Powerbook / OS X install disk will not find Hard drive

So here's the story. I bought a 12" powerbook from a friend. It's old but i liked the machine. So we booted it up at his place and it worked. I took it home and then it wouldn't find the hard drive. I used an OS X install DVD but it couldn't find the HDD for it's life. So I thought it was a bad drive, i called it in for an RMA and used a old 30gb hard drive from an old Pismo i had laying around. it worked fine and a week later I got the RMA drive from WD. I put the new drive in the laptop, fired up OS X install, but the disk utility couldn't fine the HDD!!! So I said whatever, i put the old 30gb drive in but the machine couldn't find that one either!
Since then I've tried to secure all connections, reset P-ram, NV-ram, did a reset all in Open Firmware, removed the extra memory, but nothing is working...
Does anyone have any other idea's before i ask my friend for the money back?
Thanks, Tim

Try using Disk Utility to repair your startup disk (hard drive) as shown in Dr.Smokes Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption. See if the drive shows up there.
Let us know what errors it reports and if DU was able to repair them.
Cheers!
DALE

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Hi all,
I'm trying to reinstall OS X.3 on my daughter's iBook G4. I had it running ok but Safari wasn't working so I decided to do a clean install of the OS.
Somewhere along the line the internal HD disappeared from the install disk's radar, so to speak. If you're familiar with the install sequence, I can pin-point where things go wrong. Right after the window concerning software agreement--where you check "I agree"--the next window instantly opens asking where to install the software. The problem is the window does not show any drive to select. It's all just white space.
The reason I have to keep trying to reinstall the OS is that if I allow the computer to boot itself, it will display the prohibitory sign (circle with diagonal line) and that's as far as it goes. I have tried using the original install CD, another Panther disk, a Tiger disk and TechTool Pro 4. I've also been able to bring up Apple's own Disk Utility but it can't repair the disk--something is wrong with the allocation section of the volume structure, it reports.
Here's another clue: The battery will no longer hold a charge. This created a bad situation during my first attempt to reinstall the OS, because the power cable accidentally got pulled out and there was apparently no power in the battery so everything grounded to a halt. I haven't been able to get the computer to boot up since.
I realize I may have to erase her drive in order to get up and going again, but, failing to heed Daddy's past warnings to Backup! Backup! Backup! she has no way to restore her data. This is, of course, tragic.
Any ideas? Any lifelines to throw out?
Thanks for reading this rather lengthy post. Help, as always would be most appreciated.
Ddale53
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You need to reformat the drive before reinstalling the OS or do an Archive install. It wont let you install the OS because there is a newer version installed (is it upgraded to 10.3.9?).
From the sounds of things you'll want to do an archive install. Go down to options (it will show up on the bottom of the installer window where the drives show up). Then click on it and select archive install and away you go.

Disk Utility not finding Hard Drives after Updates

Howdy;
Updated my B&W G3 to 10.4.4 and itunes 6.0.2. After update and restart, ran Disk Utility (DU), which seem to just get into a loop "Gathering disk data". Force quit DU and tried running from Tiger DVD, but similar story.
I have done a little research and there has been many problems with DU linked to itunes 6.0.2 update, but not quite the same (no B&W G3 w/10.4.4 and different DU hang point).
I followed: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1505537#1505537
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I doubt that any jumpers are needed, since this is the only (master) drive in the system. WD's site has pretty good info on this. Verify for yourself however.
Also, from their site:
How to partition and format an internal slave drive or an external drive in a Mac OS X (all versions).
Answer
In Mac OS X, you can use the built in Disk Utility to partition and initialize the drive so it will appear on the desktop.
1. Open the main drive (the drive that contains the operating system).
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3. Open the Utilities folder.
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10. Following the completion of this process, the drive will appear on the desktop.
Joe

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Just recently my applications have taken a turn to not wanting to launch. These include anything from Dashboard to the Microsoft Office Suite. It also includes anything that is downloaded form the internet, like the World of Warcraft download client. Long story short, the errors that I constantly get are
System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.Framework/versions/A/Frameworks/Co reGraphics.Framework/versions/A/CoreGraphics
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About my mac:
2009 MacBook Pro Unibody
Apple OS X 10.6.8
Processor: 2.53 GHz Intel
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Apps that won't open due to System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.Framework/versions/A/Frameworks/C oreGraphics.Framework/versions/A/CoreGraphics
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Finale NotePad 2008.           (Downloaded from Internet)
iTunes.                                  (OS based/internet)
Google Earth.                       (Internet)
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HELP! - Start up disks does not recognize hard drive!

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Hi Scoobie,
You might want to start a new thread about this, but basically I would say that:
- If you aren't sure what to buy, the easiest solution is probably to go to an Apple store or another Apple Authorized repair shop.
- If you're feeling more confident about replacing it yourself, you basically need to know:
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2. What size hard drive your computer uses. Basically this is just 3.5" for desktops and 2.5" for laptops, although I think Mac minis use 2.5" hard drives.
3. What speed you want. This might not really matter to you.
4. How much capacity you want.
I think that Pricewatch is an excellent place to compare prices of hard drives, but if you want to make sure you get a reliable drive and/or don't want to have to do quite so much hunting and comparing, Newegg might be the best place to go.
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SilverSkyRat wrote:
Have you checked the manufacturer's web site for any firmware updates for the drive?
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Hi, Grant.
Sometimes, it just pays to think on a problem. I awoke thinking, if it will boot the OS X install CD, it ought to boot my Ubuntu Live CD. And then, maybe I can change permissions on the first partition. As soon as I thought that, it occurred to me, if the problems are with the permissions, what if I used the OS X disk, and erased (formatted) the Ubuntu partition. That should set all the permissions on that partition back to default. Would OS X install then to the Ubuntu partition?
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I then did as you suggested, and from the Mac, I repaired the permissions to the first partition. But, the result was the same, there are a few permissions that do not match, and Disk Utility cannot, does not, or will not correct them.
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When two hard drives are attached to the same data ribbon cable, connected to the same IDE controller, one drive must be configured as "master," and the other drive configured as "slave." This is accomplished by placing a plastic jumper (sometimes two jumpers) across a specific pair (or pairs) of pins on the back end of the drive. If the manufacturer didn't apply a label to the drive with jumper designations, the user manual or manufacturer's web site will have the info needed for that specific hard drive. The drive connected at the end of the ribbon cable should be configured as master, and the drive connected to the middle connector as slave. If the 80 GB drive isn't mounting, it's probably configured the same as the 120 GB, so check both drives.

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If the drive is listed in Disk Utility do the following:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the drop down menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
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My G4 will not boot up.
Here are the symptoms:
It passed the hardware test;
Will not perform a safe start - so cannot run disk utility;
Hard drive makes a clicking noise.
I'd appreciate any advice about how to proceed.
pdh

Yes, as mentioned backup now. best not to use your Mac till you do. The drive may fail for good. Here's some tips on replacing your drive (they are pretty inexpensive now);
This is by SDMacuser,
Even if you have never installed nor pulled a HD from a Powermac...... trust me....it is not all that difficult.
I can actually switch internal HD's among 3 separate G4 Towers I own in a matter of minutes (often less than 10 minutes).
Simply power the system down and ground yourself (a grounding strap is recommended or at the very least touching the metal frame to discharge any potential static electricity prior to actually touching the HD or any internal components on your system).
Disconnect the power cable to the back of the HD, then the long ide connector on the back of the HD / cable (pull straight back while grasping the black connector with 2 fingers ... do not yank the actual ribbon cable).
All of my HD's are mounted or bolted to their own metal sleds (either single sled or a dual sled) with 4 screws.
Unscrew the small screw (philips) holding the sled in place on position one below the ide connector or cable. And gently remove the sled & HD from the Powermac without bumping / damaging other internal components.
Remove the 4 screws from the sled itself holding the HD in place. Be careful not to allow the drive to fall once all screws have been removed.
Install the new HD (and make sure to address proper jumpers on the back of the HD itself.)
Now reverse this process with new HD for proper installation into the G4 Powermac.
Any questions just post back.
btw ... there are a few QT demos on apples web sites showing how to do this.
 Cheers! DALE

Can I boot from tiger install disk without wiping my hard drive?

I have an old mac install disk with tiger on it and I want to be able to boot from it. Can I do that without damaging my hard drive?

You can boot from it, but if you continue through without stopping eventually it will try to install Tiger. However, if you want to install Tiger on a USB flash drive or HDD, then when you arrive at the screen for selecting a Target device, be sure to select the USB device before clicking on the Install button.
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Powerbook / OS X install disk will not find Hard drive

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