Everything is blank on 2017 iMac

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Level 1

8 points

Everything is blank on 2017 iMac

I have a 27 inch imac. I was trying to get back to factory so I could give it away. But I think I erased too much. I erased the data and then I think (hard to remember now since I have done so much messing with things since) I deleted the hard drive? Now the internet works but when I go to Apple support to download Ventura I click on it and nothing happens. Nothing I click on works.

I ran disk repair but there is no option to reinstall in that menu. I really can't see anything now. 27 inches of blank grey. Am I doomed? I can just recycle it at Best Buy but that's kind of a shame

Posted on Aug 5, 2025 9:51 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

76,718 points

Aug 5, 2025 10:02 AM in response to Mayapriya

Have you tried Internet Recovery?

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

For your Mac the startup key combos are:

Immediately press and hold one of the following key combinations until you see the startup screen:

- Command-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery System. Use this key combination to reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your system, or to use the other apps in macOS Recovery.
- Option-Command-R: Start up from macOS Recovery over the internet. Use this key combination to reinstall macOS and upgrade to the latest version of macOS that’s compatible with your Mac.
- Option-Shift-Command-R: Start up from macOS Recovery over the internet. Use this key combination to reinstall the version of macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version that’s still available.

Try the first but, if you wiped the recovery partition off the drive, you'll need either the second or third option.

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Answer 2

Aug 5, 2025 9:58 AM in response to Mayapriya

I faced the same problem years ago when I was getting ready to trade in my 2017 iMac.

I simply took it to my local Apple Retail Store and the Genius technician side-loaded the operating system in less than 5 minutes.

As soon as it was done, I was handed a gift card for my trade-in.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

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Answer 3

Aug 5, 2025 10:15 AM in response to Allan Jones

Allan Jones wrote:

Have you tried Internet Recovery?

Yes, repeatedly for over 22+ hours and it failed every single time.

That’s why the Genius Bar decided to simply side-load the operating system.

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