Subject: Being new to Macs I trashed the sytem folder, Now the IMAC wont boot from CDRom Drive, Hard Disk or anything, I can get into the firmware but thats it, the CLI ( if I use Comm OPt P R ) just says "PANIC; Were hanging here". A grey screen comes up and then a box which says restart the machine ( it will continue in this cycle no matter what), I only have 0S X 10.2 ( original and thats it. I have tried all the key combinations that are on the net and still get the same response. I am really desparate as I have to get this machine working any help at all will be appreciated nothing seems to work and I cannot get on the CD to boot from it. Any help greatly appreciated by a newbie. Have tried resetting PRAM no luck. Have reset-defaults and NVRAM and ALL in firmware ( comm option O F ), have no problem taking machine apart as have service manuals. Have also reset the PMU (just in case)

ok you are gonna need another mac to do this but i know
it will work. If you get another mac, connect them with
firewire. Make sure you turn on the other mac first and let
it boot then turn on your mac and hold down the T key.
this will make your bad iMac go into Firewire drive mode
on the other mac. From there use the other mac's disc
utility to erase the HD. When that is done you just have to
hit hte power button and the computer will turn off like a
normal firewire drive. DON"T FORGET TO Drag the
FIREWIRE DRIVE that was your HD to the trash on the other
mac to disconnect it. Once that is done start up your iMac
with the freshly formatted HD and hold down the mouse
button. This will cause your CD drive to open. Pop in
your software restore disc and close the drive. IF you get
a folder with the mac face and a ? mark...then the just
turn off the mac again and with the CD still in it turn it
back on holding down the C key. This will make the
machine boot to the CD and just install at will. If you
need any help with this just email me and i will be glad to
help

Cheers,

I do have other macs avail and will try this, I kind of thought that was the only option but I was going to drag the hard disk out and reformat it.