My old iMac won’t start up normally

A relative’s iMac (Mid 2007) ground to a halt when she was browsing. Now it won’t start normally, only in safe mode or Recovery. Apple Hardware Test shows no issue, but even after a clean install it still won’t start properly. Is it finally dead?

User–runnable tests provided in Apple Hardware Test and Apple Diagnostics (see

bit.ly/mfahwt) are fairly thorough but aren’t as complete as those used in–house by Apple. So, the results of such testing tools aren’t infallible; your Mac may have a hardware problem that they don’t detect. Beyond a fresh install and resetting the SMC and NVRAM, there isn’t much more that you can do to get this Mac to start normally. If it was much loved or in mint condition and wanted for a collection, it might be worth pursuing problems and perhaps looking into replacing the disk.

Official supplies of spares for such an old Mac have long since dried up, and all its components are at ever–increasing risk of failing. If you were to revive it by replacing its hard disk, say, its display could fail next. It’s sensible to retire it, and sell it for spares, or send it for recycling. It’s had a good innings.

Replacing the hard drive in most older iMacs isn’t easy, and is best done by paying a service provider.