Fixing friends Imac, out of options

[torminaz]

Hello all, I am trying to fix this Imac for a friend after he complained it would not boot correctly anymore and stay stuck on the black screen + white apple logo. Here is his model:

Imac A1419

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...-inch-aluminum-late-2013-specs.html#macspecs1

I'v been fixing computers on the side for a while and I must say I'm quite new to the mac world and I am really running out of options right now. Here are the steps I did:

1) Checked with Apple Hardware Test on boot: Nothing came up

2) Tried to reset the Vram: The computer just reboots when I do the key combinaison and nothing happens, nothing get fixed.

3) Tried recovery mode keys, nothing happens.

4) Tried online recovery mode, which load a planet that rotates and a loading bar. When the loading bar reaches the end, it says the computer will now reboot in recovery mode. When the computer reboots, nothing happens.

5) Tried to install Lion, white screen with a circle with a slash. Same thing with Mountain Lion. I tried one tutorial with Maverick and it loaded up to half the loading bar and just stuck there. Tried again, with a new USB boot, same result. It never gets past the middle of the bar.

6) Out of desperation, tried to install windows 7 on the Imac, stuck at the language selection. Tried windows 10, getting multiple errors and shutdown during install.

I feel like a total noob and I don't know what to do anymore.

Some help would be greatly appreciated, thank you all.
[doublepost=1530999997][/doublepost]Btw I used the program called '' Transmac '' to create the bootable USB sticks. I right click on the USB stick, press on '' Restore with disk image '' and go get the .dmg file from the OSX.

 

[kohlson]

The first few points: Almost sounds like your keyboard isn't working. If you're not sure, any usb keyboard will work.
- I pretty sure you want to reset the pram. At the chime (which indicates it has passed power on self test POST), present cmd-opt-p-r simultaneously. Wait for it to gong, but press the keys before the sound stops. But this is usually a long shot to fix a non-booting Mac.
- Better to try and boot into recovery mode. Press the power on, and then immediately(!) press cmd-r
- The minimum OS for this model is 10.8.5
- There are some online instructions for how to make a bootable USB key (16GB): How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Overall, my best guess is the drive does not have a bootable image.

 

[torminaz]

Hey Kohlson, thanks for taking the time to answer! I will retry your advices.

I am 100 % sure the keyboard is working, it works for all commands aside from the non responding ones like Recovery mode. It's a windows keyboard tho but I made sure I have a chart telling me which key is equivalent to the mac keyboard. Online recovery '' Works '' but does not yield any results after the loading. Also I can go into the boot order/option menu to chose let's say a USB key loaded with an OSX.

When you say the drive does not have a bootable image, you mean the hard drive? It did have one and was working, I know the guy has 0 knowledge in computers so I don't see how he could have wiped the OSX himself from the hard drive. Also I took the hardrive out and tested it on my machine, I can see all the files still in the hard drive and the base of the OSX. Like there's stuff in there, how could it work for so long and one day it just doesn't '' boot '' the OSX correctly? I don't understand

 

[MBAir2010]

This is a firmware problem, if the iMac can start in safe mode, check the disk and run first aid in disk utilities.

 

[torminaz]

Forgot to mention, I tried to boot in Safe Mode and it did not work. Nothing happens.

 

[tubeexperience]

Are you stuck on the black screen with the loading bar?

 

[MBAir2010]

Nothing is plugged in except the keyboard and mouse?

 

[torminaz]

Are you stuck on the black screen with the loading bar?

Depends on what commands I do. I tried installing Maverick as I said with a USB bootable key and it got stuck in a black screen with a loading bar (right in the middle) twice.

But let's stay I just start the computer and do nothing? There's no loading bar, only a black screen with the white apple logo.

Nothing is plugged in except the keyboard and mouse?

Nothing else is plugged.

Here's a picture of what it does. Screen was pre-cracked, it's only the glass tho.

 

[MBAir2010]

Usually these posts have more replies, the experts are not advising, meaning hardware issue.
Ya gotta go go inside the imac

 

[torminaz]

From my limited knowledge, if it was a serious CPU/Ram problem wouldn't the computer not even power up? I tried another Hard Drive instead of the actual one and all the same problems were there. Only remaining thing I could see is maybe mother board related but it's pretty bizarre overall, considering the Apple Hardware Scan didn't find anything...

 

[Lioness~]

I think you should test to make a working USB drive before anything else.
Follow advice from @kohlson and see if you can install even High Sierra on it.

Without that, and no system on it, you’re stuck.
If you don’t get any errors from Apple Hardware Tests, take it easy.

Fix a working USB-drive 1st.

 

[torminaz]

I think you should test to make a working USB drive before anything else.
Follow advice from @kohlson and I you can install even High Sierra on it.

Without that, and no system on it, you’re stuck.
If you don’t get any errors from Apple Hardware Tests, take it easy.

Fix a working USB-drive 1st.

Good point sir but the problem I have is that he linked an article that indicates how to create a USB bootable OSX from a mac computer/OSX. I only have windows PC at home. I did try multiple guides from google but if any of you have one that you guys know should work I would highly appreciate a link!

Thanks

 

[Lioness~]

That’s why I say you’re stuck without a functioning USB installation boot drive.

Either you find someone with a Mac who can provide you with it close by, or you buy a installation drive from somewhere.

 

[torminaz]

Dang, I see. Thanks for the clarification.

Edit: I just found this guide, gonna give it a go and let you guys know if it works.

http://www.wikigain.com/create-macos-high-sierra-bootable-usb-installer-windows-10/

 

[Lioness~]

No problem. Sure an Apple store or other store who sells Mac’s or Mac stuff can help you unless you can create it in your Windows machine. But sure, give it a try.

 

[TimothyR734]

Good point sir but the problem I have is that he linked an article that indicates how to create a USB bootable OSX from a mac computer/OSX. I only have windows PC at home. I did try multiple guides from google but if any of you have one that you guys know should work I would highly appreciate a link!

Thanks

one option you could do is if you have a friend who has a Mac you could go to the the macOS High Sierra for unsupported Macs download the dosdude's High Sierra patcher and it allows you to also download macOS High Sierra follow his instructions how to create bootable usb installer and try booting with it. 2. you could go on eBay and buy a hard drive with MacOS installed on it and buy a data use hard drive encloser kit

 

[Lioness~]

one option you could do is if you have a friend who has a Mac you could go to the the macOS High Sierra for unsupported Macs download the dosdude's High Sierra patcher and it allows you to also download macOS High Sierra follow his instructions how to create bootable usb installer and try booting with it. 2. you could go on eBay and buy a hard drive with MacOS installed on it and buy a data use hard drive encloser kit

iMac 2013 is supported for High Sierra. That’s not a problem.

 

[torminaz]

Crap!!! It got really promising but I think I ****ed something up, the USB stick worked and it offered 4 options.

HD Macintosh, Recovery Mac, High Sierra with an image or just UEFI boot.

I decided to try all the options before straight up trying to install High Sierra.

1) HD Macintosh = Nothing Happens, stuck on black screen logo again.

2) Recovery Mac = Nothing Happens, stuck on black screen logo again.

3) High Sierra with the image = Nothing Happens, stuck on black screen logo again.

4) UEFI boot = It actually took me to this screen (posting picture) and it offered 3 options

- Install High Sierra, Recovery from HD or Recovery from Recovery.

Once again, I told myself I will try to recover before doing a full install. So I tried '' Recovery from recovery '' not knowing too well what would happen.

The computer just shut down and now when I boot it up, without touching any key or with and without keyboard/mouse it is stuck in a loop of '' booting up sound '' and theres no apple logo any more. It does this forever. No command work anymore.... The Imac just loop the sound and is totally unresponsive....

 

[Lioness~]

Probably a not so working installer then, huh.
Have no idea what kind of installer that is that behave like that.
Either it’s plain ****, or you’ve done something wrong?

By the way, recover from what. You have no system on that Mac.
Nothing to recover. Try Install instead.

Or back to option get a USB-installer with High Sierra on from nearest Apple Store or authorized Apple service/seller, maybe?

 

[TimothyR734]

in the awdadw.png it looks like the clover bootloader is being used Apple uses Darwin

 

[NoBoMac]

Also, what is that screen grab supposed to be? An Acer monitor with what appears to be several Windows volumes? That screen is nothing that a Mac would come up as: the Apple volumes/partitions would have the Apple UI pieces.

ADD: Post above^^^ answered some of the question.

 

[Armendegga]

Looks like clover boot loader.

Edit. Too slow.

 

[Lioness~]

Didn’t you take that picture ( awdadw.png ) from that site you downloaded your installer from. It look’s like that pic. It’s not the iMac anyway. So why do you post it here?

I have no more time to give you anyway. Good luck though, with whatever you’re trying to accomplishing.

 

[Fishrrman]

I would find someone with a working Mac.
I would then determine what version of the OS that person has.

If the person is using a version of the OS that will boot the 2013 iMac, I would re-download a copy of the OS installer.

I would then take a USB flashdrive and erase it to Mac OS extended with journaling enabled.

I would then try either DiskMaker X, or Install Disk Creator to create a bootable flashdrive from the downloaded installer.

If that worked, I'd do a "test boot" on the other person's Mac JUST TO BE SURE that the flashdrive is bootable.

Then, I'd take it to the problem iMac and try to boot.

Can you get it booted?
If so, I'd go to Disk Utility and erase the internal drive to Mac OS extended with journaling enabled.

Then I'd try an OS install.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO THAT NO ONE HAS MENTIONED HERE.

Another way is to go on ebay and BUY a USB flashdrive installer with the OS installer of your choice pre-installed and "ready to boot". That saves you from having to make one but will cost you about $20 (US).

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS AS WELL.

That is, IF the iMac IS bootable and doesn't have a hardware or firmware problem.

 

[torminaz]

The second screen I posted was from the website, I could not get a picture before it created the sound loop bug. I am in fact on an Imac.