HELP ! 24" iMac Fails Boot UPDATED > FOLDER ACCESS ISSUES

[harcosparky]

As title says .... fails to boot.

Sometimes can get Password in and see my wallpaper and all icons but get the SPINNING WHEEL continuously.


Booted off Install DVD and ran Disk Utility

FAILS

Tried to REPAIR

FAILS

Something about the File System

CURRENTLY installing OSX on an external HDD and will boot the iMac off of that.

Any chance I might be able to get at the files on the internal drive???

Not like we'd be losing much ... but even so would like to get at them before the iMac goes to the Apple Store tomorrow morning !!!!!!

THANKS !!!!!

 

[OllyW]

If you have got another Mac with FireWire you could try booting your iMac in Target Disk Mode and see if you can access the hard drive?

 

[harcosparky]

If you have got another Mac with FireWire you could try booting your iMac in Target Disk Mode and see if you can access the hard drive?

I'll give that a shot as soon as the install on the external drive is done.

Thanks


Or maybe someone knows a trick to fix the HDD ???????

 

[OllyW]

It's also worth resetting the System Management Controller if you are having power related issues.

 

[After G]

Might try cooling off that HD in the freezer but watch out for condensation! And it won't last long after that (20-30 min tops), but maybe just long enough to get whatever you need off.

Link for anecdotal proof it works.

 

[harcosparky]

Might try cooling off that HD in the freezer but watch out for condensation! And it won't last long after that (20-30 min tops), but maybe just long enough to get whatever you need off.

Link for anecdotal proof it works.

I know that trick well, actually used it to get a Windows NT notebook to boot.

In my case the faulty drive is internal in the IMac and since still under Apple Care I would void that by pulling it myself.


I am installing OSX on an external drive attached to the iMac and got a message saying the internal HDD would be available with limited function and that I should back up the drive and reformat. So it looks like I may be able to access it after all. We'll know in 30 minutes or so!

Then tomorrow it is off to Apple with it !!!!

The phone call to Apple Care was FANTASTIC.

They could have just told me to take it to the Apple Store for repair, but I asked a lot of ......

Can I try this ...... ?

Can I try that ...... ?

The support person was very willing to track down answers for me.

Sort of makes Apple Care worth EVERY PENNY !!!!!!


.

 

[harcosparky]

OK so we have a fresh install on an external drive.

Attempting to access data on internal drive

Have two user accounts ....

GARY ( Admin )

WILLIAM ( User )

I can access and copy the stuff in WILLIAM ( logged in as GARY )

I cannot see any stuff in GARY folder. Folder Icon shows RED CIRCLE and -

Created a differnt ADMIN ACCOUNT to look into GARY - same results.

I figure because the GARY account on the internal and external drives had same name there might be an issue. Even the new ADMIN accounts cannot see anything in GARY folders.

IDEAS ???????

By the way, the iMac was logged into WILLIAM when the power failed, I cannot copy some of his program log files over because they were being written when the power failed.





Thanks