iBook G3 has "clicking" noise, won't start up!!

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iBook G3 has "clicking" noise, won't start up!!

So I have had MANY problems with my iBook G3 ever since i purchased it in 2003. I have already had the hard drive replaced in it before, i've had memory added to it,etc. but since August of this year i've tried to solve this one and I can't. I don't know what to do!

First whenever I turn it on, a clicking sound comes from where the hard drive is, about 15 clicks usually i guess, which I'm sure means it is broken or not in good shape. If the screen turns on (otherwise it just stays black after the startup chime and clicking) then an icon of a question mark on a folder flashes, which I've learned it can't "find" the hard drive in one way or another, correct?

So i've been able to start it up in Target Disk Mode and connect it via FireWire to my iMac G4. the FireWire logo for Target Disk mode appears on the screen (otherwise the screen stays black like when I try to normally startup) like it should when it is started up in Target Disk Mode. However, it will not appear on my iMac. is it not mounting somehow? i'm not totally familiar with accessing files off messed up Hard Drives but I would love to know what I can try because I had my life of music and pictures on my iBook. it has also had a lot of motherboard problems over the years and this might just be part of that problem too.

Is there anything else I can try to get my files off my iBook? i don't care about it never working again... i just want what's on it. is there anything Apple can do? I'd LOVE to be able to do this myself but I'll take it to Apple if I know they can help me somehow...

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

iMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 800 GHz

Posted on Dec 12, 2007 12:39 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 12, 2007 5:12 AM in response to dutch apple

What version of the OS is installed on it?

Do you have the Install disc for the version of the OS which is installed?

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Answer 2

dutch apple Author

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Dec 15, 2007 6:36 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

It has Mac OS 10.4.10 I believe. I don't remember if I've tried starting up with the Mac OS install disk, but I don't know what it would solve? I don't want to reinstall the OS and lose all my documents, plus it may just go back to how it's acting now regardless. But I could also be missing something here... what do you suggest? Thank you.

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Answer 3

Dec 15, 2007 6:49 PM in response to dutch apple

Try booting into Safe Mode. This will take quite awhile longer than a normal startup because it does a file check and repair of the hard disk.

If this works you will see your normal desktop. Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally, and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click on the top hard drive icon in the left sidebar and note the S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom right of the pane. What does it say?

Select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless you've renamed it). What is the hard drive capacity and how much space remains available on it? Repair permissions on it.

If Safe Mode doesn't work for you, try starting up from the Mac OS X Install Disc by inserting the disc and restarting your computer, holding down the C key as the startup chime is ending. Then click 'Next' at the language screen and choose Utilities > Disk Utility and select the hard drive in the left column. Choose the First Aid tab. Click Repair Disk to test and repair the hard drive.

Once you have repaired the hard drive with either Safe Mode or the Install disc's Disk Utility, then start up normally and repair permissions from Disk Utility in the Utilities folder on the hard drive. Again, take note of (and please report back here on) S.M.A.R.T. status and available hard drive space.

See if you are able to do a little hard drive maintenance to help things out.

Good luck.

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Answer 4

dutch apple Author

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Dec 15, 2007 7:25 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

Thank you for your suggestions. But so far I am unsuccessful.

When I booted into Safe Mode, I received the flashing question-mark folder, which I would normally get by starting up normally.

Then I tried booting it with the Mac OS install disk. It would start up going to the gray screen with the Apple logo and the spinning wheel underneath. However the Apple logo gets replaced by a circle with a line through it. The spinning wheel underneath continues to spin, but nothing happens after that.

I am having doubts of it ever starting up again, but is there a way I can simply extract the data from the Hard Drive without booting it? I have tried using Target Disk Mode along with my iMac G4 but the iBook won't mount onto the iMac. I feel I've tried everything, but if anybody has anymore suggestions PLEASE share them with me. It would mean a lot to me to just be able to get my data back.

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Answer 5

Dec 15, 2007 7:33 PM in response to dutch apple

See if you can use _Startup Manager_ to select the OS Install disc in order to start up from it. Sometimes Startup Manager works when starting up from the Install disc using the c key doesn't work.

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Answer 6

Jan 15, 2008 9:15 PM in response to dutch apple

This happened to me many years ago. Unfortunately for me, it was the hard drive making the clicking noise. Mind you, I dropped mine some two plus feet on it's side whilst the drive was seeking. I replaced the hard drive but that was when the iBook was still worth much more than the price of the drive. I'm guessing that this is not the answer you wanted to hear. Sorry about that.

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Answer 7

Jan 16, 2008 12:23 PM in response to Pear Shaped

I've been through the forums with the same problem and the general conclusion was a broken hard drive. You can buy new ones very cheaply or 2nd hand from ebay for very little. I'm going to have a go at putting a new one in myself, you can find a guide how to do it here: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/
Also it may be worth having a look at my recent thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1341767&tstart=0
I don't know how to get the data off the old disk though. Good luck!

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