Hardware issue after storm, override hardware checks on Intel iMac?

[Foxglove9]

I have a 2017 iMac that was damaged during a lightning storm last year. The computer is working, but I noticed the Mac not always waking from sleep or locking up at the startup Apple logo screen. After running a hardware test I was getting a Reference Code: VDC001 'There may be an issue with the SD Card reader'. The Ethernet and SD Card ports do not work anymore. All other ports are fine.

I solved the starting up issue by resetting the PRAM a few times and that allows it to boot up. I have to do it each time the Mac decides to not want to start up. It doesn't always have the issue, but at least once a week. Since this Mac is old and not worth repairing at this point, is there a way to bypass the hardware checks or prevent the Mac from looking for those 2 damaged ports? I hate to trash a computer that otherwise might have a few years left in it.

 

[MarkC426]

Have you tried a new OS install on an external drive?
It may be the startup disk is corrupted from the hard shut down.

 

[Foxglove9]

Have you tried a new OS install on an external drive?
It may be the startup disk is corrupted from the hard shut down.

I haven't tried that. I didn't realize you can install the OS on an external USB drive and boot up from that!

 

[Fishrrman]

From the earliest days of the Mac, it's child's play to boot and run from an external drive.

Depending on what VERSION of the OS you're going to install, you might need an SSD (not a platter-based hard drive).

Do you have a spare drive around right now?
Tell us what you have, and what version of the OS you want to put on it.

 

[Foxglove9]

Thanks! I have a spare SSD in an old laptop I'll need to pull out and format. I'll try installing MacOS over USB and booting from that. I'm running Ventura 13.4. Probably won't have time to do this for a while, but at least it gives me some options.