Trying to factory reset this old Mac, it has x11 print software installed on it, and it’s partitioned for this purpose. Comd/option/r isn’t working and it won’t let me me erase the disk (it’s greyed out) any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated!! TY
You could clone the current OS onto an external drive (even a thumb drive though I wouldn't rely on one of those for booting beyond emergency conditions). SuperDuper lets you use it in a free trial mode. Boot from the external and use Disk Utility to wipe. However, you then need to install and OS unless you really are just thinking of ditching the computer. You'd have to download a free OS installer such as Yosemite or El Capitan and stick it on the thumb drive first so it would be there after you wipe.
How to get old versions of macOS - https://support.apple.com/HT211683
You could clone the current OS onto an external drive (even a thumb drive though I wouldn't rely on one of those for booting beyond emergency conditions). SuperDuper lets you use it in a free trial mode. Boot from the external and use Disk Utility to wipe. However, you then need to install and OS unless you really are just thinking of ditching the computer. You'd have to download a free OS installer such as Yosemite or El Capitan and stick it on the thumb drive first so it would be there after you wipe.
How to get old versions of macOS - https://support.apple.com/HT211683
You should just only have to hold down the option key during boot to have it pull up a drive from which to boot. You need a cloning tool to get a valid OS over onto your external drive. The days of drag and drop are long gone.
You may have to wait a bit for more replies -- family time.
You can also download an OS installer file while booted to the external, I just prefer not to put more demands on an external boot if using a thumb drive if that's what you're using.
I think the installer file will like to be in the Applications folder for the drive to which you are booted.
I believe El Cap. is the highest you can run on your iMac (you never told me the exact model), so your choice from what Apple has to offer is Yosemite and El Cap. Remember your model came with Tiger OS so both those systems are quite a jump. System requirements typically say 2 GB RAM minimum, but when Apple says "minimum" they really mean it. I ran Mavericks (just before Yosemite) on an iMac with 4 GB RAM and it was.... okay. I now run Mavericks on with an iMac with 8 GB RAM and it feels happier. So if your 2007 has 2 GB RAM I wouldn't push it with any memory intensive stuff. If you try running a modern browser you may find it the browser crashes or is just slow because your computer is using your old, slow hard drive for extra RAM.
Don't freak out if the installation is slow. I did it recently and it took about an hour, with several automatic reboots along the way.
thanks for taking time to reply & try help me out! the iMac was always used to control an industrial type printer with X11, it has OS X installed there's no original disc that was supplied with the computer. i think it may be a lost cause, could try buy discs needed but probs not worth the cost.
thanks again :)
hi Limnos!<3 i think i'm following but,,, you're way more advanced with this than i am!
i can figure out how to clone the os onto an external, but how do i boot from this?
would like to save & make use of the mac if possible.
TY
That model originally came with Tiger OS (10.4)which pre-dated macOS Recovery. It is possible if the firmware was updated and you are running Lion or later that Recovery exists but you would have to have done that and be running an OS version (which you do not mention) that supplies recovery. Otherwise the standard method would be to use the original Tiger discs that were supplied with the computer and should have been retained for just this kind of thing.
Apple: What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - http://support.apple.com/HT201065
How to erase a disk for Mac - https://support.apple.com/HT208496
Factory reset iMac7,1
