Disk utility says internal HDF is fine, but iBook can't boot from it

Question

I've tried everything I can think of to fix this, even wiping my HD and re-installing OS X, but nothing works. It started yesterday when I wanted to access the WEP key for my Base Station to get a new device to connect to it. When I tried to start Airport Utility, it told me I need update to a new version first. So I let it turn Software Updater on and check for updates. It had been a while since I had updated it, so there were a bunch of updates, but I didn't want to wait all day so I told it to only do the Safari and Airport Utility updates. Everything seemed to go just fine until after the computer restarted to complete the installations. After the installations finished, the computer couldn't find its hard drive to boot from. It just brings up a folder icon that flashes between the Mac face and a question mark. I booted it just fine off of the 10.5 disc that I have and used Disk Utility on the internal HD, but it doesn't think anything is wrong. I even used Disk Warrior on it, but that didn't help either. I tried re-installing OS X using the "Archive and Install" setting, but that didn't work either. I then hooked it up in firewire terminal mode to another computer I have (which worked just fine) and backed up everything I wanted to keep, after which I booted from the 10.5 disc again, wiped the HD, and re-installed OS X from scratch. It still won't work, and I am stumped as to what the problem could be. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Answer 1

When you wiped the computer's internal hard disk drive, with Disk Utility
did you try to erase everything, then apply a Partition Map (APM) and
then, Reformat (HFS+) on the hard disk drive, which was at least zero
overwritten one-pass via Secure Erase?
The most thorough erase method via Disk Utility's options, will require
the Partition Map to be re-applied, before a Format is written on HDDs.
With an aging portable computer, the hard disk drive can be near failure
and still pass the basic tests; even a booted Apple Hardware Test. They
do wear out, and depending on use patterns and age, some stop sooner.
So it may be safe to say the machine may need a replacement HDD.
There is an extra option in *Disk Warrior* (accessed by option key)
to make the utility go deeper into some of the technical functions; some
users of that utility have mentioned this. However I don't have or use it.
For DW to work, it has to be the correct support version as OS X installed.
+"...when running DiskWarrior, if you simply hold down the Option key on the keyboard,+
+the Rebuild button will change into a Scavenge button. Scavenge is a more-thorough+
+scan and repair than is Rebuild..."+ - an option, when using DW from boot disc.
There may be some corruption and damage to the hard disk drive; and
if there are sectors damaged that had not been in use before the new
software was installed, then the Mac may have written on a bad area.
Sometimes, the zero-overwrite function of Disk Utility (ie: secure erase)
can help make some areas re-useable; or make them inert, avoided.
You mention the items you tried to install and update; for the Safari to
work, would have required a later Quicktime and other system parts.
Some items are required to be installed together; an important path.
Usually, an OS X Combo update, then Security update, java updates,
Quicktime update, (then re-run Software Update to see newer list) &
browsers, flash player, then anything else; would follow. The long list
would include any newer iLife update segments, in groups, & so on.
Could be the hard disk drive was near full and the rest of the update
files (plus anything else on the drive?) may have been too much for it.
But a completely erased and zero-overwritten hard disk drive, with a
partition map and then format, installed by Disk Utility, then the new
complete install of the system, should be helpful to see if the computer
may run awhile longer with the original hard disk drive. I suspect it's bad.
Sorry, but at this late hour I haven't all that many authentic ideas and
am tired enough to not go into an extensive google search on topics
that may point to similar circumstances, or Support articles/documents
on the topic. Troubleshooting includes increasing the odds of losing
any old data which may have been on the hard disk drive; so hopefully
you have backed up anything important before the last update attempt.
• Mac OS X v10.5: Troubleshooting installation, startup, and login issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1541
• Troubleshooting Mac OS X installation from CD or DVD
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2956
• Mac startup stops at a folder or disk with a blinking question mark.
http://8help.osu.edu/1169.html
• A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac (basic)
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
Sometimes, it pays to go to Apple Support Downloads to look for just
the single software update item by name, for your OS X version, and
get that. Then, run see if the one item (a 'standalone' file) will work;
sometimes, those may require one or more companion updates, too.
I've saved the larger Combo, security java items, etc, to CD/DVD for
offline complete re-installations; then I have these on hand.
+PS: Hello, and welcome to Apple Support Discussion communities!+
Good luck & happy computing!
+{ edited to add links }+