iMac - Strange noise at intial startup

eyeball · eyeball #1 (**permalink**)

03-11-2008, 07:18 AM

Hi,

I've had a good look through the forum but can't seem to find anything that quite matches the symptoms I'm experiencing so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or has this problem. I have an iMac core2 duo (the white model before the aluminium one came out) and generally when I start the machine up from the start button it makes a weird ' whirr-click, whirr-click ' sound and won't boot into OSX, I don't even get as far as the fanfare sound. I then have to hold the power button down to switch the machine off and go through the whole thing again. This can happen several times before it boots into OSX and thereafter everything is fine, I can restart etc. without issue.

Thanks in advance for any help/ideas!

Jon.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #2 (**permalink**)

03-11-2008, 06:19 PM

When booted go to Disk Utility and check what the SMART status has to say about the hard drive. If it advises failing, get another drive and back up urgently.

You might try booting from your install DVD and run Repair Disk from there.

eyeball · eyeball #3 (**permalink**)

03-13-2008, 12:05 PM

Ok, thanks for the help and here's what I've done so far.

Powered the machine down and removed my four port hub which had my printer and USB turntable running into it to see if a periphereal was causing a poblem. Tried to power back up, still had the problem.

When I eventually booted up, went to the Disk Utility an clicked on the information button for my Mac HD. All seemed well and SMART was showing as verified. Ran the Disk verifier anyway and that returned a green status of Verified and no problems.

Is it worth booting from the DVD and trying a repair? Any more ideas?

Thanks,
Jon.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #4 (**permalink**)

03-13-2008, 06:18 PM

Boot from the DVD and run Repair Disk from there. Verify does nothing if you do have a problem. After that invest in DiskWarrior 4.1 which is Leopard compatible and the beast drive maintenance program about.

Soulwar · Soulwar #5 (**permalink**)

03-13-2008, 06:52 PM

Try the Apple Hardware test to check for any hardware problems.
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/aht.html

eyeball · eyeball #6 (**permalink**)

03-17-2008, 05:09 AM

I'm going to run the repair disk and hardware check over the next couple of nights but I've just had a thought, I have a wireless keyboard and mouse so would they be usable when I run the utilities from the DVD or would I need to track a wired one down?
Thanks!

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #7 (**permalink**)

03-17-2008, 05:36 PM

To run Apple Hardware Test, DiskWarrior, rebooting from CD/DVD etc you need the plug in keyboard and mouse connected.

Even with wireless m&kb you ALWAYS should keep the USB equipment nice and handy.

Soulwar #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 27, 2008 Location: Estero, FL Posts: 1,515 Mac Specs: iMac 17" 1Ghz G4  iPhone 3G  10.5.5	03-13-2008, 06:52 PM Try the Apple Hardware test to check for any hardware problems. http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/aht.html When all else fails, try everything! The Rep System and you. Life's a joke...If you're not laughing, then you didn't get it. June 2008
	QUOTE Thanks

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iMac - Strange noise at intial startup

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eyeball #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 25, 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 24 Mac Specs: iMac 20", 250Gb, Intel based.	03-11-2008, 07:18 AM Hi, I've had a good look through the forum but can't seem to find anything that quite matches the symptoms I'm experiencing so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or has this problem. I have an iMac core2 duo (the white model before the aluminium one came out) and generally when I start the machine up from the start button it makes a weird ' whirr-click, whirr-click ' sound and won't boot into OSX, I don't even get as far as the fanfare sound. I then have to hold the power button down to switch the machine off and go through the whole thing again. This can happen several times before it boots into OSX and thereafter everything is fine, I can restart etc. without issue. Thanks in advance for any help/ideas! Jon.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	03-11-2008, 06:19 PM When booted go to Disk Utility and check what the SMART status has to say about the hard drive. If it advises failing, get another drive and back up urgently. You might try booting from your install DVD and run Repair Disk from there.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	03-13-2008, 06:18 PM Boot from the DVD and run Repair Disk from there. Verify does nothing if you do have a problem. After that invest in DiskWarrior 4.1 which is Leopard compatible and the beast drive maintenance program about.
	QUOTE Thanks

eyeball #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 25, 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 24 Mac Specs: iMac 20", 250Gb, Intel based.	03-17-2008, 05:09 AM I'm going to run the repair disk and hardware check over the next couple of nights but I've just had a thought, I have a wireless keyboard and mouse so would they be usable when I run the utilities from the DVD or would I need to track a wired one down? Thanks!
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	03-17-2008, 05:36 PM To run Apple Hardware Test, DiskWarrior, rebooting from CD/DVD etc you need the plug in keyboard and mouse connected. Even with wireless m&kb you ALWAYS should keep the USB equipment nice and handy.
	QUOTE Thanks

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