HELP iMac no longer starting up!

[kringlelikechris]

Hey guys, I'm in deep trouble. My iMac 2011 no longer starts up. Attached is a photo of what comes up on my screen every time I turn it on. Did this ever happen to anyone? Please help me solve this problem without losing all my files.

 

[casperes1996]

Hey guys, I'm in deep trouble. My iMac 2011 no longer starts up. Attached is a photo of what comes up on my screen every time I turn it on. Did this ever happen to anyone? Please help me solve this problem without losing all my files.

Interesting - Your init process commits suicide. Can you get into recovery mode or safe mode? Is it possible to boot an OS from an external disk? (No matter if it's Linux, macOS or Windows). – If you can't boot anything, try running an Apple Hardware Test.

 

[kringlelikechris]

Interesting - Your init process commits suicide. Can you get into recovery mode or safe mode? Is it possible to boot an OS from an external disk? (No matter if it's Linux, macOS or Windows). – If you can't boot anything, try running an Apple Hardware Test.

I was able to get to Recovery mode but was unable to install macOS Sierra for some reason. It said something like, "we need to verify that your apple is legit" or something close to those lines..

 

[casperes1996]

I was able to get to Recovery mode but was unable to install macOS Sierra for some reason. It said something like, "we need to verify that your apple is legit" or something close to those lines..

That usually just means you need to enter an Apple ID - No prompt came up asking for one? – Do you have access to another Mac? That issue should be avoided if you create a bootable USB or something from an App Store download, since in that case, it'll verify with the Apple ID used for the download
If you don't have access to another Mac, try booting in Safe Mode and seeing if you can download it from the App Store then.

 

[kringlelikechris]

That usually just means you need to enter an Apple ID - No prompt came up asking for one? – Do you have access to another Mac? That issue should be avoided if you create a bootable USB or something from an App Store download, since in that case, it'll verify with the Apple ID used for the download
If you don't have access to another Mac, try booting in Safe Mode and seeing if you can download it from the App Store then.

I have access to my MacBook Pro. So do I download sierra onto a flash drive and reinstall on Recovery mode from there?

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Yes however make sure you run VERIFY in Utilities on the iMac drive first up.

DiskMakerX seems to be the easiest way to make that +8GB bootable thumb drive.


http://diskmakerx.com

 

[casperes1996]

I have access to my MacBook Pro. So do I download sierra onto a flash drive and reinstall on Recovery mode from there?

You don't just copy paste over the installer though - There's a Terminal command that tells the installer to make a bootable USB, such that you can boot directly into "recovery mode" from the USB instead of your hard disk.

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

Replace "Untitled" with the name of your USB. Beware - all data on the USB will be deleted

When you boot the system, hold the Option/alt key, and pick the USB from the boot menu