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All mounted volumes erased when system crashed during XCode install

Curious to learn just how this could happen, as it did to me. I decided to download the XCode from App Store when Apple offered cheaply to non-registered people. I was running install in background when Safari crashed (I am completely up to date on OS/app releases, running Mac Mini). I quit everything but installer. After a couple hours where the progress bar didn't move, I manually powered down and restarted. When next I got rebooted (had to use a DVD, Snow Leopard) ALL of my mounted volumes -- internal, external Firewire (3) and 1 USB -- were empty of files. Partitions were there, but no data at all. Even my Windows partition (on internal) was erased. The only one that survived was an unmounted tech drive that I use when defragging, etc.

Fortunately my techie here says he can recover, I hope he's right, as this was the source files and backups for everything that was erased. I have way too much data to consider using iDisk or cloud (nearly two terabytes counting duplicate backups), but figured all source files were on external drives, plus backups of these on external, plus two external backups of the internal system drive, I was safe from hard drive failures. NOT SO! How could this happen during an install? What was XCode doing? TIA for any and all help...

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.6), installing latest XCode

Posted on Mar 17, 2011 10:33 AM

22 replies

MNavarra

Level 1

0 points

Apr 13, 2011 12:56 AM in response to junglepayne@mac.com

Same here.
Purchased and installed XCode from the App Store. Entire disk wiped out. Thanks god I was backing everything up on a wifi-connected Time Capsule, that was not touched. Nevertheless, after having paid and installed one of the most important Apple applications (I am talking about XCode here, not iBanana), I think that what happened is A SCANDAL that I have never seen in my life, not even when I was using Windows.
Apple should address this as soon as possible. Or we could think of a class action, I cannot believe this! I just can’t get it. An entire hard drive DESTROYED in seconds because of an Apple application. I will never ever try to reinstall it again.

Apr 13, 2011 7:36 AM in response to junglepayne@mac.com

Has anyone heard anything from apple? I didn't when I submitted a support request. Maybe somebody needs to let the AppleInsders and MacRumors type sites know so that this can get some press. Seems like a big deal to me, maybe it's affecting such a small minority of people that Apple just doesn't care.

Apr 17, 2011 1:50 PM in response to junglepayne@mac.com

I too experienced this, on April 10. I took it to the Apple Store, where the Genius said he had not heard about it, nor could he find anything on the internal engineering forums when he checked. He did believe me, though, after seeing the posts a simple Google search pulled up.

I would hope that someone is working on this at Apple to the point of at least informing their own tech support people. They wouldn't even have to acknowledge fault -- just acknowledge that something is erasing hard drives and be sure to have backups in place before attempting to install.

I too am trying to run Data Rescue 3. I had to order a new drive to put everything on, though.. I have no idea right now what if anything I've lost, but my biggest concern is the photos and videos.

I'm a huge Apple fan and stockholder, but this is absolutely inexcusable that they would not even acknowledge this issue and cause people to continue to lose data.

May 23, 2011 11:53 AM in response to jdotson4335

I know I still haven't heard anything from Apple!

harv47

Level 1

27 points

Jun 10, 2011 7:34 PM in response to Bikey

The $4.95 version 4.0.2 from the Mac App Store installs without problems. There are some suggestions involving old installers from previous versions that you should read before installing. See

http://developer.apple.com/support/xcode/

Jun 12, 2011 7:42 AM in response to harv47

Who in their right mind would try another install after the code wiped all their hard drives? Apple has acknowledged the issue (in the upgrade notes for the next release) but still has not done anything to compensate people for their losses. Seriously.

harv47

Level 1

27 points

Jun 12, 2011 12:29 PM in response to jhelgeland

I fully sympathize with your point of view. But you must be aware that Apple's lawyers did a good job of covering their corporate *ss. Their agreements (which you agree to) include disclaimers against everything but a planetary collision or the next Ice Age.

It would be excellent customer relations if they compensated those who lost everything on their systems. But just trying to decide what constitutes fair compensation would be a nightmare, and would set a precedent they definitely don't want.

Bottom line: it ain't gonna happen.

All mounted volumes erased when system crashed during XCode install