BLINKING QUESTION MARK STARTUP 1

[GCON]

i got in with my software restore cd, but it says harddrive unknown, asking me to initialize? i used disk aid, and i got several errors they could not repair, something saying mountdisk error and and then internal files overlapping...

am i dead in the water here, or is there a way to get in and copy any of my files, before having to format the harddrive..

 

[Ecaboodle]

You need to buy a copy of Norton Disk Doctor! If you can't fix it in 20 minutes call someone who can.

 

[GCON]

thanks, i was planning on buying a copy of norton utilities 6 or 7, both have norton disk doctor as one of their utilities, nice to hear someone else thinks it might help me...

if after 20 minutes nothing working, does anyone know of any cheaper companies specializing in repairing drives, or recovering software... the ones i have looked at all are primed for dealing with companies with the minimum costs starting at $500

 

[Ecaboodle]

Have had a couple of HDD that Disk First Aid would not repair, ran norton on them and up they came no proplems.

Don't think that version 7 works on OS9, think it is just for OS X. But I might be wrong! If you can't fix it in 20 minutes call someone who can.

 

[Jesuspower]

It could be jumper settings on the HD.
2 yrs ago, I had the same problem and It took me 2 weeks to figure out. ( I never bothered to look ) -God Bless

 

[GCON]

what are the jumper settings?

 

[Jesuspower]

hehe, I cant remember, I just played around w/ it until it worked. -God Bless

 

[Ecaboodle]

Jumper settings are the same as you changing the SCSI ID on the boxs the HDD sits in. Jumpers change the SCSI ID's, or you warm them when you are cold.

Little pins can be found on the back of most HDD, you use jumpers to change settings for the drive. If you can't fix it in 20 minutes call someone who can.

 

[macgeneral]

GCON,

How 'bout a little more information.
What's the drive in? Is it a factory drive? What size?
What's your system configuration?

Give me some 4-1-1 here and I'll toss in an educated guess.

 

[horselesspaul]

My friend has a 600 G3 imac and it did the whole Q mark folder trick but when I put Norton on it it couldn't even see another boot OS apart from the Norton Disc.
Same with Mac OS disc.
Apple Hardware Diag gives
Fault: ata 1/7/13 HD : 2,0

This machine isn't even a year old.
Any help appreciated before a meet with the registered reseller tomorrow.
Thanks,
Paul.
System Profile :
Rev:TAH71DP0
ID:5T060H6

 

[Kalisperas]

Have you tried zapping the PRAM yet? Restart and hold down Command-Option-P-R. The computer will restart, continue to hold buttons until the computer has restarted several times. Then let them up, and try your Disk First Aid or Norton again. This usually works for me, but I've had a couple of times where Norton couldn't fix it, and I had to use DiskWarrior, which always works for me.

 

[horselesspaul]

Thanks, but the PRAM is well zapped and yet Nada.
Looks like a gen u ine hardware fault to me I guess.
Off to the reseller......
Paul.

 

[AumarTristan]

I have encounter those problem i use Techtool the Old one. by the way what OS are you using?

The new Version of techtool is at tucows.com but with limited function. If you want my old one maybe i can send you(If it is small in size.)

 

[jimbopalmer]

If the machine is not a year old, it is under warrenty, have Apple try to help toll free. I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[macgeneral]

Where does this issue rest????

Status please.....

 

[horselesspaul]

As the machine is a refurb I am still waiting to hear what it's original DOA fault was, but I bet it was intermittent Hard Drive Problem.
Reseller says "Dead HD, which kind do you want to pay us to replace it with?"
If it's original fault was as I expect then it's me slugging it out with Apple......I can't get the date of manufacture out of them.

 

[macgeneral]

Horseless,

can you pull that hard drive? The OEm drives I believe come with a three year manufacture warranty. If it's that Maxtor or perhaps the Quantum I believe you can still run the serial number through their web site to check if it's under warranty.

macGeneral

 

[horselesspaul]

Thanks one and all.
Reseller replaced the Maxtor and wanted a mere10GBP for the carriage.
Nightmare over, for now.....
Paul.