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HELP! 2009 iMac issues.
- Thread starter rwh63
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Once your iMac boots using the MacBook's hard drive, you can log in and check Disk Utility (which is in the Applications folder -> Utilities), and see if it shows the iMac's internal drive there at all. You should see your MacBook's drive which it is booted from too.
Good. So at least we know the iMac really works, without giving you GPU-related errors. Now we know it’s worth performing surgery, to implant the SSD.
Looks like you have this iMac model, if you want to see more details about it later.
Nice machine. 
I have no idea what that drive is. And it’s only being seen as 4 GB. Weird. Is it possible to re-partition it? Or maybe it’s just completely a goner.
i have to remain in target mode to use the iMac, correct? if i disconnect, back to blank screen...
Nice machine.
I have no idea what that drive is. And it’s only being seen as 4 GB. Weird. Is it possible to re-partition it? Or maybe it’s just completely a goner.
It's a goner.
I found this thread because I was curious about the "ST_M13FQBL" ID and @DeltaMac appears to have the conclusive answer:
You'll need to replace the internal drive as it appears to have failed.
It turns out that a known error. It’s a hard drive that is dead.
Edit:
@TheShortTimer beat me to it.
Edit:
@TheShortTimer beat me to it.
ok, so is the feeling right now that only the hard drive is kaput? need to purchase a high quality replacement and do the surgery...
anything else to do while it is open? i don't know anything about the wide variety of HD'S available.
anything else to do while it is open? i don't know anything about the wide variety of HD'S available.
The purpose of this exercise (from my point of view anyway) was just to confirm the machine is working, and to try to diagnose what was wrong.
We now have a diagnosis. You have a functional machine, but with a dead hard drive. The cure is a drive transplant. However, don't get another hard drive. Buy an SSD.
I wouldn't spend too much money, so I might recommend something like a 500 GB Crucial MX500 for US$57 with 2.5" to 3.5" drive adapter, optical drive temperature sensor cable, and suction cups. I'm assuming you already have the requisite screwdrivers.
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It looks like it's trying to read that dead hard drive.
BTW, just a word of warning. Those pink lines you got before are still a worry. There is no guarantee the GPU will last for the long term.
I have lots if regular screwdrivers and tork sizes. Are the Phillip heads wider than normal?
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You can try selecting initialise and see what happens but the very strong likelihood is that the drive is a no-go and you can just select ignore.