Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

"Just Works" NOT!

P

p1kef1sh

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 2, 2010
12
0
About 10 days ago I attempted to upgrade my nearly 4 year old G5 Intel from Leopard to Snow Leopard. About a third of the way through I got an error message that said that the install disk was dirty and should be cleaned. I cleaned it several times with a spectacle cloth before going back to the store and getting a replacement. This gave the same error. Worse still, the computer would no longer boot up Leopard, I simply got the grey screen with Apple logo and spinning wheel. I tried to restore from Time Machine - same problem. I came here and received some help and the computer booted and ran fine for a couple of days before hanging again. Sometimes I can get to the point where I register an account, but usually I get variations of grey, blue or black screens.

I have done innumerable clean installs from Tiger thru Snow Leopard and Time Machine restores and they all hang and give me an error message:

INVALID NODE STRUCTURE

Yet when I erase the HD I run verify and it says that it's fine. I am now at my wits end - not least because I'm not sure that there's actually too much wrong with the hardware, it's just that I don't know the buttons to press!

Any help will be very much appreciated. My Applecare has expired so I can't call them. Having just bought my Daughter a Macbook Pro 15" (hence I can send this message) I'd like to fix the iMac if possible and save up my pennies.
 
The one and only simple problem you have is that a G5 cannot run Snow Leopard. If you do actually have an Intel MAc then it sounds like the HD could be shot, the OS may report it is OK but this can be wrong.
 
Invalid node structure is a pretty serious hard drove problem. Disk utility can't fix it. Something like Disk Warrior might. A new hard drive would solve it too.
 
My mistake. I have an Intel iMac (white). I have just done a restore from December 09 and all seems to be well. But only time will tell how long it will last? Thanks for the advice so far.
 
miles01110 said:
You cannot install Snow Leopard on a PPC Mac. What is a "G5 Intel" anyways? Is it a G5 or an Intel iMac?
Click to expand...

The G5 Intel was released at the same time as the Powerbook G5. Don't you remember? :)

Edit: Oops, forgot to post actual tips.

Anyway, it sounds like the hard drive is dying. I ran into this with my old Mini. I didn't notice any problems with it until after I bought my new Mini. I transferred everything to the new machine, and tried to go back and wipe the hard drive on the old Mini before selling. Everything went fine, and the OS appeared to re-install, but it kept hanging up. After running Disk Utility and some other apps on it, I found the hard drive had died. I had the same Invalid Node error, along with some other errors. It is most likely the hard drive. I dunno, maybe all the writing to the drive during the install finally killed it.
 
Thank Steve and Plutonius. It's hanging in there right now but I think that you're right. A new HD is what is needed. Thanks for your advice and thanks for the moral support Steve.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back