Hello all,inattentiveness has cost me my system on my month old iMac 24".
I wanted to delete my 32 GB partition back to one partition,start again with new one and install BootCamp.
Inadertently I deleted everything,the OS X and all my data.
I had just finished a 370 GB software update an hour before this happened.
I put my OS X disk back in to re-install,but I now only get a grey screen.
There is no Apple Logo and no spinning gear.I have spent a huge amount of time on both the Aus and US forums reading ways to get the Mac to recognise either the HDD or the OS X disk but to no avail.
I have reset the PRAM
tried starting with "C" key held down
shift key for Safe boot
Option key for disk or cd
It still only starts (chimes) but nothing else.
There must be another way surely?
Apple won't touch it this week being only four days.(Easter)
That means the week after,two weeks from now.
How does one spend two weeks on a PC without going mad?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,Fitzy

Do you have the aluminum keyboard? There are reports that holding C to boot does not work on this keyboard and you have to use one of the older white keyboards.
I am not sure if this problem only exists if you use the aluminium keyboard on pre-Alu iMacs, but this may be preventing you from booting up from the disk.
If you don't have a white keyboard, then maybe someone on here in your area may be able to lend you one.

Hi Leon,yes I do have the aluminium wireless keyboard and the Mighty Mouse.There is nothing plugged into the back of the mac except the power cord.All other keys work,command, alt/option,contol, shift,eject and of course the entire KB works when the Mac is fired up.
I did not see anything on any forum about the "C" key not working during boot,but of course anything is possible.
I will try a PC KB.
Thanks Leon,
Fitzy

Leon,I just realised,the PC keyboard is not going to work because it will not be recognised by the OS X until the OS X starts.
Which is what I am trying to make it do at the moment.
Fitzy

Apple Aluminum Keyboard (USB) at The OS Quest

Aluminum Keyboard problems: Desktop Macs: MacFixItForums

See if you can get your hands on a wired apple keyboard. Preferably a white one, then see if you can boot from CD.

Yeah I don't think it would matter whether it was a aluminum one or a white one. But your right, it isn't going to work unless it is wired.

Hi again Leon, I will have to wait until monday to be able to get my hands on a wired KB.
They were both interesting articles.
Did you read a reply from a forum moderator in San Diego?
He said that pressing the "menu" key on the Apple remote works like the option key and allows one to select which function to boot from.
The poster replied that it had worked.
It does not work for me.
Thanks for your help Leon,
Fitzy.

I have the wired aluminium keyboard now,but I still cannot boot my iMac.
I do not get the Apple icon,nor do I get the spinning gear.
Anyone at all know what to try next?
I have done the other dozen ways which are supposed to boot,but none of them work.
Help please.
Fitzy

That's not good news, Fitzy. If you can't get it to boot off a CD or DVD, the next step is to get an Apple technician to look at it.

any chance for target mode?

know anyone with another mac or do you have another mac?

give a call out to all tassie owners nearby?

Hello Brains/darksplat,it's Easter week.Techs would not touch it
Next week they only have 3 days,so it would be a fortnight today before I got it back.
The Mac is only four weeks old and so far I don't have a clue who else here uses macs except for some government departments.
The software upgrade I did was about 370 MB and included Quick Time which another site says has caused problema when updating.
Naturally of course I don't know that Quick Time is to blame for my Mac refusing to boot.
Next Byte loaned me a wired keyboard today but the "C" key still won't make the boot disk work.
I have a 320 GB hdd in a PC.
I might try formatting it and putting it in the Mac.
Anyone know if that would void my warranty?
I have the APP as well.
Fitzy

Installing HDD into your iMac will void your warranty and APP. It is also not for the faint hearted as you gain access to it via the screen. Meaning you will have to remove the glass (which if you do and you get dust behind there, it will be very annoying.
Hate to say it, but you will have to wait for Apple with this one.

Leon,looking at that imposing 24" screen would not only make me faint hearted.it would give me a heart attack just the thought of removing it.
Yes,I did presume I could say goodbye to warranty and I would not blame Apple one bit.
My first Mac was in 1983,but for 24 years after that I have used PC's.
Just come back to Mac a month ago and now this.
I can only blame myself in the first place,so I will have to wait until after Easter.
PC for next two weeks,just when I thought I was rid of that system.
Fitzy

Doesn't holding down the "Option" key work either on aluminium keyboards?

No it doesn't Amos.
But I now know the problem.
The Techs at NextByte have checked it out today and the logic board has shat itself.
None in stock.
They have to get one from overseas.(Melbourne)
I am told I should get it back by the end of next week.
How do you like that for a one month old iMac?
Fitzy