2013'ish iMac won't go into recovery mode

[jdang307]

Okay so the hard drive on my 2013 (maybe 2014) iMac went kaput. Everytime I tried to reinstall OSX it would not take, and just error'd out. I forgot what the error code was, it was quite a while ago, but I do know it indicated the HDD.

So I opened the LCD, removed the HDD, put in a new one. That one unfortunately has windows on it (taken from my work PC). Imagine my surprise when I booted up and it was Windows. So anyway, my mac keyboard when I turn it on it blinks twice. I think that means it's ready to pair. So it doesn't work.

I hooked up my windows keyboard to it and it works (tested by letting it boot into windows and typing stuff). But can't go into recovery mode. Since there is no command button, I used Windows + R, Ctrl + R, Alt + R, no matter what I do, it boots into windows.

Any idea?

 

[Fishrrman]

Can you do "internet recovery"?

Thats:
"command-option-R" at boot?

(you may need to enter a wifi password)

If that doesn't work, do you have access to ANOTHER working Mac?

 

[CoastalOR]

To enter internet recovery with a Windows keyboard you will need to press (at boot up):
Windows + Alt + r

EDIT: Some Apple links that might help:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

 

[jdang307]

To enter internet recovery with a Windows keyboard you will need to press (at boot up):
Windows + Alt + r

EDIT: Some Apple links that might help:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Thanks! Didn’t try that combo.

Yes I have access to a MacBook where I can probably create a bootable USB stick but was hoping to avoid that.

 

[jdang307]

Welp. windows alt R didn’t work.

It went into windows repair mode. Lol. Damn I think I need to pull it out and reformat it somehow