You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

iMac wont let me choose boot option

Hi.

This is regarding an old iMac pro, from 2008.



Problem:

When starting the iMac up, holding option key, it only sees the hard drive, nothing else. the hard drive has been erased and clean.

it can not see the DVD drive or the USB drive that I have made (bootable). when starting up. but it can see them in the disk utilities window.


I tried "reinstall os x", after connecting to the wifi, accepting terms, verifying the imac, and signing in to my icloud account, it doesnt let me download either. nor does it let me choose install option so I can use usb/dvd drive.


picture below shows what I see



iMac Pro

Posted on Oct 27, 2020 3:35 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 27, 2020 3:48 AM

You do not see the DVD when you option boot the mac.


Ok so the USB installer you think you have created does not look right.

It is called 10.10.5 Update and is only 2.25GBs.

In order to make a bootable USB installer you need to have the full install version of Yosemite,

which comes from Install OS X Yosemite.app which is 5.73GBs.


So download from here, How to upgrade to OS X Yosemite – Apple Support


Go to Section 4 and click on Download OS X Yosemite.


This downloads InstallMacOSX.dmg to your Downloads folder.


The next section can only be done on a mac that is capable of running Yosemite,

a mac that came preinstalled with an OS later than Yosemite will refuse to do the next bit.


When downloaded open to InstallMacOSX.pkg, double-click on

that and an installation window will open, this does not install Yosemite

but converts the InstallMacOSX.pkg to the Install OS X Yosemite.app which 

you will find in your Applications folder.


 (If the installation window asks which disk you want to install to, you must pick 

the disk that you are booted to at the time. Not any internal or external disk that 

you want to eventually install Yosemite on, that is for later.)


Create a bootable USB installer disk using the Install OS X Yosemite.app

in the Applications folder and the createinstallmedia command in the Terminal app. 


Read the instructions here,

How to create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support


sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app



Having made the bootable USB installer you're ready to erase and then instal a fresh copy of Yosemite.


The USB should be plugged directly to your mac. Restart the mac while pressing and holding the option/ alt key.

In minute or two you will see the Startup Manager, select the USB and press Return.


When booted to the USB you will see a Utilities panel, select Disk Utility and press Return.


In the left hand panel highlight the Disk not the indented Volume, click Erase.

Give the Disk a name.

Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Scheme: GUID Partition Map

Click Erase.

When Done Quit Disk Utility.


Click on Install OS X press Continue the installation process should start up

follow the prompts.



Similar questions

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 27, 2020 3:48 AM in response to arasweden

You do not see the DVD when you option boot the mac.


Ok so the USB installer you think you have created does not look right.

It is called 10.10.5 Update and is only 2.25GBs.

In order to make a bootable USB installer you need to have the full install version of Yosemite,

which comes from Install OS X Yosemite.app which is 5.73GBs.


So download from here, How to upgrade to OS X Yosemite – Apple Support


Go to Section 4 and click on Download OS X Yosemite.


This downloads InstallMacOSX.dmg to your Downloads folder.


The next section can only be done on a mac that is capable of running Yosemite,

a mac that came preinstalled with an OS later than Yosemite will refuse to do the next bit.


When downloaded open to InstallMacOSX.pkg, double-click on

that and an installation window will open, this does not install Yosemite

but converts the InstallMacOSX.pkg to the Install OS X Yosemite.app which 

you will find in your Applications folder.


 (If the installation window asks which disk you want to install to, you must pick 

the disk that you are booted to at the time. Not any internal or external disk that 

you want to eventually install Yosemite on, that is for later.)


Create a bootable USB installer disk using the Install OS X Yosemite.app

in the Applications folder and the createinstallmedia command in the Terminal app. 


Read the instructions here,

How to create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support


sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app



Having made the bootable USB installer you're ready to erase and then instal a fresh copy of Yosemite.


The USB should be plugged directly to your mac. Restart the mac while pressing and holding the option/ alt key.

In minute or two you will see the Startup Manager, select the USB and press Return.


When booted to the USB you will see a Utilities panel, select Disk Utility and press Return.


In the left hand panel highlight the Disk not the indented Volume, click Erase.

Give the Disk a name.

Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Scheme: GUID Partition Map

Click Erase.

When Done Quit Disk Utility.


Click on Install OS X press Continue the installation process should start up

follow the prompts.



iMac wont let me choose boot option

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.