Hardware Test

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Hi all,

I m given a late 2009 iMac 10.1 EMC2308 which has a little problem. I took the iMac to an authorised repair shop and was told its already a vintage. It still look like brand new to me though.

The main issue is the iMac constantly restarts with this message : "Your computer restarted because of a problem. Press a key or wait a few seconds to continue starting up." followed by another alert message after the restart : "You shut down your computer because of a problem."

I then tried a few things :

(1) Disk Utility - repair disk. Same problem comes back after the repair and on one occasion it says Disk Utility can't repair this disk? I am about to do a disk replacement!

(2) Memory Test - The previous owner had 2 extra SODIMM Crucial Memory (4GB DDR3-1066) added 2 years ago. I ran memtest and got FAILURE reports. I removed the two Crucial Memory and ran the original memory with OK report. I then remove the original memory and inserted the Crucial Memory, it went FAILURE again.

(3) I was told to run a hardware test on the iMac first before any further action on Disk and/or Memory replacement. I have the original iMac Applications Install DVD that came with the Mac. I tried to launch Apple Hardware Test (version 3A190 as stated on the DVD) and restart while holding down the D key (as advised on the DVD) with the disc in the drive. However, the drive kept ejecting the DVD by itself and the system went into normal boot every time. I just cannot get AHT to run.

I am quite lost as to what action to take next.

So is it HDD or Memory that I need or both? I am brave enough and don't mind to try opening the iMac and replace the HDD or even SSD, and I am prepared to buy new Memory.

sk
 

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The main issue is the iMac constantly restarts with this message : "Your computer restarted because of a problem. Press a key or wait a few seconds to continue starting up." followed by another alert message after the restart : "You shut down your computer because of a problem."

I then tried a few things :

(1) Disk Utility - repair disk. Same problem comes back after the repair and on one occasion it says Disk Utility can't repair this disk? I am about to do a disk replacement!

(2) Memory Test - The previous owner had 2 extra SODIMM Crucial Memory (4GB DDR3-1066) added 2 years ago. I ran memtest and got FAILURE reports. I removed the two Crucial Memory and ran the original memory with OK report. I then remove the original memory and inserted the Crucial Memory, it went FAILURE again.

I think you may have forgotten to share one critical piece of info with us...that you're able to use the computer for short periods of time...otherwise you wouldn't be able to run Disk Utility & Mem Test.:) The message above sounds like the computer never finishes booting up.

Anyways...it sounds to me that the computer may be experiencing "kernel panics". Maybe you're seeing a message like this:

Screen Shot 2018-10-08 at 2.59.33 PM.png

Bad RAM many times can cause kernel panics. A bad hard drive typically won't throw a kernel panic. Thus if choosing between the two as the cause of the issue...I would choose bad RAM.

HTH,

Nick
 

pigoo3

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By the way...how many sticks of RAM does this iMac have? Depending on how many there are...you may be able to start it up using less RAM (and not installing the bad stick of RAM)...which could make it operational (with less RAM).:)

- Nick
 
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Hi Nick,

Sorry my bad. This is my first post here. Yeah, you are right. The iMac is actually working very well. I have been using it every day since I got it. I am NOT a heavy user, just routine browsing and emailing. The only problem is it shuts down by itself every hour. Apart from that there is no real issue. Yes, thats the message I see when it shuts down.

The first thing I did was to run disk utility as I mentioned, and I get that Cant repair Disk message on one occasion. So I have been thinking and researching along that line. I even studied the OWC DIY disk replacement video and almost decided to go get a cheap HDD or SSD. But then, some one also said it could be RAM problem. As I read more about RAM, I downloaded memtest and realised the added Crucial memory failed the test. (This iMac has 4 slots occupied by 2 original apple ones of 2GB and 2 additional crucial ones of 4GB making total of 12GB) You are right, I removed the 2 Crucial ones after the test and the iMac still working relatively smoothly, less so when I load photos.

That leads to my (3) question on Apple Hardware Test. I like this machine, it is very well kept. The original owner said it is faulty and he did not have the time to investigate so he decided to buy the latest iMac. He has the money but I have the time.... I want to find out the right course of action to repair this beautiful Mac. That is why I want to run a Diagnostic on the machine. I understand the Hardware Test for this old machine is on the Application Install DVD (or disc 2) and on the disc it says "hold down the D key as the computer starts up". I did as instructed but the disc came out on start up.

I want to able to run Hardware test to determine if I need to replace failed RAM or bad HDD or both?

Thanks
sk
 
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4 slots.

I removed the 2 x 4GB failed crucial sticks and it is running on 2 x 2GB original ones that came with the iMac.
 
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Suggest the DVD is not the original that came with the machine. What operating system is it as late 2009 iMacs came with OS X.6.1 or OS X.6.2 depending on the date of sale.
 
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Hi Harry,

I just take another look on the grey installation disc that comes with the Mac. It says in very small white print : "To use Apple Hardware Test, hold down the D key as the computer starts up." So it must be the D key. I will try holding down C next time and report back to you.

When I insert the disc, I can see it in finder. Here is a screen shot. I clicked on the Instructions folder/Apple Hardware Test Read Me and it says D key as well. I m confused??

DVD.jpg

I forgot to mention the current OS is 10.10.5 where as the version of OS on the installation disc should be 10.6 ? Would a newer version change the way the hardware Test is launched??

sk
 
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Suggest the DVD is not the original that came with the machine. What operating system is it as late 2009 iMacs came with OS X.6.1 or OS X.6.2 depending on the date of sale.

On Installation disc 1 it says : Mac OS version 10.6.2 Disc version 1 and on the right in smaller white print : it says : "To start up from Mac OS X hold down the C key as the computer starts up" (on disc 2, it specifically says hold down D key)
 
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Are you using a USB keyboard or wireless?

You definitely want disc 2 in the drive. You can wait until you hear the chime to hold "D" down. Are you hearing the chime? Have you tried the NVRAM and SMC resets?

NVRAM - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
SMC - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Just a quick update.

I have been trying multiple times to hold down the D key (on my wireless keyboard) with the disc inserted in the drive "AS THE COMPUTER STARTS UP": holding it down while restart/ when the screen turns black/ when the screen turns white/ when I hear the chime/ after I hear the chime etc etc with no avail, hence this post.

I tried again for multiple times last night, and AHT suddenly launched on one occasion. And here is the result : 4MOT/4/40000003:HDD-1332, a problem related to the HDD perhaps? Does it mean HDD replacement, or is it a fan problem, or is it a sensor problem. I ran AHT without the crucial memory sticks. (meanwhile I went to the Crucial website and applied for a return)

I am not sure what the next step is. Would I need accurate readings of temperature and fan speed before I go about replacing the drive?

sk
 
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With any wireless keyboard, I have noticed when starting a computer, the first key press turns on the keyboard (or maybe connects it to the computer?), and another key press would activate the depressed key. I'm glad you finally got it to work.

Did you run the extend test?

Seeing how everything in the iMac are the same vintage, I would say the drive would usually be the first to die. Thought would be my first thoughts anyway.
 

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@sk. Want to give you a big heads-up. I've never really found the Apple Hardware test on the CD/DVD to really be all that helpful...thus you may be jumping thru all sorts of hoops to try to get the Apple Hardware test to run...and when you do get it to run...you may still end up with an inconclusive result.

Purchase some RAM from a vendor that will allow you to return it. Remove all the old RAM from the computer...install the new RAM only...and see if this cures the issue. If it does...great! Keep the RAM...and keep on keeping on. If the new RAM does not solve the issue...return the RAM...and try something else.:)

Bad RAM is a very likely cause of the issue at hand...thus it's not exactly like blindly or randomly trying something:)

- Nick
 
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@sk. Want to give you a big heads-up. I've never really found the Apple Hardware test on the CD/DVD to really be all that helpful...thus you may be jumping thru all sorts of hoops to try to get the Apple Hardware test to run...and when you do get it to run...you may still end up with an inconclusive result.

Purchase some RAM from a vendor that will allow you to return it. Remove all the old RAM from the computer...install the new RAM only...and see if this cures the issue. If it does...great! Keep the RAM...and keep on keeping on. If the new RAM does not solve the issue...return the RAM...and try something else.:)

Bad RAM is a very likely cause of the issue at hand...thus it's not exactly like blindly or randomly trying something:)

- Nick

H Nick,

Thanks very much for the advise.
Just a quick recap :
(1) the iMac restarts itself frequently. This is the issue I need to rectify.
(2) at first, I thought it is HDD problem but I was not sure only until yesterday I finally ran AHT successfully with 4MOT/4/40000003:HDD error.
(3) I also ran memtest, with 2x2GB original memory plus 2x4GB added Crucial memory with failed result. I ran two further tests : a pass on just the original RAM, a failure on just the Crucial RAM.

This is what I think I will do.

Continue to operate on 2x2GB original memory and see if there are any more crashes.
So far, the iMac has not restarted since the removal of Crucial memory
Meanwhile, I have returned the Crucial memory and waiting for the replacement.
I will run memtest again when the replacement RAM arrives.

One quick question regarding Crucial.
Can I just keep returning RAM that fails memtest until I get a pair that passes?
 

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So far, the iMac has not restarted since the removal of Crucial memory...

That's great news. This would certainly strongly indicate that the bad RAM was the issue.

One quick question regarding Crucial.
Can I just keep returning RAM that fails memtest until I get a pair that passes?

Crucial has a 100% satisfaction/operational guarantee. If it doesn't work return it.

But honestly...the replacement you get will very likely be fine.:)

- Nick
 
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Crucial has a 100% satisfaction/operational guarantee. If it doesn't work return it.

But honestly...the replacement you get will very likely be fine.:)

- Nick

Crucial sent me the RAM a few days ago.
I am actually quite impressed with the return process, everything done very smoothly online.

I removed the original RAM and put the new RAM it and run memtest.
They are good.
I then added the old RAM and run memtest again.
The result is also good.

There has been NO incident of the Mac shutting down and restarting since the day I removed the faulty Crucial RAM.
So the first problem I believe is solved.

I ran Apple Hardware Test again, the 4MOT/4/40000003-HDD error is still there.
I am not sure how long the old HDD will last.
I have also installed Macs fan control and temperature stays between 45-52C with fan speed around 1350 rpm.

The next project will be have to be HDD replacement...

sk
 

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