Missing Macintosh HD in Disk Utility - 2007 iMac

[HelpMePls]

I need help.

Bought an old 2007 iMac with the flashing / blinking question mark folder icon.

Used Command + R to boot up into Disk Utility (only worked by me creating a Bootable USB flash drive).

Now in disk utility I have a problem...

I can’t erase or partition Disk 1 or Disk 2 (please see attached Pic 1) and neither disks are even the actual 500GB internal HD which appears to be missing.

I also can’t use a Bootable USB to install a fresh OS copy of Yosemite as there is no HD to select to install onto (please see attached Pic 2).

Specs: iMac 24” 2007. 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme. 2GB Ram. 500GB harddrive.

It’s 2007 so I can’t use Internet Recovery at all.

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Weaselboy]

Try holding the option key at boot and select the USB key installer to boot from and see what that gets you.

 

[HelpMePls]

 

[Weaselboy]

Is this while option key booted to the USB key?

If so, and the internal drive it not even showing, you have some sort of underlying hardware issue with the drive.

 

[jerwin]

Can you get into System Report? Look to see if there are any SATA devices.

It's possible that the previous owner removed the hard drive out of privacy concerns.

 

[HelpMePls]

Try holding the option key at boot and select the USB key installer to boot from and see what that gets you.

There is no HD to boot onto

Can you get into System Report? Look to see if there are any SATA devices.

It's possible that the previous owner removed the hard drive out of privacy concerns.

Yes I agree this seems to be the most likely explanation of the missing internal harddrive.

How do I navigate to “System Report” from CMD+R screen?

I just have 4 options: Time Machine (nothing there), Install OS, Online Help and Disk Utility.

 

[jerwin]

My guess is that you would use Disk Utility, and select "About this Mac" from the "Apple Menu."

 

[Weaselboy]

I think disk1 in that one screenshot is the internal drive. You cannot erase it because you are command-r booted to that recovery partition on that very drive.

You need to be booted to the recovery key and not command-r to be able to erase the internal drive.

What do you see when you hold the option key at boot?

 

[mj_]

I don't think it is the internal drive. I think disk1 is the thumbdrive he booted from, which is why it cannot be erase (same logic applies here). I think the hard drive is either missing or FUBAR and needs to be replaced with a new one (or even better an SSD). Only one way to find out: take it apart.

 

[HelpMePls]

My guess is that you would use Disk Utility, and select "About this Mac" from the "Apple Menu."

Nothing here to see the “About” specs.

I think disk1 in that one screenshot is the internal drive. You cannot erase it because you are command-r booted to that recovery partition on that very drive.

You need to be booted to the recovery key and not command-r to be able to erase the internal drive.

What do you see when you hold the option key at boot?

Yes, you’re correct.

This is all I see when holding down Option.

No internal harddrive.

Looks like I’m reselling for parts as from my amateur experience it’s not worth my time and effort to risk buying let alone putting in a new internal harddrive. I’ve seen the YouTube videos already.

Thanks for the help guys.