27" 2010 iMac boot problems

d_brennen · 10 Sep 2011 at 12:49

Hi all, Apple noob here, hope someone can push me in the right direction

I have an iMac (2390 -http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=2390) here with a blank hard drive and need to get it installed. I "obtained" an OSX 10.6.3 (I believe this is the version I need?) but it would not boot from the DVD. Tried a few DVDs and programs to burn them but no joy. I then bought a copy from a member here which arrived this morning. Still won't boot from disk. All I get is the flashing folder with question mark.

Got me stumped :/ Any help would be appreciated

d_brennen · 10 Sep 2011 at 14:44

I think this BT keyboard is playing up. Got the Option (alt) boot to work once, now won't do anything. The reset PRAM does nothing, no reset no additional chimes etc :confused:

d_brennen · 10 Sep 2011 at 17:25

Will try that next. Been banging my head with this mac for hours so might leave it over the weekend. Will any old usb keyboard work with it? If so what key would be command and option on a Windows kb?

d_brennen · 10 Sep 2011 at 18:56

Aye I know what you mean R.E. USB install, was reading up about that too. Anyone know if the Option (alt) and Command mac keys mapped to a standard keyboard when selecting boot options (pre-install)?

d_brennen · 13 Sep 2011 at 09:32

After much faffing I got it to work. When the PRAM was cleared I managed to option boot and lo and behold, a password! Much asking about and phone calls to various offices (this one is one of about 20 lifted from a company I do some work for) still drawing up a blank. Then my phone starts going, they're all passworded and no one knows any passwords lol

Cue internet trawling until I found the RAM remove/add trick to bypass the firmware password. Some security eh?