iMac repair - help needed (17 in white intel)

[cez1]

Hi all,

Last week I rebooted my iMac after a software upgrade and it chimed, but did not boot. I got to grey screen with a flashing folder sporting a question mark. I tried booting from the install disk and transferring to another machine with the FireWire option, both of which failed.

Doing some research in the forums and elsewhere suggests that it could be either the hard drive or logic board. Either way, I do not want to spend too much on repairs and think that I should be able to open it up on my own and take a look.

Am I biting ofer more that I can chew, or is it a pretty straight forward repair. Also, is there anything else I should try first?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
cez1

 

[spinnerlys]

17" Intel iMac repair guides

So Target Disk Mode didn't work?
Did the following help? Mac doesn't boot

 

[cez1]

17" Intel iMac repair guides

Yup, this site has the support for the repair that I plan to use.

So Target Disk Mode didn't
work?

Nope, when I try this mode I get the FireWire symbol on the iMac, but I cannot locate the drive on my Macbook pro.

Did the following help? Mac doesn't boot

I've tried repairing the disk, but I get an error after a few minutes and the repair fails.

The only other thing I can try is to install Snow Leopard (the imAc is still running leopard) and reinstall the entire operating system. will this work?

 

[spinnerlys]

I've tried repairing the disk, but I get an error after a few minutes and the repair fails.

The only other thing I can try is to install Snow Leopard (the imAc is still running leopard) and reinstall the entire operating system. will this work?

The reinstallation might work, but as I don't know the source of the problem, the problem might persist.

How To Clean Install Snow Leopard

But backup your data first, if you need it.

 

[cez1]

Thanks again spinnerlys,

There,s no way to back up the data on the iMac as cannot get it to read anywhere. Will a reinstall wipe the data on the drive?

 

[spinnerlys]

Thanks again spinnerlys,

There,s no way to back up the data on the iMac as cannot get it to read anywhere. Will a reinstall wipe the data on the drive?

If you do that Clean Install, then all data will be wiped.

If you do the How To Upgrade Install Snow Leopard, all data will be kept. Maybe try that and see if that solves your problem.

Btw, can you make a photo of the problem and attach it to your next post?