could not read boot block (input/output errror) powerbook g4

Question

could not read boot block (input/output errror) powerbook g4

Hello

My friend gave me a powerbook g4 and a copy of osx lion, I would like to install it but the internal hardive is not available within the "select Destination" area of the installation process. I tried to repair the disk which is labelled Disk0s1, but shortly after it is underway i recieve this message.

**/dev/disk0s1 could not read boot block (input/output error) Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit. 1 non HFS volume checked, 1 volume could not be repaired because of an error.

Within disk utilities the Disk01s is grey, I can try to repair it but the above error occurs. Do you know what the problem is and how I can fix it?

PowerBook, g4, input/output error, osx lion in

Posted on Sep 13, 2011 7:16 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 13, 2011 9:39 PM in response to benjaminfromwindale

Easy answer: Lion will not run on a G4. The highest MacOS version that will run on a PowerPC machine is 10.5.8, and then only on machines meeting the specifications for Leopard.

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Answer 2

Sep 14, 2011 6:22 PM in response to old comm guy

Sorry I percieved the OSX disc wrong, I actually have Tiger, and have been trying to install Tiger and these problems are occurring. What would your suggestions be now?

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Answer 3

Sep 14, 2011 8:02 PM in response to benjaminfromwindale

Since you are going to install system fresh, it sounds like, you should erase the drive. Boot from the installer disc, then select the language but do not start the installer. From the menu bar, you should have either an Applications or an Installer menu. From one of the menus, you can then start Disk Utility.

From the drives and volumes pane, select the internal drive hardware listing.

This will now allow you to partition or erase the disc. Now click the Erase tab and select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format and then click the "Erase" button. You can name the volume that will actually be created, like for instance "MacintoshHD" or whatever you want.)

Once the erase has completed, you need to check the information for the hard drive at the bottom of the window. Be sure that the partition scheme is Apple Partition Map. ⚠If for some reason it is something else, like GUID, you won't be able to install MacOS on it. You will need to click the Partition tab, click the "Options..." button and select Apple Partition Map, then click the "Partition" button.

Once this is done, then you can quit Disk Utility and you should be able to install Tiger on that HD.

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Answer 4

Sep 16, 2011 3:26 AM in response to old comm guy

Cool, I turned on my computer yesterday to follow your instuctions but now the machine is booting and showing a flashing world icon, followed by a folder icon and question mark icon flashing intermittently, the osx tiger disk is in there and I have taken it to 2 mac stores and they have said it could be the optical drive. I have taken it apart but I was helpless to discern what was wrong with the drive as it is properlly plugged into the main board and it ejects and excepts the disks fine.

Any thoughts?

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Answer 5

Sep 16, 2011 7:41 AM in response to benjaminfromwindale

Try booting with the option key held down and the install disc in the drive, which should bring you to the startup manager. If an icon for the install disc shows up, click on it and then click the right-arrow icon below and to the right of the disc icon. If the disc icon doesn't show up, then you may indeed have a problem with either the disc or the optical drive.

As always, this needs to either be a black retail install disc (10.4.0 or 10.4.6) or the grayish install/restore disc intended for that specific model.

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Answer 6

Sep 18, 2011 5:09 PM in response to old comm guy

HI I tried you suggestion there is no disc within the startup manager. I will ateempt fsck to check the disk.

thankyou.

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