User profile for user: Elsygd
Elsygd Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Operation failed with status 5

My laptop started acting weird a couple weeks ago. Only FB would crash on both Safari and Chrome. Every other webpage worked well. I tried troubleshooting by deleting history, cache. No success.


Simultaneously I was getting notifications that the disk was almost full. Deleted a ton of stuff and, per other recommendations, deleted the library cache.

When I restarted the machine and tried to log in, it would not accept my password. I tried resetting the password. Still couldn’t get in. Went to disk utility, checked the disk and, supposedly, there was nothing to fix. I tried reinstalling OSX (with the only option being Sierra). The install failed when it was almost completed.


Soon, I could not get past a gray screen with a progress bar. Can’t restart in Safe Mode, only in recovery and pressing the option button.


I’m now trying to back up my HD, if possible. I have no backup from time machine because today I deleted the last one I made in 2016 to make room in my external drive for what I thought it would be a more current back up (disk image).


I have Tried to create a disk image but it fails every time, even though I unmounted the HD per someone else’s suggestions.

it gives me error 3, status 5.


what can I do? Will I lose my data?

macBook Pro 13 inch. Mid-2012. Everything in it is still original. No upgrades.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jun 8, 2020 4:58 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
68,930 points

Posted on Jun 8, 2020 6:41 PM

Try running the Apple Diagnostics to see if the hard drive may be starting to fail and to look for other possible hardware issues.


It's possible your hard drive is beginning to fail. It's also possible the internal hard drive SATA cable is defective which is extremely common on this model. There are several things you can do to try and recover your data:


  • Install macOS to an external drive so you can boot the laptop to the external drive to make it easier to recover your data.
  • Boot to Recovery Mode or Internet Recovery Mode and use the Terminal app to backup your data if you are familiar with the command line.
  • If you have access to another Mac you can either put this laptop into Target Disk Mode or you can remove the hard drive and use a USB to SATA Adapter, drive dock, or enclosure.


If you can boot macOS, then you may want to check the health of the drive before trying to recover any data. If the drive is beginning to fail, then it may affect how you can recover the data or you could make the failure worse. Run DriveDX to check the health of the hard drive. Feel free to post the report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper.

View in context

Similar questions

19 replies
User profile for user: Elsygd
Elsygd Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jun 8, 2020 7:58 PM in response to Elsygd

Followed the Apple Diagnostics instructions.

Found “no issues.” (ADP 000).


Then, computer restarted in recovery mode when I clicked continue.


Tried to reinstall MacOS Sierra once more. This time it didn’t fail during the disk utility phase.


Computer restarted by itself to the gray screen with progress bar. By the time it said 31 minutes left, it got stuck there for a while until it a screen appeared:


“macOS could not be installed on your computer. An error ocurren installing macOS. To use Apple Diagnostics.... Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again.”


Not sure what is left to do.

Reply
User profile for user: Elsygd
Elsygd Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jun 9, 2020 4:01 PM in response to Elsygd

Ok. I shut off the computer. And finally managed to select my hard drive as the startup disk via Internet Recovery Mode.

Even then, it showed the gray screen with the progress bar, but finally made it to the log in screen!


Went to Finder, then Preferences. I didn’t see any mounted volumes, but clicked on something and my internal drive showed up on the desktop.


if I go to Users and copy the entire folder to my external drive, will I have saved my data - documents, pictures, etc? At the moment the screen says preparing to copy to external drive.... but that’s it. No action at the moment.



Reply
User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
68,930 points

Jun 9, 2020 7:53 PM in response to Elsygd

Since you've been able to use this computer try running DriveDX to check the health of the drive. If you the drive is healthy you may just have a bad hard drive SATA cable. Like I said if the drive is failing then your options are limited and how you proceed really depends on the health of the drive, the amount & importance of the data.


I would recommend upgrading to an SSD. A Crucial MX500 SSD is a good choice (stay away from the Crucial BX500 series though since it is a low end economy model which can be as slow as a hard drive). Some people like using an OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD. A lot of people go for the Samsung EVO or Pro series as well. No matter what you should replace the internal hard drive SATA cable as well which OWC does sell.



Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Operation failed with status 5

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up