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Major Head ache

Bubbs10

Bubbs10

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 12, 2020
14
4
Sorry for the novel! Hi, new to the group and rather bemused! I've only had my imac a few weeks and after totally losing everything 2 weeks a go and starting afresh it's gone and happened again. I'm into music production so i have got lots of samples, vst's, vst presets and I'm using Ableton as the DAW. Everything was fine until I added all of Abletons instrument and sample packs. The next time It started up I got the message saying my computer has restarted because there was a problem. This changes to the loading bar, gets ¾ of the way then repeats constantly. I have tried to reinstall high sierra without deleting the hard drive but half way through the install the same error message comes up. I've tried a safe start up but that won't work, i have managed to do the command V and get to disk utility and first aid the drive but all comes back green. I really would like to keep all the data as it's took me a while putting it all back on but I know theres a bug somewhere. Has anyone come across this before and could possibly see anything in the code below that i can't? Sorry for the long post but needed to get as much info down as possible. 2013, 27, i7, 3tb fusion, 32gb ram Thanks in advance
20200810_214028.jpg
 
Hi

If you have a recent TimeMachine backup, I'd make a bootable usb High Sierra installer on another mac and reformat the 3TB HDD to HFS+ and do a fresh install (without 3rd party software etc. )
This way you could test if the issue is hardware related e.g. the 3TB fusion drive.

Another possibility is incompatibilty of some 3rd party software (since it occured after installing Ableton samples).
So supposing a clean OS works fine, you could migrate all your data (except for the last software you added just before this occured) from the TM backup back to the 3TB .

If that works too, i"d check for the compatibility of the last software before reinstalling it .
 
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Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I purchased a brand new Qvo to do a timemachine back up a day late. I turned on the mac to do the back up and this all happened, devastated! Its in the hands of computer shop now so hopefully he can work it out.
He's goin to change out the fusion for the ssd and I'll buy a seperate qvo for tm backups.
I'll definitely keep your info handy and do what you recommend once I have it back.

Thanks again!
 
Unfortunately the Samsung QVO is known for issues with Mac OS!
Dont install it , and if possible sell it ,because even only for data (a data disk without OS) there are several reports of problems.

An internal SSD is a good investment for your iMac, i recommend e.g. Samsung 860 EVO (not QVO).
I've been using several Samsung 850 EVO and 860 EVO for years without any issues.
 
I'm afraid the QVO is not a matter of luck...

Especially to install it you/somebody else has to open your iMac by removing the screen etc.
To revert it you'll have to open it again...
 
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I've ordered the Evo to get sent directly to him, I'll sell on the QVO, thanks for the heads up, saved me even more frustration! I'll order a seperate one for a time machine only 🙏
 
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Your welcome!

I work with music (recording/composing/production) too and although it may be obvious :
At least a recent TM backup will save you from lots of headaches ;)
Especially working on a project or before I install/modify something I always update my TM backups and clones.
 
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It's heart breaking it's happened twice, lm itching to get back on but can't do nothing until its all sorted, would upgrading to mojave do me any favours or stick with high sierra? I'll definitely keep my projects on a seperate drive completely.
Thanks
 
I know how it is...

Mojave is known as one of the most stable OS , I'd recommend it but check software compatibility first...

BTW: I suppose the person from the shop knows that if you replace the OEM HDD, you'll need a HDD cable with internal heat sensor because it's on/in the OEM drive. Without the sensor the fans will go full speed...
I'm not a fan of OWC, but they offer an excellent adapter cable with sensor:
eshop.macsales.com

OWC Complete DIY Hard Drive Upgrade Kit for 27-Inch iMac 2012 - 2019

Eliminate fan noise and maintain correct system fan control when upgrading your 2012-2019 iMac. Required for any drive installed into the iMac main bay.
eshop.macsales.com eshop.macsales.com

Further on AFAIK there's an auxiliary (free) NVMe slot in your iMac.
Since you open it, you could consider also installing an NVMe blade SSD for e.g. samples (scratch disk) .
An NVMe SSD achieves ~2500mb/s I/O speed while a SATA SSD may be at ~500mb/s I/O ..
Since Apple got a different connector you'd need:
www.amazon.com

Sintech NGFF M.2 nVME SSD Adapter Card for Upgrade 2013-2015 Year Macs(Not Fit Early 2013 MacBook Pro)

NOTICE:because too many customers can use it,I suggest you to try it again if your MAC can't detect nVME SSD. Pls notice to insert card fully into SSD slot and you must prepare bootable USB disk(see third point) with High Sierra to format M.2 SSD first, it can't support recover from internet. mai...
www.amazon.com
I can recommend the samsung 970 EVO...
 
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Hi again. Sorry for the late reply, after reading your last message i screen shotted it and sent it to my man, i then rang him to see if he got my picture. He said he wasn't willing to change the drive as theres a possibility of cracking the screen. This is a little disheartening but fair enough i suppose. I've just watched a couple of videos of the job in hand and it doesn't look too bad a job, as long as you take your time that is.
Have you done it, and also would adding the nvme along with the sata make it unbelievably quick? I don't like the thought of keeping the fusion drive in there if they have a short life span, if I'm going to go in i might aswel go in hard
 
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Hi

resuming the scenario a few considerations :
1- Open the iMac yourself or (depending where you live) you could find a Apple seller that offers this SSD replacement as (payed) service.

2- Adding a NVMe SSD ("blade").

1: I've done it but on an older iMac without the NVMe blade . As you wrote there are kits available and lots of videos : with patience and some basic skills it's not that complicated as long as you take your time to prepare yourself and execute it properly.

2: Adding a NVMe will give your iMac a massive speed boost especially if the OS is on the SSD and your DATA (samples, working projects ) on the NVMe blade.
Personally I'd do it without thinking about it: e.g. Samsung 970 EVO 500GB ~ €100,- is worth it.
BTW: older samsung 970 evo PLUS have a incompatible firmware with Mac OS, AFAIK the last reports i came across were a while ago/old stock buyers.The firmware was updated by samsung a while ago, but to be on the save side, i'd go for a 970 EVO or a 970 EVO PRO.

I think your iMac is definitely worth the investment and effort and will be a powerful workstation after the upgrade.
I recommend to take a look /ask in the following thread dedicated to the iMac SSD upgrades.

I imagine you'd love to get it working now, but I think to take your time to digest the possibilities would be a wise decision.

I'm sorry if the information is a bit overwhelming but one last thing:
Before opening up the iMac :
Some OS versions(e.g.Mojave) come with a BootRom/firmware update and to be able to install them, on some Mac models, the installer will not work if there's no OEM HDD installed(Apple's ways are inconceivable).Afterwards you can install 3rd party drives.
You might get away with the (defective or not) OEM fusion drive by:
-make a bootable Mojave usb.
-boot from the usb Mojave installer
-it will first update the bootrom
- after updating the BootRom/firmware it will restart and proceed with the install.
Whether the install on the HDD succeeded or not, you may have the BootRom necessary to install Mojave and install any compatible SSD you 'd like.
I recommend to ask this in the iMac forum.

EDIT: Even with an updated BootRom version ,your iMac remains compatible with older OS versions.

forums.macrumors.com

A list of successful iMac 27" (2012-2019) SSD upgrades

Here you can find and discuss all the collected knowledge regarding upgrading the HDD, blade SSD and CPU of a 27" iMac 2012-2019, as well as a list of performed upgrades. Here is a list of all 27" iMac models subjected in this thread: Late 2012 - 13.2 - MD095LL/A (2.9Ghz i5-3470S, HDD only /...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
 
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I've just spoken to another local apple mac repair shop that is willing to do the work. He'll clone and change the drive for for £90 which isn't bad really. I think I'll just stick with the sata ssd. He told me the thermo sensor isn't required?

Thanks for all of your help btw
 
For 90,- pounds that's a very fair price, i'd do it!

It seems that the thermal sensor was an issue with older iMacs, according to the thread I linked in my post#13

Note one thing before sending your iMac to the shop:
Since you bought it recently you dont know if the BootRom was updated by installing Mojave by the previous owner.
I'd strongly recommend to try the following , otherwise after the SSD swap you may be stuck with HighSierra or previous OS.
Note that with an updated BootRom version ,your iMac remains compatible with older OS versions.

KeesMacPro said:
Before opening up the iMac :
Some OS versions(e.g.Mojave) come with a BootRom/firmware update and to be able to install them, on some Mac models, the installer will not work if there's no OEM HDD installed(Apple's ways are inconceivable).Afterwards you can install 3rd party drives.
You might get away with the (defective or not) OEM fusion drive by:
-make a bootable Mojave usb.
-boot from the usb Mojave installer
-it will first update the bootrom
- after updating the BootRom/firmware it will restart and proceed with the install.
Whether the install on the HDD succeeded or not, you may have the BootRom necessary to install Mojave and install any compatible SSD you 'd like.
Click to expand...

Your very welcome!
 
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When i get it back tommorow i will look at doing it. I will let you know how it all goes, once again your help is very much appreciated, if you where local I'd buy you a 🍺
 
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Yes indeed, he ran a few tests and couldn't find anything. He's checked all the the ram sticks to see if they were the issue but all came back clean, so unfortunately the drive has been wiped and here i go again.

Where are you based btw?
 
Well, to look at the bright side: the hardware seems to be fine and this way you won't have to troubleshoot for software bugs/issues.

After living in several parts of the world ,I'm based in Holland since a few years.
 
As you said previously i just need to put stuff on gradually, tm stuff, and continually do that.

Had a good few trips to the dam, back in the crazy days when it was 3g a pint, then they ruined it and the euro came in, and was €7 a beer....and after! Not the same anymore.. . Mushys ruled! 🤣

Thanks again
 
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Hello!
I've had my Mac back a week now and it's a lot better than it was. It has crashed on me a few times but not to the extent where I've lost it all. I have all my samples on an external 1tb evo, that is time machined with another 1tb evo then I have another evo backing up the mac. I also bought a 128gb sandisk ultra usb stick to keep my projects external aswel. It's cost me quite a lot of money but I feel a lot happier. Theres a possibility that the usb hub i purchased could have been the problem all along. I read a post that a certain few powered hubs when un powered can cause the os to go into kernal panic. I've unplugged it today after reading this and downloaded new drivers for my audio interface. Hopefully now that should do it. Im going to slowly start putting more plugins back on inbetween time machine back ups. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻
 
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Hi!
Thx for the update,good to hear that.
Troubleshooting can be very time consuming and the only way seems to be working methodically : adding, testing, adding testing etc.
Fingers crossed!
 
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