dead mac?

[crazyDAJT]

my mums mac has apparently died.

when we start it up, all we get is a picture of a folder with a question mark in the centre of it. this flashes on an off in 3 second ish intervals.

my guess (as I know nothing about macs) is Hard drive failure?

if this is correct, how much is this going to cost??

ta

EDIT: we get the start on chime, but the mac never enters the OS

 

[crazyDAJT]

Insert the install CD, hold down 'C' on the keyboard this will start up from the CD. From the menu bar choose 'Startup Disk' under 'Utilities' then select the startup drive. (Called Mac OS X if she has OS X).

bit of a problem, CD is in the drive, and it wont eject it

EDIT: its a macbook laptop

 

[crazyDAJT]

at the chime hold down the mouse button that should eject the cd

EDIT: I did say i know nothing about macs

got the CD out

put the new CD in,

cancelled the install.

went to select start-up disc.

all i have is Mac OSx install disc
and network setup

no Hard drive

I'm assuming at this point hard drive is dead

 

[crazyDAJT]

Doesn't sound to good that.

What about if you open Disk Utility, does it detect the HDD?

Edit: and also hold down 'D' at startup and run a hardware test.

right

can see the 55.9 GB ST9812AS Media disc, so it is detecting it.

anyway, need to go for lunch, will be back in an hr or 2

 

[crazyDAJT]

i have done a hardware test, nothing problems came up, but it only took 16 seconds, which seams a bit sort.

disc utility shows a hard disc drive, should i try verifying the disc or repairing the disc??

 

[crazyDAJT]

tried verifying disc and this is what i got after 1/2 a second

window popped up saying


****
first aid failed

disk utility stopped verifying "disk0s2" because the following error was encountered

The underlying task reported failure on exit
****

in the widow the was up originally i get this message

***

verifying volume "disk0s2"
Checking HFS Pulse volume
catalogue file entry not found for extent
The volume needs to be repaired

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit

1 HFS volume checked
volume need repair#

EDIT: i have no idea why its calling it disk0s2

 

[crazyDAJT]

away form the mac now, i told her to take it to an apple shop, see if they can take a look at it, i don't want to resort to a fresh install. I'm thinking this only real option at the moment.