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TICKET ARCHIVE -> G3 Ibook Hard Drive Failed?
twistee - Jul 4, 2005 - 1:11 pm
Hi
I have a G3 ibook 600MHZ, 20gb HD 10.2.8 which my girlfriend was using when the harddrive started making continuous clicking sounds, about one per second, and the computer effectively hung on us.
I thought she may have filled the HD, so after restarting i managed to move some stuff to the G5, but it was a painfully slow process, and after clearing about 1GB the clicking started again.
I checked some responses to similar problems on this site, but am hampered by the faulty internal dvd/cd drive. I have an external firewire LaCie CDRW which i put the software restore cd1 10.1.2 disk into (i cannot find the 10.2 upgrade disks that i got), anyway i restarted the ibook, holding 't' down, i get the firewire symbol but no action.
each time i try to start the ibook normally, it takes about 10mins to log in, and each action i try to do with it either takes the same amount of time to complete, or it does not progress at all.
Is there a way that i will be able to check the harddrive and fix any problems with it, or at least find out if it has spun its last waltz?
I am ok with tech stuff once i know what i am doing, but am in the dark on this one, any help that can be offered will be much appreciated, two people, one machine = not good!
Bruce
I have a G3 ibook 600MHZ, 20gb HD 10.2.8 which my girlfriend was using when the harddrive started making continuous clicking sounds, about one per second, and the computer effectively hung on us.
I thought she may have filled the HD, so after restarting i managed to move some stuff to the G5, but it was a painfully slow process, and after clearing about 1GB the clicking started again.
I checked some responses to similar problems on this site, but am hampered by the faulty internal dvd/cd drive. I have an external firewire LaCie CDRW which i put the software restore cd1 10.1.2 disk into (i cannot find the 10.2 upgrade disks that i got), anyway i restarted the ibook, holding 't' down, i get the firewire symbol but no action.
each time i try to start the ibook normally, it takes about 10mins to log in, and each action i try to do with it either takes the same amount of time to complete, or it does not progress at all.
Is there a way that i will be able to check the harddrive and fix any problems with it, or at least find out if it has spun its last waltz?
I am ok with tech stuff once i know what i am doing, but am in the dark on this one, any help that can be offered will be much appreciated, two people, one machine = not good!
Bruce
DeltaMac - Jul 4, 2005 - 1:33 pm
The 't' key is used to boot into Target Disk mode, and mounts a Mac on the desktop of another Mac as a removable drive. Boot to an external drive by holding the Option key, and choosing the bootable disk from the icons that display on the screen.
Clicking from a Hard drive is never a good sign. You may find that replacing the hard drive might fix problems associated with the CD drive, as they both use the same data/power ribbon cable.
The symptoms that you describe probably mean the drive has simply failed, and nothing you can do except have the drive replaced. If you have ever had your hands dirty inside a laptop, then you could consider repairing this one, but it's not a simple replacement, and you will probably take this to an Apple Auth repair for drive replacement.
- Dale
Clicking from a Hard drive is never a good sign. You may find that replacing the hard drive might fix problems associated with the CD drive, as they both use the same data/power ribbon cable.
The symptoms that you describe probably mean the drive has simply failed, and nothing you can do except have the drive replaced. If you have ever had your hands dirty inside a laptop, then you could consider repairing this one, but it's not a simple replacement, and you will probably take this to an Apple Auth repair for drive replacement.
- Dale
twistee - Jul 4, 2005 - 3:27 pm
Wow Dale, thanks for the speedy response.
I think i may be resigned to following your advice of taking this to an Apple dealer for professional fixing.
Before i do that, do you have any idea why, when i hold the Option key, the disk in the firewire drive does not register as an icon on the screen display? i only get the harddrive, a refresh icon and a right arrow icon. in fact the firewire drive does not even spin (it works fine on the G5), could it be using the same data/power ribbon cable?
Cheers
Bruce
I think i may be resigned to following your advice of taking this to an Apple dealer for professional fixing.
Before i do that, do you have any idea why, when i hold the Option key, the disk in the firewire drive does not register as an icon on the screen display? i only get the harddrive, a refresh icon and a right arrow icon. in fact the firewire drive does not even spin (it works fine on the G5), could it be using the same data/power ribbon cable?
Cheers
Bruce
DeltaMac - Jul 4, 2005 - 3:36 pm
If the firewire drive is BUS powered, the iBook might not have enough power to provide that. You should be able to connect an external power source to the FireWire case. The info with the case should tell you what you need if it is an optional item.
- Dale
- Dale
twistee - Jul 4, 2005 - 3:38 pm
Hmm, it has an external power source connected.
Bruce
Bruce
DeltaMac - Jul 4, 2005 - 3:42 pm
If you plug drive into a FireWire port with power on, do you hear the drive spin up?
twistee - Jul 4, 2005 - 4:06 pm
Yes, if the ibook is at the log in screen or later, but no icon registers on the desktop.
No, at the Startup + Option screen, the drive lights up and is powered but does not spin as it would do above or normally.
No, at the Startup + Option screen, the drive lights up and is powered but does not spin as it would do above or normally.
TechSupport - Jul 7, 2005 - 4:30 pm
This ticket has been moved to the open forums for more exposure.
Please follow this link:
http://www.macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229895
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