Secondhand iMac problems.
Discussion
Finally decided it was time to upgrade my 2011 27" iMac, running Sierra.
I bought a "grade A" late 2015 27" from an eBay business seller. Good spec - 4.0GHx core i7, 32gb, 512gb SSD, 5k screen. Loaded with a fresh install of Catalina.
Got it yesterday, ran the set routine OK, then tried to use Migration Assistant to get the stuff off my old iMac via wifi. It failed during the copying stage.
I plugged in an ethernet cable (via my network switch) and tried again. This time it failed a bit earlier, while it was still evaluating which files to copy.
Tried rebooting, and it stopped at 100% on the progress bar.
Boot mode only shows one partition - no recovery partition.
Recovery mode goes straight to internet recovery via wifi, and I can't type in the network password - nothing shows in the password box.
Tried resetting the pram, it chimed a second time, but hasn't made any difference.
I managed to boot up using a bootable external HDD made on my old iMac using CarbonCopyCloner. Everything seems to work when booted from this.
I can see the internal SSD in Finder, it has partitions with files in. If I try to run "First Aid" using storage utility, it fails.
Most of the above makes me think that the SSD was on it's last legs, and has become unbootable? Bit odd that I can read it in finder after booting from an external HDD, but I can't "repair" it.
The seller has just responded, and is sending a replacement.
Really posting here to see if there's anything I need to do differently with the next one?
I bought a "grade A" late 2015 27" from an eBay business seller. Good spec - 4.0GHx core i7, 32gb, 512gb SSD, 5k screen. Loaded with a fresh install of Catalina.
Got it yesterday, ran the set routine OK, then tried to use Migration Assistant to get the stuff off my old iMac via wifi. It failed during the copying stage.
I plugged in an ethernet cable (via my network switch) and tried again. This time it failed a bit earlier, while it was still evaluating which files to copy.
Tried rebooting, and it stopped at 100% on the progress bar.
Boot mode only shows one partition - no recovery partition.
Recovery mode goes straight to internet recovery via wifi, and I can't type in the network password - nothing shows in the password box.
Tried resetting the pram, it chimed a second time, but hasn't made any difference.
I managed to boot up using a bootable external HDD made on my old iMac using CarbonCopyCloner. Everything seems to work when booted from this.
I can see the internal SSD in Finder, it has partitions with files in. If I try to run "First Aid" using storage utility, it fails.
Most of the above makes me think that the SSD was on it's last legs, and has become unbootable? Bit odd that I can read it in finder after booting from an external HDD, but I can't "repair" it.
The seller has just responded, and is sending a replacement.
Really posting here to see if there's anything I need to do differently with the next one?
clockworks said:
I can see the internal SSD in Finder, it has partitions with files in. If I try to run "First Aid" using storage utility, it fails.
This does suggest that the SSD is probably borked. What you're describing sounds like errors / issues when the machine is trying to write to the disk. It's unusual for one to fail this young but certainly not impossible. Sounds like the internal SSD has gone. Presents as a variety of problems in disk utility. Not easily replaced in an iMac at all - that system is not fit for purpose.
Try not to use migration assistant over wifi - I've never had huge success with that. It's an incredibly slow process at the best of times and looks for any excuse to abort.
Try not to use migration assistant over wifi - I've never had huge success with that. It's an incredibly slow process at the best of times and looks for any excuse to abort.
clockworks said:
Don't really have a choice, as they don't make 27" iMacs any more
Did you check their refurb store?https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/mac/27-i...
If you can get a refund Apple are selling refurb 27" Macs. Apple refurbs are like new and have warranty. Example below, they have many.
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FXWT2B/A/ref...
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FXWT2B/A/ref...
SteveKTMer said:
If you can get a refund Apple are selling refurb 27" Macs. Apple refurbs are like new and have warranty. Example below, they have many.
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FXWT2B/A/ref...
Get in quick, they won't be there for long! The Mac Studio / Studio display is great, but it's expensive by comparison to the 27" iMac.https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FXWT2B/A/ref...
From my own experience of computers I feel I've learnt two lessons,
- Upgrades, refurbs etc never achieve the desired result.
- Once the darned things are 3 years old they start getting ornery and by 5 years you might as well buy a new one. The world moves on very quickly and old machines just get left behind.
Panamax said:
From my own experience of computers I feel I've learnt two lessons,
On a lot of kit, I'd agree. But Apple kit is different. I'm typing this on a 2013 MBP - it's still good. Battery has deteriorated a bit and only gives me 4 hours of medium use now. The trackpad is starting to deteriorate a bit - the bottom right corner doesn't always click. It's been used 5 days a week for over 8 years, and is still outperforms my work-issued Dell PC that's barely 12 months old. I have however just ordered a new 16" M1 Max based Pro, mainly "because it's shiny and new and I want one".- Upgrades, refurbs etc never achieve the desired result.
- Once the darned things are 3 years old they start getting ornery and by 5 years you might as well buy a new one. The world moves on very quickly and old machines just get left behind.
Mrs Magnum has just replaced her iMac with a new Air. Her iMac is over 9 years old, still going well but won't get security updates / OS patches for much longer. The kids will get to use this one as their 'new' computer - replacing my old 2011 model MacBook Air, which is also still going well but doesn't run long on battery any more.
Oh, and a lot of the refurb'd 27" iMacs on the UK store are 2020 models, but may have been built more recently than that.
Magnum 475 said:
Panamax said:
From my own experience of computers I feel I've learnt two lessons,
On a lot of kit, I'd agree. But Apple kit is different. I'm typing this on a 2013 MBP - it's still good. Battery has deteriorated a bit and only gives me 4 hours of medium use now. The trackpad is starting to deteriorate a bit - the bottom right corner doesn't always click. It's been used 5 days a week for over 8 years, and is still outperforms my work-issued Dell PC that's barely 12 months old. I have however just ordered a new 16" M1 Max based Pro, mainly "because it's shiny and new and I want one".- Upgrades, refurbs etc never achieve the desired result.
- Once the darned things are 3 years old they start getting ornery and by 5 years you might as well buy a new one. The world moves on very quickly and old machines just get left behind.
Mrs Magnum has just replaced her iMac with a new Air. Her iMac is over 9 years old, still going well but won't get security updates / OS patches for much longer. The kids will get to use this one as their 'new' computer - replacing my old 2011 model MacBook Air, which is also still going well but doesn't run long on battery any more.
Oh, and a lot of the refurb'd 27" iMacs on the UK store are 2020 models, but may have been built more recently than that.
Not bad prices for Apple refurbished, but a lot more than I was looking to spend.
The machine I bought was under £900, and has a 6 month warranty. Just hope the next one works properly.
I bought my 2011 27" brand new, just over 10 years ago. It's been perfect, apart from needing a new HDD a few years ago. Still does everything I need, but is no longer supported for updates by Apple. It'll live on as a streaming TV in the conservatory.
The machine I bought was under £900, and has a 6 month warranty. Just hope the next one works properly.
I bought my 2011 27" brand new, just over 10 years ago. It's been perfect, apart from needing a new HDD a few years ago. Still does everything I need, but is no longer supported for updates by Apple. It'll live on as a streaming TV in the conservatory.
Stupid question time.
When I've got new MacBooks and or rebuilt one iMac I've just logged back into my iCloud account and all the data / photos I need is there.
Any software etc has been a couple of hours and a bottle of wine to load.
Wine optional.
Why bother with a backup and restore?
When I've got new MacBooks and or rebuilt one iMac I've just logged back into my iCloud account and all the data / photos I need is there.
Any software etc has been a couple of hours and a bottle of wine to load.
Wine optional.
Why bother with a backup and restore?
Although I don't have it anymore I built a Hackintosh when my 2009 27" imac was starting to fail.
Was able to use equivalent or superior components (faster CPU, more RAM, higher spec GPU and an NVME m.2 boot drive rather than SSD) than a new 27" imac I specced on Apple Store for comparison, and buy a 27" monitor (albeit not 4k) plus keyboard and mouse and still was less money than the imac.
Everything worked with no issues, even the Bluetooth and the sleep mode which historically was problematic on some Hackintosh builds.
In the three years or so I had it I upgraded it from Mojave through to Catalina up to Big Sur including the incremental updates with very few issues that a tiny bit of surfing couldn't rectify, and I had the bonus of being able to run a proper dual boot Windows 10 machine on the same hardware at the same time (not via bootcamp) with a second NVME m.2 installed. No bios changes required, just select boot drive and go.
So many guides to follow now online it really isn't difficult to build.
Just a thought.
Was able to use equivalent or superior components (faster CPU, more RAM, higher spec GPU and an NVME m.2 boot drive rather than SSD) than a new 27" imac I specced on Apple Store for comparison, and buy a 27" monitor (albeit not 4k) plus keyboard and mouse and still was less money than the imac.
Everything worked with no issues, even the Bluetooth and the sleep mode which historically was problematic on some Hackintosh builds.
In the three years or so I had it I upgraded it from Mojave through to Catalina up to Big Sur including the incremental updates with very few issues that a tiny bit of surfing couldn't rectify, and I had the bonus of being able to run a proper dual boot Windows 10 machine on the same hardware at the same time (not via bootcamp) with a second NVME m.2 installed. No bios changes required, just select boot drive and go.
So many guides to follow now online it really isn't difficult to build.
Just a thought.
clockworks said:
Not bad prices for Apple refurbished, but a lot more than I was looking to spend.
The machine I bought was under £900, and has a 6 month warranty. Just hope the next one works properly.
I bought my 2011 27" brand new, just over 10 years ago. It's been perfect, apart from needing a new HDD a few years ago. Still does everything I need, but is no longer supported for updates by Apple. It'll live on as a streaming TV in the conservatory.
See above, I'm running Mojave on my 2009 iMac, you need to use a patch, this guy is well regarded, you need to check if your iMac is compatible. Save yourself some money. There are options to run Big Sur as well. The machine I bought was under £900, and has a 6 month warranty. Just hope the next one works properly.
I bought my 2011 27" brand new, just over 10 years ago. It's been perfect, apart from needing a new HDD a few years ago. Still does everything I need, but is no longer supported for updates by Apple. It'll live on as a streaming TV in the conservatory.
http://dosdude1.com/catalina/
Bikerjon said:
Have you considered the M1 iMac 24? It's really not that much smaller than the 27 and actually I think a 24 inch screen is nicer to work on. Better than playing ebay roulette!
Yes, I had considered the new 24" as a good compromise - until I saw them in Curry's 2 weeks ago. Perfectly good hardware, but they don't have the style of the previous aluminium iMacs. They look a bit cheap to me.Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff