Loud clicks, blinking ? folder

[Cvstos]

My PowerBook G4 (15", 1.5Ghz) just bought the farm, I think. When I try to start it up, I hear a series of loud clicks following by a "?" folder. I try to install OS X but there's no destination drive.

I've got AppleCare so I'm going to have a chat with a Genius later.

I'm thinking complete HDD failure. Am I right in this?

 

[mad jew]

Yep, sounds like a classic hard drive failure. If you need to recover data form it then your best bet may be to use Target Disk Mode from another Mac. I can't guaranty it'll work, but it's probably got a better chance than anything else.

 

[Cvstos]

I did lose a lot but nothing that's going to be fatal. *Most* of my most important stuff is backed up either on the desktop PC (that I'm using now) or onto the backup HDD. I did lose the entire bible for my comic, though. That'll take a day or two of work to redo. And I have paper copies of my passwords. I lost some music and some TV shows, and other creative bits. But again, nothing that's going to be fatal long-term. Just a huge pain in the ***.

It's been a few months since I did a full backup, as those can be difficult. (Can't wait for Leopard and Time Machine.) But the vast majority of the truly important stuff is safe.

 

[SalukiWildcat]

Yep, it sure sounds like your hard drive bit the big one. Apple Care will surely take care of it....what were you doing right before it happened?

 

[Cvstos]

Nothing, actually. it was idle, Adium was running but I was listed as away. I had let it go to screensaver and idle while I went grocery shopping. Came back, restarted, and then CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK *? FOLDER ICON*

 

[mad jew]

Just a quick by the way; as good as Time Machine will be, it won't really help in these sorts of situations. Regular backups will still be recommended.