iMac disc drive won't work in middle of reboot (What to do!?)

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iMac disc drive won't work in middle of reboot (What to do!?)

I'm having an issue with the older iMac (around 4 years old, 24' inch, Leopard v10.5 I believe). The disc drive will not work, which I've noticed happens frequently with these older iMacs. I noticed that it was running much slower than normal after coming home to it for a few months away. Nothing changed to the computer, it was just running extremely slow. I was thinking about doing a reboot before I left and decided it definitely needed one when I got back.

I wiped everything off of the computer and went into reboot mode. It asked for disc one of Mac OSX, which I put in. It worked after 3 tries (3rd times a charm, right?) and loaded up. The process is halfway through and then asked for the second disc. These discs are brand new and havent been touched since opening the computer back in 2008. I've put in the second disc at least 50 times with no results. I've researched online how to get it to read better and have done all the tips with no success. My computer is in limbo right now awaiting disc two for Mac OSX to be installed and I have absolutely no solutions as to what to do. I'm terrified to turn it off because I don't want it to mess up halfway through the reboot and brick, so I can't take it in to a store. I've been in two different Apple stores with no successful answers and have tried a Superdrive with no success as well. Does anyone have any idea what to do to solve this solution?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 24' inch

Posted on Nov 14, 2012 1:15 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

238,997 points

Nov 14, 2012 7:02 PM in response to Obe3

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.

2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at the top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)

*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*

3. Click the Erase tab.

4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.

5. Select your Mac OS X volume.

6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, select the Security Options button, choose Zero Out Data, Erase... after completion hopefully you'll be able to get a good install.

That second Disc thing happens frequently, the best way around it is to do a Custom install, and eliminate enough Printer Drivers, Languages, Fonts, and Applications you don't need... then it may skip #2 altogether. Reboot & hold the Option/at key as well as the left Mouse button to eject Disc#2 & bring up the Startup manger to choose Disc #1 again.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1442

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