Extracting files from broken iBook G4?

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Level 1

1 points

Extracting files from broken iBook G4?

I bought a semi-new iBook G4 from a roommate around 4 years ago when I first started attending college (obviously, w/ no warranties but it was the best $500 I ever spent). Recently, it has stopped working. When the power button is pressed, the fan turns on and never stops spinning but nothing else turns on (except the CAPS lock light, when the button is pressed). I know that it's probably broken for good, since I've checked out the troubleshooting page and nothing it suggests seems to work. However, I still want a great deal of the files still on the computer.

Can data be extracted from the hard drive to another computer or an external hard drive even if the laptop doesn't work? And, how? I'm about to graduate from college and I really don't want to lose most of the stuff that's on my old laptop (like pictures, movies, songs, and documents) mainly for sentimental reasons.

Or am I screwed for being too busy and cheap to back things up?

iBook G4

Posted on May 13, 2008 2:30 PM

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Answer 1

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

May 13, 2008 7:26 PM in response to bigdame

bigdame:

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Or am I screwed for being too busy and cheap to back things up?

I hope not, but sometimes the cheap way can be very expensive.

Here are the options I see:
1. If you can boot your computer into Firewire Target Disk Mode you may be able to connect to another Mac and transfer your data to the HDD of the other computer. This would be the simplest option.

1 b. If the volume on your internal HDD is in any way damaged you may need to use data recovery software like DataRescue II to save the data. Dr. Smoke's FAQ Data Recovery has suggestions on how to do that.

2. If you are not able to boot into Firewire Target Disk Mode to backup your data, and your internal HDD is intact, you can remove the HDD from the computer and place it in a firewire enclosure, then connect it to another Mac. If the volume is readable you should be able to backup your data. If the volume is damaged, you may need to use data recovery software as in 1 b.

Please do post back with further questions or comments.

Cheers 🙂

cornelius

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Answer 2

John Huber1

Level 6

17,745 points

May 13, 2008 7:59 PM in response to bigdame

Hi bigdame,

Welcome to the Discussions.

In addition to cornelius' suggestions, if the logic board has failed it won't start in Target Disk Mode. In that case an external enclosure for the hard drive would allow you to recover the files. OWC and others sell them for notebook (2.5" PATA) drives.

John

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Answer 3

May 13, 2008 11:17 PM in response to John Huber1

Before you go looking at replacing the hard drive, you may want to see what it takes to switch the thing out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvoKx8M8GGc

Some repair centers will work on them, some won't, most will probably ask for a bit more money to do it. I've replaced my iPod hard drive a few times myself, but I wouldn't touch this thing with a pole. Get someone who can actually put it back together when it's all over.

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Answer 4

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

May 14, 2008 11:10 AM in response to vegipowrd

vegipowrd:

The idea is not a matter of replacing the HDD. The iBook does not work. The OP wants to recover data from the HDD. If the iBook cannot boot into FW-TDM because of a failed logic board, it may be necessary to remove the HDD from the computer and place it in an external FW enclosure and connect it to another to recover the data. As far as we know there may be no problem at all with the HDD. However, if it has failed, it would, normally, need to be replaced.

🙂 cornelius

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