Cannot re-install/recover Mac OS

Question

Level 1

5 points

Cannot re-install/recover Mac OS

I am running OSX High Sierra 10.13.3 on a 2011 27" imac with two internal drives, an SDD and HDD.

I know it is extremely rare, but unfortunately it appears to have been hacked after visiting a bad website.

The screen turned white and all attempts to recover have failed. I brought the system to Melrose Mac and paid $50 for a diagnostic and they said the hardware is fine, graphics card fine, etc. They said OSx is fragmented on the SDD and the HDD drive is also fragmented, and wanted $300 to re-install. What??? I can do that, right?

After over 100 hours of attempting every possible combination of re-starting the iMac and re-installing OSx, I bought a new iMac and used the old one in T mode -- re-formatting the SDD drive and assuming that would wipe out any recovery discs, etc. on it.

Everything has failed using the apple keystroke combos. They fail.

I have a time machine backup which I know is good. It fails.

I have created a new external boot drive. It fails.

I have a USB dongle that re-installs OSX. It fails.

macOS recovery fails and will not let me get to the disc utility screen.

Internet recocvery fails

Each and every single time, it goes through the install process, the endless bootup processes, internet recover, or any other process I try and goes to white screen of death and sits there.

I hate to pay the "randsom" of $300 just to install OSX when all of the hardware is supposedly fine, but I have no more time after a week of almost continuous repair attempts.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 2011 27"

Posted on Jun 7, 2018 12:00 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Radarhus

Level 4

3,048 points

Jun 7, 2018 12:25 PM in response to rafilm

Chances are, your 2011 iMac is just way too old... What you can do is create a bootable USB drive (using the new iMac) with the macOS version that you used to have on your older iMac and try a clean install. If your USB dongle has the latest macOS version, it might not work because High Sierra is designed to run on newer Macs. But it is possible to download previous OSX / macOS installers from the App Store and create bootable USB drives out of these installers. Hope it helps.

Reply

Answer 2

Radarhus

Level 4

3,048 points

Jun 7, 2018 2:34 PM in response to rafilm

I see. Disk fragmentation has nothing to do with it, in my humble opinion. Nor was it because of a "bad website". It's a Mac, after all. For something like you're describing to happen, I suspect that something might be wrong with the firmware that controls the boot process. Or it might be some other issue. For instance here's what a quick google search produced: SOLVED: 27" iMac doesn't boot past white screen, not-responsive ... Looks pretty much like your situation.

Reply

Answer 3

Radarhus

Level 4

3,048 points

Jun 7, 2018 3:15 PM in response to rafilm

Well, the graphics card replacement was what resolved the issue described in the link. And the symptoms you describe are exactly the same. Not sure why do the guys at Melrose insist it's some "fragmentation" issue when clearly it is not.

Reply

Answer 4

Radarhus

Level 4

3,048 points

Jun 7, 2018 2:23 PM in response to rafilm

No worries 🙂 Just to clarify, you're trying to revive your older iMac, and in order to do that you want to format both drives and do a clean install of macOS, is that correct?

Reply

Answer 5

Radarhus

Level 4

3,048 points

Jun 7, 2018 2:07 PM in response to rafilm

Usually it should boot from a USB drive. If it doesn't, then I assume there might be some kind of a firmware issue. As I mentioned before, it's a very old computer. These things happen. Unless you have valuable data on those two drives, I don't think it's even worth $300 of repairs. You could probably get a similar used iMac for less 😉

Reply

Answer 6

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 2:22 PM in response to Radarhus

Oops -- not solved. But, yes that is correct. The machine's hardware checks out, it was working fine. Went to bad website. Fragmented everything now. Cannot re-install no matter what method is used.

Reply

Answer 7

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 2:41 PM in response to Radarhus

I agree (fragmentation is what the store told me) -- and thanks for the link, but I'm sorry to say I read that link a week ago and have tried EVERYTHING that link and every other legitimate link on the internet regarding this (except of course the link that will solve it). Personally - I think it's hardware related to the 2011 graphics card recall. I'm not sure if it was done on this machine but they tell me I can't have the work done without paying $600 for a new graphics card -- then they told me it's not the graphics card it's fragmented discs.

Reply

Answer 8

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 12:55 PM in response to Radarhus

Thanks I'll try to create an older installer. But, I do know for a fact the system works fine once I figure out the back door to get the in-install hangup fixed.

Reply

Answer 9

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 12:56 PM in response to macjack

I have -- but that should work, right?? I will try that again! thanks

Reply

Answer 10

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 1:24 PM in response to macjack

Great idea, but error message: Can't install OSx while in target disc mode.

Reply

Answer 11

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 3:53 PM in response to Radarhus

I agree. I'm tempted to bring it in and ask for a written guarantee that reinstalling will solve it, then hold them accountable when it doesn't work.... if I have the patience.

Reply

Answer 12

rafilm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2018 1:46 PM in response to macjack

Thanks -- don't have original discs. But I was running the latest OSx on the system so that isn't the problem. I'm just trying to avoid giving hundreds of dollars to them just because they are Apple Authorized and have special software to get it.

The weird thing is -- after I wiped out the startup disc and reformatted it on the 2011, theoretically there should be nothing left to try to boot up on -- but when you reboot the 2011 the Apple logo and progress bar still go half way -- WITH NO OSX!

If I could reach inside and unplug the SDD drive or in another way disable it, presumably the machine would say, Hey, where's the OS? Maybe in Verbose mode i can shut it off? (Seems like unnecessary work)

Or -- when I use the various "OPTION" key startups, it can see the external boot drives I'm offering and the install USB, and so forth, but doesn't boot from them. Internet install goes all the way, then white screen.

... I guess I have to pay Melrose Mac's $300 ransom just to install the OS because I am out of solution options other than taking out a screwdriver.

Reply