Roger Mad-eye

Q: G3 Hard drive problems

This is a G3 Dual USB 500mhz iBook running Tiger. The problem started with "localised string not found" in Safari. I thought I'd restart the iBook to see if that helped, but I just got the flashing question mark and no restart. I tried putting in the install disk, and finding the startup disk, but the only options were the DVD, or a network startup. I Tried Disk Utility, which told me the Hard Drive was fine. Rather bizarrely it also told me the Mac HD was on a 2TB Fujitsu internal disk, on a 30GB partition. Not sure I believe that, never noticed it before (bought the iBook off ebay2 or 3 years ago). Have however bought a 2TB NAS a couple of months ago which the iBook was always connected to wirelessly for music.

I've reset the PRAM , and hopefully the PMU but not too sure about that.

I've tried to reinstall from the DVD but it will not give me a location to install to...

 

So Disk Utility says there is nothing that needs to be repaired, but attempts to erase the disk or repartition it fail, with the error "input output error", or the underlying task reported failure on exit. SMART shows the drive is Not Supported.

 

So I'm very confused, there must be something still working if DU says nothing needs to be repaired, but it can't be seen st startup, and it can't be erased or partitioned, and I can't reinstall.

 

I get the feeling my G3 is laughing at me for trying to use such an ancient piece of kit.

 

 

Anybody got any ideas??

 

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), late 2006, 2.16GHz, 3GB RAM

Posted on Jan 13, 2012 4:31 PM

Close

Q: G3 Hard drive problems

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Ronda Wilson,

    Ronda Wilson Ronda Wilson Jan 13, 2012 9:55 PM in response to Roger Mad-eye
    Level 8 (41,527 points)
    Jan 13, 2012 9:55 PM in response to Roger Mad-eye

    Others have apparently solve the  "localised string not found" error in Safari by reinstalling Safari.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2458495

     

    The odd reportage of your hard drive leads me to believe that there is something wrong with it. There is no way a 2 TB internal hard drive would be recognized

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2544?viewlocale=en_US

     

    although some users have reported success with using hard drives larger than 128 GB by using Speedtools ATA Hi-Capacity Driver:

     

    http://www.speedtools.com/ATA6.html

     

    I'm not saying one doesn't exist, but I've never seen a 2 TB 2.5 inch ATA internal hard drive advertised for sale.

  • by Roger Mad-eye,

    Roger Mad-eye Roger Mad-eye Jan 14, 2012 1:00 PM in response to Ronda Wilson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2012 1:00 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

    Hi Ronda

    Thanks for your reply. I'm pretty sure it's just a 30GB disk, I googled the serial number as revealed by Disk Utility, and it's an old 30GB Fujitsu, as originally supplied I should think.

     

    So is there any (cheap) disk utility programs out there that might give me more of an answer, or should I just accept it is cooked and get another hard drive?

  • by Roger Mad-eye,

    Roger Mad-eye Roger Mad-eye Jan 14, 2012 1:13 PM in response to Ronda Wilson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2012 1:13 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

    Also, I forgot to say, clicking on the Macintosh HD in Disk Utility, the Mount Point is shown as not mounted. Does that help?

  • by Ronda Wilson,

    Ronda Wilson Ronda Wilson Jan 14, 2012 1:21 PM in response to Roger Mad-eye
    Level 8 (41,527 points)
    Jan 14, 2012 1:21 PM in response to Roger Mad-eye

    Roger Mad-eye wrote:

     

    Hi Ronda

    Thanks for your reply. I'm pretty sure it's just a 30GB disk, I googled the serial number as revealed by Disk Utility, and it's an old 30GB Fujitsu, as originally supplied I should think.

     

    Think again. The standard hard drive in a 500 MHz iBook was 10 GB, so the drive has been replaced at some point if it now has a 30 GB drive.

     

    If the hard drive serial number is reported in Disk Utility, then that means it can at least be seen, and there is some hope. I don't see how you can see any information on it at all if it is reported as not mounted. What it sounds like is that you have the Startup Disk set to start up from the 2 TB external drive, but then the drive is disconnected, maybe?

     

    What happens when you check the System Profiler? Is the hard drive seen there? Or do you mean that is where you did check? The model number of my hard drive shows up in Disk Utility, but it takes the System Profiler to find the serial number of it.

     

    Any hard drive utilities you would buy will likely cost you more than a newer (and bigger) hard drive, so if there's nothing on the drive you want or need, that may be the way to go.

     

    Are you able to start up in Safe Mode?

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455?viewlocale=en_US

     

    If this works you will see the normal desktop Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless it has been renamed). What is the hard drive capacity and how much space remains available on it? Repair permissions on it. Sometimes strange thing happens when the hard drive is more than 85% full (less than 15% available space).

     

    See if you are able to do a little hard drive maintenance in this manner to help things out.