Hello all,
I've made a big mistake of putting off the start up disk full. Now it's bit me in the foot and I don't want to restart my whole mac when I know there is important items to be backed up. Can I somehow access my user files before repairing/erasing the disk.
MacBook, OS X Mountain Lion
If you start in Recovery mode, the Disk Utility available there has the usual File - New - Disk Image from Folder... command, which should allow you to back up your entire home folder, if that's what you want; or choose sub-folders if appropriate.
Please somebody help? I've tried safe mode that doesn't work. I need to backup my files!? But how do I do it?
How do you get into recovery mode? If so is there any way of using an external HD to at least get to my desktop?
I cant reach my actual HD. Only the OS X base system and my EHD when plugged in...? My 500gb HD which should be where all my files are cannot be opened. There is a 'disk0s2 under it which has the same capacity but is greyed out....
Is Filevault enabled on the HD ?.
Do you have any other bootable backup : a TimeMachine or clone ?
>>I can't sign in due to disk utility?
What exactly happens when you try to start normally ?.
I do but the time machine was from a year back. Bit gut wrenching tbh. No idea about FileVault?
When load up normally, takes me straight to disk utility probably as I have about under 1GB spare before it went crazy on me.
I see. That sounds as if the internal HD can't be accessed at all, & you were automatically started in Recovery mode.
You're unable to mount (select it; Right click - Mount) then use verify/repair ?
fsck in Single User mode, occasionally seems to work where DU doesn't :
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
Yeah on the start up disk the HD cannot be found at all but is there under DU.
Can I so fsuk in DU through terminal? If not, is it just worth resetting and erasing all!?
So the aim is to 'mount' the main HD?
Are you able to select the main HD, or disk0s2 under it, & click the 'New Image' button in Disk Utility toolbar ?. (it's also in the file menu - New - Disk Image from (diskname).
If so, you might be able to backup the whole disk to the external.
How can I back up my important files when I can't sign in due to disk utility?
