Clicking Noises & Startup Trouble

[sambshep]

My apologies if this is a common thread or is inappropriately posted in the wrong section.

I have an iMac Intel Core Duo that I bought roughly 3 years ago and it's running Mac OS X 10.5.7. Lately when I've started up the computer it immediately makes clicking noises and fails to locate the startup disk.

I've ran Disk Utility and got no indication that anything was wrong and I ran a hardware check with the install disc and got nothing there either. SMART status is verified too.

If anyone has suggestions (aside from backing up files) it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rgarjr]

clicking sounds maybe your hard drive is ending.

 

[Pimptastic]

As above, your hard drive is on the way out. This happened to me last year (clicking noise then no startup disc).

Back up with time machine, install a new drive, then restore.

 

[zmttoxics]

Odd that the drive passes diagnostic but won't boot and makes a ticking noise (indicative of a failure). The fact that you can see it in the diag makes me think its still alive, but perhaps your OSX crapped out.

Can you take a leopard disk and try to do an Archive Install or Fresh Install on it?

 

[geoffreak]

Sounds to me like the hard drive is on the way out. Seeing how it works some of the time gives you a chance to make a backup of your data.

Although it is possible that the problem is a corrupted installation, this doesn't explain the clicking, nor does it account for the fact that it will sometimes boot up. A corrupted installation will consistency fail to boot.

 

[sambshep]

Would you guys suggest I get a new hard drive? Or is it possible there may be additional problems other than the hard drive?

(If I should get a hard drive, please suggest your recommendations)

P.S. I already did a fresh instal and the instal disc was verified prior to installation.

 

[rgarjr]

If it's not software, then the hard drive would be considered to try and replace.