Dump pick iMac A1311: Bringing it into the 2020’s?

[rwh63]

Very nice cosmetic condition. Powered on fine.

I don’t yet know if it was upgraded. Don’t have password, etc .

This is the instruction that appeared. What steps should I take to make it mine and connected? I might donate it to a family member who only does e-mail and light internet.

Might install Firefox for browser. I have that on my 2011 MacBook Pro and does well.

 

[rwh63]

More info

 

[rwh63]

Even more info

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I supposed it has not been opened, as the 500GB HDD is still inside.
Therefore no upgraded has been made.

So just erase the HDD and install new Mac OS with the disc.
Then search, download and create a High Sierra USB installer.
Install High Sierra to the internal HDD.

Other upgradable option:
Add more RAM (easiest)
HDD => SSD (Must open the machine)
High Sierra => Monterey using OCLP. (must have knowledge about OCLP)
Upgrade GPU and re-patch Mac OS with OCLP. (must have extensive knowledge about GPU upgrading and vBIOS flashing, costs a lot of money)

 

[rwh63]

Trying to connect my 2011 laptop to the iMac. Did target mode on laptop followed by alt on the iMac. Option to sign in to the internet, which I did. Then option to reinstall iOS 10.6.3, clicked install. Nothing installing.

 

[MacInTO]

Why don't you download High Sierra to your MacBook and then create an installer on a USB stick or SD card? I think that would be easier than trying with the disks from your MacBook through target disk mode. Sometimes those disks are specific to the hardware.

 

[rwh63]

Why don't you download High Sierra to your MacBook and then create an installer on a USB stick or SD card? I think that would be easier than trying with the disks from your MacBook through target disk mode. Sometimes those disks are specific to the hardware.

i already have high sierra on my laptop (highest os available). several years ago i did something like this, but have to relearn the steps. only want to install high sierra on the imac. no interest right now in importing other data. just want to get it up and running.

my usb slots are shot on the laptop. i do have an sd slot, as does the imac.

 

[MacInTO]

i already have high sierra on my laptop (highest os available). several years ago i did something like this, but have to relearn the steps. only want to install high sierra on the imac. no interest right now in importing other data. just want to get it up and running.

my usb slots are shot on the laptop. i do have an sd slot, as does the imac.

I was confused why you were using target disk mode.

Anyway, download the HS installer from the app store and create the installer on a SD card with these instructions,

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support (CA)

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users.

support.apple.com

After you create the installer, insert it into the iMac and boot up while holding down the option key.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I was confused why you were using target disk mode.

Anyway, download the HS installer from the app store and create the installer on a SD card with these instructions,

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support (CA)

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users.

support.apple.com

After you create the installer, insert it into the iMac and boot up while holding down the option key.

Probably when using target disk mode, OP can create the installer disk right on the internal HDD of the iMac, it is supposed to be faster than USB flash drive or SD Card.
I used to do this trick when installing Windows but have not yet tried it with Mac OS.

 

[rwh63]

i have to review some older discussions i had regarding this process. i successfully did something similar a few years ago.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/data-transfer-for-dummies-2011-macbook-to-2009-imac.2354187/?post=31324673#post-31324673

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/help-2009-imac-issues.2329363/

 

[rwh63]

Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Following the instructions that worked in the previous threads, I can’t seem to connect my laptop to the iMac. Here are several pictures.

 

[Fishrrman]

I believe the OP has a mid-2011 imac.
(aside: you can always tell when non-USA folks attempt to tell us which Mac they have by using a term such as "iMac A1311", rather than saying "a mid-2011 iMac").

OP:
Have you tried INTERNET recovery?
Power off, all the way off.
Hold down command+option+R
DON'T LET GO OF THESE KEYS !

Press and release the power on button.
Keep holding those keys down!

If you are connected via ethernet, let go when you see the spinning globe.
If you are connected via wifi, let go when you're asked for your wifi password.

Can you get to the internet utilities this way?
If you can, tell us, we'll tell you what to do next.

 

[rwh63]

I believe the OP has a mid-2011 imac.
(aside: you can always tell when non-USA folks attempt to tell us which Mac they have by using a term such as "iMac A1311", rather than saying "a mid-2011 iMac").

OP:
Have you tried INTERNET recovery?
Power off, all the way off.
Hold down command+option+R
DON'T LET GO OF THESE KEYS !

Press and release the power on button.
Keep holding those keys down!

If you are connected via ethernet, let go when you see the spinning globe.
If you are connected via wifi, let go when you're asked for your wifi password.

Can you get to the internet utilities this way?
If you can, tell us, we'll tell you what to do next.

Hello, yes I have tried that several times. Unfortunately recovery via this method is not available due to issues on the other side. I’ve researched it, and seems to have been this way for a while. At least up through high sierra.

Not understanding why my laptop drive is not showing up on the iMac.

 

[rwh63]

Couple more pics.

 

[rwh63]

I believe the OP has a mid-2011 imac.
(aside: you can always tell when non-USA folks attempt to tell us which Mac they have by using a term such as "iMac A1311", rather than saying "a mid-2011 iMac").

OP:
Have you tried INTERNET recovery?
Power off, all the way off.
Hold down command+option+R
DON'T LET GO OF THESE KEYS !

Press and release the power on button.
Keep holding those keys down!

If you are connected via ethernet, let go when you see the spinning globe.
If you are connected via wifi, let go when you're asked for your wifi password.

Can you get to the internet utilities this way?
If you can, tell us, we'll tell you what to do next.

This is what I get

 

[shloimy95]

This is what I get

Try this it worked for me https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken/#:~:text=en-us/101578-,Fix #3 Change the NVRAM Software Update URL,-This fix is

 

[rwh63]

And this…seemingly while messing around in macOS utilities I deleted the Macintosh HD Drive partition and just OS X base remains encompassing the whole hd. Can’t seem to repartition.

I have my laptop connected via FireWire. I clicked the recovery 10.13.6, nothing happens. I do have the iMac connected to my internet.

 

[rwh63]

Try this it worked for me https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken/#:~:text=en-us/101578-,Fix #3 Change the NVRAM Software Update URL,-This fix is

Attempted #3 method, but don’t see what you cut and pasted.

 

[rwh63]

i have to review some older discussions i had regarding this process. i successfully did something similar a few years ago.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/data-transfer-for-dummies-2011-macbook-to-2009-imac.2354187/?post=31324673#post-31324673

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/help-2009-imac-issues.2329363/

it's strange to me that the firewire method worked fine between my 2011 laptop and the 2009 imac, but seems to fail with the 2011 imac.