Is my MacBook HD cooked?

C

camster1964

Registered
I have a Macbook about 4 years old that suddenly started making a clicking sound when I start up and I get the flashing folder with ?.

I restarted with the OSX system disc but when I get to the step to select a destination volume, there is no volume listed.

I also tried restarting holding down the D key to run a hardware test as per the manual but just the Install screen comes up as above.

I also tried running the disk utility by selecting my drive (4.7GB-HL-DT-ST-DVDR). I tried running Verify Disk Permisions but get a "Error:No Valid Packages). I also tried Erase and Partition but the Volume Format "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" is greyed out. Same with Partition.

So I'm just wondering maybe my HD is toast? or is there further tests, recovery options I can try. Any help would be eternally grateful.

Thanks
Camster
 
camster1964 said:
So I'm just wondering maybe my HD is toast? or is there further tests, recovery options I can try. Any help would be eternally grateful.
Click to expand...

Very likely its toast. Also when the macbook drives go down they go down hard and fast where there won't be much chance of recovery, so you'll have to rely on your backups. But if that is the original drive the machine came with new, then this may apply to you.
 
That (4.7GB-HL-DT-ST-DVDR) is not your hard drive. Is that all you see in your Disk Utility window? That's just your OS X installer DVD, and you can scan that, but that won't help you with your hard drive.
If you don't see your actual hard drive (which should reflect your hard drive manufacturer and capacity), then that's likely that your hard drive has completely died, and needs to be replaced. You _might_ be able to recover your hard drive with a good tool such as Data Rescue 3: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/211375
You should check to see if your MacBook is covered under this program: http://www.apple.com/support/macbook/hd/repairextension/
If so, you may get a free replacement hard drive from Apple, even if you are out of warranty.
 
It turns out the HD was cooked but Apple replaced it with a new 160gb HD because the original hard drive was one of the faulty ones Apple is replacing for free.

So thanks a bunch DeltaMac for pointing me to the program Mac is offering. And thanks to Apple too.

C.
 
camster1964 said:
It turns out the HD was cooked but Apple replaced it with a new 160gb HD because the original hard drive was one of the faulty ones Apple is replacing for free.

So thanks a bunch DeltaMac for pointing me to the program Mac is offering. And thanks to Apple too.
Click to expand...

I was the first to post the link to the Repair Extension Program. No thanks to me I guess?
 
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