[argh]

New to the forums - hope you all can help....
I went to sleep at 1:30am last night and my computer did too. This AM, I tried to wake it up and it froze. So I used power button to shut it off and then turn it back on again. It wouldn't boot - I get that file folder with the mac icon that turns into a question mark.
Looking thru my documentation that I got when I bought it (11/04) I tried various things like holding down the option key when I turn it on. This brings up two icons on the screen: a box with an arrow curving around and a box with an arrow pointing right on it. The mouse works at this point, but clicking on the curving arrow only makes the mouse arrow switch to a timepiece and clicking on the right arrow does nothing.
Is there any way to get into the system now? Any tips or advice on what this is and how to resolve it? I'm having to use my old iBook laptop to do this, but all my work is on the iMac G5.
Thanks everyone!

[sosumi]

Ouch! The flashing folder/? means your Mac can't find a system folder to boot from. Insert your System install disk and restart holding the option key and the disk should show up. Click it then the straight arrow. (If you insert a disk or connect an external drive after starting with the option key down, clicking the curved arrow tells your Mac to rescan for anything bootable) Open Disk Utility from the menu bar and hopefully your HD will be listed. Choose it, click First Aid and then repair disk. Once that is done repair permissions as well. (You may need to close and reopen Disk Utility to do this).
If that fails you might want to look into a heftier repair utility like Disk Warrior.
Good luck!

[dougster]

-Hi, and welcome,
A question to help members narrow your snag. Do you run Classic w/ OS.9.x installed, or stock OSX, and what version of OSX?

[argh]

Hi,
The G5 came with 10.3.4, which I recently upgraded to 10.3.9 (I downloaded it from Apple over the 'net) Interestingly, on my old desktop, whn I upgraded the OS, it also crashed within about month.
The G5 also runs Classic OS 9, but I haven't used that much at all - if any.
Thanks for the help folks, I'll be trying some of this out - I've got some precious stuff I need access to!

[argh]

Sorry, found the Disk Utility option and clicked it open. Unofrtunately, my hard drive does not show up - only the DVD-R drive and the OS install disk.
Am I screwed?

[sosumi]

This is a long shot, but have you any new peripherals? Disconnect everything and try it again, there may be some sort of conflict.
Before doing anything drastic give it at least a day or so to see if anyone can come up with a fix for you. But, if push comes to shove do an "archive and install", there's a remote possiblity that may preserve your data.
And on a close the barn door type note, get yourself into a habit of doing regular backups. I've got my own quirky routine I've been doing since OS 7 days so I can't personally recommend any of the apps that automate the task, but a number of them have been mentioned positively in these forums.

Good luck!

[argh]

I went out and bought Disk Warrior but my hard drive still does not show up when I boot from the DW CD (only the DW CD shows up). Also, nothing shows up when I try to run the hardware diagnostic except something called WDC WD1600 and I can't do anything with that.
Does anyone have any ideas? PLEASE?????

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
Well, the WDC WD1600 is your hard drive. In that case, there may be a shred of hope. Do you have an iSight equipped iMac G5 or not? I ask because this will determine if it would be a worthwhile endeavor to remove the hard drive and bring it to another computer or person to see if it mounts at all for them.
When you boot from the DW CD, there should be a Hardware section on the initial screen that allows you to repair / rebuild the directory. Click on this on run the test. The S.M.A.R.T. test isn't 100% useful but if says failing than you have a bit more hassle to go with. If it says Verified or Passed that doesn't mean you are safe either.
FYI...This whole situation may force you to do a few things, if you can't seem to get access to the drive yourself.
1) To try a bit-by-bit copy, if the drive is still somewhat mountable
2) Is a professional data recovery service, which usually disassembles the drive and places the platters in a brand new unit of the same model.
Both options can get real expensive but it depends on quite a few factors.

[argh]

I don't have an iSight iMac, no.
When I bring up the hardware diagnostic, the WDC WD1600 is there, but the "test device" button is grayed out so I can't select it.
So if I need to bring this in to an Apple Store for fixing, any idea what it will run me to get my data back and my iMac back in good shape?
Thanks for the help!

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
Very odd that you can't even run a S.M.A.R.T. test on it. As far as cost, it really varies and I don't even know Apple's regular going rate. Most professional data recovery companies charge based on physical drive damage severity ( internal ), size of drive ( capacity ), type of drive interface (SATA, PATA, ... ) and, amount of data required to be recovered but Apple may have a set fee...I have no clue.
Maybe give the local Store a call for a quote and I'd suggest bringing the entire iMac in anyway since you can't even run S.M.A.R.T. Plus, it wouldn't hurt for them to run over it, depending on the price quote, of course.