iBook - ibook g4 HD mounting trouble?

Stuerror · Stuerror #1 (**permalink**)

04-29-2009, 04:17 AM

Hey my dad picked up a ibook g4 and has tried installing OS X onto it using the correct discs supplied with the ibook... However, when it gets to the point of choosing the HD to install it on it won't let him it has a red symbol next to it or sometimes it dosn't appear at all!

Could this be the HD cable has failed?
or worse!
IDE controller on the motherboard has failed?

B&O · B&O #2 (**permalink**)

04-29-2009, 05:08 AM

Has he formatted the drive correctly? (just checking as this seems to be the most common problem).

Kevriano · Kevriano #3 (**permalink**)

04-29-2009, 07:03 AM

Put the install disc in and open Disc Utility. Check the hard drive from there and reformat it. If it checks out all should be fine.

Stuerror · Stuerror #4 (**permalink**)

04-29-2009, 08:20 AM

We reformatted the drive and it did the samething so we thought it was the hd itself so we replaced it with a new one... all went well os x loaded onto the drive but when my dad turned it off and back on again it had lost the whole os x system and just flashed the folder icon again?

:S

powermac G5 · powermac G5 #5 (**permalink**)

04-29-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuerror

We reformatted the drive and it did the samething so we thought it was the hd itself so we replaced it with a new one... all went well os x loaded onto the drive but when my dad turned it off and back on again it had lost the whole os x system and just flashed the folder icon again?

:S

Okay with the G4's common problem is they tend to forget the start up disk. Restart computer holding option and select HD. Once you reach desktop, open system preferences and choose startup disk select the disk you are using and click the lock to further prevent changes. This should solve your problem, if it persists the cmos battery will need to be replaced as this battery supplies a small amount power to the logic to remember basic settings such as time, date, startup, etc.

Stuerror · Stuerror #6 (**permalink**)

04-29-2009, 12:56 PM

The problem now is though we cant get the ibook to install os x again cos it wont see the drive??

B&O #2 (permalink)
Member Since: May 18, 2007 Location: Brit in Tokyo. Posts: 745 Mac Specs: MBP i7, Mac Mini & iPhone 3G.	04-29-2009, 05:08 AM Has he formatted the drive correctly? (just checking as this seems to be the most common problem). MacBook Pro 2.66Ghz i7. Mac Mini 2.26Ghz C2D iPhone 3G 16GB iPad 3G 64GB Check out my flickr
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iBook - ibook g4 HD mounting trouble?

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Stuerror #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 03, 2009 Posts: 75 Mac Specs: MBP 15" Late 2011 2.2ghz i7, 8GB RAM, 128GB OCZ-VERTEX4 SSD, 500GB SATA HD	04-29-2009, 04:17 AM Hey my dad picked up a ibook g4 and has tried installing OS X onto it using the correct discs supplied with the ibook... However, when it gets to the point of choosing the HD to install it on it won't let him it has a red symbol next to it or sometimes it dosn't appear at all! Could this be the HD cable has failed? or worse! IDE controller on the motherboard has failed?
	QUOTE Thanks

Stuerror #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 03, 2009 Posts: 75 Mac Specs: MBP 15" Late 2011 2.2ghz i7, 8GB RAM, 128GB OCZ-VERTEX4 SSD, 500GB SATA HD	04-29-2009, 08:20 AM We reformatted the drive and it did the samething so we thought it was the hd itself so we replaced it with a new one... all went well os x loaded onto the drive but when my dad turned it off and back on again it had lost the whole os x system and just flashed the folder icon again? :S
	QUOTE Thanks

Stuerror #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 03, 2009 Posts: 75 Mac Specs: MBP 15" Late 2011 2.2ghz i7, 8GB RAM, 128GB OCZ-VERTEX4 SSD, 500GB SATA HD	04-29-2009, 12:56 PM The problem now is though we cant get the ibook to install os x again cos it wont see the drive??
	QUOTE Thanks

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