Harddisk or software or virus/

paulforgeron · paulforgeron #1 (**permalink**)

12-12-2010, 09:32 AM

I have an iMac, 4 years old. OS X 10.6.4 Snow Leopard. I get stuck in various stages of working with it: sometimes after 15 minutes, sometimes even when starting up. The coloured spinning wheel appears and nothing happens, nothing works anymore. I ran Disc-repair and it said I had nothing wrong with my harddisk. I tried to re-install Snow Leopard, but it would n't work. Now I formatted the harddisk and tried to re-install Snow Leopard, but that wouldn't work either. So I installed Tiger and that worked as it should. When I tried to install Snow Leopard then, it wouldn't work again, so now I am installing Leopard and I hope I'll be able to install Snow Leopard after that. Fortunately I have a copy of all my work in Time Machine.
Has anybody had this problem before? Is it a problem in the software, the harddisk o a virus. ClamXav came up clean. The problem remained with all Airport turned off and the firewall on.

cwa107 · cwa107 #2 (**permalink**)

12-12-2010, 09:34 AM

My first guess would be a hardware issue. Start with the Apple Hardware Test:

Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test

louishen · louishen #3 (**permalink**)

12-12-2010, 09:37 AM

Its certainly not a virus

How much RAM does that machine have - 2 gig should be fine for Snow Leopard

I would run the latest combo update after installing Snow Leopard
Mac OS X 10.5.6 Combo Update

Then download ONYX and run a permission reapair and keep ONYX for any future maintenance tasks
Apple - Downloads - System/Disk Utilities - OnyX

... and what cwa107 says ^^^

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

12-12-2010, 03:44 PM

Sounds like the hard drive is on the way out. it is not a virus ~ no viruses for Mac OS X.

cwa107 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,916 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	12-12-2010, 09:34 AM My first guess would be a hardware issue. Start with the Apple Hardware Test: Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,055 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	12-12-2010, 03:44 PM Sounds like the hard drive is on the way out. it is not a virus ~ no viruses for Mac OS X. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do I need anti virus software?	Jivejimmy	Switcher Hangout	21	05-08-2010 08:48 PM
Mac quandary	Lohengrin	Music, Audio, and Podcasting	5	04-26-2010 10:32 AM
How do I uninstall my virus software?	alexjholland	OS X - Apps and Games	4	02-14-2009 06:10 AM
virus software?	morti00	Schweb's Lounge	4	12-12-2006 11:17 AM

Harddisk or software or virus/

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

paulforgeron #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 12, 2010 Posts: 2	12-12-2010, 09:32 AM I have an iMac, 4 years old. OS X 10.6.4 Snow Leopard. I get stuck in various stages of working with it: sometimes after 15 minutes, sometimes even when starting up. The coloured spinning wheel appears and nothing happens, nothing works anymore. I ran Disc-repair and it said I had nothing wrong with my harddisk. I tried to re-install Snow Leopard, but it would n't work. Now I formatted the harddisk and tried to re-install Snow Leopard, but that wouldn't work either. So I installed Tiger and that worked as it should. When I tried to install Snow Leopard then, it wouldn't work again, so now I am installing Leopard and I hope I'll be able to install Snow Leopard after that. Fortunately I have a copy of all my work in Time Machine. Has anybody had this problem before? Is it a problem in the software, the harddisk o a virus. ClamXav came up clean. The problem remained with all Airport turned off and the firewall on.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)