Apple iMac 2014 Not Starting!
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Discussion

GE90

Original Poster:

462 posts

150 months

Saturday 20th November 2021
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Hi Everyone

iMac is stuck on logo screen. Has been running slow for a week.

Had a Windows keyboard attached, but Windows + R buttons on boot up not getting me into the repair utility…!

Anything else I can try? The keyboard doesn’t seem to have any power. I tried a wireless Apple keyboard, but that Command R doesn’t work on that either, I guess because it hasn’t been paired…?

Many thanks

mmm-five

12,385 posts

314 months

Saturday 20th November 2021
quotequote all
Does the keyboard normally light up/show a power status on boot - or only when it gets to the desktop?

What config is the storage? HDD, SSD, or Fusion? Have you got a recent backup?

Have you manually configured the Windows keyboard to use non-default command keys? Have you tried CTRL-R instead, as I know in some cases this doubles as a CMD in MacOS. Have you tried holding down the left Alt key to see if it will let you get to the startup options (where you may be able to select the recovery partition)?

Edited by mmm-five on Saturday 20th November 16:58

colin79666

2,224 posts

143 months

Saturday 20th November 2021
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Try resetting the PRAM. Turn on and immediately hold command, option, p and r together. Takes about 20 seconds and may do a second chime but depends on the model. Probably windows, alt, p and r on a pc keyboard but not sure. If it then boots after check the date/time as it may be wonky.

GE90

Original Poster:

462 posts

150 months

Saturday 20th November 2021
quotequote all
Hi

Thanks so much.

I’m sorry in! I did the First Aid and on the Macintosh HD - Data it failed, which looks like it is the part of the drive data is stored on.

This is my mother’s computer, and I’m certain it all on the cloud. Important stuff is on USB sticks!

Just trying a reload of Big Sur. However, I’m guessing this could be a hardware drive issue?

Many thanks

NMNeil

5,860 posts

80 months

Saturday 20th November 2021
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xeny

5,502 posts

108 months

Saturday 20th November 2021
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GE90 said:
However, I’m guessing this could be a hardware drive issue?
The "running slow" symptom makes me think so.

From what I recall, access to the drive is by taking the screen off, which isn't too tricky if you're good with your hands.

Question for you is if it is a hardware fault is it worth the effort of drive replacement, or given it's probably coming towards the end of getting OS updates it is better to go with wholesale replacement.

mmm-five

12,385 posts

314 months

Sunday 21st November 2021
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NMNeil said:
Sorry, but I'd not be putting put much value into anything a 'scareware' website says!

The latest OS that the OP's 2014 iMac will run (officially) is Big Sur, and the machines that have been having boot issues with Monterrey installs have all been Apple silicon/M1 machines (we have 2 M1 Mac Minis...one had an issue which simply required a restart and the other was fine).

mike9009

10,964 posts

273 months

Sunday 21st November 2021
quotequote all
GE90 said:
Hi

Thanks so much.

I’m sorry in! I did the First Aid and on the Macintosh HD - Data it failed, which looks like it is the part of the drive data is stored on.

This is my mother’s computer, and I’m certain it all on the cloud. Important stuff is on USB sticks!

Just trying a reload of Big Sur. However, I’m guessing this could be a hardware drive issue?

Many thanks
I love parents back up techniques.

My Dad had everything on floppy disks, but he now still uses DVDs or just leaves photos on their old Canon camera.
One time I visited tried to get him onto OneDrive which has not been touched in two years now, although I do have a USB hard drive back up for them too.


GE90

Original Poster:

462 posts

150 months

Sunday 21st November 2021
quotequote all
Thanks so many so much everyone.

My Mum has decided to replace it, given its age etc.

It seems that I can replace the hard drive with a 256 GB SSD cheaply, and make a bootable USB. However, I’m not sure it’ll be worth much to sell on.

Perhaps I should just remove the hard drive and sell for spares?

Thanks again.

jesusbuiltmycar

5,135 posts

284 months

Sunday 21st November 2021
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Older iMacs can be used as displays for newer Mac Minis - (note this feature was removed on newer models)

mmm-five

12,385 posts

314 months

Monday 22nd November 2021
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jesusbuiltmycar said:
Older iMacs can be used as displays for newer Mac Minis - (note this feature was removed on newer models)
I'm not sure what your definitions of older and newer are, but that function was removed from the late 2014 iMac onwards (i.e. once Retina displays became the norm)...which was a right PITA for me, as I didn't realise until after I'd spent over £3k on a new, maxed out 27" 5k one (which I'm still using until the larger screen M1 Max or M1 Pro iMac comes out)!

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 22 November 09:19

jesusbuiltmycar

5,135 posts

284 months

Monday 22nd November 2021
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
jesusbuiltmycar said:
Older iMacs can be used as displays for newer Mac Minis - (note this feature was removed on newer models)
I'm not sure what your definitions of older and newer are, but that function was removed from the late 2014 iMac onwards (i.e. once Retina displays became the norm)...which was a right PITA for me, as I didn't realise until after I'd spent over £3k on a new, maxed out 27" 5k one (which I'm still using until the larger screen M1 Max or M1 Pro iMac comes out)!

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 22 November 09:19
Agreed that it as a right PIT as I did the same thing ...