How to fix a 15" Powerbook G4 hard disc death

Question

How to fix a 15" Powerbook G4 hard disc death

Hi all,

I have a Powerbook 15" G4 . It didn't start up one day...and keep rotating the locating sun icon.
I tried using Disc Utilities, it can see my drive name. I cannot mount it, but I pressed erase and it seem to have done that.

However I tried to reinstall MacOsX from the original disc but it spat back out. For the disc Software Install it oaded up once I press C but cant find the hard drive...

Tried putting in Panther install, disc spat out.
Tried Tiger install discs start up installer was able to load but couldnt find destination disc. Open Disc Utility and it can see the volume, erased it but then can't see disc when I tried to install OSX...still the same... no icon appear on the selection..

Please help 😟

Whats the problem here? Is it because my hard disc isdead?

powerbook G4 AL 15" and powermac 2.7ghz, Mac OS X (10.4.10), lacie external hard drives

Posted on Aug 14, 2009 2:18 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 14, 2009 2:24 AM in response to generalstudies™

Also tried using it as firewire mode but cannot load up.
Zapped P-RAM to see if it can start without installation disc too...

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Answer 2

Aug 16, 2009 3:04 AM in response to generalstudies™

Can anyone help me here? Sorry to bump the thread but I am stuck.

The hard drive won't start up and spits out the osX disc. I want to erase the whole computer and reinstall osX but seems to be a problem.

On start up it now is grey screen and rotating fan icon just keep rotating...waited 20 min still nothing happen.

Can someone let me know how to wipe the computer clean and reinstall everything again? I don't mind losing the info, just want to use the computer again as I need it when I travel.

Thanks!

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Answer 3

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Aug 16, 2009 5:50 AM in response to generalstudies™

It certainly sounds as though your hard drive has failed. Your best bet is to replace the hard drive, then worry about whether your optical drive is just dirty or it too has a problem.

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Answer 4

Aug 16, 2009 9:54 AM in response to eww

Is there no alternative to see if I can save the hard drive first?

Do you recommend any software out there that can try and fix it like Disk Repair?

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Answer 5

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Aug 16, 2009 10:19 AM in response to generalstudies™

Hi g,

Boot to your install disc, go to Utilities Menu and see if your HD shows up. If so, click on Repair Disk and see what happens. If it repairs, keep running it until you get to "appears ok" in a row.

Beyond that, Disk Warrior might be able to repair the directory, but if the damage is actual hardware, you'll need a new HD. Note that a new HD is less expensive than DW.

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Answer 6

Aug 16, 2009 9:49 PM in response to tjk

Thanks for the info, I will try it out today.
Disc Utilities can see the hard drive only using the software disc but repairing it is another thing.

Its funny that DW is more expensive than a hard drive haha.
I will ask around for prices too, many thanks!

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Answer 7

Aug 16, 2009 10:06 PM in response to generalstudies™

I am using Disc Utitlity to check my drive now.

It says in some parts in red:

Reserved fields in teh catalog have incorrect data
Illegal name

What does this mean?

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Answer 8

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Aug 17, 2009 11:01 AM in response to generalstudies™

generalstudies™ wrote:
I am using Disc Utitlity to check my drive now.

It says in some parts in red:

Reserved fields in teh catalog have incorrect data
Illegal name

What does this mean?

Don't know off hand; by any chance did you change any OS file names (maybe while booted into OS9).

Did DU repair it?

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Answer 9

Aug 17, 2009 10:22 PM in response to tjk

Sad but after disc verification my hd has disappeared.

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Answer 10

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Aug 18, 2009 5:55 AM in response to generalstudies™

Your drive has failed. Replace it and you will be able to get your Mac up and running again.

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Answer 11

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Aug 18, 2009 10:15 AM in response to eww

eww wrote:
Your drive has failed. Replace it and you will be able to get your Mac up and running again.

I tend to agree, but now that you have DW, I'd give it another try or two. You may be able to at least access some data (if you need to).

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