iMac Core 2 duo 24inch problem

[polaxgr]

Hello all, i work in a lab and there is a mac here that wont start up. When i press the shift button, a blinking grey file with question mark appears. Should i download 10.5 leopard and with a dvd? or usb? should i try to reinstall a fresh OS? how do i do that? which keys i press to start this operation ?

 

[tomscott1988]

Looks like the internal drive may have gone if it cant find the OS.

 

[n-evo]

The blinking folder with question mark means a Mac is unable to find a proper macOS installation. This could mean macOS is corrupted either by software or hardware (defective drive per example).

If you have the original Mac OS X Installation DVD: pop that one in. Shut down the iMac. Turn it on again and press and hold "C" until it boots from the DVD. If that doesn't work hold down option when turning it on and select the Install DVD.

From the Install DVD you can format the internal drive with Disk Utility (it's in the Menu Bar somewhere) and reinstall Mac OS X. If it fails you're probably looking at a defective harddrive.

Mac OS X is incredibly versatile. If you have an external USB 2.0 or FireWire (even better) HDD lying around you can install a copy of Mac OS X on that too and boot from it.

 

[polaxgr]

Mac OS X is incredibly versatile. If you have an external USB 2.0 or FireWire (even better) HDD lying around you can install a copy of Mac OS X on that too and boot from it.

I think someone from here at work may have erased the mac thats why. I am currently getting my hands on the OS but not a dvd. Should i plug my external HD with the OS in it ? Will it recongise it ? And how i boot from it ?

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Same diagnosis as the other forum you posted on.

It is over a decade since the last 24" was introduced so maybe its life cycle is getting close to complete.

 

[n-evo]

I think someone from here at work may have erased the mac thats why. I am currently getting my hands on the OS but not a dvd. Should i plug my external HD with the OS in it ? Will it recongise it ? And how i boot from it ?

Plug it in and hold down option while turning on the iMac.

The external media should be formatted with a GUID partition table, not MBR (Master Boot Record).

Anyway, there’s tons of documentation available on Google how to boot an Intel Mac from external media.