11-30-2014, 08:58 PM
steve... wrote:
[quote=Chakravartin]
First, try both zapping PRAM and doing a SMC reset.
Zap PRAM: Using a wired USB keyboard, hold down Command+Option+P+R on startup and continue to hold down those keys until you've heard at least 3 boot-chimes.
SMC Reset: Shut down and unplug the iMac. Leave it unplugged for at least 15 seconds. Then plug it back in and boot.
When you've booted after this, go into System Preferences > Displays and hold down the option key to see the "Detect Displays" button. Click the Detect Displays button.
...
If this doesn't fix it then download SMART Utility and when you run it, use the "Install SAT SMART driver" option under the "Smart Utility" menu and install the SAT drivers. Reboot. Then run the SMART Utility again.
The SAT drivers may permit your computer to display SMART status of external drives like your SSD. Do all drives pass SMART tests?
I zapped the pram and all of my drives appeared on the desktop but in the Startup disk options, only one of the partitions of my internal hard drive (Snow Leopard) and "network startup" were available. I chose "network startup" and rebooted. Several minutes later, my iMac had started up off a small USB backup of my SSD (very slow and clunky). I then chose my SSD in the startup options and rebooted. It seemed normal, but Calendar crashed immediately.
I then did the SMC reset (I unplugged everything). After reading Black's post, I also disconnected a second Firewire drive from a firewire chain which I used for my Time Machine backup. My iMac started up off the SSD without any problems. I will try reattaching the 2nd firewire drive and see if problems persist.
Black wrote:
My money's on a problem with your Firewire enclosure, its power supply (if there is one), or maybe cables/connections. Also make sure all power cords are plugged securely.
What is your enclosure, exactly? Is it the only thing plugged into the FW port or is there a chain?
My SSD is in a Macally 2.5" Firewire800/USB3.0 enclosure. It's first in a chain before a 3.5" Macally FW enclosure.
Thanks for the details... I have two of the prior models (FW800/USB2) for SSD booting. I wonder if you accidentally unplugged the 3.5" enclosure when fumbling with cords for the router swap?