Q: Hi everyone. How do you get the 'var' folder out of your trashcan? HELPPPPP

Open the trash, select the folder and choose 'Put Back'

How well do you know your way around Mac OS?

you are going to need to boot into Recovery and reinstall the system.

they should already be using TimeMachine at a minimum for backups

If you need to erase the system drive AND don't have backups, then yes you could lose files.

Also might want to shop for some drives to help with this /

Install OS X to another external drive rather than on the laptop's so you can boot and work at backups and reinstall and repairs.

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Install or Reinstall Mavericks or Mountain Lion from Scratch

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

About TimeMachine backups and Recovery Mode

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/

OS X Lion and later let you:

• Start from OS X Recovery using your Time Machine backup disk. With OS X v10.7.3 and later, Time Machine backs up the Recovery System on your Mac to your backup drive as well. This lets you use your Time Machine drive to start up your Mac if needed.

OS X Recovery:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718

OS X Internet Recovery

Mac models introduced after public availability of OS X Lion include the ability to start up directly from an Internet-based version of the OS X Recovery system. OS X automatically uses this feature when the Recovery System on the hard disk isn't available (such as when your hard disk encounters an issue, or when your hard disk has been replaced or erased). OS X Internet Recovery lets you start your Mac directly from Apple's servers. Starting up from this system performs a quick test of your memory and hard drive to check for hardware issues.

OS X Internet Recovery presents a limited interface at first, with only the ability to select your preferred Wi-Fi network and, if needed, entering a passphrase. Next, OS X Internet Recovery downloads and starts from a Recovery System image. From there, you are offered the same utilities and options as a local Recovery System.

...

Requirements for reinstalling OS X using Recovery

Reinstalling OS X using OS X Recovery requires broadband access to the Internet via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection. OS X is downloaded over the Internet from Apple when OS X Recovery is used for reinstallation

If you use Internet Recovery to reinstall OS X, it installs the version of OS X that originally came with your computer. After installation is finished, use the Mac App Store to install related updates or later versions of OS X that you have previously purchased.

What to do if the installer warns that no Recovery System can be created

Some disk partition configurations may result in the OS X installer reporting that it could not create a Recovery System. In these situations, even if you are permitted to continue the install, you may want to quit the installation and create an external, bootable OS X hard drive with a Recovery System, first. You can continue your OS X upgrade on your computer's startup drive after creating an external Recovery System.

• Your storage device must have at least 13 GB available (after formatting) to install OS X Lion or later and a Recovery partition.
• These steps erase and reformat the storage device. This article instructs you on setting up a storage device to use the GUID partition scheme and the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, which are required to install OS X and a Recovery partition on your external storage device. You should back up any important files that are on the device to a different drive.
• This procedure installs a version of OS X that is compatible with the Mac it was created with. Using this OS X system with a different Mac model may produce unpredictable results.
• Your computer's serial number is sent to Apple as part of this process to help authenticate your request to download and install OS X Lion.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718

Installing OS X on an external volume - such as your USB flash drive

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5911

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http://www.apple.com/support/macbasics/

Isolating Issues in Mac OS

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1388

https://www.apple.com/support/osx/

https://www.apple.com/support/quickassist/

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/help/

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/tour/

Get Help with your Product

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304725

Apple Mac App Store

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_app_store/using_mac_apple_store

How to Buy Mac OS X Mountain Lion/Lion

http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/

TimeMachine 101

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine

Mac OS X Community

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os

Recovery Mode

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

ExpressLane

https://expresslane.apple.com/

Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT131

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How to install OS X on a new or faulty HD without Internet recovery

Corrupt and new disks might not have a working Recovery partition, but there are still ways to access one and reinstall OS X, if needed.

Direct you to the proper forum for MacBook :

MacBook Series Forums

https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks?view=discussions

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro

Mac OS X Forum

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=discussions