G4 and tech tool

The computer has been running very slow and so I decided to run techtool. It has locked it up with the HD picture with a red cross on it on the screen. I am confused as to what to do next. Any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

If you just ran the program while booted from your Hard Drive, I suggest you try to shut down your Mac and boot from the TechTool CD/DVD. You may be having Hard Drive problems, but trying to run from the Hard Drive and Test the Hard Drive at the same time is clearly not working.

Similar Messages

Kernel panic and Tech tool

I really did it this time. Problem described below ...
I dowloaded some files off a flash drive. When finished, Idragged the drive icon to the trash and pulled the usb connection. After I restarted later I noticed the usb mouse wasn't working. Thought, rats, I pulled the plug on the drive too early. Then I compounded the problem by using techtool 4.0 to troubleshoot. (yeah, I know but I didn't check the support articles beforehand). Tech Tool identified a volume structure problem and I let it try and rebuild volume structure. Now I have a bad kernel panic on startup and the following really annoying problems
Won't start up from the any cd.
Starts up in target disk mode but my G5 won't recognize it - no icon appears
startup in firmware required to eject cd - now that doesn't work either
pram reset didn't resolve anything
Wont start up in safe mode - same kernel panic
"X" key to force startup in OSX displays drive icon but results in same kernel panic
G4 titanium Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Reformattting the drive and reinstalling everything on it is an option, given that unlike the common herd, you've had the good sense to back everything up. When doing that, it would be a good idea to use the option of zeroing the drive completely, even though it may take a long time. Doing so is likely to reveal any hardware defects in your hard drive; a simple erase would not. Replacing the drive would clearly be premature at this point: it may simply have a scrambled directory and no hardware problems at all.
If you have a DiskWarrior CD, it would be worth trying to boot to that and use it to build a new HD directory. If successful, that would save you a lot of reformatting and reinstallation time.

Emac won't start up and tech tool doesn't recognize my hard drive.

My emac's been running slow and crashing. Today it got to the point where I couldn't even use the finder when I started up. I tried to start up from tech tool and did so successfully. It recognized my hard drive and I ran the tests and repairs, but during one of the tests it got hung up. I restarted the computer and now all I get when I start up is a little folder in the middle of the screen with a question mark. I started back up from the tech tool cd, but it doesn't recognize my hard drive anymore. I'm really scared I've lost everything. I could sure use some help! The emac is running Tiger.
Jane

jamech,
Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
What version of Tech Tool where you using? If it was an older version, incompatible with OS X 10.4 Tiger, that could actualy make things worse --- see Only use Mac OS X 10.4-compatible disk utilities with Mac OS X 10.4 volumes.
The version of Disk Utility that ships with OS X 10.4.2 and higher is more capable than earlier versions. Try booting from the Tiger install disc, then open Disk Utility from the Installer menu and see if you can run Repair Disk on the hard drive. Refer to Using Disk Utility and fsck. Take note of any errors reported and post back with the results. If errors are reported repaired, re-run Repair Disk until you either get a clean bill of health or a report of unrepairable errors.
When you get the Mac running from the hard drive again, you'll need to determine why it was running slowly in the first place. Anything reported by Repair Disk is of interest here. You could try using a third-party utility such as OnyX to clear caches and logs, and to make sure the maintenance scripts are current (there's a timer in Tiger than will force the scripts to run if you normally have the Mac shut down or in system sleep overnight; the timer is based on elasped time and isn't exact).

Tech Tool Pro and/or Drive Genius (Background monitor)

I have both Tech Tool Pro 6 and Drive Genius 3, acquired independently through software bundles. I installed both to test them out and now I have both background services running as well: DrivePulse (from Drive Genius 3) and Tech Tool Protection (from Tech Tool Pro 6).
Both background processes monitor my system but I am pretty sure running both is overkill. Hence my questions:
Would running both all the time cause problems? (so far so good for me...)
If it is overkill, which one should I run and why? What are you preferences?
Or should I not run any at all and just test my system once in a while with either app?
Thanks so much for your input!

In fact you don't need either. If you don't have a problem I would not use either one.

Booting from Tech Tool Deluxe 10.4.2

I can boot our older ibook G3 from this Cd ( which I just received with my brand new ibook)- however when I start up the G4 from the CD the screen is shades of gray- barely can barely see that it is loading correctly- however the pointer is frozen in left hand corner- can't move it, although the return key works to select the program. arrow down key also works to read report- but still pointer can't move to restart and I am forced to force quit.
very strange
Cleaned and tried several times same results- I am wondering if perhaps this Apple Care Cd is not for 10.4.2.

I have heard that other utilities are more helpful- but as I just recieved this computer last week- from Apple and Tech Tool Deluxe was the software that shipped with my Apple Care plan- I thought it might be usable on the computer it was purchased with- silly me.
I also made a new updated disk of 3.0.3 Disk Warrior and I could not even start up from that disk- it froze and I had to force quit-
From what I have read elsewhere- Disk Warrior is compatible with 10.4.2, so there must be something else going on.

Working with my 2 FireWire HD i had a crash. the only way to start was a safe start. then id maged to start from a DVD and install a MAC OS 10.3 wich ran 4 some time then the same problem only safeMode. kernel panic inserted the tech tool DVD

working with my 2 FireWire HD i had a crash. the only way to start was a safe start. then id maged to start from a DVD and install a MAC OS 10.3 wich ran 4 some time then the same problem only safeMode. kernel panic by inserting the tech tool DVD, wich produces the following highligted text:
panic(cpu 0 caller =xffff0003): 0x300 - Data access
latest stack backtrace for CPU 0:
Backtrace:
0x0009CC88 0x00D63C 0x00029DAO 0x000BOA10 0x000B4270
proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x26acd700)
PC=0x2717E900; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x2717EBE4; R1=0x26AD3AE0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x27178B0 0x00344ACB 0x00345970 0x2717EC08 0x2718458 0x00340590
0x003496EC 0x0034B59C 0x0034A6BC 0x000B1DD4
Kernel Loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AppleFWDHC1(3.9.5)00x2717c000->0x271aafff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.10PCIFamily(2.6)00x1e840000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.I0FireWireFamily(3.4.7)00x270dd000
Exception state (sv=0x26abd280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000;R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (unknown)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
so what
greetings from berlin

Greetings,
It appears to be a FW problem, possibly flaky case, or drive problem.
One way to test is to Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, Test for problem in Safe Mode...
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive
Reboot, test again.
If it only does it in Regular Boot, then it could be some hardware problem like Video card, (Quartz is turned off in Safe Mode), or Airport, or some USB or Firewire device, or 3rd party add-on, Check System Preferences>Accounts (Users & Groups in later OSX versions)>Login Items window to see if it or something relevant is listed.
Check the System Preferences>Other Row, for 3rd party Pref Panes.
Also look in these if they exist, some are invisible...
/private/var/run/StartupItems
/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/LaunchDaemons

VRAM failed Tech Tool deluxe and Apple hardware test

My G5 (isight) keeps 'freezing' so I ran the Tech Tool and Apple hardware test and they both say that my VRAM 'failed'.
The hardware test gave an error code2ATI/I/4: 113-xxxxx-113
How big is this to fix? I've started up from the install disk and the disc utility said the Hard Drive was fine. ny suggestions would be really useful.
Thanks
Andrew

Andrew, I would suggest you call Apple back and tell them that things are not ok, if you erased the drive, it should have repaired any bad sectors, something is not right. If you have Apple Care (I hope you do), insist that someone test your machine. Be sure to make a full backup before you take it in, I use SuperDuper!.
Good luck and please post back,

Tech Tool Pro and iMac 2009

There is a disturbing message re: Tech Tool Pro 5 at its place in the Apple Store website
(http://store.apple.com/us/product/TT757LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mw&mco=MTA4NTE4NzE).
Basically he says it corrupted his hard drive totally.
I used to rely on an earlier version this software for my old G4 desktop and would like to know if the current version is safe to use on the iMac. Anybody using it regularly?

I am a little touchy since one of my older Macs was ruined recently by a well-known anti-virus utility. The hard disk was rendered irreparable.
Software cannot generally ruin drive hardware; it can cause data corruption, but a reformat should resolve that type of problem. In the case you mentioned, I would suspect that the hard drive was already becoming somewhat unreliable. The extra stress from doing frequent malware scans (which basically makes the drive accesses every used sector on the drive repeatedly) caused it to fail completely.
Now that my data is backed up to within one hour using Time Machine, I am less likely to need a tool like TechTool Pro. If I had data corruption, I am more likely to use the +erase the drive and restore from backup+ approach, not the +repair the errors with TechTool Pro+ approach. The maintenance checks are useful, but the important checks can be done with Disk Utility. The optimization features are useful too, but not something that has to be done.

I replaced the screen on my late 2007 laptop, now it won't boot. It Bongs and the wheel turns and then it turns off. I have tried a tech tool pro 3 disk, no results tried the osX tiger disk no results but bong and wheel. any ideas?

I replaced the screen on my late 2007 laptop, now it won't boot. It Bongs and the wheel turns and then it turns off. I have tried a tech tool pro 3 disk, no results tried the osX tiger disk no results but bong and wheel. any ideas?
I have not tried disk warrior yet,but will. I had it stored until I could get screen, battery is dead, and to be honest I forgot which OS I have in it, If I can Get screen up maybe I can get my info.
sbckr

Hi there sbckr,
You may find the troubleshooting steps in the article below helpful.
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1367
-Griff W.

Windows 8.1: Is it possible to go back to the old back up and restore tool of Windows 7

Hello,
Is there a way to install the windows 7 backup and restore tool on Windows 8.1?
Thanks

No, unfortunately, you have to use the one that's available.
How to create a system image
from Windows powershell (admin) type
"wbadmin start backup -backuptarget:d: -allcritical"
Where :d: is where you will save your image file.
you get the same image files as with the Windows 7 file restore.
Restore the image with help from a Windows 8.1 Dvd,
or from recovery advanced setup.
Teching It Easy: With Windows |ActiveWin |
Notebooks |
Microsoft MVP

Internal hard drive/repair: SMART status; Disk Utility, Tech Tool & More

machine: 12" PowerBook 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4 (Aluminium) with 80GB internal HD
internal hard drive (original): Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 series HTS541080G9AT00
hard drive firmware: MB4AA5AJ
ATA version: 6
ATA standard: ATA/ATAPI-6 T13 1410D revision 3a
I have monitored the SMART status etc. of my internal drive with smartmontools for some time. Occasionally, I would see an error or a failed self-test but later testing always succeeded and things did not seem to be problematic.
At the beginning of this week, I started to see a lot of failed self-tests (though some still passed), a rising number of bad ("pending") sectors and reallocation attempts (though no reallocated sectors) and various other errors. The computer seemed to have trouble reading from the disk at times and Carbon Copy Cloner reported two I/O errors when cloning (a later clone succeeded). fsck showed errors although running fsck -fy repeatedly seemed to resolve them.
The Apple hardware tests initially reported an error (2STF/8/3:ATA-100 ata-6-Master) but I hadn't realised I should disconnect peripherals before running it so I did that and repeated the test which found no issues. I ran the extended test a total of three times with no errors.
As I continued to have problems, I booted from my clone and had Disk Utility wipe the drive by writing zeros to it. (I thought trying to get it to write everywhere would either finish the drive off or force it to reallocate the bad blocks. As I understand it, in normal use, the drive won't reallocate the blocks unless it can recover the data in the hopes of reading it at a later time.)
I then continued monitoring the disk using smartmontools. At this point, short self-tests succeed but extended self-tests "disappear". They don't fail, they simply vanish. They begin and smartctl shows the test in progress but then no error or result is logged - it is as if the test was never run. The first time I did this, I got an error saying the SMART attributes could not be read but subsequent tests do not trigger even an error. Short self-tests continue to pass.
There are now (according to SMART) zero bad ("pending") sectors but zero reallocated sectors, which seems odd. The raw read error rate fluctuates (zero one minute, many thousands a while later) although I am not sure it did not do this before.
Disk Utility claims the disk does not support SMART status even though smartctl clearly shows it does. Disk Utility claims the volume is "OK".
I ran Tech Tool Deluxe 3.04 from CD and 3.1.1 from my clone. In both cases, I ran all available tests on the drive. No problems were found.
I am seeing some problems even while booted from my clone - yesterday, the system froze completely and I had to force a shut-down by switching off the power (fsck then found a minor error but repaired it). Just before this happened, I was unable to mount a disk image and was trying to rectify the situation when the system froze. It is possible that the errors fsck corrected were implicated in the freeze, rather than caused by it, since Disk Utility found and repaired similar errors for the other two clones I have (on different partitions of my external drive - yes, I know this is sub-optimal).
Here is some current output from smartmontools:
---output: smartctl -q noserial -a disk0---
smartctl version 5.38 [powerpc-apple-darwin8.11.0] Copyright (C) 2002-8 Bruce Allen
Home page is http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net/
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family: Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 series
Device Model: Hitachi HTS541080G9AT00
Firmware Version: MB4AA5AJ
User Capacity: 80,026,361,856 bytes
Device is: In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is: 6
ATA Standard is: ATA/ATAPI-6 T13 1410D revision 3a
Local Time is: Sat Jul 3 20:28:52 2010 BST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status: (0x00) Offline data collection activity
was never started.
Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status: ( 0) The previous self-test routine completed
without error or no self-test has ever
been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection: ( 645) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: (0x5b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
Suspend Offline collection upon new
command.
Offline surface scan supported.
Self-test supported.
No Conveyance Self-test supported.
Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities: (0x0003) Saves SMART data before entering
power-saving mode.
Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability: (0x01) Error logging supported.
General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 55) minutes.
SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
1 RawRead_ErrorRate 0x000b 100 100 062 Pre-fail Always - 0
2 Throughput_Performance 0x0005 100 100 040 Pre-fail Offline - 0
3 SpinUpTime 0x0007 142 142 033 Pre-fail Always - 2
4 StartStopCount 0x0012 097 097 000 Old_age Always - 5793
5 ReallocatedSectorCt 0x0033 100 100 005 Pre-fail Always - 0
7 SeekErrorRate 0x000b 100 100 067 Pre-fail Always - 0
8 SeekTimePerformance 0x0005 100 100 040 Pre-fail Offline - 0
9 PowerOnHours 0x0012 039 039 000 Old_age Always - 26720
10 SpinRetryCount 0x0013 100 100 060 Pre-fail Always - 0
12 PowerCycleCount 0x0032 098 098 000 Old_age Always - 4168
191 G-SenseErrorRate 0x000a 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
192 Power-OffRetractCount 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 201877487644
193 LoadCycleCount 0x0012 001 001 000 Old_age Always - 2209599
194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 141 141 000 Old_age Always - 39 (Lifetime Min/Max 16/46)
196 ReallocatedEventCount 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 194
197 CurrentPendingSector 0x0022 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable 0x0008 100 100 000 Old_age Offline - 0
199 UDMACRC_ErrorCount 0x000a 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 2138 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
CR = Command Register [HEX]
FR = Features Register [HEX]
SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
ER = Error register [HEX]
ST = Status register [HEX]
PoweredUpTime is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.
Error 2138 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 26716 hours (1113 days + 4 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.
After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
10 51 00 09 4f c2 a0 Error: IDNF
Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC PoweredUpTime Command/Feature_Name
b0 d6 01 09 4f c2 a0 00 08:30:04.500 SMART WRITE LOG
b0 d5 01 09 4f c2 a0 00 08:30:04.300 SMART READ LOG
b0 d1 00 00 4f c2 a0 00 08:30:04.000 SMART READ ATTRIBUTE THRESHOLDS [OBS-4]
b0 d0 00 00 4f c2 a0 00 08:30:04.000 SMART READ DATA
b0 da 00 00 4f c2 a0 00 08:30:04.000 SMART RETURN STATUS
Error 2137 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 26682 hours (1111 days + 18 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.
After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
40 51 28 18 95 98 e4 Error: UNC 40 sectors at LBA = 0x04989518 = 77108504
Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC PoweredUpTime Command/Feature_Name
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:37.600 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:30.600 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:22.600 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:16.300 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 40 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.700 READ DMA EXT
Error 2136 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 26682 hours (1111 days + 18 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.
After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
40 51 21 1f 95 98 e4 Error: UNC 33 sectors at LBA = 0x0498951f = 77108511
Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC PoweredUpTime Command/Feature_Name
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:30.600 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:22.600 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:16.300 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 40 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.700 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 93 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.100 READ DMA EXT
Error 2135 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 26682 hours (1111 days + 18 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.
After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
40 51 22 1e 95 98 e4 Error: UNC 34 sectors at LBA = 0x0498951e = 77108510
Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC PoweredUpTime Command/Feature_Name
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:22.600 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:16.300 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 40 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.700 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 93 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.100 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 40 93 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:13.500 READ DMA EXT
Error 2134 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 26682 hours (1111 days + 18 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.
After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
40 51 28 18 95 98 e4 Error: UNC 40 sectors at LBA = 0x04989518 = 77108504
Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC PoweredUpTime Command/Feature_Name
25 00 80 c0 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:16.300 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 40 94 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.700 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 93 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:14.100 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 40 93 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:13.500 READ DMA EXT
25 00 80 c0 92 98 e0 00 1d+01:30:12.100 READ DMA EXT
SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num Test_Description Status Remaining LifeTime(hours) LBAof_firsterror
# 1 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26717 -
# 2 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26717 -
# 3 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26717 -
# 4 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26717 -
# 5 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26716 -
# 6 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26715 -
# 7 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26714 -
# 8 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26697 -
# 9 Extended offline Completed: read failure 10% 26692 75071682
#10 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26687 -
#11 Extended offline Completed: read failure 10% 26676 77108511
#12 Short offline Completed: read failure 40% 26663 296917
#13 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26657 -
#14 Short offline Completed: read failure 10% 26646 296918
#15 Short offline Completed: read failure 70% 26645 296905
#16 Short offline Completed: read failure 10% 26644 296910
#17 Short offline Completed: read failure 10% 26644 296910
#18 Short offline Completed: read failure 40% 26643 296916
#19 Short offline Completed: read failure 20% 26643 296909
#20 Extended offline Completed without error 00% 26620 -
#21 Short offline Completed without error 00% 26618 -
Warning! SMART Selective Self-Test Log Structure error: invalid SMART checksum.
SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
SPAN MIN_LBA MAX_LBA CURRENTTESTSTATUS
1 0 0 Not_testing
2 0 0 Not_testing
3 0 0 Not_testing
4 0 0 Not_testing
5 0 0 Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.
---end output---
Self-tests 1-8 were all run after I erased the disk. The others were run before I did so. Not listed are the extended self-tests I've started since erasing which, as I say, have simply disappeared.
The checksum error regarding the log is normal for this disk. At least, I've got that error ever since I started using smartmontools for monitoring so I assume it is normal. (I installed this version of the software in about April 2008 and have used it since.) Also, starting offline testing has never succeeded on this disk (I think I checked into this at the time but can't quite remember - this is not new, anyway).
Questions
how should I interpret all this? (Why does Disk Utility say SMART is not supported while smartctl clearly shows it is at the same time? Why do the extended tests simply vanish? Is the drive definitely dying?) I do not want to replace the disk unless I absolutely have to because I understand that replacing disks in 12" PBs is no small matter and cost is an issue. I do not want to replace the machine unless I have to because cost is an issue and, also, I really like this computer and have no idea what I would want in its place, even if expense were no obstacle.
if it isn't clear whether the drive is dying or not, is there some further strategy I can use to establish this?
if the drive is dying, is a machine of this age worth repairing and, if it is, under what circumstances is it worth doing so? For example, it might be worth doing if you can do the job yourself, but that might be quite impractical for non-expert (not to mention, inexpert) users.
if there is a hardware problem (which I obviously think is very, very probable at this point), is it definitely a dying hard drive? (I've seen people write ominous things about disk controllers etc. which I gather are more serious - or less repairable - than a "mere" dying disk.)
what questions should I be asking you and what are the answers to those questions?!
Many thanks for your patience in reading this far.
- cfr

The 12" PB internals are a bit more complex, for PB's. If you don't want to replace the hard drive yourself or pay someone to install it, you could always get an external firewire hard drive, and use it to boot from and for general usage. Would have to be firewire, since the PB won't book from a USB device. One example of what you could get is a 160GB external hard drive: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MS4U5160GB8/ . All the choices with that case are listed here: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go
Have you called any Apple Authorized Service Providers to see what they would charge to install a drive for you? Whether you bought it or they supplied it? You can find a local one in the US at http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/

Internal hard drive won't mount after running Tech Tools Pro 5

HELP.
We have an imac 2ghz Intel Core 2 running OS 10.6.8.
I ran Tech Tools Pro 5 to rebuild directory, optimize files, optimize volume. It ran over nightbut seemed to hang up optimizing the volume.
Now the HD doesn't mount.
I've tried a few fixes. Including running disk utility from a CD. The disk utility says the directory is okay but doesn't see the HD to verify or repair permissions.
I've tried zapping the pram and safe boot, neither of which worked.
I've been able to use the computer by booting from an external start up hd.
Oddly, I ran a Time Machine back up prior to running TTP, but for some reason the only back up I see is from 3 months ago.
Not sure why the recent back up didn't happen, but were missing some very important recent docs.
I downloaded a trial version of Stellar Pheonix Mac Data Recovery and it seems to be able to see all of the data on the main HD.
I'm wondering whether or not to spend $100 for full version to attempt to restore content of HD to an external.
If I do this, I assume I'll have to erase the HD and reinstall data from the Stellar Pheonix collection, hoping that it's all intact.
Does anyone have any other suggestions to get the HD mounted????

Hi, never "Optimize" a drive before Repairing it AND having a backup clone to boot from.
I assume I'll have to erase the HD and reinstall data from the Stellar Pheonix collection, hoping that it's all intact.
No, I don't think you want an erase at all, you want a freah external drive to recover to first off.

G5 will not boot from system disk or from Tech Tool Pro 5

Hi everyone - Having a bit of trouble and hoped I might find some answers here.
I suspect my system drive was having some issues as it sounded like it was being taxed and strained as I would open up applications from it. Upon verifying the disk using Disk Utilities, the test would stop short with the following message:
First Aid Failed
Disk Utility stopped verifying "Macintosh HD" because the following error was encountered
Filesystem verify or repair failed
In addition, an error message came up (in red) on the disk utility screen as well saying:
Volume header needs minor repair
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired
Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed
Normally from here, I'd start up the computer from the Tech Tool Pro 5 disk (holding down C key upon restart). But when I did this, the computer never responded. Instead, the power was on but the screens went black and the computer went into a very quiet "idle" mode.
After about a minute, the fans began ramping up pretty high (and loud). This went on until I finally had to manually shut down the computer by holding the power switch down for a few seconds. I didn't know what else to do. Those fans were not coming down (not even after 10 minutes).
Anyway, I pushed the power button again and held the C key down. Still, nothing.... The fans stayed idle, for a little while and then ramped up again just like last time. I hit that same dead end and powered down the computer via the power button.
Is there an alternate way to boot the computer from Tech Tool Pro or the original start up disks? I'm having no luck, here.
I'm on my way into town to purchase a new internal drive (something with about 1TB of space) so that my pro apps can swim a little instead of being being bogged down on a 250G drive.
Thanks for any assistance, folks!
Oh yeah.... Happy New Year to everyone!!
Steve

The Install disk has version 10.4 on it. I have also tried booting from my OS 10.5 disk but with no avail.
However, here is an update on my plight.
Apple tech says that after hearing the symptoms, he thinks that one of the processors is shot. Being that my particular model of G5 (dual 2.7 processors) is a liquid cooled machine, it's possible that some sort of leak has formed and has either taken out a processor or has caused a processor to overheat. He says that this model of G5 has been known to do that. In this case, nothing will boot which makes me think that my original system drive may actually be okay. I'm taking it in for the tech to look at it and just be sure that's the problem. However, if it is a dead processor, the part alone would run $799 plus labor to install it. Frankly, that's just too much for me to pay to keep this old G5. I'd rather put that money towards a new or reconditioned Mac Pro 8 core or quad core machine.
I've owned several Mac computers in the past and perhaps this is the frustration talking but it seems that no matter how diligent you are in maintaining your Macintosh, these machines only seem to last about 5 years before something majorly wrong happens (mother board, processor, etc). Can I expect this same, limited time frame from a new Mac Pro? I mean, am I just being paranoid?

Problems restarting from C drive with Tech Tools 3.0.4 -OS 10.4.7

I have a TechTools CD sent to me by Apple for purchasing the protection plan. When i attempt to start up with that disk by holding C, the drive does not recognize the disk and i get the "no smoking sign" where the apple goes on the gray screen. I also have a Disk Warrior CD and it also is not recognized. I've also tried other methods of choosing both disks and neither are recognized. I've called Apple 3 times on this, and no one has been able to tell me why. They have sent me a new Tech Tools disk which still doesnt work, and now they are telling me it is a compatibility issue. What i want to know is, if it's a computability issue then is there anyone else in here who has this problem?? The lady at Apple had said she'd never heard of it so my thinking is the answer she gave me is b.s.
My mac is version 10.4.7 and my Tech Tools is version 3.0.4
HELP PLEASE??
iMac G5 iSight Mac OS X (10.4.7)
iMac G5 iSight Mac OS X (10.4.7)

But my question is, if this is a compatibility issue then why doesnt EVERYONE who bought my computer and got the TechTools disk from apple having the same problem?? I don't understand why they would send me a disk that was useless to me. Shouldn't someone know that this disk is supposedly incompatible??
I agree that it reduces the value of the TTD disk substantially, TrtlAtak.
Essentially the problem occurs because the disc contained in the Applecare package is often out of date, containing a system too old to start your computer. Sometimes the software itself is also out of date and should not be used until it has been updated. It depends partly on how long the particular package you receive has been sitting on the shelf, and partly on how long since a new version of the update has been provided.
The problem with the software occurs because Micromat often take a long time to update TechToolDeluxe for use with new systems. (As you have probably guessed, I'm not overly impressed with the TTD compnent of Applecare)
Remember there are TWO issues here, not just one. Firstly the CD has to have an appropriate operating system on it to start your computer. Secondly it has to have a version of TTD on it which is compatible with the OS on your computer.
In your case , the link to https://support.apple.com/techtooldeluxe/main?id=dl SHOULD , however, provide you with a disc which is capable of starting up your iMac G5 iSight (and with an appropriate version of TTD for use with it).
Any chance the caps lock key was down when you attempted to startup using the c key? This will prevent bootup from CD. (Its "c" that needs to be held down , not "C").
Secondly, you could try holding down the "option" key instead while you start up, with the CD in the drive. This should allow you to select which particular drive you wish to start from (the HD or the optical drive).
Thirdly, with the Disc in the drive, you could see if it appears as a "startup disc" choice whe you go to SystemPreferences / StartupDisc. If so, select it, and restart your computer.
There are other things that can prevent your Mac startingup from a CD or DVD. If you have an "open firmware" password installed on the computer, for example, it can't be started from an optical drive. Some third party keyboards also will not let you start up in this fashion.
Cheers
Rod

I have booted in Tech Tool; now how can I erase the Mac Hard Drive?

I bootrd my MacBook Pro in Tech Tool, and want to erase the Hard drive completely. I can't do it. Any suggestions?

A Late 2008 MacBook Pro should be able to boot off a disc that looks like
And says Mac OS X 10.6 to erase the hard drive. But before we even go that far, why do you want to erase, and is your data backed up?

G4 and tech tool

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