[MissEdie]

I know a lot of you have computer experience and I am hoping one of you can offer some insight into how I can get this fixed!! Thanks for your help!!

[Bodleian_Girl]

Apple ping.

[AppyPappy]

6 year old computer. Yes. Especially a Mac as they tend to outlive themselves.
Find a Mac forum and ask around.

[central_va]

You’ll have to reinstall the OS.

[Nifster]

I bet you didn’t update software when available

[rjsimmon]

Any stoppage during startup is an indication of either a BIOS process failing or a communication error that cannot be resolved. BIOS startups are notorious for lacking in failover procedures. If you are able to boot from removable media (CD/DVD or flash drive) that would be my first go-to. After that, attempt to restore to a previous safe startup. If those fail, flashing the BIOS and/or reinstalling the iOS.

[LibWhacker]

Try some of these fixes.

[miliantnutcase]

More RAM is not the correct diagnosis. You may have “failing” RAM, but certainly don’t need more.
Do an SMC and PRAM reset first - just google that.
If that fails to get you working the above poster is correct you will need to reload the operating system.

[central_va]

Reinstalling the apple OS is not hard. MAC: How To Install OS X After Formatting Your Hard Drive - Factory Reset / Fresh Reinstall OSX

[FrankR]

Speaking of computer problems - this time, Windows.

I have Win 7, and I hate...hate...HATE...the “LIBRARY” system. I can’t find $h/+ without extensive searching.

I seem to see the same folders/files in several locations.

What happened to the good ol’ “Folders and Files” system...I like it MUCH better.

[skimbell]

I’d try partitioning the hard drive before doing anything else.

[Gamecock]

My recommendation is that you just get a new machine. I know of a great start-up company that has some real aggressive salesmen:

[Flick Lives]

Here is a pretty good encapsulation of various solutions you can try when your Mac is stuck on startup. The steps are organized from simpler to the more heavy-duty.

http://girlsinthegigcity.com/2015/01/19/yosemite-progress-bar-is-stuck/

[fatman6502002]

Buy a new laptop.

[mass55th]

What OS do you have on your iMac?

[Verbosus]

bookmark.
My iMac is ~9 or 10 years old. I fear I will need to get the answer to this eventually myself.

[PTBobW]

The problem may be in the user account....
If you reinstall the OS, but not as a clean install, it wont update, or replace the User account.

Also...
Have you tried booting while holding ‘shift’