Can not boot from OSX disc

I recently partitioned my internal drive with an 80 gig partition to run Ubuntu , removed Ubuntu and now can not resize hd to recover the 80 gig that I used , there was a program with this Ubuntu install called rEFIt that was installed for the dual boot , My problem is that Itunes keeps crashing and I have spent somewhere around 8 hours trying to fix this issue and in the process I discovered that I now can not boot from the osx disc but I can boot from the Ubuntu disc , what can I do to correct this issue or is there anything that I can do to correct this and recover the 80 gig that I used ?

The only solution was to erase hd and restore from time machine backup......
According to everything that I have seen , read and tried when you partition the mac hd the way that mac is designed it will lock the hd thus preventing any access even using the startup disc to repair. As far as restoring everything after the erase and reinstall of the OSX that was easy and painless. FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT BACKUP THEIR DATA THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD!!!!
Once OSX is reinstalled the migration assistant will ask if you want to restore from a backup , if you have time machine or any other sort of backup simply choose the one you wish to restore from and continue , must admit I was a bit hesitant at first , I must say that everything restored with the exception of some settings that I have had to restore but they were not major settings  , after the backup is restored simply run update check and reinstall all updates , may need to do this a couple of times.
Depending on the amount of data you have will determine the length of time for restore (500 gigs about 6 hrs.) but it will restore user account settings , connection settings  and network settings.
Hope this will help if anyone has experienced the same problem.

Similar Messages

  • Can't boot from OSX disc...

    I recently installed a 3rd HD. When I attempted to format it, I was unable to startup using the X disc. It would boot up in 9.1 off my HD. I was able to boot from the OS9 disc and format the new HD but now I can only see it while running in 9 and not in X. Anybody know how to boot off the X disc? I was hoping that if I can format the new HD from the OSX disc maybe that would help???

    Are you saying that it is impossible for any beige to run master/slave configurations in os x?
    It is a little more subtle than that.
    1) If you have duplicate masters on a cable, when Darwin (the UNIX underpinnings of Mac OS X) wakes up and looks around, it will declare both Masters unusable. If Darwin does not activate them, it's as if they are not there to Mac OS X.
    Darwin uses built-in Disk Drivers that are completely different from those in Mac OS 9. Users no longer have the benefit of all the extra forgiveness built into the traditional Mac OS 9 Drivers over the years. This has produced a rash of superstitions that various features "do not work under Mac OS X." The truth is that you must have hardware that meets the letter of the law to work in Mac OS X, it is no longer forgiving.
    2) If you have a drive accidentally set to Slave, Mac OS X generally will not install to it or Boot from it. Mac OS 9 may be perfectly happy with it.
    and Allan, thanks for your support!

  • G4 that will not boot from any disc EXCEPT the Apple Hardware Test CD

    We have a DP 1ghz Quicksilver PowerMac G4 that will not boot from any disc EXCEPT the Apple Hardware Test CD that came with the machine.
    We were in the process of installing 10.4 Tiger before placing it for sale.
    The Mac was originally OSX Server 10.1 that we later converted to a worksation running 10.3 Panther.
    It has 1 GB of memory, 80GB hardrive, 250MB Zip Drive and a Radeon 7500 video card.
    Since this machine only has a CD-R drive and not a DVD-R, we installed Tiger using another Mac via Target Disk Mode. The installation process went well, but when I tried to reboot I got a Kernel Panic right after startup screen with the grey Apple logo.
    On some reboots we get to the blue startup screen, others it stops at the grey Apple logo, others a black box like the a Kernel Panic - but with no text. Twice it went directly into Open Firmware.
    We have done the following during our troubleshooting:
    - Reseat RAM, Video Card, Hard Drive, Zip & CD-R connections
    - Remove RAM 1 stick at a time and reboot
    - Replace RAM with RAM from another working Quicksilver
    - Replace Video Card with one from another working Quicksilver
    - Zap PRAM
    - Reset CUDA switch
    - Unplug the MAC and remove everything (RAM, Battery, etc) for 30 minutes and try to reboot
    - Tried booting from the Macintosh Server G4 Software Restore CD
    - Tried booting from Mac OS X Server CD
    - Tried booting from AppleCare Protection Plan CD with TechTool
    - Tried booting from Diskwarrior CD
    - Tried booting from an external FireWire drive with a disk image of Tiger OS Install
    - Tried booting with the hard drive disconnected
    The Mac WILL boot from the Apple Hardware Test CD and will pass ALL of the extended tests.

    Conventional wisdom says that any Mac that will not boot up from a System/Install CD OS 9 or an Install CD Mac OS X, has a Hardware problem.
    The diagnostic CD is a red herring because it uses a very primitive method of reading the CD, and so does not properly represent the machines general ability to read CDs.
    I would look at the CD drive cables, etc, and see if another drive gives different results.
    You have not mentioned using the Startup Manager (option key at Startup) to do any checking:
    HT1310- Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume

  • Imac 21" mid 2011 can not boot from USB device?

    Hi,
    hope someone can help me.
    Bought the new imac 21" and replaced the superdrive with a ssd drive.
    Works great but it seems that the imac is not able to boot from any usb device.
    I put my osx install disk in my external dvd drive and powered my mac.
    While booting up (pressing cmd) the mac does not recognize my external dvd drive. This works great with my MBP late 2008. But the imac can not boot from the dvd drive. Also pressing "c" while booting does not work. Doing that a grey screen appears and after some time mac boots from hdd.
    So i installed mac os via target mode over firewire withbmy old imac. This works.
    But now i want to install windows on a bootcamp partition.
    I can't boot from the windows 7 professional dvd, too. So i tried to create a bootable win 7 thumbdrive. Mac can't boot from this too. Reading many threads in some forum i tried with rEEfit. Reefit shows the usb thumbdrive whike booting, but using this will end in a black screen error from bios: "no bootable device....". Tried a knoppix on the usb thukbdrive, too.... No bootable device....
    It seems that there is no way to boot from ANY external usb device like dvd drives or thumbdrives......
    What more can i do? I tried for 2 evenings now, but nothing worked out for me......
    Currently i don't see any any to install win 7 without an internal superdrive, but can this be??
    Thanks for any comments.
    Kwicks

    Internal is definitely the easiest but you can boot from external HD or external optical drive, the mac is just very picky on what works and what doesn't.
    For an external drive or usb stick it has to be GUID partition table and have 10.4.5 or better installed on it, for more info check this link out ( http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1948 )
    Hope this helps,
    Joe

  • Disk Repair Boot from OSX Disc...

    Have a bad issue: my iMac has been found (using disk verify) to be corrupt. It tells me to boot from the installation disc to repair. Only problem is my DVD SuperDrive is dead! How can I boot from a disc if the drive won't mount? I've used three other external drives and none are recognized.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks!!

    Hi Gully, I agree with iyacyas
    {quote:title=iyacyas wrote:}If you have another Mac to use you can place the sick Mac into Target Disk Mode and plug it into the good Mac via firewire and run DU against it from their.{quote}
    See > http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/itdojo/?p=198
    and > http://www.selfreliantfilm.com/?p=143
    Even if you can't repair the drive from the MacBook Pro in TDM, you should be able to move your user files to either the MacBook Pro or an External HD until you can repair or replace the iMac.
    Dennis

  • Will Not Boot from Install Disc  & 4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D - Thermal Sensor?

    *Will Not Boot from Install Disc*
    I used the "option key" approach with the gray start up disk. At first it ejected the start up disk. Then I nudged the disk back in the machine and it showed on the screen as an option. I clicked on the start up disk image and it finally loaded.
    But, it won't accept the start up disk when holding down the "C" key at restart.
    *4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D*
    I did an Apple Hardware Test and received the following diagnostic:
    Version: 3A121
    Test Suite: Extended Test
    Loop Count: 2
    Result: Failed
    Failure code: 4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D
    *Thermal Sensor*
    A search for the failure code 4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D brought up an Apple Discussion topic entry stating: That error code indicates a problem with a thermal sensor. It could be not working or possibly not connected. You will need to take it to Apple for repair.
    Would a thermal sensor have anything to do with it not starting up when holding down the "C" key at restart? What are thermal sensor problem symptoms?
    *User File Folder Opened Up*
    The machine also starts up with my user file folder opened up rather than with a blank screen as it normally should
    I completed a DiskWarrior rebuild on the disk and verify disk shows it is fine.
    Any suggestions on what to do next with these issues?

    The answer was in your post: "You will need to take it to Apple for repair."

  • Can't boot from OSX and may have a virus

    I'm having a similar problem as Davo21 in "computer won't boot up in os x". After running Norton System Works to try to resolve an issue that I was having with my computer, I'm getting a message, "/etc/master.passwd:not a directory" on a black screen when I try to start up.
    It started in early December after I downloaded some stuff off the internet and it seemed like I might have picked up a virus. I know, that's not supposed to happen with OSX, but my computer started doing wierd things like switching out icons for whole types of files - i.e., .wav files would show up with a totally different icon. Restarting solved that problem, but I noticed that on both my wife's and my computer (both Macs - hers a Single core Intel Mini running OSX 10.4 and mine a G3 700MHz running 10.3.9) the internet was running exceptionally slow, while on my work computer (a Dell PC running Windows XP) it was running just fine. All three computers are networked, so I surmised that something was affecting the Unix system but not the Windows, but when I ran Norton Anti-virus, it came up clean. More wierd things kept happening, so last week I decided to run Norton Disk Doctor and it changed thousands of directory settings and now my computer won't boot up from my main boot drive with OSX 10.3.9. I've run the Disk Utilities on the 10.3 Install Disk and I've run Disk Warrior and they both say that the boot drive is repaired, but I still get the same message when I try to start up normally.
    I have several partitions on my original drive and several more on the additional 240GB hard drive that I installed a couple of years ago, so I can boot up from an old copy of OSX 10.2 on another partition. The latest wierd thing is that now one of my other partitions on the original hard drive won't mount.
    My questions are:
    1) How do I get back to being able to boot from OSX 10.3?
    2) Where can I get help to figure out what's going on with my computer and how to remedy it?
    I've been looking at some of the information on the Leap-A malware and it seems like there are some similarities, however I'm running OSX 10.3.9 and not 10.4.
    Any suggestions would be appreciated.
    Thanks,
    G4 700MHz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  
    G4 700MHz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

    DMcSantaFe,
    as was said before Norton Utilities and Disk Doctor were discontinued almost 3 years ago (for some very good reasons!). It caused much more trouble than it solved.
    Here are the articles:
    Symantec discontinues Mac Norton Utilities, SystemWorks
    Norton Utilities, SystemWorks development halted
    TMO Scoop - Symantec Confirms Norton Utilities & SystemWorks' Demise [Updated]
    Tech Tool Pro and DiskWarrior are presently the most reliable utilities. For more information on regular housekeeping read this: MacOS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance
    Unfortunately Norton usually damages the file system beyond repair. The only cure is a reinstall.
    If this answered your question please consider granting some stars: Why reward points?

  • Can't Boot From Install Disc 1 ?

    Holding down "C" at Start Up isn't working.
    Most of the time I can't get Preferences > Start-Up to even "see" my Disc 1.
    When I can get it to show up in Start-Up, and Select it, and Lock it ... it Still Won't Start Up from the Install Disc 1 ... and in fact usually ejects the disc.
    Sometimes when I re-push in the disc, I get the message that a Blank Disc has been detected, "what do you want to do with it."
    But, it shows up in Disc Utility, and when I run Verify Disc, it all looks good?!
    The Disc has Mac OS version 10.4.8 on it. I'm running 10.5.7. I'm all up to date with my software.
    Yesterday I ran the latest version of Disc Warrior. When I run TechTools 4.0 it seems to get stuck running Files. When I run Repair Permissions from Disc Utilities, it shows a fairly massive amount of issues. Running it over and over again doesn't seem to make any difference.
    I WANT to run my Install Disc so I can run Repair Disc from Disc Utility ... because I'm having a number of issues ... and I seem to get the spinning rainbow a lot.
    SUGGESTIONS ?! ... thanks ...

    Disk Utility that can repair a 10.5.7 permissions is only found on the Leopard installer disc. Tiger can't repair Leopard when it comes to permissions, and may also have difficulty with the directory.
    Secondly, if your MacBook Pro was purchased after October 26, 2007, it can't boot from any Tiger disc.
    If your MacBook Pro was purchased prior, you can use the disk, but you'll want to follow these directions for hardware diagnostics:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303081
    Only if your MacBook Pro has Tiger installed, should you use Tiger for the directory or permissions*:
    http://www.macmaps.com/directoryfaq.html
    Macs can only boot from the operating system that shipped with them, and newer retail operating systems. This means:
    1. pre-October 1st, 2007 MacBook Pros can boot off:
    - - the discs that shipped with them
    - - retail 10.5 discs which look like * that do not say Upgrade, DropIn, or OEM.
    2. October 1st through October 25, 2007 can do #1, and also use Upgrade and DropIn discs. Those disks were offered as a limited time mail order Up to date program, some were dropped in the box that came with them.
    3. October 26th through November 14, 2007 can boot off the discs that came with them, and retail 10.5.1, 10.5.4, and 10.5.6 discs that do not say Upgrade, DropIn, or OEM, and have a label like the image above.
    4. November 15, 2007 through June 29, 2008 can boot off the discs that came with them, and the retail 10.5.4, and 10.5.6 discs that do not say Upgrade, DropIn, or OEM, and have a label like the image above.
    5. June 30, 2008 through December 14, 2008 can boot off the discs that came with them, and the retail 10.5.6 discs that do not say Upgrade, DropIn, or OEM, and have a label like the image above.
    6. December 15, 2008 and later MacBook Pros can only boot off the discs that came with them.
    Presumably when Snow Leopard comes out in September, all of the above will be able to use Snow Leopard because of the specs on http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html
    - * Links to my pages may give me compensation.
    Message was edited by: a brody

  • Can't boot from OSX cd - Kernel Panic or bad CPU?

    Greetings, All! I've looked at all the articles related to this that I can find, here and on other sites, but have not been able to solve the problem. Here's a list to briefly describe my issue:
    -Got Prohibitory sign on my MDD Dual 867 when I tried booting into OS X (10.3).
    -Tried all the resets (PRAM, PMU), re-seated RAM, took out RAM, etc.
    -Trashed OS, and tried to re-install, but Mac won't boot from DVD (10.3) or CD (10.2) - just get the spinning wheel and finally Prohibitory sign...
    -Ran Hardware test to loop for about 17 hours; nothing, all fine.
    Then I just recently noticed that when I run Digital Performer 3 (OS9), it usually shows 2 usage indicators for CPU performance (1 for each processor) but now only shows one. So, I'm thinking a processor may have died, or become unseated, or something. But I read somewhere, on one of the forums, that it isn't likely for one of a pair of processors to go, or if it did, the other wouldn't be able to function solo. But if that weren't the case, and the Mac can run on 1 processor, why would that keep the Mac from booting from the OSX disk?
    The Mac still runs fine in OS9, though it does seem to be a little slower when I do processor-intensive operations in DP, and sometimes hangs on startup, and seems to have some "sleep" issues (won't wake back up sometimes...). I don't know of any way to check if both processors are functioning in OS9. Does anyone know of a utility that will do that? Or if there's one in the OS (The Profiler only shows processor speed)? And would that cause the Kernel Panic and keep the Mac from booting in OSX? It's very frustrating. I appreciate any help or tips anyone may have to offer. Peace, Gelon

    Hey Guys!
    I think I know the "why", but not the solution...
    I have a PowerMac G4 400Mhz Dual Processor, and some day I had the same troubles. No boot on OS X, but I can in OS9. Checking the Open Firmware commands, I saw one of the processor marked as "dead". So, (dont't ask how) I removed one processor from the logic board. Now I got the same "Processor dead", I can boot on OS9, (with an alert for the processor) but is stable. No boot in OS X.
    So, what I suposse (having the same reports in PC computers trying to run OS X) is that the OS X checks for the compliance of the System for running. When a processor fails, the OS X can not recognize the system as valid (as in some PC computers happens) and can not boot. I also suposse if we can get a "patched" OS X for PowerPC or patch the firmware in any way, we can work with just one processor. Or, buying a new processor for the Mac.
    Pls. send me your comments.
    LY

  • Will Not Boot From Install Disc

    Upon a Verify Disk check I received a "Volume Header needs minor repair" notice.
    Because it is necessary to boot from another disc to repair the header, I attempted to boot from the install disc. I tried restarts holding down the "C" or by selecting the start up disc in System Preferences/Startup Disk. I've tried each of the these several times to no avail. The machine will not start from the install disc. It keeps starting from the machine hard drive.
    Are there any other suggestions how to force it to start from a startup disk?

    The installer disc problem is still a concern but in the meantime you can try booting to Safe Mode. Run Disk Utility again from Safe Mode and see if it still reports problems. Boot normally afterward.
    [Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393]
    [What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X)|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392]
    [Safe Boot takes longer than normal startup|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107394]
    [Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5- Computer shuts down during Safe Boot|http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24054]
    Safe boot mode runs a directory check command similar to that used by Disk Utility's repair. In Tiger it ignores some stored information (cache) that is normally read that speeds up the boot process, and it moves some other caches to the trash. It also uses only System fonts and disables all Startup Items, third party items, and any Login Items.

  • Replaced hard drive, now can't boot from install disc to restore backup

    Yesterday, my hard drive died (disk warrior informed me, that HD had irrecoverable errors, and my iMac would shut down unless it was booted from the Disk Warriorr disc).
    Today, I have a new internal HD professionally installed. And when I brought it home, and installed Snow I got an error at the end of the installation "OS could not be installed, restart or choose start up disk" or something to that effect. However, on licking OK I got the snow music, and welcome movie nd eerything seemed to be working fine.
    I can log in normally and have get to my desktop, but on trying to boot from the Snow Leopard disk (10.6), I get to the gray screen with the apple logo and hang. I have tried resetting Pram/firmware and also ran the fdisk command (twice).
    It seems too much of a concidence that my hard drive and now my disc drive would die all in span of two days? I can hear the disc noise, but as I mentioned I cant get beyond the gray screen on trying to boot from the disc.
    Suggestions?
    Late Nov '07 intel iMac. And I did update the OS to 10.6.4. Install disc is 10.4.

    Return it to the repair station.

  • My Mac Mini Will Not Boot From Install Disc For Re-Installation

    I've tried all (at least the ones I've found) workarounds to get my Snow Leopard Install Disc to boot, but it will not. When the computer boots normally (without the DVD), I can insert the DVD and access it from there. However, when I try to use the utilities on the disc, it requires a reboot that ends up telling me to turn off my computer. I have a Late 2010 Mac Mini and I have yet to try booting from a disc, so I don't know if this is a new problem or an old one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Unplug everything from your computer except a wired keyboard/mouse and the monitor. If your Mini still won't boot from the install DVD try resetting the PRAM and SMC.
    Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
    Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
    If that doesn't fix the problem remove any RAM (if you upgraded) and replace with the Mini's original RAM.  There is also this document you might want to read, Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup.
    If that all fails I would take the Mini to the Apple store. It should still be under warranty if you bought it late last year.

  • Wallstreet not booting from OSX CDs

    I'm still helping a friend with his two Wallstreet PDQs. The one I posted about in this thread is limping along OK as long as the owner keeps it on its cooling pad. Now the other, a 266mHz (OS 10.2.8 and 9.2.2 in separate partitions; 40GB Toshiba drive; 384MB RAM) started taking forever to boot. It appears it has a dead PRAM battery and is going to the OS9 system folder for booting but can't complete. It went to the Open Firmware prompt once but won't boot into OF now.
    The computer will boot from an OS9 retail install CD and an older (v3 for OS9 and older)) TechTools Pro CD but will not boot into OSX from a retail Jag install disk or an OSX DiskWarrior v3.0 CD that previously booted OK into OSX on that computer.
    Once I get an OS9 boot, the system cannot see the OSX volume where there are files I need to recover.
    The TTP CD reported the drive is whacked--I can accept that--but, IMHO opinion, that should not prevent an OSX boot from a valid CD.
    I have reset the PMU per Apple procedure, zapped the PRAM, tried to force an X boot with the X key, tried to get the Startup Manager by holding the option key--all to no avail.
    Any thoughts on why I can't get a boot from an OSX CD? Even it the defective drive is removed, the Book should boot from an OSX CD. I know the CD-ROM drive works because it can boot from an OS9 CD.
    I'd like to get one more X boot to recover files.
    Thanks in advance,
    Allan

    Allan,
    The left bay will not take an optical drive...it's too large, but it does take a Zip100 drive or an OEM floppy drive or media bay HD.
    I'll explain the long startup times on the Wallstreet: After the startup chime, the Wallstreet runs a memory self-test that is just plain slow. The more installed RAM, the longer the test. When I first bought my Wallstreet, it had (gasp) 32MB of RAM; from startup chime to first light on the display was about 5-10 seconds. After I installed a 256MB module (total 288MB), this "dead" time increased to 40 seconds...really quite amazing. Resetting the PRAM, if I recall correctly, requires a long pressing of the keys to get that second startup chime. So if you are experiencing something similar, it is normal.
    I cannot explain the 'out of memory' message when running TTPro but it may be the same when running DiskWarrior. When performing a major restructuring of a volume, ideally it is run from another volume that has read/write capabilities like an HD; the utility then has the necessary space to temporarily store changes. If running from the Utility CD, it can use up RAM pretty quickly. This again highlights the limitations of the Wallstreet...no easy access to another bootable HD.
    The concern again returns to the inability of the Wallstreet to boot an OSX CD. If I had access to two Wallstreets, and has also tried all the suggestions up to this point, I would try this:
    -Try the optical drive from the "working" Wallstreet in this 'book even though 9.x CDs boot; this is just a quick test to eliminate any possibility of a marginal drive; or you could test this drive on the working Wallstreet. Make sure you also try booting the same 10.2 CD.
    -Swap one microprocessor card into the other Wallstreet and test. As I mentioned earlier, there have been a few Wallstreets (and Lombards) that would not run OSX and a replacement microprocessor card was the solution. Even though this Wallstreet has run OSX in the past, and since nothing up to this point has provided a solution, I would try this procedure if I had two Wallstreets.
    See if your 'book will enter Open Firmware as an additional test of hardware:
    http://www.macintouch.com/laptopbatt.html#jul17

  • Can't boot from OSX Install disc.

    Hello,
    I am trying to restore my iMac from a Time MAchine backup and to do that I remembered that I had to boot off of the OSX install disk and choose Disk Utility. I thought that restoring from timeMAchine would be the hard and long part, but I am having trouble booting off of the OSX disc.
    1.) I popped it into my iMac and it mounts and loads. Its runs fine so I know there is nothing wrong with the disc.
    2.) I restarted my iMac and held C.
    3.) The grey screen appeard and then the Apple logo and then the spinning icon underneath it. But it gets stuck there and doesn't boot off of the disk.
    4.) I shutdown the machine by holding the power-button and when it restarted I held D. It ran the hardware test fine and I passed the hardware test.
    5.) I shut it down again, same way in four, and held option. This time I chose to boot form the Mac OS X Install DVD. It again got stuck at the Grey screen with the Apple logo and the spinning icon.
    Does anyone know how to or can help me get my iMac to boot from the OSX install disc or how I can use Disc Utility to restore my iMac from TimeMachine?
    Thanks in Advance & Best Regards,
    theirf.

    Sorry, OE = Original Equipment - the grey discs that came with your Mac.
    SL = Snow Leopard - Mac OS X 10.6.x.
    theirf wrote:
    What do OE and SL mean?
    I think i understand though. You mean that any disc with a higher version of something will still work on a machine with a lower version of that thing right?
    Not any disc. The only grey ones that will work are those that came with that Mac.
    Any retail disc of a later OS version will work, and in most cases it would boot from an external HD with a later OS installed.
    However, as Snow Leopard only came on two retail versions, 10.6.0 and 10.6.3, the choice is a bit limited.
    The current retail version is available here.

  • Why can I not boot from a disc or drive?

    In order to repair my HD, I have tried to start from a DVD  (a bootable DiscWarrior 4 disc), but when restarting holding down the c-key, the disc drive is not recognized and the iMac starts up as normal and my log-in icon  is shown.  I have the latest Lion update.
    I have also tried to start up from a bootable memory stick which I made after installing Lion, but this does not work either.
    I have also tried to start up from a DVD using the option key, but the  drive is not given as an alternative. The same happens if I try to start up from the "Startup drive" preferences from the Apple menu - the disc drive is not shown as an alternative even if it contains a bootable disc.
    I try to get booted from another bootdrive in order to repair the Harddisc.

    Hi, StenErik. If I were you, I would forget about FireWire Target Disk Mode. I'd start the Powerbook from a retail OS X 10.4 installer DVD, open Disk Utility from the Utilities menu, select the hard drive, reformat it as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", check the box for installing OS 9 drivers, and then install Tiger. I can't explain why this should make the resulting installation any different from what you have installed now. But it seems to me there must be some detail you've failed to mention and we've failed to think of, and that detail, whatever it is, is much more significant than it seems: significant enough to prevent your Tibook from booting. Therefore, reverting to the most basic installation procedure possible, with as few external variables as possible, seems a useful thing to try. To minimize variables even further, disconnect all peripherals from the PB while reformatting and installing.
    As Hardy has suggested, the size of your drive is not the issue. A 120GB drive should be fine.

Maybe you are looking for