2006 iMac - salvageable?

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I thought OP said he installed Mac OS X on an external and it worked fine? Did he install Linux to the internal and it worked fine?
 
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I believe he said he ran linux from a USB stick


but I may be wrong he did say that he got it to install once and then it wouldn't go any further after which in my opinion implies a bad GPU as its then warm and won't boot no longer.


not all GPU issues show artefacts on the screen I have a late 2009 iMac and it had a bad GPU but wouldn't boot and no artefacts occurred so I baked it in the oven and it solved all the problems.

but I did replace it a few days later with one from another machine that had a totally damaged case.

and now its back working like a champ.
 
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Being an Intel-based machine, it should definitely run the latest version of a Linux distro and likely provide similar functionality.

You can run the SMART drive utility for Macs to check for bad sectors first. Google 'Voltans, Mac', download and run it.

Since the 2006 iMac boots in 32 bit configuration, (but runs in 64 bit mode) only 32 bit Linux distros (ie 'distributions') off the shelf will work. However, one techie has modified some 64 bit Linux distros to boot with 32 bit Macs. You can download them from here:

https://mattgadient.com/2016/07/11/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/

Just hold down the Option key when booting and choose either EFI or Windows. That will be your DVD Linux disk. Of course, you can also install the modified distro onto a USB drive, if you know how. You will now have a cutting edge Linux distro, currently supported until 2013 (!). Download some Mac icons from Macbuntu and either Docky or Plank for a Mac-like appearance, and you will be good to go. I have installed Linux Mint XFCE and Elementary OS 4.1 successfully on these and other old Macs with great success, and they are fast. The site linked above now has the latest Elementary OS 5.0 available for 32 bit Macs as well.
 
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