FSattin

Q: Disk Utility cannot repair Macintosh HD

Hey everyone,

 

My computer has been faulty for a while now, been running on Mountain Lion OS X 10.8.5.

I originally noticed the issue at hand when i tried to download maverick, but Macintosh HD was not a viable download location as it was already being used by Time Machine, I tried fiddling around with it but to no avail.

Eventually, I decided to verify if there was any problem with my HDD, and when I verified in Disk Utility, it said it needed repairing ("Disk Utility can't repair this disk...disk, and restore your backed up file"). It kept on telling me that the "volume Macintosh HD could not be repaired after 3 attempts"). Now I've just tried restarting my computer and I'm getting the notorious grey screen of death where I get the progress bar and a scroll, at the end of the bar, my MacBook Pro just switches off!

 

Luckily I have all my stuff backed up on a WD external HD, so my whole computer is backed up. Can anyone please resolve this for me? I have been through the step by step guides already available, but want to avoid erasing and re downloading if possible.

 

Thanks,

 

Felix.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012)

Posted on Jan 29, 2014 2:13 PM

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Q: Disk Utility cannot repair Macintosh HD

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 29, 2014 2:15 PM in response to FSattin
    Level 10 (271,174 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2014 2:15 PM in response to FSattin

    Install or Reinstall Mavericks or Mountain Lion from Scratch

     

    Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.

     

    OS X Mavericks- Erase and reinstall OS X

    OS X Mountain Lion- Erase and reinstall OS X

    OS X Lion- Erase and reinstall Mac OS X

     

    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible

                because it is three times faster than wireless.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Jan 29, 2014 2:19 PM in response to FSattin
    Level 8 (49,221 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 29, 2014 2:19 PM in response to FSattin

    Replace the disk. Failed hard disks cannot be permanently repaired, and yours has been giving you warnings for a while now.

     

    Replacement is a fairly straightforward operation. Besides the hard disk itself the procedure requires only inexpensive tools. Consider it an opportunity to upgrade to a solid state drive.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 29, 2014 2:29 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 10 (271,174 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2014 2:29 PM in response to John Galt

    First, one must prove that the drive is bad and needs replacing. That isn't yet proven. If Disk Utility says it cannot repair the disk, it is not stating that the disk must be replaced. I'd prefer sticking to the Ayn Rand philosophy of logical proof.

  • by keg55,

    keg55 keg55 Jan 29, 2014 5:49 PM in response to FSattin
    Level 6 (8,407 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 29, 2014 5:49 PM in response to FSattin

    Have you tried running Verify and Repair Disk from a Recovery HD assuming you can boot to it?

     

    Restart into Internet Recovery (Command+Option+R) which boots to Apple's server and their Recovery HD. Don't restart into Recovery Mode (Command+R). This way you're not running Disk Utility from your internal drive but rather from Apple's server. If you still can't repair it, then I agree with John Galt and your disk may need to be replaced. You could also go to a local Apple Store and have their techs run diagnostics to validate replacement.

  • by keg55,

    keg55 keg55 Jan 29, 2014 5:51 PM in response to keg55
    Level 6 (8,407 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 29, 2014 5:51 PM in response to keg55

    Have you tried running Verify and Repair Disk from a Recovery HD assuming you can boot to it?

     

    Restart into Internet Recovery (Command+Option+R) which boots to Apple's server and their Recovery HD. Don't restart into Recovery Mode (Command+R). This way you're not running Disk Utility from your internal drive but rather from Apple's server. If you still can't repair it, then I agree with John Galt and your disk may need to be replaced. You could also go to a local Apple Store and have their techs run diagnostics to validate replacement.

     

    I had a 15" 2010 MBP's drive fail shortly after a year so it's very possible.

  • by pavel.mere,

    pavel.mere pavel.mere Aug 10, 2014 8:58 AM in response to FSattin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 10, 2014 8:58 AM in response to FSattin

    Great Suggestions, Guys

     

    I have just used internet recovery option and erased troubled drive and now re-installing OS!

     

    Thank you very much!!!

  • by erikisa,Helpful

    erikisa erikisa Apr 16, 2015 3:05 PM in response to FSattin
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 16, 2015 3:05 PM in response to FSattin

    Ok im having a similar thing happen.  I haven't turned in MacBook pro in months and after charging it then shuts down on me.  I try to start back up and it's a gray screen with Apple logo and spinning circle and loading bar and then doesn't start just shuts off.

     

    i Proceed to open disk utlitly and get the message error: the disk need to be repaired.

     

    I click repair disk (has in red incorrect number of thread records & incorrect number of extended attributes should be 418994 of 418906. The volume Mac hd could not be repaired after 3 attempts.  The message then says error disk utility can't repair this disk...disk, and restore your backed-up files.  Does that mean my hard drive is done or something else?  Thanks.

     

    ive ive also tried to erase it says fail.  I've tried to reinstall and says recovery is locked.  What is causing this and how do I fix the problem.  I hope this all makes sense.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 17, 2015 8:35 AM in response to erikisa
    Level 9 (71,578 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 17, 2015 8:35 AM in response to erikisa

    If you live near an Apple Store, make a Genius Bar appointment to have the computer tested. Supposedly there is no charge for testing. Use 2nd link if not near an Apple Store or aren’t in the US.       Hardware Repair - Keeping Confidential Data Safe

     

    Genius Bar Reservation US

     

    Authorized Service Provider