I Have an iMac Intel duo core with iSight and built in disk drive circa 2006. It will not start up.
When I power on, it chimes and goes to the gray screen with apple logo, a progress bar, and a spinning wheel. Then, it shuts back down. i have tried all troubleshooting and nothing helps. Also, I don't have the disks that originally cane with the computer. So, I can't do a hardware diagnostics. (Unless someone is willing to sell me their disk hehe).
This issue happened to me in 2012. I had a friend restore the computer by clearing the hard drive and booting from the snow leopard disc and reinstalling everything. This worked like a charm.
In 2013, a disk got stuck in the drive. I troubleshooted that and nothing worked. I assumed the drive died and continued using the computer without worrying about that. Then, in 2014 one day when I restarted it, the disk popped out! I never tested the drive from then on because I was afraid of another disk getting stuck. Then, the computer died again like it did in 2012.
SO, I know what needs to be done. I need to clear hard drive and start over. However, I didnt have a disk. So, I bought one on eBay. When I insert it, the computer takes in the disk. I can hear the mechanics work. it even ejects properly. However, I can't boot from the disk. When I start the iMac pressing option, I only see the Macintosh Harddrive, no disk.
Is my disk drive dead? If so, would a USB dvd drive work? If USB wouldn't work, how do I replace the drive?
Is it possible I bought a bad or fake software disc and that's why I can't boot from the dad?
please help in any way!
