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Dec 9, 2015 12:44 AM in response to crazycodproby K Shaffer,There is a fair chance the internal hard disk drive has failed & needs to be replaced.
If you have a second Mac that can use Firewire or Thunderbolt cable (and the first can use
either one of these) and you can get the proper cable to connect them, you may be able
to see if your failed computer can recognize Target Disk Mode (Hold T key down on start)
and then it may be seen by another computer attached to it, as an external hard drive.
If this happens, then you may be able to save content from your user files and account
to some other archive, for later restoration or use with similar applications that created
them at a later time.
The internal hard disk drive may have failed, so once that unit is replaced the failed one
could be put into an external USB enclosure or accessed by use of universal USB drive
kit where the bare drive is attached to the wires, and the included power adapter, to see if
you can retrieve content or access files later, from a healthy computer. It may be possible
to 'migrate' or regain content from a non-bootable drive, if seen as a storage hard drive.
Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support
A universal drive adapter for use with USB such as the example that follows, can be a
good idea since you may be able to start the computer in OS X Recovery and then use
the internet recovery to download a replacement OS X into a new hard disk drive that
later can be installed in the computer. Then later swap the new drive into the computer
and then try to use the same adapter to access the failed drive. You can test the new
OS X installation from the adapter connection by seeing if the new drive & system can
start and run the computer. This could also work to make clones, if you had a healthy
system and spare drive, to start out with. Or buy a self-powered externally enclosed HDD
that can use the same kind of hard drive the computer has inside; install a new OS X
and then swap them. The good part of the wire kit, is you do not have to take apart the
computer or an enclosure but the one time. If you get the correct replacement HDD.
• NewerTech Universal Drive Adapter USB3.0/2.0... at OWC:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3NVSPATA/
At least if you have not used OS X Recovery and had it overwrite or re-install a new OS X
over the old content, it may be saved. You may also be able to use a third-party utility to
retrieve or recover content from the failed hard drive. Several long known names for such
products are retail, some have trial use or demo recovery and then you pay for it to work.
About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support
Or you may be able to buy an app from the App Store. Disk Warrior, Data Rescue, and
others do different tasks; some do more than others. Once the old drive is out of the Mac
you may be able to see & access your files; or with use of FireWire/Thunderbolt cable
and Target Disk Mode, where the failed computer may be seen as a hard drive.
OS X Lion: Transfer files between two computers using target disk mode
On the other hand, you may need to make a trip to a qualified authorized Apple trained
service provider, or if there is an official retail Apple Store with genius, contact them
ahead to set an appointment or get a reservation time, and see if they can help. If the
computer isn't too old they may be able to help; if not they can diagnose it & suggest
whatever they can determine may resolve the issue. Older computers may see referral
to another authorized Apple repairer to fix the problem, if the Store hasn't older parts.
Sorry to not offer an easy solution; due to the nature of the symptoms the computer should
see some diagnostic testing and probably needs new replacement hard disk drive installed.
Good luck in this matter...!