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My iMac died today

SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
edited September 22, 2011 in Digital Darkroom
Well, not completely, but it won't boot up. I've tried the various start-up protocols and nothing works. I made an appointment at a repair shop for Monday a.m. but does anyone have any suggestions for anything I could try now?

The computer started slowing down and felt like it was overheating after I installed Lion. And at the same time, Aperture started crashing on me on a regular basis. A connection? :cry

At the moment I am not a happy camper.

Any thoughts on a maximum I should plan to spend on repairs after which it's not worth it and I should go in hock for a new one? :scratch My iMac is a 2008 model.

Thoughts?
Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
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Picadilly, NB, Canada

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    mstensmstens Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited September 10, 2011
    If you hold down the command and R keys during boot does it get to the Lion recovery utility?
    mike
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    DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2011
    If you do get it started you should limit the Spotlight indexing under Lion. This caused slowdowns and the fan to come on a lot on my MacBook Air and setting my Spotlight as below solved that issue for me:

    20110910-thqr9kuafjnyk3ebhjntwk3mkw.png
    Moderator Emeritus
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    brancaleonebrancaleone Registered Users Posts: 55 Big grins
    edited September 10, 2011
    Did you try this? http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    brancaleone wrote: »
    Did you try this? http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
    mstens wrote: »
    If you hold down the command and R keys during boot does it get to the Lion recovery utility?

    Nope. Nada. Can't get past the grey screen. Sigh!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    DavidTO wrote: »
    If you do get it started you should limit the Spotlight indexing under Lion. This caused slowdowns and the fan to come on a lot on my MacBook Air and setting my Spotlight as below solved that issue for me:

    20110910-thqr9kuafjnyk3ebhjntwk3mkw.png

    Thanks. If it ever comes on again, I will do this for sure.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    I was used to having PCs die every three years, but I honestly thought a MAC would last somewhat longer. Years ago I had a couple of MACs and they worked for six and seven years respectively. Well, we will see what happens at the service place tomorrow. Wish me luck, or a lottery win!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    Test-PilotTest-Pilot Registered Users Posts: 51 Big grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    My wife's iMac died abruptly this past July. Turned out to be a bad hard-drive. Replacing it cost $350.
    Unfortunately, when it died, she had just uploaded photos from three clients, and was heading out to a new assignment so she reformatted her CF cards in-camera, thus effectively losing the old photos. She also thought Macs were reliable, and had intended to back up later that day. Just bad luck or bad timing, but that was exactly when the computer decided to fry the hard-drive. Could not have been worse... losing three clients' photos, one of which was a non-repeatable event.
    We learn by doing, I guess. Now we make sure we take the time to back-up immediately upon upload, and we also began using Time Machine.
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    DeaconDeacon Registered Users Posts: 239 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    stuck hard drive
    Experiencing the same right now on a 8 mo old iMac. Took it to Apple and the hard drive is "stuck". As explained, it is mechanical an mechanical "sh_t" happens. Fortunately it was being backed up to a time capsule so when I get it back Tues I will be able to reinstall the files. Makes a case for a solid state drive.
    Deacon
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    Test-Pilot wrote: »
    My wife's iMac died abruptly this past July. Turned out to be a bad hard-drive. Replacing it cost $350.
    Unfortunately, when it died, she had just uploaded photos from three clients, and was heading out to a new assignment so she reformatted her CF cards in-camera, thus effectively losing the old photos. She also thought Macs were reliable, and had intended to back up later that day. Just bad luck or bad timing, but that was exactly when the computer decided to fry the hard-drive. Could not have been worse... losing three clients' photos, one of which was a non-repeatable event.
    We learn by doing, I guess. Now we make sure we take the time to back-up immediately upon upload, and we also began using Time Machine.

    I'm lucky that away, all Of my photos are stored on an external hard drive and backed up simultaneously to another external hard drive and I don't reformat my cards until that is all done, something I also learned the hard way. But it is bloody inconvenient not having my workhorse computer available to me for a couple of days. Errrggghhhhhh!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    Deacon wrote: »
    Experiencing the same right now on a 8 mo old iMac. Took it to Apple and the hard drive is "stuck". As explained, it is mechanical an mechanical "sh_t" happens. Fortunately it was being backed up to a time capsule so when I get it back Tues I will be able to reinstall the files. Makes a case for a solid state drive.
    Deacon

    I hope that mine can be similarly fixed and quickly too. Having experienced unreliable PCs for years I learned that backups and redundancies are my friends!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    Hard drives fail. If you have the original install DVD you should try reinstalling the OS and see if you can get back to square one, at least.

    Have you ever run any directory repair on the drive? I like Disk Warrior. Over time the directory corruptions can overtake a drive and cause it to fail.
    Moderator Emeritus
    Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
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    mstensmstens Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    If you're running Lion, it's completely worth downloading the Lion Recovery Disk Assistant and putting it on either a DVD or a USB stick. At least then you can check your hardware and verify it's a HDD problem. Hard drives do indeed fail, SSD's do as well and it really has little to do with the manufacturer of the device (or the computer it's installed in). Good luck!

    http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1433
    mike
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    MarkRMarkR Registered Users Posts: 2,099 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    Hard drives fail. Happened to me a few months back. Just squeeked it in under the warranty period, and yes, replacing an iMac HDD is expensive and difficult to DIY. (there are some very fragile connectors that are easy to break in some models.)

    It is critically important to back up not only to a backup drive, but also to an offsite location. (I use crashplan.)
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    ThatCanonGuyThatCanonGuy Registered Users Posts: 1,778 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2011
    Test-Pilot wrote: »
    My wife's iMac died abruptly this past July. Turned out to be a bad hard-drive. Replacing it cost $350.
    Unfortunately, when it died, she had just uploaded photos from three clients, and was heading out to a new assignment so she reformatted her CF cards in-camera, thus effectively losing the old photos. She also thought Macs were reliable, and had intended to back up later that day. Just bad luck or bad timing, but that was exactly when the computer decided to fry the hard-drive. Could not have been worse... losing three clients' photos, one of which was a non-repeatable event.
    We learn by doing, I guess. Now we make sure we take the time to back-up immediately upon upload, and we also began using Time Machine.

    Ouch! Can you take it to a repair shop, maybe they can at least get the data off?
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2011
    It is 5:a.m. And I'm heading off to the repair shop fifty miles away. Sigh.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2011
    Update
    The hard drive is toast but a replacement is only about $100 plus labour. I'm also getting some more
    RAM installed. That will be good. Luckily I am careful about backs so I can recoup most of my stuff. And I will check on all the Lion weirdness as well.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2011
    Good news!
    Moderator Emeritus
    Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2011
    Final update
    DavidTO wrote: »
    Good news!

    The final story is less than $300 for a new hard drive, 4th of RAM and the associated labour. I am happy.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    The hard drive is toast but a replacement is only about $100 plus labour. I'm also getting some more
    RAM installed. That will be good. Luckily I am careful about backs so I can recoup most of my stuff. And I will check on all the Lion weirdness as well.

    Take a look at Acronis True Image .....I have not used True Image, as I have the older version called Migrate Easy.....it was the only software I could find to clone my "C" drive that ever piece of installed software worked peoperly...I was having trouble getting MS office to totally work and also the Photoshops and other adobe software I had with all the top recommended software...but Acronis came thru....now I keep a total of 3 "c" drive availble (1 in machine and 2 back ups) and I re-clone the back ups anytime I add new software....what this has saved me in time is amazing......computer doesn't want to boot...pull the c drive and pop in a clone.....if it comes up and boots then it was drive, if not then it is probably mobo......
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

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    DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2011
    Art Scott wrote: »
    Take a look at Acronis True Image .....I have not used True Image, as I have the older version called Migrate Easy.....it was the only software I could find to clone my "C" drive that ever piece of installed software worked peoperly...I was having trouble getting MS office to totally work and also the Photoshops and other adobe software I had with all the top recommended software...but Acronis came thru....now I keep a total of 3 "c" drive availble (1 in machine and 2 back ups) and I re-clone the back ups anytime I add new software....what this has saved me in time is amazing......computer doesn't want to boot...pull the c drive and pop in a clone.....if it comes up and boots then it was drive, if not then it is probably mobo......

    Art, she's got a Mac.
    Moderator Emeritus
    Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2011
    DavidTO wrote: »
    Art, she's got a Mac.

    I'm picking up the machine today and will find out how well Time Machine stores info... And let you all know.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    cmasoncmason Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2011
    Download a free copy of Carbon Copy Cloner. Use it to take a complete backup of your harddrive. I recommend buying a portable drive, and making sure to configure your clone so its bootable.

    Then tuck it away somewhere safe. Every once in a while, run CCC to incrementally backup new updates, apps etc.

    Someday, when you have a problem again, you can plug in this HD, and boot from it. If you are lucky you can access the internal drive on the Mac, grab important files, or run diagnostic software to repair it yourself. Then you can donate to CCC.
    Photos
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2011
    cmason wrote: »
    Download a free copy of Carbon Copy Cloner. Use it to take a complete backup of your harddrive. I recommend buying a portable drive, and making sure to configure your clone so its bootable.

    Then tuck it away somewhere safe. Every once in a while, run CCC to incrementally backup new updates, apps etc.

    Someday, when you have a problem again, you can plug in this HD, and boot from it. If you are lucky you can access the internal drive on the Mac, grab important files, or run diagnostic software to repair it yourself. Then you can donate to CCC.

    Thanks very much. Had never heard or this.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2011
    Yes, CCC is aweseome. I also like SuperDuper. The advantage of either is that they make a bootable backup, so if you do suffer a drive failure your'e only a restart away from getting back to work.
    Moderator Emeritus
    Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 16, 2011
    DavidTO wrote: »
    Yes, CCC is aweseome. I also like SuperDuper. The advantage of either is that they make a bootable backup, so if you do suffer a drive failure your'e only a restart away from getting back to work.

    Thank you! Now all I have to do is reinstall my software, sigh. I should be up and at 'em by tomorrow!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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    David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,203 moderator
    edited September 22, 2011
    Snowgirl, how's the rebuild progressing? ear.gif
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
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    SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    David_S85 wrote: »
    Snowgirl, how's the rebuild progressing? ear.gif

    Back in business. Software installed. Files recovered. Next to take your advice and download CCC. Portable hard drive purchased and ready to use.

    Thank you and everyone for your advice and support!

    And thank god I'm paranoid and back everything up. My hard drive crash cost me time and inconvenience but not disasters.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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