macOS can't repair the disk "HP P500".

ScottTee1 wrote:

Error Subject:

macOS can't repair the disk "HP P500".

Error Message:

You can still open or copy files on the disk, but you can't save changes to files on the disk. Back up the disk and reformat it as soon as you can.

I received this error at login today. I cannot make a backup of the drive and reluctant to do anything to the disk. Any counsel for how to make a copy and reformat the disk?

Q - " You can still open or copy files on the disk "

A - Then copy the files off of the drive to another Safe Location. Then, Wipe the Entire Drive and reformat it to a Format Native to macOS " HFS Journaled / GUID ) for Large Videos files or APFS / GUID for most other purposes.

Followed that by moving the Safe Kept Files back to the HP-500.

Have the exact same drive and immediately at time of Purchased - Reformatted to Native HFS Journaled / GUID and zero issues with the drive.

It will fail again. If you value your data, you will back it up BEFORE any failure first. Keep at least two good working copies of your data at all times.

Backup now, or forever hold your peace - … - Apple Community

Take it from someone who has been fixing computers since 1982.

Why can't you make a backup of the disk? Is it financially impossible to pay $70 for a hard disk?

If you don't find a medium to backup at least the most important files on the drive, they will get lost.

Once Apple repair fails, you know chances are the drive is on its last legs.

Even if you don't backup all the drive with Carbon Copy Cloner, or can't because it is a Time Machine drive, at very minimum rescue the Documents, Pictures, and Music off that drive. Applications can be restored from the App Store and CDs. Triage the most important information first to at least a flash drive.

You're being given the opportunity to save your data. I'd suggest it's more of a warning of imminent failure.

You may cause damage, there's always that possibility in any operation, but if you fail to heed the warnings, don't be surprised when all your data is gone forever.