[jamesl]

HI, i was part way through listening to a song in iTunes, then suddenly my ibook just stopped working.

It froze!

Anyway, when i came to restart it by turning it on and off, it starts off ok, loading the grey screen with an apple on it, but then it just has the grey circle spinning around at the bottom, and doesnt get as far as the login screen.

Ive tried the hardware test CD, and it says its fine, even the hard drive is listed as fine.

Any suggestions anybody? I hope my HD isnt broken, as I bet this is costly for a G3 iBook isnt it?

Thanks

[jamesl]

Its now squeaking upon start up of the computer!

This sounds bad!

[seanc]

Where's the squeeking sound coming from?
Yes it's probably the hdd if the squeeking sound is coming from the left hand palm rest.

Hdd's aren't the expensive part, it's getting it replaced. You can replace the hdd yourself, i'd assume it's out of warrenty and you don't have Apple Care.

Replacing the hdd is tricky and time consuming as you've got to take out millions of tiny screws and then remember where they go back, but it is do-able.

Run the AHT CD on loop overnight and see what happens. Boot the cd and then press ctrl+L (i think or apple+L) then do the extended test.

There's not a cd stuck in the drive that might be interfering with start up is there? Press and hold the mouse button on start-up.

Try boooting from the install cd's and do an archive and install, although if the hdd is/has failed then you probably won't get very far.

Sean.

[jamesl]

HI, took it in to my appple shop today, and im paying to have it replaced and fitted. Not cheap, bnut Id rather do that than mess it up myself.