B Schy
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Q: how do i reformat my mac hd disk?

Help!!!! My desktop mac is stuck in recovery mode. I ran the disk utility and it came back with "invalid node structure" "the volume macintosh hd could not be verified completely". I clicked repair disk but was unsuccessful. It said to reformat the disk. So how do I do that? And how do I get what my passport/external drive has been backing up all this time now back on my computer? Is this even realistic for someone with slightly better than average knowledge of computers to do?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jun 26, 2013 1:58 PM

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B Schy

Q: how do i reformat my mac hd disk?

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  • by ComputerFixer,

    ComputerFixer ComputerFixer Jun 26, 2013 2:42 PM in response to B Schy
    Level 3 (735 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 2:42 PM in response to B Schy

    For mac OS X 10.7, these instructions will get you to reformatting your disk in no time.

     

    **BEFORE YOU DO SO, BACK UP ALL DATA IF POSSIBLE**

     

    1: Turn off your iMac

    2: Turn on your iMac. Immediatly press and hold the option key.

    3: Select "Disk Utility"

    4: select "Macintosh HD" in the side bar

    5: open the "Erase" tab

    6: make sure the target format is "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

    7: make sure the new name is "Macintosh HD"

    8: press erase

    9: exit Disk Utility

    10: reinstall MAC OS X using the on-screen instructions

  • by B Schy,

    B Schy B Schy Jun 26, 2013 3:17 PM in response to ComputerFixer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 3:17 PM in response to ComputerFixer

    Thanks ComputerFixer for that instruction.

     

    Before this crash, if my computer had been backed up hourly with my external drive "passport" do I need to do an additional back up? If so how? I can't get out of recovery mode.

     

    In addition, once the back up is done, how do I restore what has been backed up?

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 26, 2013 3:21 PM in response to B Schy
    Level 9 (58,704 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 26, 2013 3:21 PM in response to B Schy

    Assuming your backup is OK (you should always test backup on a regular basis) then you can use it.

  • by B Schy,

    B Schy B Schy Jun 26, 2013 3:39 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 3:39 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    rkaufmann87: w/ my computer in recovery mode how do I check the back up? What am I looking for specifically? This is foreign territory.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 26, 2013 3:49 PM in response to B Schy
    Level 9 (58,704 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 26, 2013 3:49 PM in response to B Schy

    You can't, you have to check your backup before using it. The reason you should periodically check the backup is backups fail too, when it comes to backing up it's always a wise idea to have redundant backup just in case one fails.

  • by B Schy,

    B Schy B Schy Jun 26, 2013 4:08 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 4:08 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    So if you should check it before you use it, could you walk me through how to check it on another computer? Thanks

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 26, 2013 4:37 PM in response to B Schy
    Level 9 (58,704 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 26, 2013 4:37 PM in response to B Schy

    Depends on the type of backup it is, is it a bootable clone or Time Machine or some other backup scheme? The quick and dirty method is plug it in and see if files are present. However this depends on whether u are using a second Mac or a PC and how the EHD is formatted.

  • by ComputerFixer,

    ComputerFixer ComputerFixer Jun 26, 2013 4:43 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 3 (735 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 4:43 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    In either case, you still should be able to reinstall MAC OS X and then pull the personal files from the drive... Whether or not it is bootable... Its not that hard, really.

  • by B Schy,

    B Schy B Schy Jun 26, 2013 6:13 PM in response to ComputerFixer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 6:13 PM in response to ComputerFixer

    Good question. I am able to pull it up on my mac Laptop pro. As I am the one who set up the Passport, I believe I used Time Machine to do so. I've gone into the drive and have found my photos, mov and other files that I most concerned with. The following folders are what I see when I open the last backup: Macintosh HD, applications, developer, library, lost and found, system, users, and something titled logfile.xsl.

  • by B Schy,

    B Schy B Schy Jun 26, 2013 6:20 PM in response to B Schy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 26, 2013 6:20 PM in response to B Schy

    My other question. What will be the result if I reformat the disk and am still unable to get out of recovery mode?Will I have done irreversible damage?