mac crash

[bch33]

My mac G4 OS 9.1- 450- Dual Processor has crashed. I tried running the first aid disk off the software installer CD but when my Mac starts up there is a dialogue box that says
This disk is unreadable by this Computer.
Do you want to initialize the disk? I then hit Cancel as I do not want to risk erasing my hard drive.

Then I am able to open the CD and I open the Disk First Aid, run it, and it gives two problems

1.MountCheck found serious errors
2.Volume BitMap needs minor repair, 4,833

It then states that it is unable to complete repairs because the volume "HD" (my hardrive) could not be mounted.

Any suggestions as to how I can retrieve my hard drive--

Would be so grateful for help in this area...
I'm going to get that Norton Utilities Disc Doctor
Will that do any better?

Thanks
bch

 

[bch33]

I loaded Disk Doctor and now all is back to normal. Working Perfectly.
sigh of relief,
bch

 

[macgeneral]

Did you boot up from the Software Installer CD?
Or did you boot up from the System Folder on the Hard Drive?

This might be a critical piece of the puzzle. I would start by booting from the cd (inserting the CD and holding down the "C" key on boot).

Run the disk firsst aid from there.
Norton does have some more effective routines that Apple's Disk First Aid so that would be a good piece of software to have handy.

You'll also want to boot up from the Norton disk in the method illustrated above.

I'll look fro your update ....

MacGeneral

 

[macgeneral]

excellent!!


MacGeneral

 

[bch33]

Thanks for your reply and help.
bch