Trying to get this iMac 20" mid-2007 model 7,1 up and running. User hasn't had it working for months.

It will not:
- boot into single user mode;
- boot into FW target disc mode
- boot from the system DVD that shipped with the machine (10.4.10)

it will:
- see my MBP over firewire when IT is in target disc mode and iMac is started with Option key (but will not attempt to boot from it, i.e., no response after acknowledging mouse click
- respond to PRAM reset but no boot after that.

Also did an SMC reset. No change.

It usually starts up with a blank white scree. Occasionally you will see the Apple logo, then after a while the inetrnational "do not" symbol (circle with a line through it). After about 5 minutes, it will display the flashing question mark, but even a machine with a bad hard drive should respond to FW target or single user modes.

Any suggestions before I tell them to bring it in for service?

Thanks.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2012 03:37PM by Joey Cupcakes.

All of those "It will not....." items says take it in for repair estimate.

You are telling us there is no method you try that makes it boot. Pretty simple. It may be RAM, but it maybe the motherboard. Whatever it is, it is pretty basic.

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Mr. Curmudgeon, on Mountain Lion.

That's my take, yes. I do get a proper chime, so I suspect the RAM is OK.

Could be a bad HD that is tying up the SATA bus not letting it boot. If you aren't comfortable taking the machine apart it is time to take it in.

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C(-)ris

Yup.

Could be a bad boot drive + EFI password.

If only there were a way to tell the mac's firmware not to look at the internal drive during the boot process...

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

Yeah, I suspect it's the drive. I wrote down everything I tried and told them to take it to the Apple store. Why they didn't take it there when it first died is beyond me. They took it to Best Buy. I found a Windows diagnostic boot CD in the superdrive.

Yeah, you read that right.

The hardware is x86, it would boot that windows diagnostic CD without issue. I know a couple tech's that have Linux boot CDs that they use for testing Macs.

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C(-)ris

Quote
C(-)ris
The hardware is x86, it would boot that windows diagnostic CD without issue. I know a couple tech's that have Linux boot CDs that they use for testing Macs.

But still. You wanna take the thing to place that primarily services Macs. Also they left their disc in the machine and gave it back to the customer. Tells me all I really want to know.

Quote
Joey Cupcakes

Quote
C(-)ris
The hardware is x86, it would boot that windows diagnostic CD without issue. I know a couple tech's that have Linux boot CDs that they use for testing Macs.

But still. You wanna take the thing to place that primarily services Macs. Also they left their disc in the machine and gave it back to the customer. Tells me all I really want to know.

Sorry but that makes no sense to me. A 2007 is going to be out of warranty, right? These folks are going to get royally reamed on a simple hard drive replacement.

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

Quote
Black

Quote
Joey Cupcakes

Quote
C(-)ris
...You wanna take the thing to place that primarily services Macs. Also they left their disc in the machine and gave it back to the customer. Tells me all I really want to know.

Sorry but that makes no sense to me. A 2007 is going to be out of warranty, right? These folks are going to get royally reamed on a simple hard drive replacement.

'Can't hurt to call for an estimate.
[consultants.apple.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2012 10:27PM by Chakravartin.