My iMac won’t finish start up. There is a black screen with the Apple symbol and below that is the progress bar that only lights up less than a quarter of the way and then stops. I’ve tried the hard reboot by holding the power button down until it shuts off. And turn it back on, but the progress bar stops at the same length every time.
iMac Pro
Excellent, for further analysis you can run an Etrecheck report. It is a diagnostic tool that's very useful to us in finding problems. Also it will give us further specs on your Mac. After it runs post the log file here. It will contain no personal information. Allowing full drive access will improve the quality of the report.
To post the log file click on share report and use the Page icon in your reply window.
Try an SMC reset:
How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support
Try starting up in Safe Mode:
Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
If neither of those work boot into Recovery and Reinstall Mac OS.
About macOS Recovery - Apple Support
Try Single User Mode (hold command-s keys)
At the prompt, enter this command:
/sbin/fsck -fy
Press the Return key.
This will check your directory and report that it was OK or repaired. Then enter this command to startup normally:
reboot
Run Apple Diagnostics
Press and hold the d key on startup:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731
If none of those work make a Genius Bar appointment for a free diagnostic:
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
Also try a NVRAM reset, as per > Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
and starting up in macOS Recovery Mode, as per > About macOS Recovery - Apple Support
If you are using a wireless keyboard? It may have become up-paired and you may need to use a USB keyboard to input the above startup commands. (FWIW you can use most ant generic or pc keyboard to input key commands)
I'm beginning to suspect a failing hard drive or other hardware problem. If you can boot into Apple diagnostics you can run that and see if it comes up with anything.
Run Apple Diagnostics
Press and hold the d key on startup:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731
It's not the most effective test but if it reports a problem you can be pretty certain there is one. But just because it reports np problem doesn't mean that one doesn't exist.
Try starting up in Safe Mode, as per > Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
I’m going to borrow a wired keyboard because mine is wireless and I think All the functions you are all giving me aren’t working because my keyboard isn’t linking, despite changing batteries. So as soon as I get the keyboard I’ll try all these ideas. Thank you!!
Awesome!! I turned it on this morning after trying a few things last night with the plug in keyboard (nothing happened last night) went to do the NVRAM and PRAM thing, turned on the computer and voila it came on to sign in screen (finally) now I’m going through updates and doing the sleep, then restart, then shut down, so far it’s doing it’s thing...well the restart is slow but progressing further than it did before. I’ll let you know if it’s snagging again. I was ready to make a Genius Bar appt.
Ok, well now I did The restart but the bar fills up all the way to the end under the Apple Logo but does nothing after that, I feel like it’s snagging again, or should I allow it more time before doing a hard shut down? It seems to be running slow, taking the bar 15-20 minutes to fill to the end.
I’m reinstalling macOS Mojave...fingers crossed. I tried the Time Machine back up but it wasn’t doing much, just searching for backups. As soon as I can Get back on the system I’ll run that other report from that app. If a failed hard drive is the problem, can Apple fix that for us? The diagnostics had said no issues found ADP000, like you said it might, but obviously something is askew!
That doesn’t seem to be working, same exact thing is happening...hmm, probably going to have to take it to my nearest Apple store
For what it’s worth I had similar problem after 2 week holiday when I had turned off iMac and unplugged from mains. Reset SMC which did the trick.
If reinstalling Mojave doesn't fix it, I'd bring it in and have Apple run a free diagnostic. They have much more comprehensive, proprietary tests that they run.
Looks like that’s going to have to happen, the progress bar is now going back to what it did before on start up, only not even moving as far as it had...bummer!!
OK, good luck, Let us know how it turns out.
My iMac won’t finish start up, there is an Apple symbol and progress bar that stops “progressing” less than a quarter of the way. Help!
