Yet Another Howard iMac Enquiry.

Hi BigH -

You're having your share of troubles these days, that's sure!

can you access another Mac? If so, maybe download the installation media as a USB stick that is bootable (lots of how to via google, Ars Technical has an easy guide) . If your machine boots from the USB, you could check the system and install a new hard drive (go for a solid state drive, an SSD) and start again. It could be something else (bad memory, failure on the motherboard, some battery issue), but the HDD is the first "usual suspect"  and other failures will show when you try to boot from the USB anyway  

The Time Machine restore can be done as part of the new OS installation (you do a clean install then import the user accounts and data). Not too hard, mostly reading the screen and saying "yes, keep going"

Good luck with the rescue!

Regards alan

Follow the steps here to launch in Recovery mode - https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201314 

Go into the Disk Utility, select your hard drive and run the First Aid utility, this will let you know if all is well with the hard drive/software configuration.  Once it's complete, restart your machine to see how things are, it 'could' be some sort of corruption on the disk.

But in all honestly if the drive is failing under the Disk Utility I would be hesitant to try a re install, it could some other hardware component that has failed, which a re install would not fix.  If you want to try, you could go back to the main recovery menu and either go through the restore from Time Machine - was the last backup recent ?  If that doesn't work off the bat, you could try the reinstall MacOS check things are stable and then restore from the Time Machine. 

You should be able to restore to a new machine 'BUT' if you get a new Mac, likelihood is it will come with Sierra and if you didn't put that on the old machine, it would restore to El Capitan ( or older) and then you'd want to update to Sierra.  That said, for this part and if the disk utility repair doesn't work, an appointment and chat with Genius bar member at an Apple store would be worthwhile, as they could run a hardware diagnostic on the machine to advise of the issue and cost of fixing, as depending on the age of the machine they could put in the needed parts and you're back in business or you're in the right place to get a new machine... that said, the Apple rumour mill points to a potential iMac refresh 27 Oct, at the end of the month... http://www.macworld.co.uk/news...-desktop-pc-3511338/

How old is it Howard? The hard drive's the most likely suspect, do what Guy suggests and restart in recovery mode, but chances are you'll need a new HD. It's not worth trying to muddle through with an old drive once it starts playing up. There are guides on uTube about how to replace this, it's quite simple. You can then restore everything from your Time Machine backup.

Howard - Time Machine back up is designed exactly for such occasions - failing hard drive, need to move to a new computer. 
This may also explain your recent problems with your NAS i.e. Mac's drive starting to fail and behave erratically prior to a complete collapse you've suffered yesterday.

OK guys as you all suspected, after Cmd-r restart, HD is failing diags.

"Volume Mac HD could not be be verified completely"

Looks like a new machine is required. Not bothered about what processor or whether it's VR READY (another 3D?), I'll do some Googling and see what I can find. Perhaps  new HD could give the old macine a second life elsewhere in the house, or if they find out elsewhere in the family. 

TonyM, Mac is at least 7 years old may even be more, early 2008 model if memory serves.

BigH47 posted:

OK guys as you all suspected, after Cmd-r restart, HD is failing diags.

"Volume Mac HD could not be be verified completely"

Looks like a new machine is required.

TonyM, Mac is at least 7 years old may even be more.

Why not just replace the drive and rebuild the OS using a network boot/restore?

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201314

Cheers

Phil

A new hard drive could give it a new life, I'd still have it as a backup, you could try a small cheap SSD, that should speed it up to ? 

You can change the hard drive yourself or just have an Apple store take care of things if you don't want to open the machine up. 

I recently changed the hard drive for my 2006 17" MacBook Pro to a SSD, wow! The difference in speed is day and night.

I've recently swapped out the main drive on my 2008 MACPRO for a 1TB SSD...... new lease of life, stopped me spending ££££ on a new machine.
My old 17" 2008 MACBOOK PRO is next for the SSD upgrade

Unfortunately the logic board went in my 2010 17" MBP ... such a shame.

Phil

Phil Harris posted:

Unfortunately the logic board went in my 2010 17" MBP ... such a shame.

Phil

I had it go on my 2010 15" MBP, luckily still in warranty, but it was a fight to get sorted... SSD upgrade is on my to do.  New MBP's are out at the end of the month... 

Phil Harris posted:

Unfortunately the logic board went in my 2010 17" MBP ... such a shame.

Phil

Hi Phil, sorry to hear, I had a similar problem with my MBP 15" 2010. The MBPs prior to 2012 were prone to this. The main reason being a faulty graphic chip (GPU). After much refusal and following class action lawsuits in the US Apple acknowledged the problems and offered hardware replacement programmes for an extended period of three years from date of purchase. Their answer was to exchange the logic board entirely, which helped in some instances but saw the problem return after some time for other units. Depending on your fault there are two possible fixes, if you haven't thrown your MBP away yet. 1) There is an app you can download called gfxCardStatus written by Cody Krieger, an ex apple employee. This app allows you to select the MBPs on board Intel GPU by default, thereby avoiding the automated switch between integrated Intel GPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU. Many people on the web report that version 2.1 works better for them than the current version 2.3. I have been using v2.1 on my 2010 MBP with great success, i.e. it's still running without any real issues. If you can still start up your MBP and install the app this could be a valid work around to your problem. 2) If your MBP can't be started up any more there are companies out there who will merely replace the GPU, rather than the entire logic board, at a much reduced cost compared to the money Apple is charging for fixing your MBP. One company that I would put faith in is this one here, albeit based in Germany: http://www.ebay.de/itm/1409241...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 

I researched the market here in Germany and spoke to two of them and I would personally use Laptop Replacement Centre Thüringen (LRTZ). They are in the process of building a website (http://www.lrzt.de). It's all in German but you could use Google translator or speak to them in person. There may be companies in the UK doing this as well.

Good luck

tp

totemphile posted:

Phil Harris posted:

Unfortunately the logic board went in my 2010 17" MBP ... such a shame.

Phil

Hi Phil, sorry to hear, I had a similar problem with my MBP 15" 2010. The MBPs prior to 2012 were prone to this. The main reason being a faulty graphic chip (GPU). After much refusal and following class action lawsuits in the US Apple acknowledged the problems and offered hardware replacement programmes for an extended period of three years from date of purchase. Their answer was to exchange the logic board entirely, which helped in some instances but saw the problem return after some time for other units. Depending on your fault there are two possible fixes, if you haven't thrown your MBP away yet. 1) There is an app you can download called gfxCardStatus written by Cody Krieger, an ex apple employee. This app allows you to select the MBPs on board Intel GPU by default, thereby avoiding the automated switch between integrated Intel GPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU. Many people on the web report that version 2.1 works better for them than the current version 2.3. I have been using v2.1 on my 2010 MBP with great success, i.e. it's still running without any real issues. If you can still start up your MBP and install the app this could be a valid work around to your problem. 2) If your MBP can't be started up any more there are companies out there who will merely replace the GPU, rather than the entire logic board, at a much reduced cost compared to the money Apple is charging for fixing your MBP. One company that I would put faith in is this one here, albeit based in Germany: http://www.ebay.de/itm/1409241...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 

I researched the market here in Germany and spoke to two of them and I would personally use Laptop Replacement Centre Thüringen (LRTZ). They are in the process of building a website (http://www.lrzt.de). It's all in German but you could use Google translator or speak to them in person. There may be companies in the UK doing this as well.

Good luck

tp

Thanks for that info ... without wanting to sound strangely mushy I was absolutely gutted when it failed as it was bought for me as a 40th b'day pressie for me by my mum who has since shuffled off this mortal coil and I'd just like to resurrect it if at all possible so I'll chase that up...

Cheers

Phil

Good luck!

Phil Harris posted:

BigH47 posted:

OK guys as you all suspected, after Cmd-r restart, HD is failing diags.

"Volume Mac HD could not be be verified completely"

Looks like a new machine is required.

TonyM, Mac is at least 7 years old may even be more.

Why not just replace the drive and rebuild the OS using a network boot/restore?

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201314

Cheers

Phil

I see where you are going  Phil but I think SWMBO and myself for that matter would rather have a guaranteed working example before I start to take present one to bits.

OK so I've bitten the bullet and ordered a 2015, 21.5", 8Gb and 1 TB H/D form Apple refurb centre.

if all goes well should be here to-morrow, Wednesday. Although at Sierra build nice man at Apple said it "should" be OK, using TC backups. Time as they say will tell.

I've press ganged the "Music only" MacMini into temp service for mail and internet.

Stay tuned for further adventures.

BigH47 posted:

I see where you are going  Phil but I think SWMBO and myself for that matter would rather have a guaranteed working example before I start to take present one to bits.

I usually start out with a working thing and still take it to bits.

Phil

C'mon Howard, admit it. You just wanted an excuse to buy a new IMac! Fitting a new disc's a doddle, as long as you follow the instructions. 

I thought the iMacs were a bit of a pig to work on. MacMinis seem to be easier.

I will certainly have a look when i'm fully restored to iMacnificence again.

Phil Harris posted:

BigH47 posted:

I see where you are going  Phil but I think SWMBO and myself for that matter would rather have a guaranteed working example before I start to take present one to bits.

I usually start out with a working thing and still take it to bits.

Phil

Ah, so that's why you bought a Trevor! 

Huge posted:

Phil Harris posted:

BigH47 posted:

I see where you are going  Phil but I think SWMBO and myself for that matter would rather have a guaranteed working example before I start to take present one to bits.

I usually start out with a working thing and still take it to bits.

Phil

Ah, so that's why you bought a Trevor! 

An excellent point and one to which I have absolutely no possible defense m'lud...

Phil

Well this just gets better. Shiny "new" refurb 21.5 iMac arrived via DPD, in one piece.

Setup went well, until I find that no it can't see any backup data on the Time Machine. Some stuff I have backed up else where pictures and Music data. No sign of Music Collector back ups though, still only 2000 albums to enter if I can't find some data somewhere.

Does a late 2015 model have an optical out? As it doesn't see DAC Magic on optical but does on USB.

Can you see the Time Machine drive through Finder and then navigate to the sparsebundle folder for your user ? When was the time stamp for the last update ?  Does the Time Machine appear correctly through the Airport Utility ?

It looks like it should have optical out through the 3.5mm jack - I know AudioQuest do those 3.5m adaptors for optical cables

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204392

The 3.5 mm audio socket is a combined analogue / digital (optical) out. At least it should