iMac Hard Drive Replacement Problem

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iMac Hard Drive Replacement Problem

So I finally got around to trying to fix my old 2009 iMac that was having a hard drive issue. I followed the video on how to go upon replacing the hard drive and followed it step by step. It was the one by owc (or macsales.com or something) and I even bought their hard drive replacement kit. After completing everything and trying to boot it, I am faced with a screen that has a blinking question mark folder.

To make it worse, I couldn't even enter safe mode or disk utility to diagnose the problem! I don't know why I can't, I even tried two different working keyboards.

My question is: is there anything I can do about this? And will buying a Mac os x installation disc solve the problem? Thanks!

Posted on Aug 25, 2019 11:53 PM

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Answer 1

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den.thed

Level 10

90,862 points

Aug 26, 2019 7:44 AM in response to Echanger39

Startup from the original Install disc 1 that came with your 2009 iMac or a retail Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD.
Navigate to Disk Utility and format the new drive. GUID Partition Map/Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Then Install the OS X version that is on the Disc or DVD

FWIW you will need a Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD if you want to upgrade to a later macOS.

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

90,862 points

Aug 26, 2019 10:05 AM in response to Echanger39

Then you need to buy a retail Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD.

To do that, click on > Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple and order one.

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Answer 3

Aug 26, 2019 3:28 AM in response to Echanger39

Do you have an operating system properly installed on

the SSD?

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Answer 4

Echanger39 Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 26, 2019 10:02 AM in response to woodmeister50

I probably don't, I reckon that's the problem? Would using an install disc work?

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,446 points

Aug 26, 2019 10:06 AM in response to Echanger39

The first thing you need to do when installing a new HD or SSD into a Mac is to check to see if it is formatted for Mac OS. Most are not so you need a method to format the drive correctly. If you have a start up DVD as den.thed mentioned you can do this or if you have a bootable clone EHD then you can boot from the clone, then format the new drive in the Mac. Once that has been accomplished then you need to install Mac OS. If you have difficulty with this, then please take the computer to your local AASP who can help you out.

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iMac Hard Drive Replacement Problem

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