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Resolved Powerbook G4 12" - Mechanical CD-drive lock & HDD problems

S

smiba

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 11, 2012
12
0
The Netherlands
I just bought this powerbook from the internet for a nice price.

The system is damaged so i need to re-install it... This is the first problem Something is blocking my way in the disk drive slot it doesn't feel like a CD.. But i can live without a CD drive. So i wanted to install Mac Os X 10.4 from USB, I need to boot from an USB drive with OpenFirmware.

But by pressing: Alt + Apple + O + F before i press the power button (And holding it after) i will still hear the Boot sound and the system is starting to boot (But keeps spinning for ever. HDD I/O Error while loading /sbin/launchd error 5)

How am i gonna fix this? Since the system shows the spinner there isn't real hardware damage

I wont go to a apple store. I would need to ride 100KM and it will cost me more then i paid for it
I would like to fix it without opening the powerbook, i will likely damage it.
 

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The thing blocking your drive is a screw. Somebody failed to use the correct screw (it's too long) while trying to reassemble the Powerbook. I'm guessing they took it apart to attempt to fix the same issue you're encountering. You'll need to disassemble the Powerbook in order to fix this issue.

I'm going to guess that either your hard drive is dead or the cable connecting the hard drive to the logic board is damaged.

Sorry.
 
First reset PRAM. This should allow you to enter OF later. Try single user mode and run fsck. Filesystem on HDD seems to be damaged. If HDD isn't physically damaged, fsck should help.

Optical drive is another thing. You can't fix it without removing. That same happened to my PB's and Mini's ODD recently.

----------
DarkSel said:
The thing blocking your drive is a screw. Somebody failed to use the correct screw (it's too long) while trying to reassemble the Powerbook.
Click to expand...

Exactly that same issue I have in my Mini and PB and I didn't disassemble any of them (but I will soon).
 
DarkSel said:
I'm going to guess that either your hard drive is dead or the cable connecting the hard drive to the logic board is damaged.

Sorry.
Click to expand...

I found a small bar is blocking it from the right side. But the cable is connected, It makes ejecting sounds when booting with Left mouse button

666sheep said:
First reset PRAM. This should allow you to enter OF later. Try single user mode and run fsck. Filesystem on HDD seems to be damaged. If HDD isn't physically damaged, fsck should help.
Click to expand...

I will try this now

EDIT: The Apple + Alt + P + R Didn't work, trough holding power on boot did something... But i don't know what..
 
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You can startup PowerPC Mac's via USB without needing to get into OpenFirmware. Just plug in the bootable drive and turn it on while pressing Option. Select the drive and continue booting. Have you tried getting into OpenFirmware with a USB keyboard?
 
Intell said:
You can startup PowerPC Mac's via USB without needing to get into OpenFirmware. Just plug in the bootable drive and turn it on while pressing Option. Select the drive and continue booting. Have you tried getting into OpenFirmware with a USB keyboard?
Click to expand...

Can you show me a tutorial how to install Mac OS X 10.4 with a external disk?

I havn't tried that, but would it matter?

(I'm going to sleep now, I'll try this tomorrow)
 
There's really not much to it; plug in external drive, boot from it, install Tiger as normal. Done.

A USB keyboard might work. The Powerbook's keyboard may be damaged and not registering some of the keypresses correctly.
 
This is not the case with PowerBooks and USB 2.0 ports.. The USB flash drive I used does NOT appear when I press the Option key.. But, strangely enough on my PowerBook Pismo which uses USB 1.1 this problem does not exist.

I am guessing Apple restricted the newer firmware on USB 2.0 PowerPC machines from recognizing USB 2.0 devices through Option.

Intell said:
You can startup PowerPC Mac's via USB without needing to get into OpenFirmware. Just plug in the bootable drive and turn it on while pressing Option. Select the drive and continue booting. Have you tried getting into OpenFirmware with a USB keyboard?
Click to expand...
 
PowerPCMacMan said:
This is not the case with PowerBooks and USB 2.0 ports.. The USB flash drive I used does NOT appear when I press the Option key.. But, strangely enough on my PowerBook Pismo which uses USB 1.1 this problem does not exist.

I am guessing Apple restricted the newer firmware on USB 2.0 PowerPC machines from recognizing USB 2.0 devices through Option.
Click to expand...

About half of the Powerbook G4s line and some Macs with USB 2.0 ports such as the last eMac can boot with just the Option key.
 
666sheep said:
First reset PRAM. This should allow you to enter OF later. Try single user mode and run fsck. Filesystem on HDD seems to be damaged. If HDD isn't physically damaged, fsck should help.

Optical drive is another thing. You can't fix it without removing. That same happened to my PB's and Mini's ODD recently.

----------



Exactly that same issue I have in my Mini and PB and I didn't disassemble any of them (but I will soon).
Click to expand...

I learned that lesson from experience while replacing the DC-In power unit on my 12" Powerbook.

@OP: I was talking about the cable for the hard drive to the logic board, not the combo drive cable.
 
The externel keyboard didn't work..

But how do I put this 4 10.4 disks on USB disk?

Also why do I hear my hard disk spinning and my disk drive make ejecting sounds if the cables are not connected? Or is it a special apple cable :p
 
Does it react on keys pressing at all? Built in keyboard or external. Can you boot it in single user mode then run fsck?

If you have another Mac and FW cable, you could try to use its optical drive in Target disk mode.
 
666sheep said:
Does it react on keys pressing at all? Built in keyboard or external. Can you boot it in single user mode then run fsck?

If you have another Mac and FW cable, you could try to use its optical drive in Target disk mode.
Click to expand...

It doesn't react to the OpenFirmware key combination

It also can't boot to single user mode. (The screenshot i took was with single mode)

I DO have another mac (Powermac G4) but no FireWire cable (But i might know someone who has). Do i need any software?
 
You don't need any software.
It looks like more serious problem than HDD and ODD.
If any startup keys combo doesn't work on any keyboard, you won't be able to boot PB from PM's ODD in TDM. You'd need an "alt" key to do that. I presume that you've tried both USB ports with external keyboard.
 
666sheep said:
You don't need any software.
It looks like more serious problem than HDD and ODD.
If any startup keys combo doesn't work on any keyboard, you won't be able to boot PB from PM's ODD in TDM. You'd need an "alt" key to do that. I presume that you've tried both USB ports with external keyboard.
Click to expand...

All the startup combo's do work. I can boot verbose, single-user and others

I will try it again with my (Orginal keybord i got with my iMac G3) on all the USB-Ports (I Only tried one port)
 
OK, try booting from PM's ODD in TDM then if you can get FW cable. Erase HDD, fill it with zeros and try to reinstall 10.4.
 
666sheep said:
OK, try booting from PM's ODD in TDM then if you can get FW cable. Erase HDD, fill it with zeros and try to reinstall 10.4.
Click to expand...

I can borrow their Firewire cable within 2 days (Its connected to the company backup network). What can i try without it?

Also when i connect my keybord (Apple Pro keybord) it doesn't response. Caps lock won't turn on, and it does ignore all keys i press
 
I found a small bar is blocking it from the right side. But the cable is connected, It makes ejecting sounds when booting with Left mouse button
Click to expand...

That sounds like part of the eject mechanism for the drive.
 
I fixed it!

The hard drive was broken and a wrong screw was preventing the mechanical lock from going back

Thanks everyone!
 
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