iMac A1418: Still Useable?

[rwh63]

while i await the release of the M4 macbook pro, i found a screen damaged 21" A1418 iMac at the dump. Powers on, but needs a passcode. My elderly mother has been without her dell microsoft laptop for the past year. it was too old and challenging for her (or anyone!). and though i will return this one to the dump, i like this generation in the 21" size. it is lighter than previous generation, and the screen is plenty bright and large. i see them pretty cheap on ebay ($100+). don't know how long these were made, or what configurations, but at this price point, i would be happy to purchase one for her to check email, do a little research, etc. any recommendations?

 

[DeltaMac]

The iMac A1418 model was used for 8 21.5-inch iMacs from 2012 to 2017.
Each A1418 model has a distinctive EMC code, so it might be simple to pin down what year iMac you have. Some also have the more desirable (IMHO) Retina display, which, at least for me, would be worth a little more. Retina, for the 21.5-inch iMac, started with the Late 2015 model.
If that "dump" iMac has a firmware password, then, yeah, not worthwhile trying to rescue. If just a login password, then you can simply erase the internal drive, using the recovery partition, or booting to an external installer. The firmware password will show a padlock next to the password line. A normal login password will not show that padlock icon. You would erase the drive anyway, before using it, which you should always do on any Mac when you don't know the history of that Mac.

 

[rwh63]

thx. looks like just a standard name/password set up. but, the glass is damaged. this one is a 1268, so 2013, i believe. they all look pretty cheap online (maybe even less privately), probably isn't worth the time to fool around with it. the bigger questions revolves around useability for that generation.

 

[rwh63]

A few pics

 

[DeltaMac]

I can't match up "1268" as an EMC for any Mac of any type. The EMC code would be on the label on the bottom of the iMac's foot.
A 2013 21.5-inch will be EMC 2545, or 2638, or 2742. A different EMC code will not be a 2013 iMac.

 

[rwh63]

2638! Sorry. I would look for the most recent anyway.

 

[rwh63]

The iMac A1418 model was used for 8 21.5-inch iMacs from 2012 to 2017.
Each A1418 model has a distinctive EMC code, so it might be simple to pin down what year iMac you have. Some also have the more desirable (IMHO) Retina display, which, at least for me, would be worth a little more. Retina, for the 21.5-inch iMac, started with the Late 2015 model.
If that "dump" iMac has a firmware password, then, yeah, not worthwhile trying to rescue. If just a login password, then you can simply erase the internal drive, using the recovery partition, or booting to an external installer. The firmware password will show a padlock next to the password line. A normal login password will not show that padlock icon. You would erase the drive anyway, before using it, which you should always do on any Mac when you don't know the history of that Mac.

If it is simple, I might give the erase a try. Have to find instructions. Might be educational if nothing else.

 

[rwh63]

Ugh. Can’t spend more time right now. Might be able to FireWire connect my laptop with this later.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Any misunderstanding?
iMac 2013 doesn't have a FireWire port.
You can simply create a USB installer on your laptop and use that USB installer to boot and install new OS to the iMac.

 

[Fishrrman]

Connect to ethernet.
Power off.

Then hold down (don't let go!)
Command+OPTION+R
and Press and RELEASE the power on button.

DON'T LET GO OF Command+OPTION+R yet!

When you see "the spinning globe", you can let go.
The internet utilities will load, it takes a while, be patient.

When the utilities are loaded, open disk utility.
IMPORTANT STEP:
Go to the view menu (if there IS one), and choose "show all devices".
(if you don't see the view menu, don't worry, go to next step)

Look at "the list on the left".
The top item should be the physical drive inside.
You want to erase it.
Click the "erase" button and select:
"Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format".

When the erase is done, close disk utility and open the OS installer.
Start clicking through. The iMac will restart several times, and the screen will go dark without any other indication of activity for a minute or more. Just be patient.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
Click through and create an account.

Does this work?

Note:
If you don't have ethernet, you can use wifi if you must.
You will need to enter your wifi password when asked (you don't have to hold the startup keys down after that)

 

[rwh63]

Any misunderstanding?
iMac 2013 doesn't have a FireWire port.
You can simply create a USB installer on your laptop and use that USB installer to boot and install new OS to the iMac.

Maybe it’s Ethernet. Thought it was FireWire.

 

[rwh63]

Connect to ethernet.
Power off.

Then hold down (don't let go!)
Command+OPTION+R
and Press and RELEASE the power on button.

DON'T LET GO OF Command+OPTION+R yet!

When you see "the spinning globe", you can let go.
The internet utilities will load, it takes a while, be patient.

When the utilities are loaded, open disk utility.
IMPORTANT STEP:
Go to the view menu (if there IS one), and choose "show all devices".
(if you don't see the view menu, don't worry, go to next step)

Look at "the list on the left".
The top item should be the physical drive inside.
You want to erase it.
Click the "erase" button and select:
"Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format".

When the erase is done, close disk utility and open the OS installer.
Start clicking through. The iMac will restart several times, and the screen will go dark without any other indication of activity for a minute or more. Just be patient.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
Click through and create an account.

Does this work?

Note:
If you don't have ethernet, you can use wifi if you must.
You will need to enter your wifi password when asked (you don't have to hold the startup keys down after that)

GUID is not an option

 

[DeltaMac]

If you need to change the format scheme, you can't do that on an already existing volume.
As you can see, if you try to erase only a volume, the Disk Utility does not even show GUID as a choice
If you choose the device (not just the volume), you will see the choices for Scheme, which includes GUID.
(As Fishrrman suggested in the above post #10) In your picture, you would choose the topmost line that begins "Apple HDD HTS541...

 

[EmAllen]

Hi, not sure if this is where I should ask? I have a 2014 iMac up to date 10.15.7. Now I am having issues with mail, it will not recognize my password though I've changed it several times. How ever if I go to OUTLOOK I get all my e-mails. Also Safari is acting weird, some web pages will only open if in a private window, this is not a naughty website but one that I have accessed for years, and some pages open, but the pictures and catalog are blank( HenryUSA.com). I'm sure there is a simple solution to this but I'm a tech tard . P.S. its a hotmail account and I'm using DuckDuckGo, tried switching servers same result.

 

[rwh63]

sounds like out of date browser? try downloading firefox or other.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Refer back to your reply 12 above.

You are not choosing the PHYSICAL drive to erase!

THIS is what you should select, and THEN click the "erase" button:

..

 

[rwh63]

OP:
Refer back to your reply 12 above.

You are not choosing the PHYSICAL drive to erase!

THIS is what you should select, and THEN click the "erase" button:
View attachment 2444379

i was replying to EmAllen....

 

[EmAllen]

Safari is up to date 15.6.1 Downloaded FireFox, I can get to the web pages now( GMTGAMES.com & Henreyusa.com) As far as using mail to access my Hotmail I'm still having the same problem with it not recognizing my password. I'm wondering if I should delete it then rest it up, not sure how to do that tho.