[oscarmas]

Got a 15" LCD Imac, running OSX, fully updated and patched. Problem is that it sometimes takes as long as 30 minutes to startup. Just flashes the blinking folder until eventually it finds the boot drive and starts up. Operation is (infuriatingly) normal once it's running.

I've applied the usual fixes, rebuilt permissions, zapped PRAM, check for firmware updates, etc.

I wish it would just completely go up in big ball of smoke so I could replace it but the fact that it runs normally once it's started makes me keep checking to make sure that I haven't missed anything.

Anyone have a clue?

[Dex13]

how long does it take to look for the proper os?

[MacGallant]

If you're using OSX:
Go to System Preferences>Startup Disk and select the OSX folder as the Start up Disk.

That way, the next time you boot up, your iMac will know where your default boot volume is and it will stop showing the folder with the blinking "?"

[oscarmas]

Tried that as well. It may have had some effect, it only took about 15 minutes to boot instead of the usual 30-45, but still not close to normal.

Originally posted by MacGallant:
If you're using OSX:
Go to System Preferences>Startup Disk and select the OSX folder as the Start up Disk.

That way, the next time you boot up, your iMac will know where your default boot volume is and it will stop showing the folder with the blinking "?"

[MacGallant]

Did you try using Disk Warrior? It fixes Disk Directory problems.

You might also want to run the Cron Maintenance Scripts (built in OSX).

[apollo11]

I had a less severe version in that my 17 incher took about 2 minutes to boot.

After many returns and replaced motherboards/HD/AE card it was solved by updating the firmware on the AE card.

I would try DW first.