Start up Disk can't be found?!

Discussion in 'macOS' started by mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006.

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  1. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir macrumors 6502a

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    #1
    Hello,

    I'm using a G4 running 10.3 and this morning instead of starting up it stuck on a grey screnn and had an image of a folder with a flashing question mark.

    I've looked at apple's site and tried starting up from the system disk, but that is causing trouble too.

    Has anyone else had this problem and could offer some advice?

    We have a lot of work on the machine that I am desperate not to lose!

    Many thanks,
    M
     
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  2. yellow, Sep 20, 2006

    yellow Moderator emeritus

    yellow

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    #2
    1) Boot from the installer CD that came with the computer.
    2) You have everything on a backup, correct?
     
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  3. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #3
    1) That doesn't seem to work

    2) You'ld think. Unfortunately, this is my colleagues computer and he hasn't backed up for about a week, which equals a lot of work!
     
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  4. darkcurse, Sep 20, 2006

    darkcurse macrumors 6502a

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    #4
    If so why don't you just target firewire disk mode and transfer all the data out? Oh and have you tried holding option down and stuff like that? Just asking :D
     
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  5. yellow, Sep 20, 2006

    yellow Moderator emeritus

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    #5
    How so? What happens? You're using the correct CDs, right? And the keyboard is plugged directly into the CPU (not a a KVM or something), right? Have you zapped the PRAM, etc?
     
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  6. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #6
    Hi there,

    How would I do that? I have an external hardrive with firewire, and an old ipod firewire...

    What does holding option down do?:eek:
     
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  7. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #7
    Thanks for your help Yellow

    I'm using the panther disks used to upgrade from OS9. Restarted holding 'c' and got a window saying 'installer' and select languages.

    When I go to 'select startup disk' in the menu, it doesn't find any volumes apart from one called 'network startup' with a '?' on it.

    Also tried disk ultility, and it says something in the background didn't start up so quit 'disk utility and start again', but then it won't quit!
     
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  8. darkcurse, Sep 20, 2006

    darkcurse macrumors 6502a

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    #8
    Holding down OPTION will give you an option to select the bootable disks on your computer. So, it might just be that OS X has temporarily had amnesia as to which it should boot first lol. Er, to boot up into target firewire disk mode hold down "T" while booting. The only catch is that you need another Mac to access the broken one's hd.
     
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  9. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #9
    Aha! Will try holding down option first.

    Otherwise, I'll connect my powerbook to the G4 via firewire. Do I leave both on and then restart the G4 holding down 'T'?

    Thanks for your advice.
     
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  10. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #10
    Holding down option has resulted in a blue screen. To the left is a button with an arrow going in a circle. To the right is a button with an arrow going right.

    Nothing else... :eek:
     
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  11. yellow, Sep 20, 2006

    yellow Moderator emeritus

    yellow

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    #11
    Yeah if the startup disk doesn't show in your disk selection, then it's likely the HD has died. You should probably break open the CPU case and make sure all the cables are securely plugged into the HD (and board). Also, start up the computer with the case open and check for noise from the HD. Does it spin up? Click? Make any noise at all? Also, you really need to try and get Disk Utility running to see if it can see/repair the HD. If you're lucky. Beyond that, this is a hardware issue that really needs a professional to look at. Please note, data recovery is VERY expensive.
     
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  12. 2ndPath, Sep 20, 2006

    2ndPath macrumors 6502

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    #12
    If you get the blue screen with the two buttons after holding down the option key on start up, try putting the Software installation CD or a Mac OS installation CD into the optical drive and press the button with the circling arrow on it. If a button showing the CD shows up, then you could boot from the CD by selecting it an clicking the other arrow. If it doesn´t I guess you have a problem with the Mac hardware and probably not with the hard disk. Then the data might be saved by removing the hard disc from the G4 and putting it in another machine or an external firewire case to read it out with another mac.
     
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  13. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #13
    I've just managed to do the firewire hold 'T' thing and got the macintosh hd of the G4 onto my powerbook (and am now backing everythin up!).

    I guess that means the hd still works?

    So i'm guessing it's the system I have problems with?
     
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  14. darkcurse, Sep 20, 2006

    darkcurse macrumors 6502a

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    #14
    Yeah, maybe the OS got corrupted somehow. Glad to know that you can save the data :D
     
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  15. yellow, Sep 20, 2006

    yellow Moderator emeritus

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    #15
    Now is the time to use Disk Utility on your PB to try and fix the mounted HD, assuming there's something wrong with it.
     
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  16. TEG, Sep 20, 2006

    TEG macrumors 604

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    #16
    This is a common problem with the HFS file structure. A minor error can corrupt the bootable image on the drive preventing startup. A simple reinstalling of the OS (not a clean reinstall) usually fixes it.

    It may also be a problem with the NewWorld ROM used on modern PPC machines. The ROM for the system is actually stored on the HD, so if there is a problem with it, even a minor one, you can't really do anything with the system. However, that does not explain the inability to see the HD as a valid startup disk.

    I say reinstall the OS, and good luck.

    TEG
     
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  17. mouchoir, Sep 20, 2006

    mouchoir thread starter macrumors 6502a

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    #17
    I got very lucky I could connect via firewire and backup.

    Once it's finished the back up, I will try and use my powerbook disk utility to fix the HD as suggested, and reinstall the OS if not.

    Thanks so much for all your help, I would have been very lost indeed without it.:)
     
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