Am I able to install OSX update within a windows partition?

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Am I able to install OSX update within a windows partition?

Earlier today, I restarted my computer but unfortunately, I got the circle with a slash through it. I did a bunch of research on the matter and tried everything. I tried booting to recovery and booting to safe mode to repair my permissions but nothing worked.

I also looked into recovering some of my files that I hadn't gotten the chance to back up which included a variety of options that didn't seem to work either.

Then out of pure curiosity, i booted to my windows partition and lo and behold, I got in. I was also able to access all my data from the mac partition. So i went ahead and backed up everything that needed to be.

I have a friend that's been helping me with this and he said that it may be because the OSX partition header is bad rather than the harddrive header. He then asked if there was a recent update that may have something to do with this? Either way i have no idea. So my question is; If there was an update that i didnt get that perhaps caused this, am I able to install it through the windows partition?

Thanks-

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Aug 16, 2014 5:43 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

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Aug 16, 2014 5:47 PM in response to Sktchwlkr

No, you cannot install anything for OS X from a Windows system.

There is no update that you might have missed that would cause the problem. Usually it's caused by installing Windows improperly or some sort of drive corruption. You can simply erase the OS X volume and reinstall OS X. You do that from the Recovery HD:

Boot Using Command+R keys:

1. Restart the computer.

2. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the

"COMMAND" and the "R" keys together.

3. Release the keys when the Utilities Menu appears.

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Answer 2

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 16, 2014 5:52 PM in response to Kappy

That's strange because I've had Windows install for the past 5 months and never ran into a problem.

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Answer 3

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 16, 2014 5:57 PM in response to Kappy

Also command + R doesn't seem to be working

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Answer 4

Kappy

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Aug 16, 2014 6:04 PM in response to Sktchwlkr

Did your computer come with installer discs? Or, do you have a retail Snow Leopard DVD? If so, then:

Clean Install of Snow Leopard

Be sure to make a backup first because the following procedure will erase

the drive and everything on it.

1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came

with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.

After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see

a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.

2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue

button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive

size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of

partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button

and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended

(Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.

3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed

with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.

4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup

Assistant. Be sure you configure your initial admin account with the exact same

username and password that you used on your old drive. After you finish Setup

Assistant will complete the installation after which you will be running a fresh

install of OS X. You can now begin the update process by opening Software

Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your installation current.

Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

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Answer 5

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 16, 2014 6:26 PM in response to Kappy

the installer disk won't recognize the mac hard drive now

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Answer 6

Kappy

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Aug 16, 2014 10:41 PM in response to Sktchwlkr

Then the disk is dead.

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Answer 7

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 17, 2014 4:12 AM in response to Kappy

How is it dead when I can clearly use it via Windows bootcamp?

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Answer 8

Csound1

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Aug 17, 2014 4:31 AM in response to Sktchwlkr

It is dead in that you can not use it, you can't boot. The fact that you can inspect the corpse from Windows does not change that.

If you have it backed up it would be simplest to erase it and reinstall OS X, then restore whatever you need from your backup.

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Answer 9

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 17, 2014 4:47 AM in response to Csound1

Ok, I understand what you're saying, the partition is dead but not the HD. that's what I'm getting from this.

I have everything backed up but I literally cannot erase,reformat, and reinstall the OS X.

Here's a list of everything so far:

1.Rebooting to safe mode

-spaming error 19 message

2.Unable to boot to recovery

-sits at loading screen forever(at least an hour)

3.Unable to reinstall OS X

-reformating the disk fails

4.Unable to use Time Machine via OS X install disk

-Mac HD is not recognized

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Answer 10

Csound1

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Aug 17, 2014 4:51 AM in response to Sktchwlkr

Recovery: Did you try to use Standard Recovery (cmd-R) or Internet Recovery (cmd-opt-R)

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Answer 11

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 17, 2014 4:53 AM in response to Csound1

Standard Recovery. I will try internet recovery here shortly

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Answer 12

Csound1

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Aug 17, 2014 5:12 AM in response to Sktchwlkr

If you you wish to preserve the windows partition back it up now.

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Answer 13

Sktchwlkr Author

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Aug 17, 2014 6:32 AM in response to Csound1

I Honestly don't care if the windows partition gets lost. I just need to restore the entire system. I'm currently rechecking everything and am in the process of booting to recovery. Its been running for about 15 minutes, but I haven't seen a circle with hash through it so far. So that's good I guess.

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