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Big trouble with my iMac

M

matttrick

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 28, 2006
372
0
I have a 20" imac, about a year and a half old. Today, it simply froze so i restarted. Then it would not load OS X. I tried resetting pram and then tried to run disk utility from my install cd. the options to repair or verify were both greyed out. i then tried using target disk mode through my mbp to repair. it kept hanging. soo then i tried diskwarrior. hung also. as a next option i tried an archive and install, but now it has been hung on about 5% of disc 2 for an hour or so.

I am unsure if i should power off the system or what, and i dont know my next step. this computer doesnt have applecare so thats a no go.
 
matttrick said:
I have a 20" imac, about a year and a half old. Today, it simply froze so i restarted. Then it would not load OS X. I tried resetting pram and then tried to run disk utility from my install cd. the options to repair or verify were both greyed out. i then tried using target disk mode through my mbp to repair. it kept hanging. soo then i tried diskwarrior. hung also. as a next option i tried an archive and install, but now it has been hung on about 5% of disc 2 for an hour or so.

I am unsure if i should power off the system or what, and i dont know my next step. this computer doesnt have applecare so thats a no go.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a possible harddrive failure...
 
unfortunately it does. im trying to figure any way to get my music/pictures off of it, and also wondering if i should try a fresh install if i cant get that stuff. should i power off since the install is stuck?
 
matttrick said:
unfortunately it does. im trying to figure any way to get my music/pictures off of it, and also wondering if i should try a fresh install if i cant get that stuff. should i power off since the install is stuck?
Click to expand...

Does Disk Utility recognize your HD? If it does, try reinstalling OS X
 
Also, if disk utility does recognise your hard drive, make sure it's reporting meaningful numbers as opposed to garbage (since corrupt or damaged drives can cause free space values and other metrics to be complete rubbish - my one that broke mechanically reported 999GB free space. It was a 120GB hard drive :p)
 
it does recognize the drive and reports the correct size, as well as gives the proper custom name and icon i gave it. it just wont repair it. im trying to think of a way to get the data off but it cant be read in target disk mode and an archive and install didnt work. my next step is a fresh install but id like to try and recover music and pics.
 
i had used disk warrior to try and repair the drive via target disk, but im going to try burning it to a cd and do it directly, last resort i guess. ANY suggestions on how to recover files if it doesnt work would be greatly appreciated.
 
using disk warrior on a cd i was able to rebuild the drive, however os x will still not load, and any archive and install hangs.
 
also hangs when trying to zero the drive.

i notice that if i leave it alone for a few hours i can seem to do a little bit of work, but once its warmed up it hangs fast.

does anyone have some input?
 
matttrick said:
does anyone have some input?
Click to expand...


Yes...time for a new drive.....when you get it, load OS X on it....if you want all your old data, get an external case for the old drive....mount the old drive in the external case and put it in the freezer (in a ziploc bag or wrapped in plastic wrap to avoid condensation.) When you're ready, pull the case out of the freezer, cross your fingers and hook it to the iMac....work fast and try to get as much data as possible off the drive before it warms up and won't be readable again.
 
i was looking up some of the videos on hard drive replacement... looks doable but nothing like the ease of most other computers. anyone have a link to a good guide (20" alum about 1.5 yr old)?

anything particular i should be looking for in a recent hard drive? been a few years since ive been in the market.
 
matttrick said:
unfortunately it does. im trying to figure any way to get my music/pictures off of it, and also wondering if i should try a fresh install if i cant get that stuff. should i power off since the install is stuck?
Click to expand...

Well... Dude, you can try recovering your data with an application called Data Rescue II. (sorry, not free but cheaper than a recovery company) In the past, i've had various successes when used with media which didn't mount, perhaps you can try with your HD too? :)

However, if the heads on your drive are crashing/clicking constantly, it's obvious there's no choice but use an data recovery company... then the question will become 'how valuable is my data?'
 
Thanks for the replies. Does anyone have a guide on replacing these drives? I saw the video in the other thread but i like having a written guide to look at, and a list of the tools ill need.
 
it looks like i just need a #8 torx and a suction cup, maybe a regular screwdriver. is this correct? ill get some compressed air to fight off the lint too. hoping to god this is just the hard drive.
 
fhall1 said:
Yes...time for a new drive.....when you get it, load OS X on it....if you want all your old data, get an external case for the old drive....mount the old drive in the external case and put it in the freezer (in a ziploc bag or wrapped in plastic wrap to avoid condensation.) When you're ready, pull the case out of the freezer, cross your fingers and hook it to the iMac....work fast and try to get as much data as possible off the drive before it warms up and won't be readable again.
Click to expand...

Why on earth would would you put a hard drive in the freezer? Condensation would be a real danger. I'm stunned at this suggestion. Am I the only one?
 
Instead of being all righteous about it, try Googling it first....did you read the part I wrote about the ziplock or plastic wrap? I've recovered more than one hard drive long enough to get the data off them that way. It's usually a last resort because nothing else has worked.
 
fhall1 said:
Instead of being all righteous about it, try Googling it first...
Click to expand...
Not really feeling "righteous". As I said, I was stunned. After searching, per your suggestion, I am still stunned, since I found plenty of support for the idea and a little more explanation of why it can work. Never would have guessed. Thanks for the tip.
 
anyway back on track, i popped in a new drive and its looking good so far. OS is back on and updating as we speak. the install was a bit nerve wracking just because of the exposed screen, but went well. i lost a lot of my music but managed to get the photos i needed by letting the system cool completely and quickly starting and grabbing what i needed.

bit of a pain though for a drive to go that fast. i do appreciate the help on the matter.
 
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