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Disk Utility says "drive can't be repaired, disk and restore your backed up files."

My Mac Book Pro froze yesterday and I had to force restart it. It had been showing me messages that my hard drive disk was full for a while and I was in the middle of transferring files to my external hard drive and I accidentally put a huge large file from my external hard drive into the trash on my laptop which makes me wonder if that means I added more GB to a computer that was already very full. Anyway, after freezing I restarted it and the desktop wouldn't load properly. The desktop picture was there, but folders on desktop did not appear, finder bar was missing and the dock was acting super slow and nothing worked when clicked on. Then the next few attempts were around the same result and eventually became stuck on the apple logo, spinning gear and a progress bar that was not loading at all.


Here's what I've tried so far:

Safe mode- nothing happens

Command + R - I am unsure how to work this since I can't seem to find an internet connection when it prompts for one. None of the internet connections have much signal and my own information doesn't seem to load since the gear spins to find the internet connection name and password I typed to load it but can't seem to find it. Perhaps I have the wrong internet information, but I don't think so.

I tried Command + S to use in single user mode and type in a command to help fix the drive, BUT, even though the black screen and white lettering mode did show up, it remained in a place where I was not allowed to type anything and the last thing written at the bottom of the screen was something about set up for bluetooth, I think. I tried this twice and both times it stopped in the same place and I could not type a command.

Disk Utility using installation dvd to verify and repair disk. Verify says disk needs repair and then repair has some red colored phrases: Invalid volume file count. (It should be 786374 instead of 786274) Incorrect number of thread records. And there was another problem listed but I do not remember it. Then, near the end of repairing it says: "Disk Utility stopped repairing Macintosh HD." It tells me it couldn't repair the disk and that I should back up as many of my files as possible, reformat the disk and restore backed up files.


That would be fine and dandy, but I have no idea how to back up my files and do all this. I have no idea how to exactly get the data off my hard drive. If someone does, please list a step by step guide for me on how to do so.


I have an external hard drive and I tried plugging in and selecting the hard drive and making a "New Image" to copy to the external hard drive destination, but it just stops a few seconds into it and tells me there is an input/output error. I tried read only, read/write only, compressed options for making a copy and all yield the same result.


In Disk Utility, I believe I have a partition -the Macintosh HD. I have listed on the left hand side: 320.07 GB Hitachi HTSS45.....etc. and below it in non-bolded, grey lettering it says "Macintosh HD."


The Hitachi, when clicked upon, shows the S.M.A.R.T. status as Verified and the Macintosh HD doesn't show much in details except for "Not mounted."


At one point, the Macintosh HD was in bold lettering and seemed to be mounted for a few minutes. When that happened, I was able to see the details reading: Mount Point: /Volumes/Macintosh HD, Capacity: 319.73 GB, Available: 11.92 GB, Used: 307.81 GB, etc.


I'm getting nervous to keep turning on and off the computer on force start and shut downs, especially since I have been reading up that the longer the computer is on, the more the hard drive is in use and the more chance for it to start deleting or overwriting my files. Is this true?


It's not mounted anymore since it was momentarily mounted. I just want to get my files off the disk and save them to my external hard drive. That is my main goal right now. What can I do?


Thank you in advance for your help!

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 7:32 PM

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Posted on Jan 4, 2013 7:51 PM

Which os version are you using?




"Disk Utility stopped repairing Macintosh HD." It tells me it couldn't repair the disk and that I should back up as many of my files as possible, reformat the disk and restore backed up files.

Means you have directory damage and need a stronger 3rd party utility to repair. A few options - DiskWarrior Highly recommended for *directory damage* repairs.


TechTool Pro Multi-functional utility.


Drive Genius Multi-functional utility.




I have no idea how to back up my files and do all this. I have no idea how to exactly get the data off my hard drive. If someone does, please list a step by step guide for me on how to do so.

Mac Basics: Time Machine



Time Machine Support












User uploaded file

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Question marked as Best reply

Jan 4, 2013 7:51 PM in response to Amoth2aflame

Which os version are you using?




"Disk Utility stopped repairing Macintosh HD." It tells me it couldn't repair the disk and that I should back up as many of my files as possible, reformat the disk and restore backed up files.

Means you have directory damage and need a stronger 3rd party utility to repair. A few options - DiskWarrior Highly recommended for *directory damage* repairs.


TechTool Pro Multi-functional utility.


Drive Genius Multi-functional utility.




I have no idea how to back up my files and do all this. I have no idea how to exactly get the data off my hard drive. If someone does, please list a step by step guide for me on how to do so.

Mac Basics: Time Machine



Time Machine Support












User uploaded file

Jan 4, 2013 8:10 PM in response to CMCSK

I'm not sure which OS version. I remember updating a while ago to the latest OS X 10.8 I think...might be higher like 10.8.1. Is there a way I could check what version I have while it's in this condition?


I've seen the Time Machine page you posted and read it, but I can't find anywhere on there how to set up Time Machine if I can't load my desktop. I never set up Time Machine on my laptop before. I checked to see if I had any Time Machine back ups and none loaded so I don't have any, probably because I never set up Time Machine. 😟


Is it possible the hard drive is failing or that my files may be lost? Would these third party tools only be helpful in repairing the hard drive or also be able to retrieve some of my files?

Jan 4, 2013 8:09 PM in response to Amoth2aflame

Is there a way I could check what version I have?

Apple/About This Mac




am unsure what directory damage means, does it mean the hard drive is failing or that my files may be lost?

Directory damage means that your directory is corrupted. Your file "may" not be "lost." Which is why backing up is always recommended.



would it be wiser for me to take my laptop to a repair place or perhaps save money by buying one of these third party tools?

Yes to the bold underlined. I highly recommend that you purchase DiskWarrior.








User uploaded file

Jan 4, 2013 9:13 PM in response to Amoth2aflame

If you want to preserve the data on the boot drive, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data, you can skip this step.

There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.

1. Boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in the support article linked below, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”

How to back up and restore your files

2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. Copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.

How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

3. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.

Jan 5, 2013 10:17 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thank you so much for your response.


I mentioned in my post above that I tried using Disk Utility and my external hard drive. When I went to click New Image and save my hard drive into the external, it wouldn't work and gave me an input/output error message. I had followed those same steps you posted in the first link above for number 1. So unfortunately, this option didn't work for me. 😟


I had read up about doing number 3 and buying an enclosure and an adapter but I'm not good with parts and worry I'd screw up my laptop by removing items, etc.


BUT, I had not heard or seen anything about using a Firewire cable between two Macs. This is probably my last hope since my laptop doesn't have any back ups through Icloud or Time Machine because I never set up Time Machine on my laptop. I'm looking into buying the Firewire cable at Best Buy for $40 and borrowing my boyfriend's old Macbook (remember those white Macbook laptops that first came out? This is what he has.)


I just want to ask you three questions:


Can this process of using T mode and plugging the laptops together using Firewire possibly damage my boyfriend's computer??


Since he has an old Macbook, the Firewire is a Mac OS 10.6 and the Firewire is a speed of 400 MB per second. Mine, I think is 800 MB per second. Can this present a problem? What Firewire cable is best being that he has the old white Macbook and I have a Macbook Pro with probably one of the most recent versions of Mac OS 10.8 ?


I also have an old Mac desktop computer which I think is called the Imac G4. This one: http://orangecrystalconsulting.com/how-to-repair-a-apple-imac-g4-desktop-compute r/. Would this one work also with my Macbook Pro through a Firewire cable? It has a Firewire port. At the moment, I don't have a mouse, I need to buy one. So, I can't check the Firewire speed or what OS version it is currently.

Jan 5, 2013 10:39 AM in response to Amoth2aflame

Can this process of using T mode and plugging the laptops together using Firewire possibly damage my boyfriend's computer??


I can't absolutely rule that out, but it's very unlikely. I guess it's conceivable that if your computer has some unusual kind of electrical fault, connecting it might damage his logic board. I've never heard of such a thing, though. He needs to back up his data too, regardless.


Since he has an old Macbook, the Firewire is a Mac OS 10.6 and the Firewire is a speed of 400 MB per second. Mine, I think is 800 MB per second. Can this present a problem?


Use a FW 800 cable and a female-to-male 800-to-400 adapter.


Would this one work also with my Macbook Pro through a Firewire cable?


I'm not sure. Maybe.

Jan 5, 2013 5:03 PM in response to Linc Davis

Ok thank you. Should I assume since the mac is an Imac G4 (the one I own at home, not my boyfriend's mac) that the adapter is 400 MB speed? I can't find where the Firewire speed info would be on this old desktop Mac. If you know where I can look, please let me know. I googled the computer and wikipedia seems to have the Firewire listed as 400.

Jan 5, 2013 5:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

I found some Firewire info but do not understand it fully. I have a few Firewires listed in my System Profiler:


IOFireWireAVC- version 1.2.7

IOFireWireFamily- version 1.4.0

IOFireWireSBP2- version 1.3.4

IOFireWIreSerialBusProtocolTransport- version 1.2.4


still see no speed info


The link you left for troubleshooting Firewire says the host computer needs a 2.3 or late or Firewire....do these FireWires I listed above, mean I am out of luck in using my desktop Mac? If so, is there somewhere I can update?

Jan 6, 2013 9:14 AM in response to Linc Davis

I am going to buy the adapter today, but it probably won't work because of the Firewire versions my Imac G4 seems to have listed (above) which are lower than what is needed according to the troubleshoot link you left me.


:( I worry about damaging my boyfriend's laptop so I think if my Imac G4 does not help with Firewire, I am now willing to try taking the hard drive out and placing in an external enclosure.


What are all the tools I will need to perform this? Do you know of a reliable link with step by step instructions on taking the hard drive out and using on another mac as an external hard drive?

Jan 6, 2013 9:41 AM in response to Amoth2aflame

The support article on target disk mode says that the host computer must be running Mac OS 8.6 or later. The iMac satisfies that condition. There may be other reasons that I don't know of why it won't work. That's a very old computer.


If connecting your MBP to the iMac doesn't cause an obvious disaster, I think you can be reasonably sure it won't damage your boyfriend's computer. Just don't copy data to the internal drive, which might fill it up. Use an external drive.


Instructions for removing the hard drive, if that's what you want to do, should be in the owner's manual:


Apple - Support - Manuals


You may be able to find more detailed instructions on third-party websites such as macsales.com or ifixit.com.

Disk Utility says "drive can't be repaired, disk and restore your backed up files."

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