imac 2011 5 min to boot

[Martin Sanz]

Hi, I have a 21.5" 2011 imac.
It takes like 5 min to turn on the screen (white) and then 5 minutes to load OSX (apple logo), then the boot bar charge ok and osx start ok and imac works fine

I have seen led diagnostics and led 4 takes too much to turn on, I have tested the screen on other imac, and screen works fine.
I have changed the graphic card (from a working similary imac) and still the same result
I have changed processor (from a working similary imac) and still the same result
I have changed the ram (from a working similary imac) and still the same result
I have changed the SSD (from a working similary imac) and still the same result

I´m able to reset PRAM but takes 3 minutes holding down the keys on keyboard
I´m not able to run apple diagnostic
I ´m able to enter into the boot disk menu (5 minutes)
I´m not able to run secure mode, or recovery mode.

Any idea?
Thanks

 

[Fishrrman]

Is it an "SSD" (solid state drive) or is it an "HDD" (platter-based hard drive)?
If an HDD, they are slower.

Hmmm... one other important thing:
Did you go to startup disk preference pane, and set the new drive to be "the new boot drive"?
If not, do so and see if that helps.

 

[Martin Sanz]

Is it an "SSD" (solid state drive) or is it an "HDD" (platter-based hard drive)?
If an HDD, they are slower.

Hmmm... one other important thing:
Did you go to startup disk preference pane, and set the new drive to be "the new boot drive"?
If not, do so and see if that helps.

1 - I have tested SSH and HDD, both same result.
2 - mmmmm, I have used an SSD from another Imac, when the SSD was in the "working Imac" I selected the SSD as boot drive, but in the "not Working Imac" I do not selected de SSD, because I think the SSD was selected as boot drive in the previous imac.

 

[zeratul75]

I had a 27 2011 with kind of same problems.....but sold it last year.
Never investigate too much, but I really thought it was the classic video card problem.
Now you are telling me that is not.....
I remember tried to change the pram battery also, with no luck.
But in my case the problem was a bit different: I turned it on and screen was immediately on. It stayed with grey screen, before apple logo, 5 minutes. Then, when apple logo appeared, it loaded the o.s. quickly and normally. It had ssd, and it loaded in around 20 seconds.
After reached the desktop, everything was quick as it should be....
Of course, like in your mac, having the boot menu was a real pain.....I remember need to stay 5 minutes with my finger on alt.......

 

[Juicy Box]

Check the firmware and make sure it is correct and up to date.

Have you tried booting externally using FW, USB, TB, etc.? Still the slow boot?

Have you tried booting from the other SATA ports? I cannot remember if there are two or three on the 21".

The SATA cable could be damaged.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hi, I have a 21.5" 2011 imac.
It takes like 5 min to turn on the screen (white) and then 5 minutes to load OSX (apple logo), then the boot bar charge ok and osx start ok and imac works fine
Any idea?
Thanks

If my idea is to replace the SMC/EFI chip, will it scare you?

Try this test:
Remove both the LCD and GPU, but keep a HDD (not SSD) with OS installed.
Reset PRAM and SMC
Try to power-up the iMac from this status to see how long does it take from pressing the power button until
- Hearing the chime
- Seeing the fans spinning
- Hearing the HDD rotating loud then silent (log-in screen)
- Seeing the iMac IP address from another machine (Open the homepage of your router to monitor this)

If your machine is still very slow to respond, then it's not the GPU issue, but the SMC chip/EFI chip issue.

 

[Martin Sanz]

Check the firmware and make sure it is correct and up to date.

Have you tried booting externally using FW, USB, TB, etc.? Still the slow boot?

Have you tried booting from the other SATA ports? I cannot remember if there are two or three on the 21".

The SATA cable could be damaged.

Mmmm, I am going to try.
I try boot from sata (ssd), sata(hdd), opticaldrive and usb.
Now I am going to try from internet recovery, but can’t connect to my wifi.
I’ll try install default osx from usb and try to upgrade firmware

 

[Martin Sanz]

If my idea is to replace the SMC/EFI chip, will it scare you?

Try this test:
Remove both the LCD and GPU, but keep a HDD (not SSD) with OS installed.
Reset PRAM and SMC
Try to power-up the iMac from this status to see how long does it take from pressing the power button until
- Hearing the chime
- Seeing the fans spinning
- Hearing the HDD rotating loud then silent (log-in screen)
- Seeing the iMac IP address from another machine (Open the homepage of your router to monitor this)

If your machine is still very slow to respond, then it's not the GPU issue, but the SMC chip/EFI chip issue.

I have replaced the motherboard, and still the same issue.
external sensor or something wrong?
maybe efi update??
I try to install "Capitan" from usb, but don,t complete the install bar...

 

[Martin Sanz]

Edit-
The gpu is k2100m flashed, is working on other same imac without problems (I need to press option on boot, if i don´t, graphic card not working, but this is solved if I install opencore)
With stock gpu, same issue

OSX is catalina patcher (is working on other same imac)

 

[Martin Sanz]

I THINK ITS SOLVED !!!!
I remove all internal wires except fans (sensors, camera ......) and imac boot normal!!!
So I connect one wire, and boot again to see what wire is fault.

The bluetooth module was the problem. I disconnect bluettoth and boot normal, I connect bluetooth and boot in 10 minutes.

I change bluetooth whit my other working Imac, and boot normal.

So the bluetooth module is fault and is the problem

Thanks so much to all for helping me