iMac 2007- Crashed- Help!!!!!

[DMRock]

I have a 2007 iMac Desktop. It's the only computer I have. I've updated to the latest OS, since then it's slower than the investigation on "Deflate Gate"
When I turn on the iMac I get the following messages. The messages stay on the screen for 10 seconds and then it shuts itself down. Is there any help for this?

 

[pigoo3]

I have a 2007 iMac Desktop. It's the only computer I have. I've updated to the latest OS, since then it's slower than the investigation on "Deflate Gate"

You didn't tell us was…what OS version was on it previously…and what OS version it was upgraded to. And how much ram it has.

When I turn on the iMac I get the following messages. The messages stay on the screen for 10 seconds and then it shuts itself down. Is there any help for this?

This is called a kernel panic. Did you happen to install any new ram recently.

By the way. An OS upgrade shouldn't have caused this. But to prove or disprove this…downgrading back to the former OS could be done to see if stability could be regained.

Kernel panics many times are hardware related.

- Nick

p.s. Maybe you could tell us how full the hard drive is too (gigs used & gigs free).

 

[DMRock]

You didn't tell us was…what OS version was on it previously…and what OS version it was upgraded to. And how much ram it has.

I believe the previous OS version was 10.6 and I upgraded to Yosemite.

This is called a kernel panic. Did you happen to install any new ram recently.

No new ram installed. My iMac was not used frequently until a year ago.

By the way. An OS upgrade shouldn't have caused this. But to prove or disprove this…downgrading back to the former OS could be done to see if stability could be regained.

I can't downgrade to the previous OS version. The iMac is shutdown.

Kernel panics many times are hardware related.

- Nick

p.s. Maybe you could tell us how full the hard drive is too (gigs used & gigs free).

I believe the hard drive is no where full.

Do you think this is a lost cause?

Thanks Nick,
Diane

 

[pigoo3]

I believe the previous OS version was 10.6 and I upgraded to Yosemite.

- How sure are you of this? It's a pretty important detail.
- How long has Yosemite been installed on this computer…and have you been able to use it for a while without troubles? Or was Yosemite installed very recently & you haven't been able to use it since?

I can't downgrade to the previous OS version. The iMac is shutdown.

Being "shutdown" is not necessarily a barrier to downgrading the OS.

This is like saying…"The automobile can't be driven because the engine is turned off." The answer is…start the automobile…then drive it.

The same thing with the computer. It first needs to be turned on (not shutdown)…then we do the appropriate thing to begin the OS downgrade process. But to begin this process…more info is needed. That's why I asked above if you were VERY sure that 10.6 was the previous OS.

- Nick

 

[DMRock]

You didn't tell us was…what OS version was on it previously…and what OS version it was upgraded to. And how much ram it has.



This is called a kernel panic. Did you happen to install any new ram recently.

By the way. An OS upgrade shouldn't have caused this. But to prove or disprove this…downgrading back to the former OS could be done to see if stability could be regained.

Kernel panics many times are hardware related.

- Nick

p.s. Maybe you could tell us how full the hard drive is too (gigs used & gigs free).

- How sure are you of this? It's a pretty important detail.
- How long has Yosemite been installed on this computer…and have you been able to use it for a while without troubles? Or was Yosemite installed very recently & you haven't been able to use it since?

Yosemite has been installed for about 6 months and I downloaded it. I've been able to use it but it is so slow and the beach ball is always spinning no matter what I try to click on

Being "shutdown" is not necessarily a barrier to downgrading the OS.

This is like saying…"The automobile can't be driven because the engine is turned off." The answer is…start the automobile…then drive it.

Well that would be good if the battery was good and the car engine would stay on. But the batttery either needs a jump to start and keep it going or replace the battery

The same thing with the computer. It first needs to be turned on (not shutdown)…then we do the appropriate thing to begin the OS downgrade process. But to begin this process…more info is needed. That's why I asked above if you were VERY sure that 10.6 was the previous OS.

- Nick

I'm sure and I'll tell you why. In 2010 I bought a refurbished MacBook Pro. The operating system that came with it was 10.6. Shortly after I thought it would be good to upgrade my iMAC to 10.6 and to be very honest and I'm putting self out there to be riducled, I took the OS disc from the laptop and inserted into the iMAC to do the upgrade without thinking this OS is for a laptop and I have a desktop. It was too late once I realized what I had done....but all was fine. The iMAC ran like a charm. So yes I am very sure the previous OS was a 10.6.

Diane

 

[dtravis7]

HOW much RAM is installed in your 2007 iMac? I own that machine. if you only have say 2GB RAM, Yosemite will be very slow. That iMac can take 6GB RAM (One 2GB Stick and one 4GB Stick).

Also the Kernel Panic besides RAM could be the Hard Drive dying. I have seen that a few times where the drive was so messed up it was corrupting data and the OS got a KP.

Was the RAM ever upgraded from what came with it new?

 

[pigoo3]

Yosemite has been installed for about 6 months and I downloaded it. I've been able to use it but it is so slow and the beach ball is always spinning no matter what I try to click on...

So are you saying that you've been able to use this computer for 6 months with Yosemite installed? Because in your 1st post above you said:

"I've updated to the latest OS, since then it's slower than the investigation on "Deflate Gate"

Which makes it sound like you upgraded to Yosemite recently…not 6 months ago.

Well that would be good if the battery was good and the car engine would stay on. But the batttery either needs a jump to start and keep it going or replace the battery

Are we talking about an automobile here or your computer?

Bottom line is…you seem to be suggesting that your iMac will literally not turn on. And if so…you haven't really made this clear. And if it does not turn on…how did you take the screen shots included in post #1??

In 2010 I bought a refurbished MacBook Pro.

I took the OS disc from the laptop and inserted into the iMAC to do the upgrade without thinking this OS is for a laptop and I have a desktop. It was too late once I realized what I had done....but all was fine. The iMAC ran like a charm. So yes I am very sure the previous OS was a 10.6.

We would need to know exactly what sort of disk this was…and what it looked like…as to whether this really would have worked.

- Nick

 

[DMRock]

HOW much RAM is installed in your 2007 iMac? I own that machine. if you only have say 2GB RAM, Yosemite will be very slow. That iMac can take 6GB RAM (One 2GB Stick and one 4GB Stick).

Also the Kernel Panic besides RAM could be the Hard Drive dying. I have seen that a few times where the drive was so messed up it was corrupting data and the OS got a KP.

Was the RAM ever upgraded from what came with it new?

The same amount of RAM that can with the iMAC when I purchased it in 2007. I guess its 2GB RAM.
The RAM has never been upgraded. As I mentioned in previous posts my iMAC was not frequently used until recently and even at that I would say its not an everyday use.

 

[DMRock]

So are you saying that you've been able to use this computer for 6 months with Yosemite installed? Because in your 1st post above you said:



Which makes it sound like you upgraded to Yosemite recently…not 6 months ago.



Are we talking about an automobile here or your computer?

Bottom line is…you seem to be suggesting that your iMac will literally not turn on. And if so…you haven't really made this clear. And if it does not turn on…how did you take the screen shots included in post #1??



We would need to know exactly what sort of disk this was…and what it looked like…as to whether this really would have worked.

- Nick

Nick I thought I've made myself perfectly clear. I upgraded to Yosemite about six months ago and since then my iMAC is so very slow. I've never added any RAM. The iMac turns on and I get those two messages I've attached and about 10 seconds the iMAC shuts itself down. When I turn it on again it repeats the same messages and shutdown within 10 seconds. How did I take those pictures on my desktop screen? With my Samsung Galaxy.

I did say I upgraded to Yosemite about 6 months ago, not recently.

Is this the end of my iMAC? All I have left to use is a tablet.

Diane

 

[pigoo3]

Nick I thought I've made myself perfectly clear.

Actually you've not made yourself perfectly clear…which is why I've been trying to clarify the connection between your upgrading to Yosemite and the crashing problem. If I (and possibly others) are not 100% clear with the details of what's going on…then we will not be able to help you in the best way possible.

If verifying or providing more details is an issue…I can certainly "disconnect" from this topic…and focus on the questions/problems other folks are having with their computers.

- Nick

 

[DMRock]

Did you make a bootable USB installer disk before you installed Yosemite? If yes, you should be able to start up from that. Then you can reinstall or try to repair to get it to start up.

If you still have the disks from your MBP, you may also be able to re install 10.6, but you would lose everything, unless you have a backup.

No I did not make a bootable USB. I wouldn't have a clue as to do that, BUT I do have have the disks from my Mac book pro. Will I only lose since i upgraded to yoesmite or lose every thing i have on my iMAC? Should I go ahead and reinstall 10.6?

 

[DMRock]

Actually you've not made yourself perfectly clear…which is why I've been trying to clarify the connection between your upgrading to Yosemite and the crashing problem. If I (and possibly others) are not 100% clear with the details of what's going on…then we will not be able to help you in the best way possible.

If verifying or providing more details is an issue…I can certainly "disconnect" from this topic…and focus on the questions/problems other folks are having with their computers.

- Nick

OK Nick I understand. Ask away.

Providing details is not a problem at all. I've been laid off for quite sometime and my Mac is my link to the job world and connections. Without it, its going to be much more difficuIt. I can't afford another Mac and purchasing anything less than a Mac is throwing money down the drain.

Diane

 

[pigoo3]

OK Nick I understand. Ask away.

Providing details is not a problem at all. I've been laid off for quite sometime and my Mac is my link to the job world and connections. Without it, its going to be much more difficuIt. I can't afford another Mac and purchasing anything less than a Mac is throwing money down the drain.

Diane

Good deal Diane! I really liked the way you said what you said…"...purchasing anything less than a Mac is throwing money down the drain." Love it!!!

Let me gather my thoughts before replying.

- Nick

 

[DMRock]

If you install 10.6 you will have to wipe the hard drive, so you would lose everything.

Even documents? My iWorks were not updated with Yosemite.

 

[DMRock]

Good deal Diane! I really liked the way you said what you said…"...purchasing anything less than a Mac is throwing money down the drain." Love it!!!

Let me gather my thoughts before replying.

- Nick

Thanks Nick for your help. I'll keep checking back.

Diane

 

[pigoo3]

Diane,

What I was initially trying to understand clearly with my earlier questions was if there was a connection between upgrading to Yosemite and the crashing problem. Your first post in the thread mentioned upgrading to Yosemite, slowness, and the crashing. So initially it was unclear if there was any connection between the Yosemite OS upgrade and the crashing.

After some questions to clarify things…it sounds like you've been using Yosemite for about 6 months. Since you've been using Yosemite for about 6 months…I don't think that there's a link between the Yosemite OS upgrade & the crashing.

So to summarize:

1. There probably isn't a link between the Yosemite upgrade and the crashing. The computer has been running Yosemite for about 6 months…and the crashing started recently.

2. There probably is a link between the OS upgrade from OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and OS 10.10 (Yosemite). Simply because typically...the newer the OS version the more demand on the computer. One way to help with this is to upgrade the ram on the computer. 2gig of ram (the amount of ram you said you thought this computer has) just isn't enough. You could either upgrade to 4gig or 6gig of ram with this 2007 iMac (if we have the correct model & year identified). And the ram upgrade should help with the slowness.

3. The crashing. This is the big problem area. Usually this crashing (kernel panics) are hardware related…but they can be software related as well. If you've been running Yosemite for about 6 months…I don't think that Yosemite is causing the crashing.

- So if it's a software problem…the problem is something other than the OS. Did you install any new software (apps) recently (since the crashing began)?
- Do you have any external devices connected to the computer?
- If we eliminate software problems & external devices connected to the computer…then the computer may have a hardware problem.
- Hardware problems most commonly are related to…bad ram, a bad hard drive, or a bad logic board. Bad ram & a bad hard drive can be replaced for a reasonable cost. But if a bad logic board is the problem…then replacing the logic board would not be worth it on a computer this old (~8 years).

Let me know your thoughts…and answers to the questions.

- Nick

 

[DMRock]

Diane,

What I was initially trying to understand clearly with my earlier questions was if there was a connection between upgrading to Yosemite and the crashing problem. Your first post in the thread mentioned upgrading to Yosemite, slowness, and the crashing. So initially it was unclear if there was any connection between the Yosemite OS upgrade and the crashing.

After some questions to clarify things…it sounds like you've been using Yosemite for about 6 months. Since you've been using Yosemite for about 6 months…I don't think that there's a link between the Yosemite OS upgrade & the crashing.

So to summarize:

1. There probably isn't a link between the Yosemite upgrade and the crashing. The computer has been running Yosemite for about 6 months…and the crashing started recently.

2. There probably is a link between the OS upgrade from OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and OS 10.10 (Yosemite). Simply because typically...the newer the OS version the more demand on the computer. One way to help with this is to upgrade the ram on the computer. 2gig of ram (the amount of ram you said you thought this computer has) just isn't enough. You could either upgrade to 4gig or 6gig of ram with this 2007 iMac (if we have the correct model & year identified). And the ram upgrade should help with the slowness.

3. The crashing. This is the big problem area. Usually this crashing (kernel panics) are hardware related…but they can be software related as well. If you've been running Yosemite for about 6 months…I don't think that Yosemite is causing the crashing.

- So if it's a software problem…the problem is something other than the OS. Did you install any new software (apps) recently (since the crashing began)?
- Do you have any external devices connected to the computer?
- If we eliminate software problems & external devices connected to the computer…then the computer may have a hardware problem.
- Hardware problems most commonly are related to…bad ram, a bad hard drive, or a bad logic board. Bad ram & a bad hard drive can be replaced for a reasonable cost. But if a bad logic board is the problem…then replacing the logic board would not be worth it on a computer this old (~8 years).

Let me know your thoughts…and answers to the questions.

- Nick

Thanks Nick.

I have not downloaded any new apps. The only external device is my WiFi...that's it. What if I reinstall the 10.6? Would that cause any problems?

Diane

 

[pigoo3]

What if I reinstall the 10.6? Would that cause any problems?

Installing 10.6 isn't going to hurt anything. Just back everything up that may be important. And you will need some sort of 10.6 install media (disk).

- Nick

 

[DMRock]

Well since it seemed no one could really help me....I fixed my iMAC myself and it's up and purrring like a kitten. I had to go into disk utilities and erase the disk 10.6 and then I partioned it and my iMac is back to normal, granted I lost everything but I did save alot to disc and I do have my MacBook Pro and I can do a transfer. I am so psyched that I figured out how to get my iMac back up and running and I'm soooo far from being a techni.

MUCH LOVE TO ALL

Diane

 

[pigoo3]

Well since it seemed no one could really help me....I fixed my iMAC myself and it's up and purrring like a kitten.

First: A BIG congratulations on getting things running again!

Second: How the heck can you say something as disrespectful as "Well since it seemed no one could really help me…I fixed my iMac myself…"??

I'm sure you're very proud & excited that you got your iMac running again! But you certainly got some help, inspiration, confidence, tips. hints, etc. from Mac-Forums members during the discussion in this thread!

I'm not sure that qualifies as "…no one could really help me…"

- Nick