I have a big problem. I have an old Imac 2005-2008 not certain...but i was running Yosemite...I did a full factory reset and now I am not able to install a new MacOs. I have tried usb install and I cant do an internet install? What do i need to do? PLease help!
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Factory Reset Old Imac and now can't install OS
- Thread starter boomercates
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Can you tell us more about which iMac you have?
You can get some information from the serial number label, located on the bottom of the stand.
If it is really 2008, then that will be too old for Internet Recovery, as that is not available until 2010 Mac models.
So, if the hard drive has been erased, you will need a bootable OS X installer, either a DVD, which would be 10.6 or older --- or maybe a bootable USB installer, which could be on a flash drive.
Do you know what version you have on your USB installer?
What happens when you try to boot from that?
When does it fail, and do you see an error message of some kind?
Have you tried booting to a recovery partition (restart, holding Command + r). That should boot to a menu screen, allowing you to reinstall OS X. If you did have Yosemite, then it should offer Yosemite then...
If that does not work --- what DOES happen?
You can get some information from the serial number label, located on the bottom of the stand.
If it is really 2008, then that will be too old for Internet Recovery, as that is not available until 2010 Mac models.
So, if the hard drive has been erased, you will need a bootable OS X installer, either a DVD, which would be 10.6 or older --- or maybe a bootable USB installer, which could be on a flash drive.
Do you know what version you have on your USB installer?
What happens when you try to boot from that?
When does it fail, and do you see an error message of some kind?
Have you tried booting to a recovery partition (restart, holding Command + r). That should boot to a menu screen, allowing you to reinstall OS X. If you did have Yosemite, then it should offer Yosemite then...
If that does not work --- what DOES happen?
I believe an iMac has to be 2010 or newer in order to do "internet recovery".
It doesn't work on older models.
That said, if you -know for a fact- that it was running Yosemite, I'd suggest this as the easiest way to get running again:
- Go to ebay
- There are sellers there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with a copy of a Mac OS installer "pre-installed". Just boot and install.
- Find someone selling one with Yosemite pre-installed.
- Buy it.
- Boot and install from USB.
Not quite as satisfying as "fixing it yourself", but if you're over the falls in a barrel, go with what works.
One other question:
Do you have access to another Mac?
Aside:
I don't think you have an iMac from 2005, 2006, or 2007.
I -do- have a 2006 "white Intel" iMac, and it won't run any version of the OS newer than "Lion" (10.7).
I'm -guessing- that you have a [possibly] 2007, or else a 2008/2009.
It doesn't work on older models.
That said, if you -know for a fact- that it was running Yosemite, I'd suggest this as the easiest way to get running again:
- Go to ebay
- There are sellers there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with a copy of a Mac OS installer "pre-installed". Just boot and install.
- Find someone selling one with Yosemite pre-installed.
- Buy it.
- Boot and install from USB.
Not quite as satisfying as "fixing it yourself", but if you're over the falls in a barrel, go with what works.
One other question:
Do you have access to another Mac?
Aside:
I don't think you have an iMac from 2005, 2006, or 2007.
I -do- have a 2006 "white Intel" iMac, and it won't run any version of the OS newer than "Lion" (10.7).
I'm -guessing- that you have a [possibly] 2007, or else a 2008/2009.
Which model? My 2006 white Intel iMac will not even run Lion, which is a major annoyance.
However, it seems there were two 2006 generations. My Core Duo is one of them, and the other one is a Core 2 Duo, which is presumably what you have.
I guess I shouldn't complain though. The reason I have this 2006 iMac is precisely because it can't run 10.7, and thus my workplace couldn't use it anymore. The IT department refuses to allow any Mac with less than 10.7 on the network, so the machine effectively became a paperweight. So they gave it to me.