ok i've searched through all the threads and although i know there are already threads on this topic, none of them answered my ?'s...
i have a G4 1.25 GHz eMac w/ 512mb RAM (installed by Apple), Airport Extreme and Bluetooth... i've had my computer for about 9 months, and yesterday while i was using it i left to go get something to eat, came back, and a screen with a Finder icon switching to a ? folder was up...
i looked this problem up on Apple.com, called some friends, and found out i needed to reinstall the OS. so i tried doing that, but once i got to the "select destination for installation" step there was no hard drive to download it upon... i saw that someone else had this exact same problem except there screen was a sad face/ ? switching screen so i figured this was something different...
i looked up possible solutions, and tried resetting PRAM, doing a quick and extended diagnoistic in Startup Manager, and using Disk Utility (the HD didn't show up there either)....
i called Apple support but found out that (obviously) my 90 days of complimentary phone support was up, and that they could not help me unless i purchased the $120 Applecare 3 year extended support... my 1 year support is not up yet, since i purchased my computer last july...
is there anyway i can fix this problem w/o taking it anywhere... something im missing? could i install a new HD myself (although i don't want to lose my current data, as i have 5 gigs of music not backed up, and countless pics, movies i've made, info, etc.).... if i do have to take it to an apple store to get it fixed, will it cost anything? i really just don't know what to do... (although i don't live near an apple store, i am going to Atlanta soon anyway for a family visit, and could theoretically take my emac in, although it would be a major pain)...
any tips or information at all would be greatly appreciated! i hate using the windoze im on now... and seriously need all the information on my HD back, although not right now...
i have a G4 1.25 GHz eMac w/ 512mb RAM (installed by Apple), Airport Extreme and Bluetooth... i've had my computer for about 9 months, and yesterday while i was using it i left to go get something to eat, came back, and a screen with a Finder icon switching to a ? folder was up...
i looked this problem up on Apple.com, called some friends, and found out i needed to reinstall the OS. so i tried doing that, but once i got to the "select destination for installation" step there was no hard drive to download it upon... i saw that someone else had this exact same problem except there screen was a sad face/ ? switching screen so i figured this was something different...
i looked up possible solutions, and tried resetting PRAM, doing a quick and extended diagnoistic in Startup Manager, and using Disk Utility (the HD didn't show up there either)....
i called Apple support but found out that (obviously) my 90 days of complimentary phone support was up, and that they could not help me unless i purchased the $120 Applecare 3 year extended support... my 1 year support is not up yet, since i purchased my computer last july...
is there anyway i can fix this problem w/o taking it anywhere... something im missing? could i install a new HD myself (although i don't want to lose my current data, as i have 5 gigs of music not backed up, and countless pics, movies i've made, info, etc.).... if i do have to take it to an apple store to get it fixed, will it cost anything? i really just don't know what to do... (although i don't live near an apple store, i am going to Atlanta soon anyway for a family visit, and could theoretically take my emac in, although it would be a major pain)...
any tips or information at all would be greatly appreciated! i hate using the windoze im on now... and seriously need all the information on my HD back, although not right now...
