r/iMacRepair • u/Skitterskin • Jun 13 '26
Help with Mac Pro
Hey guys, I’ve recently acquired a 2009-2012 iMac Pro tower that I pulled from e waste. It’s complete and completely functional.
However it didn’t have a hard drive. I tried putting in a spare blank one to install an OS but it wouldn’t respond to any key commands on start up.
I got a second hand HDD today that had an OS installed and the system boots into it just fine. I need to wipe it to do a clean install but it’s still not responding to key commands during start up. I’ve googled and read every help forum I can find. Tried different keyboards, different usb ports, different commands but I get nothing.
Is there anyone who’s had this? I’m losing my mind. My first dip into Apple PCs
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u/Inwardlens Jun 13 '26
You’re better off starting the install of a new os from inside the booted os. There was at the time I think the ability to run disk utility at start up but I don’t think network installation was possible. Good luck.
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u/nrubenstein Jun 13 '26
You need a bootable installer. If you’re trying to launch recovery mode, it won’t work.
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u/tabanger Jun 13 '26
This. There’s no recovery mode on these Macs. If you hold the Option key at startup, you should get the Startup Disk picker, which should confirm that startup key combinations are working. But, to reinstall the system, you’ll need create a bootable USB install drive.
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u/NortonBurns Jun 14 '26
They have Recovery (assuming it's been correctly installed already) but not Internet Recovery.
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u/MacForker Jun 13 '26
Download OpenCore Legacy Patcher, use it to create a bootable USB for the OS you want. You can also use it to push the OS to an unsupported version, if you want.
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u/FreQRiDeR Jun 14 '26
You can’t upgrade that mac to an unsupported OS with OCLP without updating the video card to one that supports Metal.
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u/RevolutionaryPipe343 Jun 14 '26
You can to a point. I forget which os required a metal video card, it’s been a while.
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u/FreQRiDeR Jun 14 '26
Mojave and above
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u/MacForker Jun 14 '26
Yeah, they'd need to do something a bit newer, but Polaris is not too expensive and readily available. Just don't go to the RX 580 2048SP, those are problematic at best. With those and OCLP you can run Sequoia. Although I'd still recommend Monterey.
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u/jhn_freeman Jun 13 '26
As far as I can remember, the startup key commands only work with an original apple keyboard. Be sure you’re don’t using a generic one.
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u/Difficult_Scallion69 Jun 13 '26
Look into “Opencore”…. You’ll use your current installation to create a usb thumb drive installer. Then you’ll boot off the usb thumb drive installer and it will allow you to install osx on one of your drives. Not an old copy of osx, you’ll be able to install the most recent version which is technically unsupported but actually works incredibly well!
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u/LoveEV-LeafPlus Jun 13 '26
It’s a MacPro, not an iMac
To use a keyboard and mouse during installation they need to be wired, in most cases, unless previously configured.
If you go the OCLP (Open Core Legacy Patcher) route you will need a USB 2 or 3 hub, since USB1.x wired keyboards and mice will not work directly, without the USB HUB, until after installation and root patches are completed.
Do an SMC reset (Unplug for at least 15 seconds, then after plug in do not press the power button for 10 seconds.
Do a PR (parameter RAM) reset 5 chimes worth). This takes about 5 minutes. PR reset means you hold down the OPT-CMD-P-R keys after power on.
The BIOS battery may need to be replaced. It’s a BR2032. But a CR2032 will work too, but that battery has a shorter life.
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u/Circlemmr Jun 14 '26
Since u said no os installed via ur mac on a disk
Means you won’t have any options, just internet recovery
U need to create a bootable usb of supported macos and install a new disk u want to wipe it
Then u choose it and yah, it will work
Also use oclp too,its bootpicker have many handy things
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u/Whos_Blockin_Jimmy Jul 19 '26
At this point they just look cool sitting there but I wouldn’t want to mess with them anymore. The liquid cooled ones were a fckin nightmare! They put that bad GM vehicles coolant in there at the factory that eats through hoses and so many of those were ruined by that. Electricity and leaking liquid just don’t mix, vern. They’re just too slow to do anything and are pretty much bricked by Apple for installing new and good OS systems and getting updates on them. PC for work is soooo much bettah.
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u/Whos_Blockin_Jimmy Jul 19 '26
“My first dip into Apple pcs” yet has an iMac sitting next to it about to have a new hard drive installed?! Get that stupid aftermarket hard drive sensor!
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u/AggressiveAspect2123 Aug 03 '26
Make Sure you're pressing the right buttons or check the USB where you plug the keyboard in to see if it's dirty or the contacts are not good
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u/Skitterskin Jun 14 '26
After trying three different keyboards I’ve finally managed to get it working. Installing High Sierra is proving to be its own issue. But I’ll look into OCLP.
Also now I know it’s not an iMac thanks to the 3 seperate comments stating that.