Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP ME

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Level 1

8 points

Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP ME

I reformatted my Snow Leopard due to Hard drive warnings that my Hard Ddive was about to crash so back everything you want to keep up and fix this problem. So.....I reformatted. I have both the original OS disk and the Snow Leopard disk I somehow (ignorantly) paid $20 for. Anyhow, 36 hours later the reformat was complete. I insert my disk to reload my operating system and ALL I GET IS A HUGE FOLDER WITH A FLASHING "?"

Please please, please help me, direct me, inform. I just want my MAC back!!!

VIN, iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), iOS 10.0.2, my iOS is actually 10.6.8

Posted on Sep 29, 2016 1:02 PM

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Answer 1

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Sep 29, 2016 1:07 PM in response to Bremider

first off what was telling you your drive was "about to crash"? that seems a bit suspicious.

Is the drive showing as having errors during the install? a reformat will not fix physical disk errors it may re-arange the partition table but if the dive is failing, and they ALL do at some point you may need to or have to simpley replace it.

Apple provides this documentation on installing from DVD

Troubleshooting Mac OS X installation from CD or DVD - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Bremider Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 29, 2016 1:21 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Thank you. It was off to the left of the Finder screen that shows my drive. I don't have any partitions (because I don't think there necessary. I use my computer to check email and run Photoshop dream weaver, illustrator, all the Adobe goodies...I'm a photographer. How or what could have snuck a BS system warning like I saw? So f'ing frustrated. Are you saying to go buy a new "what"? Hard drive, DVD drive? Do I take it back to the MAC/Apple store I purchased it from (in the mall)?

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Answer 3

Bremider Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2016 11:30 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

First, I'd like to thank you Jimmy.

Next, I'm quite certain I F $&ked up because upon reading the information in the link you provided I found this lil sentence. It read (very loosly translated and with some fire in my belly) DON'T REFORMAT THE F&^KING ACTUAL HARD DRIVE. Now, the fact is, it was NOT the hard drive that was glowing red, it was something I'd never actually seen in the FINDER window. I do have a wacom tablet and Bose speakers (amazing sound quality. If you don't have them they'll set you back $99 and you WILL NOT REGRET IT MY FRIEND). Anyhow, sounds like a trip back to the mall is in my immediate future. Might as well, I've got a couple open slots on my hardware for more memory, turbo boost, ram, IDK, all I Know is I want the **** best, all the bells and whistles and my husband wouldn't mind a hand job...I jest, I jest....trrying to turn my frown upside down. Thank you kindly for your attempt at solving my issue. You did a fine job Jimmy.

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

685,323 points

Sep 30, 2016 11:21 AM in response to Bremider

When you try to restart the computer with the DVD inserted, are you holding down the C key? Try restarting with the option/alt key held down and select the DVD. Boot time off the DVD is much slower than the hard drive.

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Answer 5

Bremider Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Eric Root

Eric, stellar advice. It did boot from the disk HOWEVER instead of "?" I got a picture of a CD which said EPI boot. My mouse worked, then stopped working, then back again but the disk is no longer there either. So now I'm staring at a light gray screen but the disk isn't shooting back out. Suggestions?

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Answer 6

Bremider Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2016 11:35 AM in response to Eric Root

Following
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Bremider

Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Q:Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP ME

I reformatted my Snow Leopard due to Hard drive warnings that my Hard Ddive was about to crash so back everything you want to keep up and fix this problem. So.....I reformatted. I have both the original OS disk and the Snow Leopard disk I somehow (ignorantly) paid $20 for. Anyhow, 36 hours later the reformat was complete. I insert my disk to reload my operating system and ALL I GET IS A HUGE FOLDER WITH A FLASHING "?"

Please please, please help me, direct me, inform. I just want my MAC back!!!

VIN, iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), iOS 10.0.2, my iOS is actually 10.6.8

Posted on Sep 29, 2016 1:02 PM

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Q: Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP ME

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by JimmyCMPIT,

JimmyCMPITSep 29, 2016 1:07 PM in response to Bremider
Level 5 (7,746 points)

Mac OS X
Sep 29, 2016 1:07 PM Re: Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP MEin response to Bremiderfirst off what was telling you your drive was "about to crash"? that seems a bit suspicious.

Is the drive showing as having errors during the install? a reformat will not fix physical disk errors it may re-arange the partition table but if the dive is failing, and they ALL do at some point you may need to or have to simpley replace it.

Apple provides this documentation on installing from DVD
Troubleshooting Mac OS X installation from CD or DVD - Apple Support
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Helpful (0)

This solved my question

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by Bremider,

BremiderSep 29, 2016 1:21 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT
Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X
Sep 29, 2016 1:21 PM Re: Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP MEin response to JimmyCMPIT
Thank you. It was off to the left of the Finder screen that shows my drive. I don't have any partitions (because I don't think there necessary. I use my computer to check email and run Photoshop dream weaver, illustrator, all the Adobe goodies...I'm a photographer. How or what could have snuck a BS system warning like I saw? So f'ing frustrated. Are you saying to go buy a new "what"? Hard drive, DVD drive? Do I take it back to the MAC/Apple store I purchased it from (in the mall)?
Reply
Helpful (0)

This solved my question

Reply options

by Bremider, ★ Helpful

BremiderSep 30, 2016 11:30 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Sep 30, 2016 11:30 AM Re: Reformat HD not allowing me to reinstall operating system. returns flashing"?". PLEASE HELP MEin response to JimmyCMPITFirst, I'd like to thank you Jimmy.

Next, I'm quite certain I F $&ked up because upon reading the information in the link you provided I found this lil sentence. It read (very loosly translated and with some fire in my belly) DON'T REFORMAT THE F&^KING ACTUAL HARD DRIVE. Now, the fact is, it was NOT the hard drive that was glowing red, it was something I'd never actually seen in the FINDER window. I do have a wacom tablet and Bose speakers (amazing sound quality. If you don't have them they'll set you back $99 and you WILL NOT REGRET IT MY FRIEND). Anyhow, sounds like a trip back to the mall is in my immediate future. Might as well, I've got a couple open slots on my hardware for more memory, turbo boost, ram, IDK, all I Know is I want the **** best, all the bells and whistles and my husband wouldn't mind a hand job...I jest, I jest....trrying to turn my frown upside down. Thank you kindly for your attempt at solving my issue. You did a fine job Jimmy.

Reply

Helpful (1)

This solved my question

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by Eric Root, ★ Helpful

Eric RootSep 30, 2016 11:21 AM

Eric, stellar advice. It did boot from the disk HOWEVER instead of "?" I got a picture of a CD which said EPI boot. My mouse worked, then stopped working, then back again but the disk is no longer there either. So now I'm staring at a light gray screen but the disk isn't shooting back out. Suggestions?

Reply

Helpful (0)

This so

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Answer 7

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Sep 30, 2016 12:05 PM in response to Bremider

you have a 2010 computer with a hard drive and you are a photographer and use photoshop so if thats the drive you use it's getting a lot of wear and tear as photoshop is the king of all swap files.

so yea, I'm recommending you get a new drive for a six year old computer because 3 years is pushing it for some and 5 is like dancing with the devil in the light of the full moon as we say in the IT sector.

If the method you describe above provides you new one go for it because all Hard Drives drives fail, the manufacturers actually tell you hours of user before that should happen but they all fail the majorty of them before that time, and even if your's hasn't, it will. If you already have a backup you are golden and if you dont you should unless you have everything you've done on some other storage somewhere.

Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

for a new drive I recommend OWC, they dont' pay me but they have never been D!Ck$ to me, ever so I send them biz when it's appropriate. You can go new replacement of you current HDD (more storage, slower, vastly cheaper) or change out to an SSD (fast, expensive) and you will need tools to open the iMac, they have videos for your specific make/model mac to show exactaly whats involved before you open up a fresh tub of I can't believe I just f**ked myself!

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/imacdiy

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