Q: Mavericks stuck on OS X Utilities screen

I think Eric already covered this…

Eric Root wrote:

 

You posted earlier you had a backup, so at this point I think your only option is to erase the disk using Disk Utility, and hope the reformatting will clear up the 'Invalid B-tree node size'. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is the normal format. After that, try booting from the USB and reinstall 10.9. Use Setup Assistant to restore from your backup.

 

Erase the entire internal HD, perform a clean install of the OS & then migrate the data from your backups.

Genius Bar Reservation

Perhaps you tried to erase the partition & not create a new one. I was unclear, apologies.

In Disk Utility (in recovery mode) select the internal disk (the top level item) and select the Partition tab. If the tab isn't visible the wrong item is selected in the left list.

Create a single partition, with 'Mac OS Extended HFS+ (journalled)'

Select 'GUID partition table' via the options button & apply it.

That should remove the old (damaged) partition table & create a new one.

Proceed with the install as normal after quitting Disk Utility. It will add a new recovery partition during install.

If that is what you tried, then accept my apologies and Eric is right about the genius bar trip.

How are you booting this into recovery mode, via cmd+R? It sounds like it could be running from the internal HD's recovery partition. In which case I don't think you can modify the entire disk since part of it is running the OS.

I would try holding alt at boot, then select your external USB boot disk & hit return to boot into it.

Back in Disk Utility select the disk & do the edits again. See if you can access all partitions.

You should see that you are running recovery/install from the USB disk in Disk Utility because there will be a 'OS X Base System' disk that is Orange (e.g. USB).

If it still fails to split the disk up correctly I would be unable to trust that disk. The 'Invalid B-tree node size' is a feature of the partition, that we are trying to remove & renew.

If you can't delete the partition via Disk Utility the only other options I see are…

Connect to another Mac via target disk mode & an appropriate cable, use Disk Utility to delete the partition.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Try another OS X USB installer like 10.8 or 10.7 (to see if this version of Disk Utility has bugs).

Try a third party tool like Disk Warrior, Tech Tool Pro to 'repair the disk'.

Boot into Linux and delete the partition table from there & then reboot & recreate a proper GUID partition table with a Mac OS Extended partition in Disk Utility. Ubuntu will do it, but it's not quick & simple.

You are starting to get very involved and it may just be wasted time if the disk cannot be formatted.

Apple's own tools should handle this situation, if they cannot it's time to consider hardware faults or issues beyond normal troubleshooting.

Sorry, unless you want to try any of the above I think it may be time to take it in.

Hi Drew

I read the full thread and your guidance sounds very professional and hope your help will fix my issues as well. I am also stuck at recovery mode and the macbook pro runs with OSX mavericks. My bad is I dont have any back up or time machine back up is also not used. So I have nothing to restore, is there any way to get back to my normal startup window instead of this "recovery mode"?

Kindly help me if you could.

Thanks

Prakash

Hey Kmprakash18, I know its been a few months since your problem I was wondering how or if you found a fix, I am currently in the same boat where Im stuck at the utilities screen with no time machine