How to do HDD diagnostics on MacBook Air?

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Level 1

5 points

How to do HDD diagnostics on MacBook Air?

I have a macbook air (out of warranty) that is throwing -36 errors from the finder in 10.6.2. This is a huge problem since the file throwing the error is part of a VM virtual disk. I've tracked it down to disk corruption, it's not the VM software.

The problem is, how the heck do you run something like DiskWarrior on this machine? I can't fix a disk that I'm booting from. So, I took the machine apart only to find the HDD is not a type I have ever seen, and my tools give me no way to mount it over USB as I could with a normal laptop hard drive. Due to lack of firewire, there's no target disk mode.

So. I have a corrupt hard drive, I have spent money on diagnostics and repair software, and there is no way apparently to run it.

What next?

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 11, 2009 3:08 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 12, 2009 12:29 AM in response to cscade

Hi,

you could boot from an external CD/DVD drive, like the superdrive. Others should work as well :-/

Volker

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Answer 2

Dec 19, 2009 10:54 PM in response to cscade

you should chuck the snow leopard/leopard install disk in and run a diagnostic from the disk. if however you are saying that the actual Hard drive part of the mac (not software) then I'm afraid I cannot help you, the best I can do is advise you to go to an apple store and get someone to check it out or buy a new drive and install it manually back into the machine (if you have the know how.)

the Macbook air is constructed differently thats why its different from other laptops, every part is unique in it's own way due to it's size and how it works with the computer.
The Hard Drive especially is different from others because it's way smaller in size and it's pins are different.

Hope this helps and good luck.

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Answer 3

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Dec 20, 2009 9:22 PM in response to cscade

You can run fsck or boot in Safe Mode (hold Shift key down when booting) to check the drive.

Run fsck.

1. Reboot/Startup holding your Command-S key down.
2. At the command line type the following and hit 'Return.'

/sbin/fsck -fy

3. If it finds a problem and repairs it, immediately run fsck again until the drive checks OK.

4. After it has check/repaired your disk, type 'reboot' and hit 'Return' again. Unit should bootup normally.

BTW...you can buy an inexpensive external MBA SuperDrive off eBay.

Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Macsimum News Associate Editor  Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support'

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