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Model A1174 with 2 GHz Core Duo or Model A1207 with 2.16 or 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo

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Hard drive appears intermitantly, doesn't boot 99% of the time

Ok, ive been working at this for a while...

I have tried everything, including taking the thing apart...pram, starting from system CD etc.

Symptoms: i hear the chime every time, takes a while, but i get the folder and ?. Occasionally it will startup properly. I use disk utility and it says the hard drive is fine.

I took it apart to see if there was a loose connection or something, and everything appears fine. I also put the original memory back in to see if it had something to do with that. Nope.

I boot off the system and the drive doesn't show up at all. Wait a bit, try again, boot off CD and the hard drive shows up. Run disk first aid and it does not report any problems.

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Sorry, typing this on my iPad and it isn't scrolling for some reason.

So, would disk utility tell me if total failure was iminent? Like, how is it possible to show up sometimes, but also check out fine with repair disk? This is a drag cause i have work on here that i need. I dont want to buy a new hard drive if this is not the problem. I have an external drive with a complete backup, which i did as soon as these problems started. Can i startup with the system disk, and work off of the external time machine drive?

Any ideas would be most helpful! Thank you!

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Get your data backed up ASAP. Your hard drive is failing and you may only get one shot at the backup, if that.

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Try to find yourself an ASD (Apple Service Diagnostic) disc for that model.

(ASD 3S108) I think you might look here.

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Suzanne will be eternally grateful.
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