I was going to get 10.6.8) and called Apple support about not getting 10.6.8 and a fellow there said it'll work with my machine and after I loaded the OS on my new hard drive that I could just hit system update and I'd be able to update to 10.6.8.
Well, I brought up the system and put 10.6.3 disc in, shut down computer and brought it up holding down "option" key and then selected my new Apple OS X 10.6.3 disc and the Apple logo comes up and after a little time it starts beeping 3 times and after a bit it repeats, nothing more.
I've seen where some contribute the 3 beeps to bad RAM.

Any advice , suggestions . . .

Thanks,
Cliff

 

[chscag]

Did the beeping just start or was your iMac doing that before? If you think it is a bad memory module or perhaps one that's loose, you should be able to resolve that easily enough with a screwdriver and laying your iMac flat on its face (on a soft cloth) and removing - reseating the modules.

Also... the three times beeping, repeats and then stops could also indicate a logic board problem. Since you have the Snow Leopard DVD, try booting to the Apple Hardware Test with it. Reboot and hold down the "D" key.

 

[pm-r]

First off, I'd say the Apple support tech (cough, cough, to be so complementary) is full of BS and doesn't know what he's talking about.

I have the similar i5 12,2 model and they both require OS X 10.6.6 as a minimum.

When I requested a SL install disk they sent me a OS X 10.6.7 version as SL disks weren't included after Lion 10.7 had been released.

See here for specked OS X details:
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=iMac12,2

BTW: The correct install disk should normally mount from a cold boot and holding down the "C" key with the DVD inserted.

With 3 beeps happening on boot, I'd say you have additional problems.





- Patrick
==========

 

[pm-r]

If you have acces to another Mac, you can download and create a bootable USB installer of Mavericks (10.8).

Ahem… no… Mavericks is OS X 10.9.x, 10.8 .x would be Mountain Lion. :Blushing:

Just preventing any confusion…




- Patrick
==========

 

[chscag]

I have the similar i5 12,2 model and they both require OS X 10.6.6 as a minimum.

Good catch Patrick. However, I think he probably spoke with Apple sales rather than support (since he would have to pay). But you would think that sales could ask for the model on the iMac and know that he needed 10.6.6. I remember specifically, my 2011 iMac came with 10.6.6. The Snow Leopard DVD I had from another purchase for my MacBook was 10.6.3. (White Snow Leopard on face of disk.)

 

[badimac27]

iMac 27"/ Model 12,2 / Quad Core Intel Core i7 / CPU 3.40Ghz / running OS 10.8.5

In the beginning . . .
Had a problem where my Mac wouldn't start-up, no chimes at all and wouldn't come up with any of the command key functions like hold Option on start, Command & R on start, hold shift key on start, nothing would get it to the login window. I would see an Apple logo with a spinning gear under it then all that would show was a Grey screen.
So I ordered a new hard drive & installed it but couldn't find a bootable disc or a bootable anything to format it and get it going. Ask about it on this forum and was basically told to reinstall old hard drive and try to fix it.

and now . . .
• Beeping just started when I was trying to boot-up from the new 10.6.3 OS disc I got from Apple.
. . . help.

 

[pm-r]

• Beeping just started when I was trying to boot-up from the new 10.6.3 OS disc I got from Apple.
. . . help.

And it'll probably keep beeping and doing odd things except booting until you get either a proper OS X 10.6.6 version as a minimum or some other bootable source, another Mac, an external bootable drive etc., etc.

I didn't notice it mentioned so I gather there is no bootable backup available???

Even one from a friend or neighbor could be used, or maybe there's a least one Mac support tech close to where you live that would be worthwhile contacting and using their services.





- Patrick
==========