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Question mark on startup - G5
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2006
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I actually did a search on this subject and found some good info, but I have some more specific stuff to add to the topic.
When I startup my G5, I see a small folder icon with a blinking question mark on it. It does not proceed beyond this stage. I understand this means it can't find a startup volume.
Here's what I've tried:
Starting with the option key down (startup manager). The screen comes up, but no volume appears for me to select.
Reset PRAM. Started with command/option/P/R keys. Startup chime repeats, but keeps going back to blinking question mark.
Then I started up with the OSX installation CD and ran the hardware diagnostics. On the "mass storage" test, it said "error detected" and gave the code: 2STF/5/3:A (upper)
Does anyone know what this means? Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.
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Moderator  Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, UK
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I would say it means your hard drive is dead. I hope you have backups otherwise drive recovery will be expensive.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2006
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That is what I am afraid of. I did backup a lot of my stuff, but there are some more recent things I didn't get around to backing up that I will probably lose.
I forgot to mention I actually have two internal hard drives installed in my G5. The secondary hard drive is basically just for storage, mainly of raw video. I noticed this one didn't show up for the Startup Manager either. I'm thinking it doesn't show up because it doesn't contain the OSX. It's not likely both hard drives would tank at the same time.
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Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, UK
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HDD 2 should be fine. It's reporting failure on the upper drive which i assume is the one OS X is on. If you pop in the installer disk and boot from it, go into disk utility (menu at the top) and your second drive should be listed.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Right you are. The secondary drive appears to be OK as the Disk Utility gives to option to verify or repair it. The primary drive also shows up in Disk Utility, but the Verify and Repair buttons are grayed out when I select it. Yeah, it appears that hard drive is kaput.
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Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, UK
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If drive one is being listed then data recovery may still be possible.
You could install OS X on drive 2 and attempt to copy the vital stuff over to the 2nd disk.
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