Help with Disk Utility "First Aid" functions

Hi all,

Some folks in the laptop forum have been helping me troubleshoot an apparently shot HDD, but I wanted to ask here about Disk Utility specifically.

I'm running my G4 PB off of the v10.3 restore CD, and am trying to figure out Disk Utility. It recognizes that I have a 74.5 GB internal HDD, but when I select that drive and the "First Aid" tab, none of the diagnostic options are available. Verify Disk, Repair Disk, etc. are all greyed out.

What do you think this means? Is it possible that the drive is alive enough to be recognized, but damaged enough that it can't be treated, so to speak, with the First Aid tool? FWIW, the laptop was working great until I dropped it

Thanks for your help,
SB

 

Sorry, not sure if I understand what you mean...I have booted from the install disk. Can you clarify? Thanks!