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harry63 · Jan 22, 2006, 10:51 AM

My G4 ibook running panther will stall unless I tilt the whole laptop about 30-45 degrees. At that point it is still slow. I believe it is a hard disk problem, because when running disk utility and fsck nothing would happen (as in it would just sit there, spinning beach ball in GUI) unless it was tilted. What does this mean? I am afraid the hard drive is probably going to need to be replaced. If that is the case what should it be replaced with for reliabilty and if a authorized repair service does the work will I even have an option?

I am currently backing everything in case the worst should happen...

Thank you

Hi I'm Ben · Jan 22, 2006, 11:50 AM

It's your logic board.

harry63 · Jan 22, 2006, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ben

It's your logic board.

Are you sure? Can you give me any more information?

harry63 · Jan 22, 2006, 06:15 PM

I ran the Apple Hardware Diagnostic multiple times both tilted and non-tilted in quick and extended test modes. When it was tilted there were no problems, when it was level I got one of two error codes:

2STF/2/3:ATA - 100 ata - 6 - Master

or

2STF/1/4:ATA - 100 ata - 6 - Master

im_noahselby · Jan 22, 2006, 06:31 PM

Sounds like a hard drive issue to me. I have to tilt my machine as well, otherwise my 12" PowerBook starts making odd noises under the left palmrest and often wont even work at all unless it is in a titled position. It seems to be getting worse as time goes on. Back up all your data

Noah

harry63 · Jan 22, 2006, 06:52 PM

I read another forum that suggested it might also be the ATA controller (which would be a lot more expensive to fix). Is there a way to tell the difference without buying one and seeing if it fixes the problem?

Hi I'm Ben · Jan 23, 2006, 09:20 AM

It makes no sense to me that it's your harddrive.

When my logic hard died I had to hold my laptop at about 45 degrees, otherwise it would turn off. It was mostly unresponsive even when that happened.

When my hard drive went back a month later the computer would stop working when it was moved too much and a grinding sound would occur. The ATA Controller would make sense but what would moving it have anything to do with that?

JoshKurtz · Jan 23, 2006, 10:41 AM

The ATA Controller would make sense but what would moving it have anything to do with that?

Moving it might shake it loose from a pin or a bad solder from part of the ATA Controller to the logic board.

seanc · Jan 23, 2006, 11:19 AM

Well since the Hard drive is a cheaper option it would make sense to try that first.
I can't really see how the logic board could be problem as tipping it at an angle wouldn't really do anything to the ATA controller. However, tipping the hard drive may balance out the platter on the spindle or put something in the right orientation to make it work and would make more logical sense.

harry63 · Jan 28, 2006, 09:17 AM

I sent it in and they have found nothing in their diagnostics other than corrupted files. The repair department believes it is probably a harddrive or cable that is near death. They can't duplicate the problem and tilting solution at all. Anymore thoughts?

At first he thought it might be the tilt sensor, but this older model doesn't have one.

I never thought I was going to be one of those people who had to tell the repair shop "I swore it doing it at home..."

seanc · Jan 28, 2006, 10:42 AM

No suggestions other than to replace the Hard Drive.
There are detailed guides on www.pbfixit.com on how to disassemble your iBook for Hard Drive repair etc.

Good Luck,

Sean

e-dard · Jan 28, 2006, 11:30 AM

maybe a chance to upgrade the hard drive to a nice 7200rpm model, try and find a company who will offer a return policy if it doesn't fix your problem...

edd

Hi I'm Ben · Jan 28, 2006, 02:33 PM

Upgrading the HD isn't really that hard. Time consuming, frustrating, annoying. Perhaps.

I recommend buying a cheap 2.5 enclosure from somewhere to put your broken HD in when you're done in hopes of salvaging any files.

My HD crashed (Made wonderful click noises and wouldn't function properly)
after switching it out I put it in an enclosure I purchased for $10 that works off the iBook USB ports.

The HD worked perfect to get ALL my info off it. It had a few minor glitches but a couple taps on the top got it back to functioning right. Anyway, it's worth the $10 to buy the enclosure

breun · Aug 21, 2006, 04:52 AM

I've had problems too and somehow tilting made my iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz boot again! After that DiskWarrior hosed my system again (kernel panics

), but I'd like to know what you did to fix your system. Get your HD replaced? Or was it a logic board problem?

Another forum post that seems related is: IOATAController device blocking bus - The macosxhints Forums (I also got the IOATAController error)

I'd rather not get my HD replaced to find out that was not the problem...