iMac 'dead', how to revive?

[guymurphy]

Start up gets to the grey screen with spinning gear and no further. Tried everything I know; starting up holding down the c-key, the alt-key, the command+alt+p+r keys.

Is there another option?

 

[ltldrummerboy]

You could try holding down shift. Have you booted into the install disc to check if your hard drive is OK?

 

[G5power]

I'll second the idea of booting with your OS install disk.

Then run disk utilities and repair permissions.

 

[Batt]

Start up gets to the grey screen with spinning gear and no further. Tried everything I know; starting up holding down the c-key, the alt-key, the command+alt+p+r keys.

Is there another option?

C-key only works if you have the install disk in the drive. Shift key will start in safe mode. Start with shift key, if it starts, insert the install disk, restart with C-key, DO NOT INSTALL anything - in the Apple menu, open Disk Utility and repair the disk and then repair permissions. Restart as usual.