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b00tang · Jun 5, 2003, 05:36 PM

I have a 800mhz 17" FP imac and finally today decided to clock the start up time on it because it always feels like forever. The result? I sat and watched that grey apple screen for 7 minutes before it went to the blue screen with the bar at the bottom that fills up to show how far along it is loading tcp and all that. This can't be normal is it? How long do other peoples imacs take to start up? Is there anything I can do?
I am running os 10.2.6

ryju · Jun 5, 2003, 08:24 PM

my imac 400DV loads faster than that...

Jens Peter · Jun 6, 2003, 01:48 AM

That's defently not normal. My 600 G3 is much faster too.
I don't know if it helps, but when I have some odd problems, I use the Disk Utility to vertify and repair disk permissions. That usualy helps.

Jens Peter

Simon · Jun 6, 2003, 07:25 AM

That is not normal and definitely not the way it should be. My 1GHz FP iMac needs like < 10 sec to get to the blue startup screen and then it takes maybe < 15 sec till the logon window appears.

Check that the Mac isn't looking for a network connection that isn't there anymore, like Ethernet selected in the system prefs, but no cable connected.

Also, check that you have selected a startup system folder in the system prefs. If none is selected the Mac will first look for one on all connected devices, which can take a while. Although I thought this is what causes stalls during the blue startup screen, but if I understand you properly the lag is during the grey startup screen... Strange.

Try booting OS 9. Does it also take as long to get a happy Mac and then the "Welcome to Mac OS" screen? If no I would guess your permissions and/or your OS X installation are screwed.

b00tang · Jun 6, 2003, 11:16 PM

a few notes: booting OS 9 doesn't take more then a minute. And if I am in 9 and then just switch my startup disk through the control panel then hit restart I don't have to wait through the massive evil 7 minute grey screen for X to start up. It is only this way on cold start ups. I will try repairing all the permissions but why does it work fine on a restart but pitifully on a fresh start?
thanks for all your advice guys