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Mac7
Aug 3, 2009, 05:26 PM
What could be the problem with an iMac that displays a gray screen with a spinning wheel on it?


geoffreak
Aug 3, 2009, 05:29 PM
Is this during boot up? Does it turn to a question mark later on?

While booting up, hold alt (option) and tell me the options you see show up.
Mac7
Aug 3, 2009, 05:36 PM
actually this is a problem with a iMac I was looking into buying, and I was just trying to see if it was going to be an easy fix or not.
geoffreak
Aug 3, 2009, 05:40 PM
Well, if it is during boot up, the hard drive has failed. That may be the only issue, but then again...
topgunn
Aug 3, 2009, 05:40 PM
Sounds like it can't find a bootable partition. Either the hard drive was wiped out and not restored or the hard drive is failing or has failed. If either of these is the case, it should eventually go to a folder with a flashing question mark (1 or 2 minutes later I would guess).
geoffreak
Aug 3, 2009, 05:46 PM
Yes, sorry, I forgot to consider that Mac OSX might not be installed.:rolleyes:

Make sure the seller re-installs Mac OSX if it isn't already. Also make sure they include the install disks.
Mac7
Aug 3, 2009, 05:46 PM
well this is how the seller describes it "I WAS USING THIS COMPUTER TO MAKE MY MUSIC ON, I PUT A DISC THAT CAME WITH THE COMPUTER IN, AND IT STARTED A NEWER VERSION OR SOMETHING IT GIT STUCK I TURNED IT OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WAS STUCK ON THE GRAY SCREEN OF DEATH."

sorry for the all caps, I just copied and pasted, didn't fill like retyping all of that.
geoffreak
Aug 3, 2009, 05:51 PM
Could be an incomplete installation, but more likely than not it isn't.

Don't go though with the purchase. Not worth the risk IMO unless they are REALLY selling it cheap, where you would be paying only for the parts (no more than $100)
Mac7
Aug 3, 2009, 05:54 PM
He has it for $1100, its a 20 inch iMac.
geoffreak
Aug 3, 2009, 05:59 PM
You can get MUCH better deals than that for WORKING iMacs.

Watch Apple's refurb store (http://store.apple.com/us-hed/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/imac) too. They don't have any 20" iMacs in stock now, but they may come in and out.
old-wiz
Aug 3, 2009, 06:11 PM
He has it for $1100, its a 20 inch iMac.

$1100 for a non-working iMac? goodness, get a grip and run away.