My iMac Completely Frozen and Can’t Boot from Install Disc

Asked By Ferdinand 610 points N/A Posted on - 06/10/2011

My iMac is completely frozen and need your help to fix it. It has got the Mac OSX Leopard system and when I press the power button it takes about 7-8 minutes to load. Though I can see all the programs but everything is hanged.

Only the mouse is working, but the keyboard is dead. I have tried to boot from CD but only can see a message ‘waiting for root device’ also tried in safe mood, but it freezes on the login screen. I can boot with Windows Live CD and checked the drive, but no error found.

I am out of option and need your help.

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Best Answer by shawnvaz

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Answered By Trenardo Sambian 0 points N/A #195498

My iMac Completely Frozen and Can’t Boot from Install Disc

I have two options for you to use to resolve the problem. First is to utilize your Leopard Install DVD.

Use that to fix the Startup Volume. Also try using a new keyboard (USB type).

The second one is insert the DVD and install it.

You can do that by going to System Preferences then look for the Startup Disk option.

Install it then reboot your computer.

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• Posted on - 01/07/2013
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Answered By shawnvaz 0 points N/A #111826

My iMac Completely Frozen and Can’t Boot from Install Disc

Hi there

I have seen this same kind of error of boot error message.

First let me explain to you why this problem is occurring. The main reason is that the OS is set to boot from a drive and partition that does not exist or your boot loader is not able to discover the partition. 

Here is what I have for you. I have explained the step by step procedure that has to be carried out to overcome the issue.

Step 1:

Check the settings of the jumper:  If u have a IDE HDD or a DVD RW then u need to look into the jumper settings.

Here is what you have to do.

• The DVD/CD ROM should be made as Primary Master.

• The HDD should me set as Primary Slave.

I also want you to keep in mind that, in case you are using a SATA HDD you can move on to STEP 2 without trying STEP 1.

STEP 2:

Bios Tweaking: If you pass step one then It is time you move onto the second step, go into the BIOS settings by pushing the DEL or the F2 key continuously on the startup of your PC.

Once you see the BIOS screen try to change the following

ATA/IDE Mode : Native

Configure SATA to : AHCI

SMART : Enabled

Try this step and you should find some results.

STEP 3:

Download Another OS:  Actually speaking this is the most easy and efficient step, there are many distributors online who you can get a version of your OS from, but please make sure that you select the correct hardware configuration before getting the OS. 

Try all the above solutions and I am sure you will get through.

Cheers.

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• Posted on - 01/10/2013
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Answered By Woods Kent 0 points N/A #111827

My iMac Completely Frozen and Can’t Boot from Install Disc

Hi Ferdinand,

I got your problem. According to me.

The iMac came in,May 2005, OS X Tiger was released in late April 2005, so generally you will get Tiger installation CD/DVDs, but if you already have them, then that is no problem as it seems.

 

The gray restore CD/DVDs, that come with every Mac are specific for that Mac model, so you can't use restore DVDs from a 13"" MBP (2010) on a 15"" MBP(2010) or even a 13"" MBP (2009).

I hope this will help you.

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• Posted on - 01/10/2013
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