|Help| I think my Mac is broken

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by AceDread, Dec 25, 2008.

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  1. AceDread, Dec 25, 2008

    AceDread macrumors newbie

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    #1
    Merry Christmas, y'all.

    Here's my PC: It's an iMac G5 '06.

    As one of my christmas presents, I was given Left 4 Dead, so I got on my Mac, and tries to restart my computer into the Windows OS via Startup Disk. (I have bootcamp running, obviously). Before any of this, when I came back from Las Vegas about a month ago, when I tried to start up my computer it would stay at the gray start up screen, and make a noise like this.

    "Vrnnn... tsk tsk tsk tsk... ernnnn"
    After doing that a few times a folder with a question mark on it would appear. I restarted it a couple times, and it worked.

    But now, it's making the noise and after doing it a few times, just stopping. Now it's frozen at a gray screen.

    Can anyone help me?
     
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  2. JG271, Dec 25, 2008

    JG271 macrumors 6502a

    JG271

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    #2
    G5s can't run windows, although I think they only had G5s for the very first part of 06... either way, sounds like something is wrong with your hard drive, try booting from the install CD and see if that works.
     
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  3. AceDread, Dec 25, 2008

    AceDread thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #3
    I have the new Mac OSX. That allows me to use bootcamp and run Windows.

    I'll try that right now.
     
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  4. AceDread, Dec 25, 2008

    AceDread thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #4
    Could you refresh my memory and tell me what button I have to press during startup to manual boot?
     
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  5. GSMiller, Dec 25, 2008

    GSMiller macrumors 68000

    GSMiller

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    #5
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  6. AceDread, Dec 25, 2008

    AceDread thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #6

    I have an iMac...

    That's not the problem I'm having. It's not booting up at all.



    It used to work perfectly.
     
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  7. Solemony, Dec 25, 2008

    Solemony macrumors 6502

    Solemony

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    #7
    It's probably your HD..I've seen many threads that can relate to this one..
     
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  8. SnowLeopard2008, Dec 25, 2008

    SnowLeopard2008 macrumors 604

    SnowLeopard2008

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    #8
    You need an Intel processor. Any of the G series will not run Windows, this includes G4, G5, etc.
     
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  9. AceDread, Dec 25, 2008

    AceDread thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #9
    Is there anything I can do about it from here? Or do I have to take it into a shop?
     
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  10. plinden, Dec 25, 2008

    plinden macrumors 68040

    plinden

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    #10
    If the Mac has Boot Camp it's an Intel, no matter what the OP says ... they do look like the last generation G5 iMacs.

    Anyway, if you're getting the ? folder, it's definitely the hard drive. Try booting with the Leopard install disk and see if you can find verify or repair your HD. Boot while pressing 'C'.

    The grinding noises you heard earlier were a warning the drive was failing. I hope you took a backup when that started happening?

    If you have AppleCare,, then you have some time to get Apple to replace it. If you don't, you won't be able to get the drive replaced. You best bet is to take it to a third party repair shop, or if you're up to it, trying to replace it yourself. If you're not technically proficient, it's not an easy job.
     
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  11. AceDread, Dec 25, 2008

    AceDread thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #11


    I can build a PC with help, but I don't even know where to begin taking my Mac apart. I don't have Applecare, never got around to getting it. Any idea how much it would be to get it repaired at another shop?
     
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  12. question fear, Dec 25, 2008

    question fear macrumors 68020

    question fear

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    #12
    Is it over a year old? I'd start with an apple-certified repair shop or an apple store. Or search "iMac hard drive replacement" and see what you can find...but it might be safer to pay the $$ to a repair shop.

    Apple.com can help you locate an apple store/apple certified repair store.
     
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  13. plinden, Dec 25, 2008

    plinden macrumors 68040

    plinden

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    #13
    Apple quoted me $300 to replace an out of warranty hard drive in an iMac. The guy at the genius bar recommended some apple-certified repair shops that would be less than that, but I ended up doing it myself.

    If you can build a PC, you should be able to manage taking it apart. But the iMac is more like a laptop than a desktop. I used the guide here - http://home.comcast.net/~woojo/DFFA53A0-F23D-4541-9015-481FD3B6532E/iMac_Disassembly.html
     
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  14. mperkins37, Dec 25, 2008

    mperkins37 macrumors 6502a

    mperkins37

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    #14
    I can hoock you up with a Apple service manual for Imacs It shouldnt be too bad.
    PM Me.
     
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