Mac Hard Drive Damaged Beyond Repair?

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Level 1

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Mac Hard Drive Damaged Beyond Repair?

Hello, My mac was fine and one day i went to turn it on and found it would not load :O I tried a safe boot, then tried single user mode but got I/O Errors and Invalid Node structure errors forever. I put the computer in Target disk mode and transferred the files i want to keep. Then in target disk mode i tried disk utility but was unable to repair the hard drive 😟 So i did the only other thing i thought would work, i erased the hard drive since i already have the files i need. Now Trying to load i get the Blinking folder with ?. so i created a recovery HD thumbdrive and ran disk utility, "Disk Utility Was Unable to repair the hard drive". Is The Hard Drive Toast? Should i buy i new one or have it replaced?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 10, 2014 2:58 PM

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Answer 1

BobRz

Level 5

6,138 points

Feb 10, 2014 3:06 PM in response to W_I_L_L

The good news is hard drives are cheap. Go to ifixit.com and look up the repair guide for your specific model. If you're handy at all you can do it yourself.

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Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Feb 10, 2014 3:37 PM in response to W_I_L_L

Have you tried repairing the HDD via Disk Utility>First Aid by using the original install disks or the recovery partition (depending upon the MBP you have)?

Ciao.

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Answer 3

W_I_L_L Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2014 3:39 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Don't have them 😟

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Answer 4

Melophage

Level 5

7,213 points

Feb 10, 2014 11:09 PM in response to W_I_L_L

W_I_L_L,

if your MacBook Pro originally came with two grey installation DVDs (i.e. you have an Early 2011 model or older), then you can purchase a replacement pair of DVDs from either Apple or iFixit.

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Answer 5

W_I_L_L Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2014 11:55 AM in response to Melophage

I have been running disk utility like this http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433 after the erase disk utility is still unable to fix the hard drive. should i trying installing Moutian lion?

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Answer 6

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Feb 11, 2014 11:57 AM in response to W_I_L_L

Share specifics of your Mac so we may better pinpoint the best way to attack the problem.

Year, model, screen size and amount of RAM.

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Answer 7

W_I_L_L Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2014 12:31 PM in response to Courcoul

Macbook pro 13-Inch Mid 2010, not to sure about the Ram

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Answer 8

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Feb 11, 2014 12:39 PM in response to W_I_L_L

OK, so no Internet Recovery Mode for you. And, as per the discussion thus far, no original Snow Leopard install DVD either. But you apparently did have the presence of mind to construct a Recovery Disk on a USB flash stick, right?

If so, AND you've booted off it, AND the internal drive can't be repaired or even erased and reformatted, then yeah. The drive is kaput. Hope you managed to back up your junk off before it gave up the ghost.

Just for confirmation, when in Disk Utility and you have the DEVICE (not the Macintosh HD volume), what's the S.M.A.R.T. status listed?

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Answer 9

W_I_L_L Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2014 1:04 PM in response to Courcoul

Yes i have been using the recovery disk off of a usb stick. it can't be repaired but it can be erased, it failed the zero out data though. So i can only choose the fastest option. the S.M.A.R.T status is Verified.

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Answer 10

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Feb 11, 2014 2:54 PM in response to W_I_L_L

Well, then it will be your call whether you want to risk it or chuck it and get a new one. If you get a new one from a regular PC store, you will have to repartition into GUID scheme (Options.. button in the partition screen), Apple Extended (Journaled) in format, then go thru the pain of downloading the full installer (Flash stick does not have a full system) before you will have a functioning Mac again.

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Answer 11

Feb 11, 2014 4:43 PM in response to W_I_L_L

never again let yourself be in the position of losing data

hard drives are cheap as dirt, and everyone needs a at least 2 minimum external, in addition to the one SSD/ HD internally.

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Answer 12

W_I_L_L Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 12, 2014 1:01 PM in response to Courcoul

Some Test i did:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/111808673@N04/12486601964/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/111808673@N04/12486431753/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/111808673@N04/12486835444/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/111808673@N04/12486378535/

They all fail 😟 i will be taking my computer in for a new hard drive as soon as i can .

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Answer 13

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Feb 12, 2014 2:48 PM in response to W_I_L_L

Look at it as an opportunity to get a newest generation HDD with a zillion byte capacity. Or maybe an SSD that will make the old Mac a screamer.

Note that swapping the drive involves a total of 14 screws and a cable. Hardly PhD level complexity...

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Answer 14

W_I_L_L Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 12, 2014 3:05 PM in response to Courcoul

I'm 14 Years old and my dad won't let me order a HD 😝 He did say that i can take the computer in for a new hard drive though, reason i said i will be taking it in as soon as a i can.

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Answer 15

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Feb 12, 2014 3:13 PM in response to W_I_L_L

Like I said, opportunity for an upgrade that should keep the Mac going for another while. Maybe a RAM upgrade while you're at it? The 13" 2010 can go up to 16GB.

Different eras, no doubt. Back at 14 in the HS shop we were tearing and redoing 4-barrel Holley carburators that came with a zillion screws, springs, valves and suchlike.

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