Spinning gear at startup

Des


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Have an old iMac late 2006 that I was handing down to my daughter after purchasing an iMac Mini and learning the hard way that I could not use the iMac monitor as a monitor for the Mini (after being told it was possible by the Apple store sales person).

The issue is that it does not seem to be able to find the startup disk. I've tried all of the Apple advised methods including re-installing the OS. After re-install, I was happy to see that it restarted from the CD to the HD and I appeared to be back in business. Unfortunately I got the rainbow freeze and haven't been able to get back on since.

In my attempt to use the iMac as the monitor for the Mini, I may have confused the system as to which drive it wants. But when I restart with the Option key pressed, it offers my HD as a startup option but will not boot to it.

It would be odd timing to be a hardware issue but I'm reading that SATA cable could be a culprit and possibly the logic board.

Any thoughts would be appreciate as it would make a great bedroom computer for my 14 year old.
 

pigoo3

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It would be odd timing to be a hardware issue but I'm reading that SATA cable could be a culprit and possibly the logic board.

If you can successfully boot the computer from an OS disk...and have trouble booting from the hard drive...it could be that the hard drive has failed or is failing (maybe time for a new HD).

- Nick
 
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D

Des


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Thanks, I was afraid of that

Not worth investing in a new HD for a 6 year old machine though.
 
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Des


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Have an old iMac late 2006 that I was handing down to my daughter after purchasing an iMac Mini and learning the hard way that I could not use the iMac monitor as a monitor for the Mini (after being told it was possible by the Apple store sales person).

The issue is that it does not seem to be able to find the startup disk. I've tried all of the Apple advised methods including re-installing the OS. After re-install, I was happy to see that it restarted from the CD to the HD and I appeared to be back in business. Unfortunately I got the rainbow freeze and haven't been able to get back on since.

In my attempt to use the iMac as the monitor for the Mini, I may have confused the system as to which drive it wants. But when I restart with the Option key pressed, it offers my HD as a startup option but will not boot to it.

It would be odd timing to be a hardware issue but I'm reading that SATA cable could be a culprit and possibly the logic board.

Any thoughts would be appreciate as it would make a great bedroom computer for my 14 year old.
 

vansmith

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Merged threads - please do not crosspost.
 

dtravis7


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Not worth investing in a new HD for a 6 year old machine though.

Why is that? A new Hard Drive is not that much $$$.
 

pigoo3

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Not worth investing in a new HD for a 6 year old machine though.

A new or used HD would cost less than $50 bucks. I see plenty on Craig's List very cheap (and they operate fine).

A new HD only seems expensive when you aren't aware of all your options.;)

- Nick
 

pigoo3

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I'm seeing 3rd party options for $400+. 500gb

You're clearly looking in the wrong places...and you don't need a 500gig drive.;)

- Nick
 

dtravis7


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pigoo3

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