iMac Crashing when booting up

PC-M Vip3r · 14 Feb 2009 at 10:20

Last few weeks my iMac has been crashing when booting up, sometimes it crashes when osx has loaded up and the desktop appears and sometimes it crashes before. It can take 3 o 4 attempts to get it to load up without crashing.

The weird thing is, once it has loaded up without crashing it's fine, it's not crashed once when its actually on.

Any ideas? :confused:

Will_3rd · 14 Feb 2009 at 11:01

Got a crash log we can have a look at?

PC-M Vip3r · 14 Feb 2009 at 12:32

Will_3rd said:
Got a crash log we can have a look at?

How do I find one of them?

LordSplodge · 14 Feb 2009 at 13:35

This should help with regards to the log files:

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/3521/os-x-how-to-view-log-files/

Also, check your Startup Items (System Preferences -> User Account -> Startup Items) as some badly (and I mean badly) programmed App may be bringing OS X down.

Do you get any Kernel Panics or such messages when it is booting? Also if it is under warranty give AppleCare a call as it may be a hardware issue. OS X doesn't tend to crash without a fair bit of provocation...

PC-M Vip3r · 14 Feb 2009 at 22:07

The only things in startup are Itunes Helper and EyeTV Helper.

No kernal panics or any error massages it just freezes when booting or as soon as it gets to the desktop.

Just tried to open console and it crashes as soon as it opens.

BlackAle · 14 Feb 2009 at 23:42

Macs crashing? who would have thought!

LordSplodge · 15 Feb 2009 at 09:54

PC-M Vip3r said:
The only things in startup are Itunes Helper and EyeTV Helper.

No kernal panics or any error massages it just freezes when booting or as soon as it gets to the desktop.

Just tried to open console and it crashes as soon as it opens.

Have you done an OS X re-install? Phone Apple, I'd say something is wrong with the hardware in the iMac.

2blue4u · 15 Feb 2009 at 10:40

It's a little too soon to do a re-install. After all, it's not an ms box

Did you install the memory yourself? It may be worthwhile checking it is seated properly.

Then download and run a maintenance utility such as http://www.freemacware.com/maintenance

I had an occasional startup problem when, one time in about ten, it would take ten minutes to boot up. That maint utility fixed the problem - whatever it was.

ca9phoenix · 15 Feb 2009 at 18:14

thanks, i had the folder with the question mark a few days ago, it fixed itself but running maintenance now!

LordSplodge · 15 Feb 2009 at 18:46

2blue4u said:
It's a little too soon to do a re-install. After all, it's not an ms box

As long as he has got a Time Machine (or Carbon Copy or whatever) backup then re-installing OS X doesn't take long and should show if it as hardware or software error.

As for your response it is worth checking. I prefer Onyx for checking OS X and clear caches etc...

Deleted member 651465 · 15 Feb 2009 at 21:13

Sometimes the hardware can just "mess up". For instance, My Mac Pro refused to boot when I inserted a second HDD. For some unknown reason it simply refused to boot from the main HDD (displaying a ?) if a secondary HDD was inserted.

I solved it by installing HDD2 in Bay 1, booting from DVD, wiping the drive, and then putting HDD1 in Bay 1 and shuffling HDD2 back to Bay 2. It was a very weird occurrence to say the least :eek:

Try checking the RAM is seated, do a PRAM reset (Google it) and reformat if it persists.

That way, you will cover the bases when you call Apple, and they'll be more eager to get it repaired.

iMac Crashing when booting up

Deleted member 651465

Deleted member 651465