iMac 2010(ish) can't install from USB or Recovery.

[Deep_Thought]

I've got a mid 2010 27" iMac with at least a failing/failed HD, however even when trying to install macOS to a USB stick the installer stops responding when selecting Reinstall macOS.

I've tried Internet recovery as well as creating a bootable 10.13 installer USB - both boot and I can get into terminal etc, however selecting Disk Utility hangs with loading disks and selecting Install macOS and pressing Continue does nothing - the continue button greys out and goes no further.

Would a failed HD cause this even when I'm running the installer from a USB and trying to install to another USB?

Thanks

 

[Amethyst1]

I've tried Internet recovery as well as creating a bootable 10.13 installer USB - both boot and I can get into terminal etc, however selecting Disk Utility hangs with loading disks [...]

I can definitely see Disk Utility hanging trying to access/query a failed HDD.

[...] and selecting Install macOS and pressing Continue does nothing - the continue button greys out and goes no further.

Can you bring up the Installer's log (from the Window menu) before it hangs and see what it's doing when things go downhill?

 

[Deep_Thought]

The last entry is something about 2 instances of the installer available - the version used is undefined. Saying that its just gone through further - its currently got about 2 minutes remaining, but with a spinning wheels and no cursor, so its still having a bad day..

 

[TheShortTimer]

The last entry is something about 2 instances of the installer available - the version used is undefined. Saying that its just gone through further - its currently got about 2 minutes remaining, but with a spinning wheels and no cursor, so its still having a bad day..

Is it possible for you to take a photo of the messages so that we can see them?

 

[Amethyst1]

Saying that its just gone through further - its currently got about 2 minutes remaining, but with a spinning wheels and no cursor, so its still having a bad day..

USB 2.0 is slow so I’d just give it some time.

 

[Deep_Thought]

Ok, so it finally built using the external USB.

Managed to get a USB with the correct AHT and ran that. Came up with an alert for : Hardware test = error 4MOT/4/4000003 HDD - 1262

Rebooted into the USB stick and it now seems to have hung at the Apple logo with the bar full in black..

From what I can see, that error points to overheating on the HDD, or the HDD fan control. Surely it wouldn't stop the USB from booting though?

 

[Amethyst1]

Rebooted into the USB stick and it now seems to have hung at the Apple logo with the bar full in black..

Hold [Command]-[V] immediately after turning on to boot in verbose mode and check what the last few messages are before it hangs.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Ok, so it finally built using the external USB.

Managed to get a USB with the correct AHT and ran that. Came up with an alert for : Hardware test = error 4MOT/4/4000003 HDD - 1262

Rebooted into the USB stick and it now seems to have hung at the Apple logo with the bar full in black..

From what I can see, that error points to overheating on the HDD, or the HDD fan control. Surely it wouldn't stop the USB from booting though?

The result clearly showed HDD error.
What else do you really expect here?
I would suggest you to remove the HDD and try again, if you ever listened.

 

[Deep_Thought]

@Amethyst1 & @TheShortTimer - thanks for your help - after giving it a reboot and letting it boot off the USB it seems t be working fine so looks like only an HDD. 👍

@Nguyen Duc Hieu - thanks for your insight. I was actually trying to establish if it was only an HDD that it needed as opposed to a potential logic board failure or another component, which would've made it economically unviable to replace. But again, thanks for your assistance.

 

[TheShortTimer]

@Amethyst1 & @TheShortTimer - thanks for your help - after giving it a reboot and letting it boot off the USB it seems t be working fine so looks like only an HDD. 👍

That's great news.

The process to disassemble the computer and replace the drive is quite involved so be warned! It might be a good opportunity to install an SSD if you're that way inclined.