Can't repair disk using Disk Utility

Question

Level 1

1 points

Can't repair disk using Disk Utility

Hi, my MacBook (10.7.6) was freezing frequently and I was not able to use Command+Option+Esc to safely force quit. I would only be doing light Internet surfing whenever the laptop froze. No new software or hardware installed recently either to cause the problem. Anyone encounter this problem too?

Tried using Disk Repair and this is the message I get: disk utility stopped repairing macintosh HD. Disk utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk and restore your backed-up files.

Under the details of the disk repair process, the following items were highlighted in red.

1. Checking volume bitmap: volume bitmap needs minor repair for under allocation

2. Checking volume information: the volume macintosh HD was found corrupt and needs to be repaired.

Volume repair complete.

3. Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.

Error: disk utility can't repair this disk...restore your backed-up files.

Appreciate any help you can give on what the underlying problem could be and how to reformat the disk now.

Thanks in advance!!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Nov 25, 2012 2:34 AM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 2:37 AM in response to Step19

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities

First, did you do it in Recovery, pressing Command and R keys when your computer started? If not, start in Recovery HD and repair the disk.

To make a backup, use Time Machine or clone the disk using Carbon Copy Cloner. In this case, it's better to make it with Time Machine.

To erase the disk, do the same you did to repair the drive in Recovery, but erasing the drive. Then, close Disk Utility and reinstall Lion. Setup Assistant will ask you to restore the backup

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Answer 2

Step19 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 25, 2012 4:53 AM in response to mende1

I accessed Disk Utility by inserting the Mac OS X Install DVD and pressing the C key as the computer started up. Tried to do a Disk Repair as described in first post and got the error message that "disk utility can't repair this disk, etc". So now I have to reformat the disk but don't know how.

Would it be possible to give me a step-by-step tutorial?

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 4:57 AM in response to Step19

You have OS X Lion, so you don't need a DVD, just start from Recovery.

1. Press Command and R keys while your Mac is starting and open Disk Utility.

2. Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar and repair the drive.

If it can't repair the drive:

1. Make a Time Machine backup.

2. Press Command and R keys while your computer is starting, open Disk Utility, select Macintosh HD in the sidebar, select Erase tab, erase the drive and close Disk Utility.

3. On OS X Utilities window, select the option to restore the backup and follow its steps

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Answer 4

Step19 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:02 AM in response to mende1

I accessed disk utility again and selected Erase. There was a message "unmounting disk" followed by another message "volume erase failed with the error: could not recover disk after operation". What should I do now?

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Answer 5

Nov 25, 2012 5:05 AM in response to Step19

Stop using the computer and buy a new internal drive and an enclosure for your dead/dying drive in hopes of salvaging some data (I recommend shopping at OWC for both).

Or do you already have a backup?

Clinton

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Answer 6

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:05 AM in response to Step19

First, right-click Macintosh HD in the sidebar and select Unmount. Then, try erasing the disk. If it doesn't help, take the computer to an Apple Store because the hard disk is damaged

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Answer 7

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:07 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

You shouldn't change the internal drive yourself if the Mac is still in warranty because it will void your warranty

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Answer 8

Step19 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:07 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

I don't have any impt data that I need to back up so am happy to just erase and reformat if that gets the hard disk working again. But it seems from your reply that the hard disk might be beyond repair?

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Answer 9

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:10 AM in response to Step19

If it doesn't allow you to erase the drive, it's damaged and you should replace the hard disk. If your Mac isn't in warranty, you can replace the hard disk yourself buying one from OWC as Clinton said

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Answer 10

Step19 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:14 AM in response to Step19

Thanks Mende1 and Clinton for the prompt replies and assistance. I'm not familiar with OWC. What's the full website name?

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Answer 11

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:15 AM in response to Step19

http://www.macsales.com

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Answer 12

Step19 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:17 AM in response to mende1

Thanks all!

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Answer 13

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:18 AM in response to Step19

You're welcome

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Answer 14

Step19 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 25, 2012 5:23 AM in response to mende1

Is it possible to replace the current hard disk (500GB, 5400rpm) with a solid state drive instead? My MacBook has a 2.7Ghz dual core intel core i7 processor

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Answer 15

Nov 25, 2012 5:58 AM in response to Step19

Sure - which model do you have (late 2011, for example)? If your SATA speed is 3-6 Gbps there are a world of SSDs to choose from and they're not too expensive these days nor are they difficult to install.

Clinton

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