What is this Powerbook error code?

Question

What is this Powerbook error code?

After years of trouble-free service, our 2004 Powerbook G4 1.33 (10.5.6) is now constantly crashing, even during the login process. Disk Utility says that the volume is good, but running Repair Permissions produces a stream of error messages beyond counting.

If I boot from the install disk and run the basic Apple Hardware Test, it claims everything's fine. But if I run the Extended Test, it reports the following error code in the Mass Storage test section:

2STF/8/3:ATA-100 ata-6 - Master

Can anyone give an inkling of the likely nature of the problem?

And what should I do next? Should I try reformatting the drive? Or should I buy a new hard disk? We can't afford a new Macbook at the moment...

Thanks for any advice.

Mac Mini Intel, Powerbook G4 1.33, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jul 29, 2009 7:31 PM

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Answer 1

BGreg

Level 6

17,558 points

Jul 30, 2009 3:42 AM in response to Emilio Patricio

Welcome to the Apple discussions.

That error says your hard drive is in trouble, either being dead or close to it. Notebook hard drives often have a service life of 3-5 years. When you bring up Disk Utility, what does it say for SMART status? If anything but verified, that's an indicator of hard drive trouble too (although you can have hard drive trouble and not register issues with SMART). While you can try reformatting your hard drive (if you do, also do a secure erase writing zero's on the hard drive, as this resets the bad block table), chances are that it will fail in the near future. I'd recommend a new hard drive. Any 2.5" parallel ATA (not Serial ATA or SATA which newer systems use) hard drive will work.

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