Hi guys I have acquired a 27 inch late 2011 iMac suspecting LCD problems ) , I am trying to connect it to my tv, via mini display port to hdmi cable , I am getting no signal at all on the tv. IMac boots up fine and does start up chime, the iMac currently has no hard drive in it , could this be the reason why it will not pick up signal? Does the iMac need a hdd with os loaded on in order to use the thunderbolt ports?

Thanks

(Noob to Apple products )