I think my imac just crashed......

[JustJazzie]

I'm trying not to panic....

I was editing photos just now when it froze and started making a whirring and clicking noise.....I tried to do a hard reset and the noise continues and all I get is a Grey screen...no apple logo- just grey.....

I can't really do anything until I talk to DH, but does anyone have any idea what just happened?? What the clicking noise might be??

 

[sm4him]

How old is it? Is still covered by warranty?
You might message e.rose; She works at an Apple Store and might be familiar with the problem!

 

[Derrel]

Dang....that's not good...if you have the software install disc (DVD) maybe you can start up with the disc installed and holding down the C key...

If you hold the X key down, it should start from OS X.

Go here for more tips: Mac OS X Startup Shortcuts

 

[JustJazzie]

How old is it? Is still covered by warranty? You might message e.rose; She works at an Apple Store and might be familiar with the problem!

No, it isn't still under warranty as far as I know. I don't think we purchased the extended plan.... We got it Christmas of 2011....

 

[Nickk]

If it was very audible, as in able to be heard from another room then it is most likely the fan or one of the fans related to cooling the CPU. If that fails the CPU can overheat before the operating system loads and trigger the thermal safety. That's is a very cheap fix at most shops, about an hour of labor+ parts.
A failed hard drive can also be audible but is not as loud as a bad fan. If your under warranty just call AppleCare and a decent agent would start by walking you through Using Apple Hardware Test.
If your not under warranty that article is simple to follow and is where any local shop would start to isolate the issue.

 

[Nickk]

Wow those were posted as I was typing lol. Hardware check will give you the best answer. Not trying to be a know it all here, I worked in tier 2 for AppleCare for a couple years ( disclaimer:my opinions donot in any way represent those of apple's).

 

[JustJazzie]

Nick- it was VERY loud. Like a high pitched whirr and clicking....
*praying it's just the fan*

I'm too scared to touch it. But i will pass along all the info when dh gets here!

 

[Derrel]

Nick- it was VERY loud. Like a high pitched whirr and clicking....
*praying it's just the fan*

I'm too scared to touch it. But i will pass along all the info when dh gets here!

I have had a LOUD, very annoying, LENGTHY high-pitched whirring from my Mac tower when it suffers what's called a "Kernel Panic"...it has happened about four times in eight years, but has responded each time to just a cold, hard re-boot.

 

[runnah]

My macbook is currently suffering from overheating and it does a similar thing. Macs have issues with heat because of the small form factors they try to jam all the components into, not a lot of room to breathe. On the flipside, my PC has enough empty space to house a small family of badgers.

 

[e.rose]

Instead of coming to a photography forum where no one is going to know anything about what's going on except for a few speculations... and then possibly screwing up your machine more...

Go to apple.com/retail... find the closest store to you, make a Genius Bar appointment, and let them deal with it.

ESPECIALLY if it's under warrenty.

Do it.

DO IT NOW.

 

[runnah]

Go to apple.com/retail... find the closest store to you, make a Genius Bar appointment, and let them deal with it.

You'd have better luck on the photography forum.

 

[JustJazzie]

My macbook is currently suffering from overheating and it does a similar thing. Macs have issues with heat because of the small form factors they try to jam all the components into, not a lot of room to breathe. On the flipside, my PC has enough empty space to house a small family of badgers.

I'm really hoping this is it. It was working REALLY hard. When I have aperture and cs6 running it often flashes red and shows "15mbs" (or less) free space in the corner. And it's frozen several times when applying a gasuian (I know I spelled that wrong, sorry) blur in photoshop, which is what I was doing when it crashed this time.....

 

[JustJazzie]

Instead of coming to a photography forum where no one is going to know anything about what's going on except for a few speculations... and then possibly screwing up your machine more... Go to apple.com/retail... find the closest store to you, make a Genius Bar appointment, and let them deal with it. ESPECIALLY if it's under warrenty. Do it. DO IT NOW.

Well if I haven't said it enough..I am not touching it! I mostly came here for hope and sympathy.

Dh gets to decide if he wants to touch it or not!

I wish it were still under warranty. :-( that apple care plan is looking really nice right about now!

Funny, I bought it for my MacBook in 2007 and I have never needed it repaired, so we skip it on the iMac and see where it gets me?!?!

 

[sm4him]

My macbook is currently suffering from overheating and it does a similar thing. Macs have issues with heat because of the small form factors they try to jam all the components into, not a lot of room to breathe. On the flipside, my PC has enough empty space to house a small family of badgers.

How about a family of beavers? THAT could be useful, since there are more beavers in Maine than there are actual people… :lmao:

 

[sm4him]

Go to apple.com/retail... find the closest store to you, make a Genius Bar appointment, and let them deal with it.

You'd have better luck on the photography forum.

I'd disagree with that. I'm not really a great fan of Apple, mostly because I think buying Apple products are liking paying tax on "pretty"--it's JUST a computer, or a phone, or a music player, but pretty it up, throw that hip Apple logo on there and sell it for twice as much! So, for my own personal use, I primarily use other brands…BUT I do have one (mostly dead) Macbook at home, and have used both Macs and PCs at work for over a decade, and I gotta say, one thing the Apple folks do quite well is take care of their customers. I have only had ONE bad experience ever with taking something in to the Apple Store, or calling AppleCare. Most of the time, they will go the extra mile to make sure you are satisfied, because they KNOW that customer satisfaction is what keeps people loyal to their brand.