02-17-2009, 12:30 AM

Hola all:
It started about a month ago when in the middle of work a 'gray curtain' came down the screen and a message told me I had to reboot my machine. I can not identify what was going on when this started but I do recall not adding any SW.
After a few incidents like this I started having problems turning the machine on so I tried:

• Startup pressing "D" (diagnostics)
• Startup pressing "cmd-opt-R-P" (reset PRAM)

Things seemed to fix themselves.

Then, a week ago it all went down hill.
I stopped recognizing the HardDisk. I tried Disk Utility from the "install DVD" and it said the disk needed some fixing... which it did. But the next day not even that. Now Disk Utility does not "sees" my internal HD!!!
I have been trying to create a new 'start-up disk' by installing OSX from the "install DVD" but the process never ends succesfully... I have tried it at least half a dozen times. It first spends a lot of time verifying the DVD (which is the original one- four months old) and when it starts the actual 'installation' it makes very slow progress and the computer turns itself off before the work is done... as a result I do not have this extra start-up disk.

I have been trying different memory configurations:

• One 2GB on each slot.
• Only right slot with memory A
• Only left slot with memory A
• Only right slot with memory B
• Only left slot with memory B

An one of these works for a few minutes bringing the desktop image as if nothing is wrong and the computer works for a while and then, with no warning and apparent reason, it turns itself off or attempts to reboot.

I live in Cancun where there are no 'reliable' Apple Support Centers. I would attempt to replace the HD myself, but for what I see I am not sure it is the culprit of the problem.

All and any help will be greatly appreciated.

Saludos
Luis Felipe

02-17-2009, 09:25 AM

This morning the iMac does not evan starts.
I unplugged everything last night, first thing I tried today was to start it with all plugs out, even the keyboard... nothing.
I tried pressing power button while plugging in the power cord (which I read worked for older iMacs)... nothing.
I plugged the keyboard... nothing.

At what point do you determine that the problem is in the power supply?

02-17-2009, 02:45 PM

Hi Luis:

Sounds like you have major problems with your iMac. From your previous post it appears the machine is still fairly new. Is that correct? Reason I ask is with the description you gave, the hard drive is probably defective - that being the first problem.

Now the machine won't even turn on. Power supply? Maybe, maybe not.

Read this Apple KB article first:

Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on

However, if the machine is still under warranty, you would be better off taking it on in to an authorized Apple repair center or better yet, an Apple store. You say you live in Cancun and there are no reliable Apple Support Centers there. If that's the case, give Apple customer service\tech support a call in Mexico and arrange to have your iMac shipped to them for repair.

By the way, swapping out a hard drive in an iMac is no easy task. And, you don't really know if that's the only thing which may be defective.

Regards.

02-19-2009, 01:02 AM

Thanks CHSCAG:
After the spell of not turning on... all f a sudden I could start it with the Install Disk.
With it I called Apple Support and, with them I was able to reboot it ... but only to get to the folder-with-question-mark icon. And we could not eject the DVD. They gave me a couple of support centers in Cancun, one I know and do not like and one that I did not know about. So I took it to this place and they will give a diagnostic tomorrow.
Yes, the machine is 'new' I bought it on june '08 and is still under warranty. I think they will replace the HD and maybe the memory. And yes, the HD swap is not something I want to do.

Muchas gracias.

02-25-2009, 11:18 AM

Hola all:
Yesterday I picked-up mu iMac form an Apple support center (there are two in Cancun) after they diagnosed the Power Supply as the culprit of my poblems.
All seems to work fine. However, I started it with the "D" jey pressed to go into "diagnostics" but the iMac did a normal boot-up instead.
I will try the "D" start-up tomorrow again.