iMac Really Bad Startup Time

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Hi There,

I just joined! I just bought an Imac.. well it was supposed to be for X-Mas but I snook it out for a quick trial run ;D

I have looked on you tube and the average time for a 21.5" 3.06Ghz 500GB HD & 4GB Ram is no more than 35 seconds!!!

but Mine takes over a minute! I ran it for 1 minute before I done the video for the startup and shut down test here is a link to the video


YouTube - iMac 21.5" Shut Down & Start Up Times

The shut down only takes 3 seconds 5 seconds less than average I havent even had time to set up my wifi!

I dont see why it is so slow as the computer was tested as it came!:Angry:

Really disappointed anybody know what is wrong?

Cheers,

Matt
 

CrimsonRequiem


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Specs of your iMac would be nice. >_>"

Possible problems:

1. Slow HDD
2. Lots of applications on start up.
 
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I would make sure you got a 7200 RPM drive instead of a 5400 RPM as boot up time is solely dependent on the hard drive.

Other than that I would try a clean install and see if that helps.
 
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I Dont know many specs apart from 3.06ghz 500gb hd and 4gb ram I am totally new to mac and now it has been put back away for x-mas!! So I can't check it has no programs open on startup as it was brand new And can I ask what is a slow hdd sorry I am only 13 and very new to all of the techy stuff lol
 
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Apple -> About this Mac -> More Info -> Serial ATA. Then post the Rotational Speed.

A slow HDD is a slow hard disk drive, or a slow hard drive. Means it spins slowly (5400RPM are considered slow).
 
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I would make sure you got a 7200 RPM drive instead of a 5400 RPM as boot up time is solely dependent on the hard drive.

Other than that I would try a clean install and see if that helps.

It is brand new mate! I shouldn't have to install software and can I ask how can I tell what rpm it is? I ahvent touched anyhting apart from the power button as I didn't have chance surely if that is a fault it should be taken to apple?
 
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Apple -> About this Mac -> More Info -> Serial ATA. Then post the Rotational Speed.

A slow HDD is a slow hard disk drive, or a slow hard drive. Means it spins slowly (5400RPM are considered slow).


Thanks for talking english LOL!

Can I change the speed of the hdd?
 

cwa107


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The answer is quite simple. The measurements you're seeing are for established, used systems that have built caches. This is a brand new machine. Worry about it when you've actually set it up and started using it. Besides, once you get used to sleeping your machine, you needn't worry about boot times as you'll seldom cold boot it.
 

CrimsonRequiem


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Thanks for talking english LOL!

Can I change the speed of the hdd?

Yes if you buy a faster HDD and swap it out for your older one.
 

dtravis7


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I watched the video. It looks like it's looking for another boot device besides the main hard drive. I noticed it took quite a while before the Apple came up then the boot looked normal.

When you get the machine for Christmas, Open system Preferences, Startup Disk, Select the main hard drive and hit restart. See if it then boots much faster. The Apple should pop up on that gray screen almost as soon as the screen lights up.

A new 21.5" iMac comes with a 7200 RPM hard drive. A lot of people for some reason think the iMac's have a 2.5" Laptop hard drive. No, full sized 3.5" Desktop 7200 RPM in every recent iMac from the G5 to the new Intels that I have seen.
 
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The answer is quite simple. The measurements you're seeing are for established, used systems that have built caches. This is a brand new machine. Worry about it when you've actually set it up and started using it. Besides, once you get used to sleeping your machine, you needn't worry about boot times as you'll seldom cold boot it.

Ok Thank you, Should not having a 5400 speed hdd affect program speed on the computer or just startup times?
 

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Should it come fitted with a 7200 hdd?

No it comes with whatever Apple gives you. Unless you specify what HDD size and speed you want for a price. That's the case for the notebooks not sure about the iMacs.
 
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I watched the video. It looks like it's looking for another boot device besides the main hard drive. I noticed it took quite a while before the Apple came up then the boot looked normal.

When you get the machine for Christmas, Open system Preferences, Startup Disk, Select the main hard drive and hit reboot. See if it then boots much faster. The Apple should pop up on that gray screen almost as soon as the screen lights up.

A new 21.5" iMac comes with a 7200 RPM hard drive.

Ok... I am sorry for acting so dumb but if I reboot the HDD It wont affect programs on the computer it will just look like normal yes?....

If it has a 5400 hd should I take it to apple?
 

dtravis7


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Ok... I am sorry for acting so dumb but if I reboot the HDD It wont affect programs on the computer it will just look like normal yes?....

If it has a 5400 hd should I take it to apple?

I changed the word to restart and added more information.
 
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No it comes with whatever Apple gives you. Unless you specify what HDD size and speed you want for a price.

ahh ok.. Thanks for that, I have got the entry model that is why then And I got it on offer for £880.00 aswell ;P
 
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When you get the machine for Christmas, Open system Preferences, Startup Disk, Select the main hard drive and hit restart. See if it then boots much faster. The Apple should pop up on that gray screen almost as soon as the screen lights up.

.

I will most likely just do this and if it don't work I cannot afford to buy a higher speed hdd and neither have I got the skill to install one so I would have to live with it!
 
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Yeah I just went to go check on the new iMac and saw that they all were using 7200 RPM.

So we definitely know it will have a 7200 rpm hdd so it must just need a disk restart!

Can you tell me if this would remove any programs?
 

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