No Disk Image to Install To

I have been having a number of issues with my 20" iMac for several days. I thought my Hard-drive was fried completely but, after numerous attempts, I was able to start it up as a target disk and get most of the files I needed off of the machine.
So, I was planning on just wiping the iMac and re-installing 10.5.2. However, when I put in the Install disks and try to proceed with the installation, I eventually come to a screen that ask where to install the OS. There are no images to choose. I have tried the Disk Utility Repair and since I was able to start the iMac as a target I have all the files I need. How can I wipe the machine and reinstall the OS? Thanks.

this may not be possible depending on the state of your drive. if it's dead or dying you shouldn't do it anyway. the fact that you were able to boot it in target mode does not mean that the drive is fine. First check the SMART status of the drive in disk utility while booted from the install DVD. if the SMART status is ok, click on the partition tab and reformat the drive. then quit disk utility and proceed with the installation see if the disk shows up as a possible destination drive. if it doesn't it's probably fried and you should replace it.

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    Disk Image Mounter is missing from my system. Also Disk Utility and Disk Copy both quit in mid start as do a number of third party apps. Also System Preferences tends to lock up when changes are made to certain panes.

    Hi PLYNKMac, and a warm welcome to the forums!
    Could be many things, we should start with this...
    "Try Disk Utility
    1. Insert the Mac OS X Tiger Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
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    5. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
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    Some people get away without Repairing Permissions for years, some for only days.
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    If many Permission are repaired, or any Directory errors are found, you may need to re-apply some the latest/biggest updates.
    May even need to do an Archive and Install if you have room on the HD, but saves all your files and gives a new OS...
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
    I only use Software Update to see what is needed, then get them for real via...
    http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
    That way I can wait a week or so, check the forums for potential problems, and get Permissions & such in order before installing.
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    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
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  • How do I create a start-up disk image without restarting from the Install DVD?

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    Message was edited by: LarryHN

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  • I can't get rid of the "Install OS X" disk image...

    Several months ago (I think it was when upgrading from 10.6.2 to 10.6.3) I had trouble with two machines - my wife's MBA (Rev. A - 1.6 GHz, 2GB ram, 80 GB HDD), and my MBP, but our iMac did fine. Eventually I got both the MBA and MBP updated and they work fine. Since then I've updated the MBA so that it's running 10.6.4.
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    I created a disk image of my OS X Leopard disk as a backup, but later discovered that I could not boot from the mounted disk image, nor could I use it to burn a new bootable OS X disk. What did I do wrong?

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