iMac hangs on boot (OSX)

[Wetfur]

Hi, I have a iMac(20") for about a year now and its ran great up untill now. It is hanging on boot. Sometimes its the white screen with apple logo and spinning gear, other times the screen goes blue and i can see it load a mouse cursor for about 2 seconds, then the screen goes through a few shades of blue and the spinning gear re-apears with no apple logo. The computer then loops.

I tried to boot to safe mode, but as i have the sound off i am not sure i am holding the shift key at teh proper moment.

If anyone has any advice, please, please let me know.

p.s my mac reinstall cd is about 8hrs drive from where i am, and i do not know if mac issues replacement cd's.

 

[LCPGUY]

Hi, I have a iMac(20") for about a year now and its ran great up untill now. It is hanging on boot. Sometimes its the white screen with apple logo and spinning gear, other times the screen goes blue and i can see it load a mouse cursor for about 2 seconds, then the screen goes through a few shades of blue and the spinning gear re-apears with no apple logo. The computer then loops.

I tried to boot to safe mode, but as i have the sound off i am not sure i am holding the shift key at teh proper moment.

If anyone has any advice, please, please let me know.

p.s my mac reinstall cd is about 8hrs drive from where i am, and i do not know if mac issues replacement cd's.

Power the iMac on and immediately hold down the Shift key until you see the logon screen. You don't need to wait for the startup sound to have the Shift key work. And remember, it takes a long time to come up in Safe Boot, so be patient as the Mac is doing a lot of work during a Safe Boot.

Maybe you should call AppleCare, you do have it don't you?

Good luck!

John