Hi Laura I'm about to head out, but if you want to email me off-list happy to work something out to have a look at it if you like, just let me know.
Thanks. Kind Regards Daniel --- Daniel Kerr MacWizardry Phone: 0414 795 960 Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> **For everything Macintosh** On 6/6/10 11:23 AM, "Laura Webb" <[email protected]> wrote: > Ronni, Eugene, Greg and Roger > > Thank you all for your advice. > > I did have Apple Care but of course it has now expired. I was unaware it could > have been extended and will note that for future reference. I know it is > probably time for me to upgrade to a more recent model but having spent quite > a bit on replacing the optical drive and buying SL earlier in the year I was > hoping to get a bit more life from what I have. > > Starting in Safe Mode has not worked, I still just get the screen with the > question mark. > > When booting from the external HD there is no sign of the HD icon on the > screen, nor is it visible in Disk Utility, all that shows there is the > external HD. So it is looking rather ominous that the main HD might indeed > have died. Would it normally show when booting from an external drive? > > I have lost some recent work and, learning the hard way, I now realise I > should back up more often. But if that's the only consequence of this > experience then I can feel fortunate. Right now, just being able to use my > MacBook is a bonus. > > Rather than try anything else, should I now stay with the external drive until > such time as I am able to have someone check my MacBook? > > How fortunate we all are to have access to this list and to those who are so > willing to share their knowledge. I was feeling so distraught this morning, > Before thinking of using my external drive I felt there was no way to make > contact with anyone who might be able to offer help. It's easy to forget that > computers have become so much a part of our lives, until something goes > wrong!!! > > My grateful thanks. > > Laura > > > On 06/06/2010, at 10:15 AM, Roger Kortas wrote: > > Hi Laura > > 4 years is not too bad for a Hard Drive, I have had some last for over 7 years > and some just a few months!! If you had Applecare then it would be covered > for 3 years unless you have extended it? If you buy a new drive the it would > be covered by the manufacture for 1 year. To give you an example of the cost > of a new drive at the moment you can get a WD SCORPIO BLUE 500GB > 5400/8MB/SATA2 # for around $85.00 > > best regards > > Roger > > > On 06/06/2010, at 9:08 AM, Laura Webb wrote: > >> >> Thank you Ronni and Eugene >> >> I knew there was some way to start up in safe mode but could not remember how >> to do it! I've now printed out the instructions. >> >> I have to go out for a while and will then come back and try what has been >> suggested. I do hope the problem is not too dire and if it is, will certainly >> contact Apple. My MacBook is almost 4 years old but would have thought the >> hard drive would last longer than than that. >> >> Thanks again easing my pain. I'll report back a little later on. >> >> Regards >> Laura >> >> >> On 06/06/2010, at 8:54 AM, Eugene wrote: >> >> Hi Laura, >> >> all is not too bad. >> >> The mother board and memory modules are still good otherwise you wouldn't >> have got going. >> >> By the sound of it, it is down to the internal hard drive. Good on you for >> having a backup drive to boot from and hopefully with all of your essential >> documents still safe. >> >> With the computer now booting is the other drive visible? If yes, it probably >> has a corrupt file essential for running/starting up the computer, simply >> reinstall the operating system. (not so likely as it died during operation, >> as you said) >> >> If not then can you see the HD using Disk Utility? (find this in >> applications/utility or on the install disks) If yes, get Disk Utility to do >> a repair. >> >> If Disk Utility can't see the HD then the HD could have died. Apple had a >> huge amount of problems with these drives. Is it still under warranty? Even >> if it is not under warranty I would hassle Apples as there is a implied >> warranty that HD should not die even after 3 years. >> >> If they won't come to the party, 2.5 inch SATA drives are relatively cheap >> and simple to install on the MB, hopefully this will be the last resort. >> >> Regards, >> Eugene >> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[email protected]> >> <(null) 4.tiff> >> On 06/06/2010, at 8:21 AM, Laura Webb wrote: >> >>> >>> 13" MacBook 10.6.2 >>> 1.83 GHZ Intel Core Duo >>> 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 5DRAM >>> >>> Last evening the screen froze so I had to switch off, expecting that when re >>> started all would be well. Not so, the chime was there but then a blank >>> whitish screen appeared and after a while a black rectangular object in the >>> middle of the screen with a question mark. >>> >>> I switched off again and hoped everything would be OK this morning but it is >>> not. The only way I could start up was to use my external hard drive that I >>> use for back ups. How glad I am to have that!! And that's how I am connected >>> right now. >>> >>> Please can someone offer some advice? It's a bit like getting sick at the >>> weekend, there are no outside resources available, and then of course we >>> also have a holiday tomorrow. >>> >>> A;though relieved that the external drive has saved the day I still hope >>> someone might be able to tell me what the problem is. I've never seen this >>> happen before. >>> >>> Regards >>> Laura > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[email protected]>
