Lion Installation Failure: Hard Drive is Damaged

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Lion Installation Failure: Hard Drive is Damaged

Hey guys,

I recently purchased Lion from the App Store and it downloaded fine. When I try to install it, however, about 5 minutes into the installation I get this error message saying "Mac OS X Lion could not be installed, because the disk Hard Disk Drive is damaged and can't be repaired." I've verified and repaired the drive with disk utility, but I'm still getting this message. I have no other partitions and could use Snow Leopard without any problems prior to this. I'm running a late 2010 iMac 27" Core i3 with 8GB RAM.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 12:15 PM

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Answer 1

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 12:26 PM in response to ev149

I also can't exit the installer. Shutting down and then turning my computer back on just brings me back to the installer instead of the login screen.

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Answer 2

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 12:48 PM in response to ev149

I just tried verifying the disk again, and had this message come up: "Incorrect number of thread records. The volume Hard Disk Drive was fond corrupt and needs to be repaired. Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk." I cannot click repair disk, though, because it's disabled/greyed-out.

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Jul 20, 2011 12:58 PM in response to ev149

So you don't have TimeMachine or a bootable clone backup?

That would be Step #1 double-over.

Sure there were never errors? DU does a safe Verify or Repair - you booted from DVD? ran fsck? though there are errors that require 3rd party disk repair utility, something like Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro 6.

Using Cloning as a Backup Strategy

Carbon Copy Cloner

SuperDuper

Hard Drives Recovery

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Answer 4

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 1:09 PM in response to The hatter

No backups, but if I can get back to my Snow Leopard desktop I'll make one and format my HDD, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that since restarting/shutting down and then starting up again just brings me back to the installer.

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Answer 5

Jul 20, 2011 2:50 PM in response to ev149

Please try these three steps then report the result to this topic.

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Answer 6

Jul 20, 2011 3:40 PM in response to Graham Perrin

Those steps got me back to Snow Leopard working. When I calm down, I'll try installing Lion again.

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Answer 7

Jul 20, 2011 4:14 PM in response to BigDfromnew haven

Thank you. I'm glad to know that you have regained access to Snow Leopard. Confidence here is high.

A period of calm is always useful 🙂

Before the calm begins, I suggest using Disk Utility in Snow Leopard to perform a live verification of your Snow Leopard startup volume. A verified volume will be a good grounding for your next attempt.

At your leisure, and before your next attempt to use the installer for Lion, check the target volume for the presence of the following directory, at the root of the volume:

/Mac OS X Install Data

If you find a software distribution there, maybe as a .dmg, resist the temptation to use any such .dmg out of context.

More useful: the directory may contain the log(s) of one or both of the two stages of installation:

preparation
post-preparation installation.

The logged data will be useful in any report to Apple.

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Answer 8

Jul 20, 2011 4:43 PM in response to ev149

ev149 wrote:

… cannot click repair disk, though, because it's disabled/greyed-out.

The less rounded buttons in that screen shot signal that it's a version of Disk Utility associated with Lion.

In the opening post you mentioned a repair. If errors were listed during that repair, did you keep a note of the details?

The more recent greying out of the button might be expected, depending on whether/when an interruption occurred. Suspect that a simple reset of PRAM and NVRAM will be enough to allow re-use of Snow Leopard.

Have your Snow Leopard DVD handy. At some point you might need to start from that DVD and use its utilities.

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Answer 9

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 4:48 PM in response to Graham Perrin

I reset my PRAM & NVRAM and tried going back to Snow Leopard with no luck. I put in my install DVD and ran Disk Utility from there and got this result:

Verifying volume “Hard Disk Drive”

Checking file systemChecking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

Checking extents overflow file.

Checking catalog file.

Incorrect number of thread records

Checking multi-linked files.

Checking catalog hierarchy.

Checking extended attributes file.

Checking volume bitmap.

Checking volume information.

The volume Hard Disk Drive was found corrupt and needs to be repaired.

Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.

Verify and Repair volume “Hard Disk Drive”

Checking file systemChecking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

Checking extents overflow file.

Checking catalog file.

Incorrect number of thread records

Checking multi-linked files.

Checking catalog hierarchy.

Checking extended attributes file.

Checking volume bitmap.

Checking volume information.

Repairing volume.

Rechecking volume.

Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

Checking extents overflow file.

Checking catalog file.

Incorrect number of thread records

Checking multi-linked files.

Checking catalog hierarchy.

Checking extended attributes file.

Checking volume bitmap.

Checking volume information.

Repairing volume.

Rechecking volume.

Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

Checking extents overflow file.

Checking catalog file.

Incorrect number of thread records

Checking multi-linked files.

Checking catalog hierarchy.

Checking extended attributes file.

Checking volume bitmap.

Checking volume information.

Repairing volume.

Rechecking volume.

Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

Checking extents overflow file.

Checking catalog file.

Incorrect number of thread records

Checking multi-linked files.

Checking catalog hierarchy.

Checking extended attributes file.

Checking volume bitmap.

Checking volume information.

The volume Hard Disk Drive could not be repaired after 3 attempts.

Still not sure how to fix this. :/

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Answer 10

Jul 20, 2011 5:01 PM in response to ev149

I keep getting the same problem, and I've called Apple about it. They said that I need to buy a new hard drive for my Mac if anything or if I want any other means of help, I have to buy an AppleCare Protection Plan, SOO Basically, Apple is trying to scam me into buying something so they can just talk to me, and tell me I need to buy more stuff. PLUS the best part is, They just discontinued my version on Macbook so I can't exactly buy a new one either.

Thanks Apple! 🙂

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Answer 11

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 5:03 PM in response to geordieQB

I'm running an iMac, so replacing a hard drive isn't exactly possible. If I can't get this to work I'm just gonna reformat it and then try installing again.

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Answer 12

rmunde

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Jul 20, 2011 5:04 PM in response to ev149

Do you have a backup?

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Answer 13

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 5:07 PM in response to rmunde

Not a physical one, but most of my personal stuff is stored on Dropbox. Things like my installed apps are, unfortunately, not backed up.

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Answer 14

rmunde

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Jul 20, 2011 5:15 PM in response to ev149

A re-format may help, but . . .

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Answer 15

ev149 Author

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Jul 20, 2011 5:17 PM in response to rmunde

If I can't find an answer online I'll bring it to my nearest Apple Store and see if I can't get it fixed there. If not, I guess I'll have to reformat it.

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