No partition possible for reinstallation of El Capitan

Thanks for the reply.

It is an apple keyboard (I have two, both USB and wireless which both react the same way). They work for a few touches after restarting and then become unusable, opening other files like shortcuts if you see what I mean. I've been using the on screen keyboard to avoid problems.

Neither Alt, command + R or command + opt + R work when restarting to boot.

No I have not tried SMC and NVRAM Reset, what is that ?

No Time machine back-up I'm afraid. The optical drive is very selective (never use it much so I only noticed recently), it ejects OSX installation and win dvd's, so I tried the Paragon NTFS dvd which works fine.

Keyboard problems the same on OS and windows, apple keyboard.

I've done the SMC reset, thank you.

Tried the NVRAM twice, but nothing happened.

I can play audio CD's and DVD's, no problem.

I have recovered all my files on an external disk already. I'll do it again on TM for OS backup also.

Thanks

I need to leave for a business trip, back in a few days.

I'll bump the thread and hopefully I can find a solution before buying a new computer.

Thanks once again for the helpful advice.

Hello,

Back in my office and available for any further help you can offer.

Any further progress would be much appreciated, thank you.

The results from an old cd :

Last login: Fri Sep 2 15:34:17 on console

pc54:~ stuarthallett$ drutil list

Vendor Product Rev Bus SupportLevel

1 OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H 3AHB ATAPI Apple Shipping

pc54:~ stuarthallett$ drutil getconfig

Vendor Product Rev

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H 3AHB

Media: DRDeviceMediaTypeCDR

GetConfiguration returned 172 bytes.

00000000 00 00 00 AC 00 00 00 09 00 00 03 30 00 2B 00 00 |...........0.+..|

00000010 00 1B 00 00 00 1A 00 00 00 16 00 00 00 15 00 00 |................|

00000020 00 14 00 00 00 13 00 00 00 11 00 00 00 10 00 00 |................|

00000030 00 0A 00 00 00 09 01 00 00 08 01 00 00 01 0B 08 |................|

00000040 00 00 00 07 01 00 00 00 00 02 07 04 02 00 00 00 |................|

00000050 00 03 07 04 09 00 00 00 00 10 01 08 00 00 08 00 |................|

00000060 00 01 01 00 00 1D 01 00 00 1E 09 04 03 00 00 00 |................|

00000070 00 21 0D 08 3F 09 05 01 07 00 00 00 00 2D 09 04 |.!..?........-..|

00000080 57 00 3F 09 00 2E 05 04 7F 00 0B F0 01 00 03 00 |W.?.............|

00000090 01 05 07 04 00 00 00 00 01 07 15 04 3E 00 00 00 |............>...|

000000A0 01 08 03 0C 45 32 32 39 39 53 4B 56 |....E2299SKV |

Current Profile: 9

Feature 0000h: Profile List

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 00 03 30 00 2B 00 00 00 1B 00 00 00 1A 00 00

10> 00 16 00 00 00 15 00 00 00 14 00 00 00 13 00 00

20> 00 11 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 09 01 00

30> 00 08 01 00

Feature descriptor version: 0

Feature descriptor length: 48

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

Profile List:

002Bh DVD+R Double Layer DVD+R Double Layer

001Bh DVD+R DVD Recordable

001Ah DVD+RW DVD ReWritable

0016h DVD-R DL Layer Jump DVD-R Dual Layer Layer Jump Recording

0015h DVD-R DL Sequential DVD-R Dual Layer Sequential Recording

0014h DVD-RW Sequential Re-recordable DVD using Sequential recording

0013h DVD-RW Restricted Re-Recordable DVD using Restricted Overwrite

0011h DVD-R Sequential Write once DVD using Sequential recording

0010h DVD-ROM Read only DVD

000Ah CD-RW ReWritable CD capable

0009h CD-R Write once CD capable current

0008h CD-ROM Read only CD capable current

Feature 0001h: Core Feature Descriptor

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 01 0B 08 00 00 00 07 01 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 2

Feature descriptor length: 8

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

Validation of EVPD, Page Code, and the 16-bit Allocation length fields as described in [SPC-3] are not supported

Device Busy Event is supported

Physical Interface Standard:

00000007h Serial ATAPI

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

INQUIRY

GET CONFIGURATION

GET EVENT/STATUS NOTIFICATION

MODE SELECT

MODE SENSE

REQUEST SENSE

TEST UNIT READY

Feature 0002h: Morphing

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 02 07 04 02 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 1

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

Operational Change Request/Notification Class Events of GET EVENT/STATUS NOTIFICATION are supported

Logical unit supports only polling of GET EVENT/STATUS NOTIFICATION (Immed bit set to one).

Logical unit shall support the following commands:

GET CONFIGURATION

GET EVENT/STATUS NOTIFICATION

PREVENT/ALLOW MEDIUM REMOVAL

SEND EVENT (partial class 3 support)

Feature 0003h: Removable Medium (Logical Unit contains removable media)

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 03 07 04 09 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 1

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

Loading Mechanism: Caddy/Slot type loading mechanism

Eject bit is set (unit can eject media)

Prevent Jumper bit is clear (media can be inserted)

DBML bit is clear

Lock bit is set (media can be locked in unit)

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

MECHANISM STATUS

PREVENT/ALLOW MEDIUM REMOVAL

SEND EVENT (class 4 fully support)

START/STOP UNIT

Feature 0010h: Random Readable

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 10 01 08 00 00 08 00 00 01 01 00

Feature descriptor version: 0

Feature descriptor length: 8

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Logical Block Size: 2048

Blocking Size: 1

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

READ CAPACITY

READ(10)

Read/Write Error Recovery Parameters Mode Page (01h)

Feature 001Dh: MultiRead

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 1D 01 00

Feature descriptor version: 0

Feature descriptor length: 0

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

READ(10)

READ CD

READ DISC INFORMATION

READ TRACK/RZONE INFORMATION

Feature 001Eh: CD Read

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 1E 09 04 03 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 2

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Logical unit will return C2 error data

Logical unit will return CD-Text info in READ TOC (format field 05h) command

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

READ CD

READ CD MSF

READ TOC/PMA/ATIP (format fields 00h, 01h, 02h, and 05h

Feature 0021h: Incremental Streaming Writable

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 21 0D 08 3F 09 05 01 07 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 3

Feature descriptor length: 8

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Data Block Type 0: supported

Data Block Type 1: not supported

Data Block Type 2: not supported

Data Block Type 3: supported

Data Block Type 4: not supported

Data Block Type 5: not supported

Data Block Type 6: not supported

Data Block Type 7: not supported

Data Block Type 8: supported

Data Block Type 9: supported

Data Block Type 10: supported

Data Block Type 11: supported

Data Block Type 12: supported

Data Block Type 13: supported

Data Block Type 14: not supported

Data Block Type 15: not supported

Buffer Under-run Free recording is supported for current media

Track Resources Information of the READ DISC INFO command is supported

Address Mode reservation of the RESERVE TRACK command is not supported

Number of Link Sizes: 1

Link Sizes: 87

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

BLANK

CLOSE TRACK/SESSION

READ DISC INFORMATION

READ TRACK INFORMATION

RESERVE TRACK

SEND OPC INFORMATION

SYNCHRONIZE CACHE

WRITE(10)

Write Parameters Mode Page (05h)

Feature 002Dh: CD Track at Once

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 2D 09 04 57 00 3F 09

Feature descriptor version: 2

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Buffer Underrun Free recording is supported

R-W Raw subcode writing is supported

R-W Pack subcode writing is not supported

Test Writing writing is supported

CD-RW overwriting is supported

R-W subcode writing is supported

Data Block Type 0: supported

Data Block Type 1: not supported

Data Block Type 2: not supported

Data Block Type 3: supported

Data Block Type 4: not supported

Data Block Type 5: not supported

Data Block Type 6: not supported

Data Block Type 7: not supported

Data Block Type 8: supported

Data Block Type 9: supported

Data Block Type 10: supported

Data Block Type 11: supported

Data Block Type 12: supported

Data Block Type 13: supported

Data Block Type 14: not supported

Data Block Type 15: not supported

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

BLANK (000b, 001, and 100b if CD-RW flag is set)

CLOSE TRACK SESSION

READ DISC INFORMATION

READ TRACK INFORMATION

RESERVE TRACK

SEND OPC INFORMATION (if OPC inf is returned via READ DISC INFO)

SYNCHRONIZE CACHE

WRITE(10)

Write Parameters Mode Page (05h)

Feature 002Eh: CD Mastering

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 00 2E 05 04 7F 00 0B F0

Feature descriptor version: 1

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Buffer Underrun Free recording is supported

Session at Once (SAO) recording is supported

Raw Multisession recording is supported

Raw recording is supported

Test Write recording is supported

CD-RW overwrite recording is supported

R-W subchannel recording is supported

Maximum Cue Sheet Length: 3056

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

READ DISC INFORMATION

READ TRACK INFORMATION

SEND CUE SHEET (if SAO bit is set)

SEND OPC INFORMATOIN

SYNCHRONIZE CACHE

WRITE(10)

Write Parameters Mode Page (SAO & RAW write type - data block type 2 and 3 when R-W bit is set - page 05h)

Feature 0100h: Power Management

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 01 00 03 00

Feature descriptor version: 0

Feature descriptor length: 0

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

GET EVENT/STATUS NOTIFICATION (Power Management class)

START STOP UNIT (power condition field)

Power Condition Mode Page (1Ah)

Feature 0105h: Time-out

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 01 05 07 04 00 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 1

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

G3Enable bit and the Group3 Timeout field are not supported

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

Timeout and Protect mode page

Feature 0107h: Real-Time Streaming

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 01 07 15 04 3E 00 00 00

Feature descriptor version: 5

Feature descriptor length: 4

Feature is not persistent

Feature is current

Logical Unit does support SET STREAMING HIE bit

Logical Unit shall support the following commands:

SET STREAMING (WRC field)

READ BUFFER CAPACITY (Block bit)

READ(12)

SET CD SPEED

SET READ AHEAD

CD/DVD Cap & Mech Status Mode Page (2Ah) - Write Speed Perf Descriptor Blocks

Feature 0108h: Logical Unit Serial Number

Raw Feature Descriptor:

00> 01 08 03 0C 45 32 32 39 39 53 4B 56 42 65 78 62

Feature descriptor version: 0

Feature descriptor length: 12

Feature is persistent

Feature is current

Serial Number: E2299SKVBexb

Device Config complete.

pc54:~ stuarthallett$

i have all the commercial dvd's bought with the iMac in 2009:

os x install 10.6.1

applications install

windows 7

parangon ntfs mac os x7 (this is the only disk that is not ejected among these 4)

What do you mean by media/brand

my mac refuses to boot.

i suppose the boot menu is visible after booting, which i can't do despite many attemptes.

I looked at system report (please understand my mac is in french, and all of this already sounds like chinese to me). Here is the hardware details, i think :