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iMac(mid 2007) won't boot

I suggest going about updating Snow Leopard as normal. That iMac had a few firmware updates, they're probably already installed. You can install all updates, and firmware updates if there are any, via the Software Update menu. There's little to no need of a anti-virus software of Mac OS X. If you want to turn on a firewall, you can turn on Mac OS X's built in one via the Security pref pane. Because that iMac's hard drive may have stability issues, put it on probation until you get a week or two of good use out of it before trusting its hard drive.
 
My Mac is still working good. I do have one question about the fan. Since I put Snow Leopard on it the fan always runs from start up unless it enters sleep mode. Today the power cord was accidentally unplugged. It rebooted fine but the fan is not running now. How do I fix this? I don't want it to over heat.

Thanks
 
The fan is always running, no matter what. If one of the fans does actually stop spinning, the other fans run at maximum speed because the iMac is in a fail safe mode. You'd know if one of the fans did fail.
 
The fan noise I usually hear is really loud. I know I'm not in safe boot. Is the fan suppose to run really loud all the time?

Thanks
 
Fail safe mode is not safe boot. One is a hardware feature to prevent problems, the other is a software feature to fix problems. If you hear really loud fans, then your iMac is likely in fail safe mode.
 
What is fail safe mode? When I Google it mostly safe boot info comes up. How do I fix it?

Thanks
 
A fail safe mode is something that lots of various hardware has. Things from a washing machine to a car's engine has one. Simply put, the device is put into or goes into this mode to protect itself when something breaks or it is operating outside of its designed parameters.

In the case of an iMac, the SMC will trigger the fans to speed up to maximum if it cannot detect the speed of one of the fans, cannot get the temperature of a sensor, or if the temperatures rise above what they are allowed to be.
 
Should I reset the SMC? What about adding an application to control fan speed?

Thanks
 
I reset the SMC. When I booted it back up I still don't hear any fan noise. Should I use the application SMC Fan Control? Is there a safe place to download it from?

Thanks
 
Use iStat to see what speeds your fans are running at. The fans in aluminum iMacs are very quiet fans and are often thought of as not being on when at their idle speed.
 
Tried to download iStat from apple site but it won't download, says cold not find original site. Should I download it from another site?

Thanks
 
I went to the Bjango site and downloaded it for free 14 day trial. I'm not sure where the fan speed is found. I'm under Sensors tab and at top, reads 100 degrees. Only option for fan is, edit fan rules.

Thanks
 
Do you know if the Snow Leopard I just bought from Apple, has the Apple Hardware Test?

Thanks
 
I can't find fan speed. I can see a tab for fan edit and it has high or medium.

Thanks
 
This is the one I downloaded yesterday from bjango site. Is there an older version more suitable for my older mac?

Thanks
 
That version will work for any Mac that can run Snow Leopard. There are other iStat products that may be easier for you to use as well.
 
Check/clean the vents.

Ben190 said:
The fan noise I usually hear is really loud. I know I'm not in safe boot. Is the fan suppose to run really loud all the time?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Clogged vents will also cause your iMac 2007 fan to run hard. Check the bottom grates on the bottom edge and top vent on the back, gently vacuum if needed. After a lot of fan noise one summer, I noticed quite a bit of dust blockage on the bottom of my '07 (still going strong/factory WD hard drive had to be replaced). Cleaning helped a lot. The iMac body does get quite warm to even hot which can be disconcerting to new uses but this normal for iMacs.


Bottom Vents underneath bottom edge
14t60c2.jpg


Top Vent
vec369.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the advice. Tomorrow I will install iStat Menus and look for fan speed. I plan to also vacuum the vents.
 
I installed istat today and my temp readings are from 75 degrees to 134 degrees. The CPU heatsink is 94 degrees and the computer is newly turned on.
I unplugged computer and vacuumed out vents. I couldn't really tell if much dust came out. The fan is not audible right now but maybe that is because I unplugged and it reset.

Thanks
 
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