Open Firmware as hardware failure diagnostic tool

Thank you for letting me know about the Hardware Test facility. I've done as you indicate using the OS X disk #1. The screen shows three icons, including the right arrow. The mouse pointer is a wrist watch with rotating hands, and can be moved around the screen with the mouse. After between 30-40 seconds the CD-ROM drive stops spinning, the wrist watch hands stop rotating, and the mouse pointer (wrist watch) cannot be moved. I have also tried moving the pointer over the right arrow while it can be moved (and the hands are rotating) and clicking on the right arrow (while the hands are moving) but as to be expected nothing happens, and then when the hands stop rotating I have then clicked again on the right arrow (and again, also as expected, nothing happens).

Any thoughts?

The reason for wanting to carry out this test is as follows: I thought I had hard drive failure so bought a new (compatible) drive, but it would not format (I have since formatted it on another machine so I know the drive is good). It now appears that the original drive has not failed but is instead corrupted (I have now purchased Disk Warrior 3, and waiting for it to arrive). Also, the fan starts a few seconds after power on, but runs for only about 2 seconds before stopping (and it does not restart at any point). I am being pointed to logic board or hard drive data-cable failure. The cost of replacing the logic board is astronomical so before I do take this step I wanted to attempt to confirm the diagnosis.

What procedure/tools do the "professionals" use to determine precisely what component has failed?

Hello DP and Eddie.

Thank you for your respective replies. Apologies for slightly tardy response, which is due to family visiting me at the moment. However, resolving the problem with my PB is very important to me, and I really do appreciate the time you guys take to respond to me personally, and to a myriad of other posts.

DP, in response to your points first.

I have booted from the OS X Disk, but I am unable to locate the System Preferences menu; consequently, I cannot go to System Preferences -> Startup Disk, select Hardware Test + Restart as you suggest.

Regarding the fan, I have confirmed by visual means (by peering into the vents at the rear of PB with the aid of a torch) that the fan starts a few seconds after power on, but runs for only about 2 seconds before stopping (and it does not restart at any point). The fan is not audible at any stage, but I believe this is only to be expected given the combined effects of the CD-ROM drive reading from the OS X CD, and the hard drive spinning.

I can’t run Temperature Monitor to check for any unusual temperatures, because I can’t install anything on the hard drive (and I can't format it, but that's why my posts began in the first place...). If the PB is left switched on for a lengthy period, say 10 minutes or more, the case in the area of the hard drive gets very warm indeed.

Eddie, in response to your questions:

The screen shows just 3 icons:

Rescan - with a circular arrow (on the left)
Mac OS X Install Disc (in the centre, slightly raised above the other two)
Right arrow (on the right)

Yes, the mouse pointer freezes after about 30-40 seconds

Hi DP. Thank you for your continued interest in this issue.

With the grey disk (labeled "Mac OS X Xcode Tools Install Disc), restarting without pressing any key results in the PB searching for an OS. However, holding down the option (alt) key while restarting leads to a screen now displaying just 2 icons:

Rescan - with a circular arrow (on the left)

Right arrow (on the right)

And as before, the mouse pointer freezes after about 30-40 seconds