How to Fix Your Crashed iMac

A crashed iMac is typically caused by hard drive failure, which prevents your computer from functioning due to a fatal error. In order to restore use of your desktop computer you can reset the parameter RAM (PRAM) to assist the computer in locating your hard disk. Your files are kept intact during the PRAM reset, but some settings including speaker volume and display settings are reset to its original settings. If the PRAM reset fails to fix your crashed iMac, the system installer utility on the computer's original installation disc can recover your hard drive.

Instructions

PRAM Reset

1 Press and hold down the "Power" on button the iMac until the computer shuts off.

2 Press "Power" to turn it on and hold "Command," "Option," "P" and "R" keys on the keyboard before the screen turns gray.

3 Hold the keys down while the iMac restarts, and continue to hold the keys until the computer restarts once more. The iMac's startup sounds plays during the PRAM reset to indicate it is restarting.

4 Release the keys and log in to your computer's account to return to the desktop.

Mac OS X Install DVD

1 Press "Power" on the iMac and insert the OS X Install DVD disc. Hold "Power" to turn off the computer, and press "Power" to turn it back on.

2 Hold "C" on the keyboard while the computer loads to boot the computer from the OS X Install disc.

3 Select your default language in the Installer window and click the right arrow.

4 Click the Utilities menu at the top of the screen and click "Disk Utility."

5 Click "First Aid" and click "Repair Disk." Click the Disk Utility menu and click "Quit Disk Utility" and click "Continue" to reinstall the operating system from the disc.

6 Click "Agree" in the license agreement window and click the hard disk icon. Click "Install" and select "Continue" once the operating system is installed.

7 Click "Restart" to restart the computer, which displays the registration screen once it has finished loading. Fill out the registration form, and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the computer's mandatory registration process.