Hi Laura Yes I though it was the HD, I have seen that happen many times :( I am sure Daniel will be able to help though :)
Roger On 06/06/2010, at 12:27 PM, Laura Webb wrote: > Hi Ronni > > Yes I have tried that suggestion but nothing happened at all. No Apple icon > nor question mark. > > I had considered contacting Daniel but did not want to bother him on a > holiday weekend. Now he has offered I'll contact him off list and see what we > can sort out. > > Many thanks > Laura > > > On 06/06/2010, at 11:32 AM, Ronda Brown wrote: > > Hi Laura, > > Before you take your MacBook to a Service Technician. > Did you try my first suggestion in my previous email? > > 1. Startup whilst holding the Option (alt) key. > 2. Then select your Startup Drive. > 3. Restart from your Startup Drive > > Cheers, > Ronni > > On 06/06/2010, at 11:23 AM, Laura Webb 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]> > > > > > -- 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]> -- 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]>
