Won't Boot, purhaps HDD broken?

When you boot up from the install disk, bring up Disk Utility and see what it says for SMART status. If it's anything but verified, time to replace the hard drive.

You can also download Smart Utility from http://www.volitans-software.com/smart_utility.php which shows you the SMART sensors, and some may show the drive going bad before it trips the overall SMART status.

If that's the original hard drive, it's around 5 yerars old, so it wouldn't be surprising if it's time to replace it.

Let's try another cheap thing first. You can try booting in Safe Mode by holding SHIFT at boot until you get a message saying that Safe Boot is underway. This can take a while. Do nothing until you get a stable desktop. Again, do noting other than restart normally.

Safe boot does a directory check and can make minor repairs. And costs nothing.

Although Disk Utility cannot fix the problem, a stronger utility like DiskWarrior ( http://alsoft.com/) may well do it. As an analogy, Disk Utility is to DiskWarrior as a $3 plastic first-aid kit is to a mobile trauma response vehicle. DU was intended as a first-line, light-duty tool., only a step above triage.

Although DW costs about US$100, it is probably the best thing to have in your emergency kit, especially if you have more than one Mac.

I'm having a similar but seemingly more serious situation with my HDD; is it polite to ask advice in this thread, or start a new one?

Jim,

Thanks for asking. It's best to start your own thread, as solutions often address unique circumstances. Plus there's a better chance of getting people to focus on your issue.

Done, thanks.

Prvt. Donut:

running the disk utility verify seems to have revealed something that i was suspecting all along.

Boot from the install disk as before and click *Repair Disk* instead of +verify disk+
Repair Disk
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel, and report if it says anything but Verified)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
If DU reports errors it cannot repair you will need to use a utility like Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior

😉 cornelius

If you think about it, your machine is six years old and definitely up for a new hard drive. Just one thing to consider. When hard disc drives die you can recover your data, in most cases, but when SSD drives die it is over! If you are an avid backer-upperer it would not be such an issue, but too many people are not.

I did a complete zero out format of the drive, and then installed from my leopard install disc.

That's great. So long as it is working you are fine and should be able to get along with the present HDD for a while, especially since you are not storing much on this computer. An SSD will be fine except that the cost/benefit is usually against it, except in special situations. However, if that is what you want to do, go for it.

😉 cornelius

I said that it not booting after the format and reinstall.

Sorry. I misinterpreted your statement:

I did a complete zero out format of the drive, and then installed from my leopard install disc. (I lost my original discs and bought leopard, which runs great btw)

😉 cornelius

it's just further evidence that you can't rely on skimming.

More a case of ambiguous writing. I read and reread when it is not clear on first reading. Your post said that you installed Leopard and it "runs great" which suggests that it was working after installation. Misinterpreted an ambiguous statement, yes. Skimming, no.

😉 cornelius