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MAC troubleshooting... $$ to winner.

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  1. yeti sn0wman yeti sn0wman is offline

    Rockford, IL
    United States

    Posts: 236
    Joined: Jun 06

    May 21st, 2010 (5/21/2010 11:45am)

    Hello-

    Background: I was given a PowerBook G4 A1004 from a lady at work. She asked if I could troubleshoot it, but this is the first MAC I have ever worked on. She told me she doesn't want to put any money into it, but I am willing to if I can find a reasonable solution.

    The problem: When it boots, I get the chime, but it goes to the screen with just a flashing question mark/folder.

    What I've tried:
    Firstly, I spent most of my day yesterday and today trying to find a solution online, but nothing has worked yet... I have...
    1. Reset the PRAM, and NVRAM.
    2. I have held down the option-key to select from a boot device, but it does not list any boot device, even though there is a bootable DVD in the drive.
    3. I have booted into the firmware, and it does find a HD when I run the command.
    4. I have tried hooking a external USB 2.0 drive to read from a CD but it does not find it.

    IMO, I think the HD is fried and just needs a new one, but then again it bothers me that It finds it in the Firmware. Also, I hear the DVD/CD drive spinning but still says there is NO boot devices available when I boot with Option. I am going to tear it apart this afternoon and see if disconnecting the HD or removing a memory stick helps.

    $5 to winner on stars if you can help me.

    Thanks much,

    Kyle
  2. boris64 boris64 is offline

    Posts: 445
    Joined: Jun 09

    May 21st, 2010 (5/21/2010 12:22pm) in reply to yeti sn0wman

    hd is most likely fried if the option thing does not work.

    try removing the battery for a few minutes though, a friend of mine actually fixed his old pos macbook like this (he had the same issue)

    I also just left same friend a voicemail, i'll post if he calls me with anything interesting on how to fix it.
  3. cizastro cizastro is offline

    Tanzania, United Republic of

    Posts: 6,812
    Joined: Nov 08

    May 21st, 2010 (5/21/2010 12:28pm) in reply to boris64

    Shake the hell out of it.
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