I think I just killed my iMac messing around with BootCamp

[hengyu408]

Yeah, so I was tempted in running Microsoft Windows on my iMac. So I installed Bootcamp and Windows fine. Then I didn't really like running windows on my Mac and tried to delete the windows partition, but I was unable to do so. Then I went and just deleted the partition using the windows CD. But the partition was till active on my Mac desktop. So I ended up deleting all of my paritions, because I though I could just do a clean installation of OSX like that. So now i am left with pretty much a iMac with no OS.

Could some one please help me out here!!!

 

[Jovian9]

What sort of help are you looking for?

The obvious answer would be to put your original iMac OS install disk back into the iMac and reinstall OSX.....since it is possible you erased everything. Put the disk in and power on your iMac while holding down the 'option' key. It will give you the choice of booting from the disk (so you can reinstall) or from an OS if one still exists.

Hope this helps.

 

[hengyu408]

The thing is I can't reinstall, since no drives show up when i try to reinstall. The HDD can not be detected I guess. I am trying to reinstall OSX.

 

[outZider]

When you boot your iMac [from the DVD -Nermal], go through the menus at the top and get to Disk Utility. Select your drive, and erase it. Quit out of Disk Utility and start the installation process, and it will see the drive.

 

[hengyu408]

Well right now it won't even boot into the OS.

 

[heaven]

Well right now it won't even boot into the OS.

It doesnt boot the Tiger installation DVD? Because this is where Disk Utility is located.

To repair an OS X system disk with Disk Utility, you must startup the computer using an Apple Software Restore disc (included with newer Macs) or a Mac OS X Install disc. Insert the disc, restart the computer, and hold the C key when you hear the startup sound. You can release the key when the gray Apple appears.

It is normal for the computer to take longer to startup from a CD or DVD. The disc will automatically start the OS X installer but you do not need to reinstall OS X. If you are prompted to select a language and you do not see the menu bar at the top of the screen, click the right arrow button to proceed to the next screen.

The method of opening Disk Utility varies depending on the version of OS X on the installation disc.

Mac OS X 10.2.x through 10.3.x:
Select Open Disk Utility from the Installer menu.

Mac OS X 10.4.x:
Choose Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

 

[MRU]

Very Important Please Read

As you have deleted all your partition and made 1 parition, you probably DIDNT choose the right partition type.

In disk utility, on the partition section, you have to choose options, in a window popup it will allow you to pick the type of partition you want to create. normally it defaults to Apple partition table. BUT this is not for intel macs - Apple partiton table is for starting up PPC macs only and means Intel based wont startup from that

You have to choose GUID partition table. This will sort you out.


So as previous poster says, boot up from your CD by holding C. Go into disc utility and inside there go into parition section of your drive and choose option.

Choose GUID type, say ok, Choose 1 partition and click ok. Let it partition and erase, and then re-install your operating system as normal.

You should be back up and running.

 

[jaxstate]

Not to be a ******, but how are some many people screwing up this install. Apple has made the install simple as apple pie. "DO NOT SELECT ANY DRIVE BESIDES THE C:\, AS IT MAY ERASE OSX" They need to add a "deleting XP to the PDF".

 

[MRU]

Not to be a ******, but how are some many people screwing up this install. Apple has made the install simple as apple pie. "DO NOT SELECT ANY DRIVE BESIDES THE C:\, AS IT MAY ERASE OSX" They need to add a "deleting XP to the PDF".

I think the poster made the biggest problem when he went to unisntall with bootcamp. If bootcamp gave an error, it's usually to tell you to repair disk in disc utility. He should have booted with his install disc, run disc utility and repaired disc. He wouldnt have experienced any of the problem he has now.

Using windows to delete paritions when your not 100% sure of what your doing is a big big big mistake. But hey as long as we learn from our mistakes, that's what's important.

But the GUID parition info above is REALLY important espcially if your say running Vista Beta which requires you delete your EFI partition. Normally wouldnt be applicable to XP bootcampers, except the OP has screwed up his partition table.

Good luk OP.

 

[Electro Funk]

The bootcamp software also makes it VERY easy to erase the XP partition without uninstalling XP manually.... just deletes the entire partition and does it rather quickly....

 

[hengyu408]

Thanks guys, everything is fine now. I didn't think I could access disk Utility from the reinstall CD.

 

[heaven]

Thanks guys, everything is fine now. I didn't think I could access disk Utility from the reinstall CD.

Glad that we could help, enjoy!!!