Can't boot Intel iMac at all - CNET Mac desktops Forums

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Can't boot Intel iMac at all

by Gandalf123 - 6/30/11 1:36 PM

I have an Intel iMac 17' 1.83GHz.
One day the iMac couldn't boot. It's just stops at the grey screen with the Apple logo.

It also won't boot from any system disk, this includes full retail versions of Tiger & Leopard. Also won't boot from Disk Warrior CD.

If I press the option key on power on, it shows the me the boot choices which are the internal hard drive and whatever disk is in the optical drive, the Mac cannot boot from either.

I was however able to boot the Mac from the Apple iMac disk to initiate the Apple Hardware Test. The Apple hardware test finds no problems with the hardware.

I've removed RAM and moved them about. I've even unplugged the SATA cables to the internal hard drive incase a faulty HD was preventing the Mac from doing anything but this made no difference.

I powered on the Mac and pressed Apple+V for verbose startup and this brought up loads of lines which stopped with the last line showing the Broadcom wireless controller so I removed that but still no startup.

I've also tried connecting the Mac to a MacBook via firewire and started the iMac in target disk mode but it never appears on the desktop of the MacBook or via the MacBooks Disk Utility etc.

I wander if the next step is to remove the hard drive and put it in a drive enclosure or as a 2nd drive in a MacPro to reinstall the OS on it or format it etc