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

VaderDSL · 10 Sep 2011 at 12:53

Try resetting the PRAM

When you power on the iMac immediately press and hold :

Command + Option (alt) + P + R

keep it held down until the machine restarts and chimes a second time then release.

After this try holding down ALT at startup to see what is being seen, then try putting the install disc in and seeing if it detects that.

Deleted member 77746 · 10 Sep 2011 at 13:45

I had this just a few days ago with 3 of the new 50 iMacs I had delivered. Hold down alt after you turn it on

and you will get a drive selection screen.

The folder with a ? mark flashing means it can't automatically detect a bootable hard drive.

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:

DefiantAsh · 10 Sep 2011 at 16:22

mrbell1984 said:
I had this just a few days ago with 3 of the new 50 iMacs I had delivered. Hold down alt after you turn it on and you will get a drive selection screen.

The folder with a ? mark flashing means it can't automatically detect a bootable hard drive.

Sorry to hijack thread, but 50 iMacs, i am not one to normally assume but i gather you run a business or corporation or something large

.

Apologies for thread-jack,

Have you tried using a USB Installer instead of a disc, idk if it will work but its worth a try?

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?

DefiantAsh · 10 Sep 2011 at 17:32

d_brennen said:
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?

Don't own a mac myself (yet) but i would think most USB keyboards, unless its microsoft branded (lol

)

I meant a USB Boot Drive, where you install Lion or Tiger or whatever it is straight from the USB drive without using a disc?

It might work, then you might just have a buggered DVD Drive/Super Drive

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)?

Deleted member 77746 · 10 Sep 2011 at 19:25

DefiantAsh said:
Sorry to hijack thread, but 50 iMacs, i am not one to normally assume but i gather you run a business or corporation or something large .

Apologies for thread-jack,

Have you tried using a USB Installer instead of a disc, idk if it will work but its worth a try?

Yes, 50 iMacs. I work in education, public sector. Just for you.

DefiantAsh · 10 Sep 2011 at 21:27

mrbell1984 said:
Yes, 50 iMacs. I work in education, public sector. Just for you.

/needatowel.jpg

I must say, where about in the north east are these for? Be nice seeing decent tech in local schools.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Sep 2011 at 21:30

DefiantAsh said:
I must say, where about in the north east are these for? Be nice seeing decent tech in local schools.

Not going to give much away about where I work so North East DH postcode is all I will say.

PS it's not a school!

DefiantAsh · 13 Sep 2011 at 00:29

mrbell1984 said:
Not going to give much away about where I work so North East DH postcode is all I will say.

PS it's not a school!

Ah Durham.

A good hours drive from me so, worry you shall not!

Well at least its decent tech going into some sort of educational site

.

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?

Deleted member 77746 · 13 Sep 2011 at 19:27

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

Just like the "jumper" trick. To reset the bios just remove said jumper. yeh some security!

DefiantAsh said:
Ah Durham.

A good hours drive from me so, worry you shall not!

Well at least its decent tech going into some sort of educational site .

Correct, Durham but that's all the info anyone will get for now. Can't trust anyone these days.