HD crashed, have image as .dmg, how2load

L

livingston99@ma

Registered
My HD on my Powerbook G4 crashed - tried everything, won't start up but I was able to use the startup disk to get into disk utility and create a .dmg file of the HD.

The .dmg files is 74GB. I have it saved to a firewire external HD now.

I am currently using my sister's Powerbook G4 that only has 15 GB of space left.

How can I get into that .dmg file to save all my pictures and music?

PS - I already tried to mount it and it warned me that the file my be corrupt and might cause the computer I am on to fail. So I stopped at that point.

Any ideas?
Thanks
 
I am assuming your Int-HD is FUBAR'd.

Hrrrmmmm . . . I am not aware of how you can open a .dmg of that size on a smaller HD.

Since you need a new HD for your PB G4, you might as well get one. Unless you want to upgrade your computer . . . even then you are going to get a fresh new Int-HD that is really big.

Whichever you chose you can try a couple of things. I gather your Sis's PB G4 can at least access the Ext-HD, yes? If you put a clean Int-HD in your computer, you can use her computer to send the .dmg from your Ext-HD to your new Int-HD, open it, and see what you have. It will not destroy your HD or anything like that. As a system it may be corrupt--so if you try to boot off of the System in it you may get a mess or not.

You can then save the files that are not corrupt . . . send them to your Ex-HD for safe keeping . . . then wipe the Int-HD and set it up with your Installation Disks to get a clean OS X on it. You can then transfer the data from the Ex-HD.

You can try opening the .dmg as before on the new Int-HD and seeing if it boots. You may get a mess. You may get a working system with no problems. If you have a diagnostic program like Disk Warrior, you can check it--wait the half an hour to boot on its CD/DVD then check the volumes and files. Though, frankly, you may wish to consider an Archive and Install to make sure you have a good working System.

Then . . . get SuperDuper! which will clone your Int-HD--and make it "bootable"--to periodically back it up to your Ex-HD so in the future you can simply boot off the Ext-HD to fix any problems.

--J.D.
 
. . . or you can just get a new HD, load a system on it/use Disk Utility to recognize the Ext-HD, bring over the .dmg, open it and see what it is.

--J.D.
 
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