Boot up shows folder with question mark...

Run the Apple Hardware Test from the Install DVD. Startup the iMac quickly insert the DVD and press & hold the D key.


Dah•veed

You need to press & hold the D key as soon as possible after you insert the DVD.

Restart the iMac while pressing and holding the mouse in a left click and the DVD should pop out.

Hi,
I have had similar issues, you will have to restart it and press and hold the eject disk on the keyboard right away and it will force it out.

Also to answer you question on way you are not seeing the Hard Drive and way you have the folder with question mark on the start up: is because your Hard Drive is dead.

You will need to buy another Hard Drive install it and then fresh install the OS X.
I have seen this issue too many times and every time is resulting with bad Hard Disk Drive...


Look at the bright side, Hard Drives are cheep now and you have iFix it to assist you on step by step installation. (this is unless you have Apple Care).

I was the same on my first iMac repair, but once you crack it open all it is easy, you will have to have patience when you work them...
If you are near my area in Orange County, CA i hope 🙂 I will be more then happy to help you swap it.
Otherwise you are looking around $400 to $500 repair parts included from Apple Store. Or you can look for reliable local harware shops that can do it for cheep.

It's nothing like an iPhone. It will take you under an hour to do following the iFixit guide. You will need a long shanked torx 6 driver to get the screws out around the display. They are a bit of a pain and will easily fall into the machine. I put a drop of viscous glue onto the head of the driver to stop the screws falling off into the machine, the same for putting them back in. The rest is easy.



Make sure you buy a high quality and high capacity SATA2 hard drive, at least 500GB with a five year to lifetime warranty. It is not a job you want to be doing every year.



Give it a go!
Good luck

Try running Disk Utility on it. When restarting, hold down the "C" key to try and boot.

Try reading his original post;

Then I tried to see if I needed to repair the hdd using disk utility but the hdd wasn't showing up.

Hmm, missed that. It's been a long day at work, I guess I'm not as perfect as you.

Take ti easy guys we are here to help out....

gescamil,

If you are handy with the hardware, go for it and swap the drive and let us know how its going. From what you are describing to us it does sounds like bad HDD.

Good luck.
Goran