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kodachrome22 · Oct 21, 2003, 08:56 AM

I didn't get much of a response on ArsTechnica, so I thought I'd post here...

I've been having an issue with my iBook recently where it doesn't wake up from sleep (both in 10.2 and 10.3) and it doesn't find a startup disk when I reboot it. I would go through a few troubleshooting options (DiskWarrior, OSX/OS9 install CDs) but nothing would pick up the drive. DiskWarrior would give me some garbled text as the volume name if it did find it.

I've got a feeling that it could be the IDE controller. Any ideas how much that would cost to replace?

I reset the NV/PRAM a few times. I've also gotten Norton to run successfully on the machine when it recognizes the drive. No problems there, nor when using Disk Utility's Verify Disk nor with the Apple Hardware Test. A reinstall of OSX hasn't helped much either.

If I put the machine to sleep, there's a good chance that when I wake it up it'll lock up. When I shut it down and start it back up, I'll get the flashing ?. Booting from OSX on an iPod won't recognize the drive, but if I leave the machine alone for a few hours it'll start up alright. I highly doubt heat could be an issue, as the iBook is sitting 2 feet away from an open window and I get the same symptoms if I've been running the iBook for 2 minutes. If I get the iBook up and running, it works fine and that's why I'm suspecting that it is an IDE controller issue.

Any thoughts?

chabig · Oct 21, 2003, 10:51 AM

First, I would recommend running the hardware test CD that came with your iBook. My guess is that you don't have a hardware problem. But the tests will tell.

If you decide it's software, I would suggest backing up the drive, then reformatting and doing a clean install. Since Panther is going to be out in a few days, you might just want to clean install Panther, then restore your data.

And I would absolutely recomment NEVER using Norton on your Mac. It has a terrible reputation.

Chris

kodachrome22 · Oct 21, 2003, 01:09 PM

I've run the Hardware Test CD and everything passed. Note well that I've run it through a few OSes (OS9 Install CD, OSX 10.2 Install CD, OSX 10.2 original install, 10.2 Archive and Install, 10.2 clean on iPod) with the same results.

arclight · Oct 21, 2003, 02:25 PM

Do you live anywhere near an Apple store? i would take it in to the genius bar and see what they say. My guess is that you either have a bad drive, IDE controller, or maybe the start of the infamous logic board problem. Although that usually coincides with video issues. Either way, you've exhausted many of the common troubleshooting methods. I say take it into an Apple store and tell them the whole story.

My first 800 was DOA with a bad drive. I had to drive two hours the next morning to get a replacement. The hardware test CD said it was fine. Good luck-