Cannot access Recovery Disk Assistant

Question

Level 1

17 points

Cannot access Recovery Disk Assistant

Hi,

Here’s the situation:

1. The HD where my OSX (10.8.5) is running on my MacBook Pro is actually a cloned (made with SuperDuper). The previous HD failed and I switch it with this working clone that was ready and waiting for just such an occasion.

2. SuperDuper does not clone the Recovery Disk Assistant. So I don’t have one on this HD. However, I have already set up the Recovery Disk Assistant on a USB key.

3. This morning, I ran OnyX and it told me the HD of my laptop needed to be repaired.

4. I’m unable to access the Recovery Disk Assistant (where I could run DiskUtility to repair my main HD). I cannot access it on the USB key, nor via an ethernet connexion.

I tried booting with the OPTION key pressed (while the USB key was in): the only partition that I see in my main HD. I tried booting with CMD+R (while the USB key was in and I was connected to the internet through an ethernet cable) but it won’t load the Recovery Assistant DIsk: it just boots as usual. I tried the same thing with OPTION+CMD+R but got the same result (nothing: normal booting of OSX).

I could assume the Recovery Disk Assistant on my USB key is corrupted, but it wouldn’t explain why I can’t access the Internet version of it.

All I’m left apparently is to run Mountain Lion installer again. Unfortunately, it is not a good idea: running an installer on a HD that need repair is likely to fail.

I have a clone. I could swap HD again. But before I do, I would be happy to hear any troubleshooting advice.

Thanks,

P.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Dec 16, 2013 10:05 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 16, 2013 10:11 AM in response to Parneix

Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery

OS X- About OS X Recovery

If you do not have a Recovery HD it may be possible to install one using Carbon Copy Cloner 3.5.4. However, it may still require you have a valid one installed on another disk.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 16, 2013 10:12 AM in response to Parneix

Don't use SuperDuper! to do clones. The best tools to use are:

Disk Utility

Carbon Copy Cloner

These two will clone the Recovery HD partition. Disk Utility does it automatically.

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Answer 3

Parneix Author

Level 1

17 points

Dec 16, 2013 10:54 AM in response to Kappy

Hi,

Thanks for the super fast answer. My MacBook Pro is a Mid 2009. According to the list you linked to, I cannot use Internet recovery.

Since booting with cmd+R with my Recovery Disk Assistant USB key connected does not work, I must assume either my laptop’s HD or the USB key is at fault. In any case, it’s a Catch-22: I need to create a Recovery Disk because mine is corrputed but I can’t create a new Recovery Disk between in order to do so I need a good one. And there no other way to download the Recovery Disk?

Looks like I’m gonna have to swap disks.

Thanks a lot.

P.

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Answer 4

Parneix Author

Level 1

17 points

Dec 16, 2013 11:19 AM in response to Parneix

What about that: I boot from a clone or TimeMachine and run DiskUtility FROM that location and attempt to run a repair on my laptop HD?

P.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 16, 2013 11:53 AM in response to Parneix

That's possible. If you have a clone from which to boot or your Time Machine backup was made using 10.8.5. In the case of the latter there is a hidden copy of the Recovery HD from which you can boot simply using OPTION booting. This would permit you to repartition and erase the internal drive then restore OS X or reinstall OS X. Basically, this is what you would be doing:

Drive Partition and Format

1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.

2. After DU loads select your internal hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

If the drive makes it through OK, then quit Disk Utility and reinstall OS X. If all is well you are done. if the problem persists then the drive will have to be replaced.

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Answer 6

Parneix Author

Level 1

17 points

Dec 16, 2013 12:30 PM in response to Kappy

Yes, booting from an external clone or TimeMachine is by far the easiest way to run DiskUtility when Recovery HD is not accessible or available.

It says that my laptop’s HD doesn’t contain an EFI system partition. I guess I cannot solve that by re-installing Mountain Lion? Better start anew.

P.

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