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TICKET ARCHIVE -> iMac G5 10.4 (nothing)

Qfxz - Apr 8, 2006 - 1:17 pm

I did an archive and install, afterwards some of the same problems occured, so I then went for the erase and install. When I did this I did not keep any of the old files, system folders, prefs, mail, or anything; a clean install. Well, it did not work.
Currently the machine stays at the grey screen with the apple logo. When I try to start up from the install disk the machine wants to run the install again, the problem at this point is that it never stops checking the disk volume so it can be selected as the destination to install 10.4 upon. When starting and holding down the option key the above happens. I tried while holding the 'c' key down, pretty much the same as above. It never gets to where OS X starts.
Any help is appreciated.

John

DeltaMac - Apr 8, 2006 - 1:32 pm

I think you may have a failing hard drive.
Boot to your restore DVD
At the installer screen, open Disk Utility from the Utilities menu
try a Repair Disk from that utility
If it fails, click on the partition tab, and change the partition setting (which will remove everything), then go back to the erase tab, and erase the drive a second time. Try the First Aid/Repair Disk again.
If none of this will work, and you get errors when you try to run the Repair Disk everytime - then the hard drive has probably failed...
Let me know how it goes...
- Dale

Qfxz - Apr 8, 2006 - 6:33 pm

Originally I could not get the machine to do anything, it ran in a loop. For whatever reason it finally stopped the spinning beach ball and let me select my harddrive to install 10.4. It worked! It is a matter of time to see if it holds or crashed again.

Thanks for the tips and advice.

John

DeltaMac - Apr 8, 2006 - 6:45 pm

What was the result running Disk Utility/Repair Disk from the install DVD?

Qfxz - Apr 10, 2006 - 12:01 am

I never got to the disk utility, the state where the machine was hanging up would not allow me to navigate anywhere. This is how it went: Power on the machine, up comes the grey background field with the apple logo in the center of the screen...that was as far as I was getting, just a spinning gear for 30 minutes to 1 hour, I never reached the disk utility. I had disconnected the system and was ready to bring it to a 'mac geniius.' Then I went in again, the same thing was happening and then (this would be while holding down the option key, with the install disk in the combo drive) the screen to choose which volume to start up on appeared. Before I had always tried with the main volume, that never opened (the spinning beach ball...). ---Realize that prior to this I had done an install and archive, when it became apparent it had not worked I did a full erase and install, this is when it started to hang up; this last action lead me to post this current thread---Anyway, I chose to erase and install, again. It took a while for the spinning gear to stop, but, finally, something had at last opened. I did the install again. So far it is okay but I have not really done anything with it. I am using my G3 iMac front slotload right now, there just has not been enough time to go ahead and start install my other applications on the G5 and get back to work on that one.

I had done a hardware test, all the components passed. Going back two weeks or so, when the trouble started again, the 2nd time, I had run disk utility. It failed and quit the action before the complete (scan?) action was done and said the main volume needed repair (<---not the exact words).

BTW, I should have most of my applications installed again by the end of this week. Most likely the G5 will not be used until this is done, then I will find out if everything is back to normal. Right now it seems to be okay.

John Q

DeltaMac - Apr 10, 2006 - 7:01 am

Before you go too much further (and perhaps waste your time on a failing/failed hard drive) - you really should test the hard drive, and Disk Utility is a good one to use.
Don't waste your time by trying to run Disk Utility from your system. You can repair permissions, but that's all.
Again - boot to your Tiger installer DVD, and at the installer screen, open Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
You may find that it tests OK now that you have erased the drive, but you should still test it.

Qfxz - Apr 11, 2006 - 3:44 pm

I ran the disk utility this morning, that would be on the main volume, this is what I got when verifying the disk: First Aid failed upon exit due to;
Invalid node structue
The volume Q needs repair
Reported failure on exit

1 HFS volume checked;
Volume needs repair

I anticipate some reluctance from Apple (store) on this issue even though it seems to be a harddrive problem. I had not been able to check the SMART status. It may be a few days before I get it to the store (Friday). Any suggestions as to what I can do if I get any run around? I lost a number of files, had a lot of work/projects corrupted and have spent way too much time on this thing already. I did want to be sure I had checked every option available before I brought it in for repair.
Let me know what you think. I have a class in a few hours and will check this site when done.

Thanks again,

John Q

DeltaMac - Apr 11, 2006 - 4:48 pm

If you have recently erased the hard drive, and already showing directory problems - when I would offer the opinion that you should try that again - it's probably a waste of more time. and your hard drive should easily be replaced.

Don't anticipate that an Apple store will give you an argument. just explain that Disk Utility reports directory problems, and you erased the drive, and again have Disk Utility reporting directory problems. Seems to be an easy choice for a service tech.
Let me know how it goes...
- Dale

Qfxz - Apr 11, 2006 - 9:33 pm

Thanks, I will let you know how it works out.

John