Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Yosemite won't install due to a "S.M.A.R.T. drive problem that can't be repaired."

After downloading Yosemite successfully, it won't install due to a "S.M.A.R.T. drive problem that can't be repaired." It says to back up as much as possible and replace the drive. Everything works flawlessly with Mavericks. What gives??

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 1:14 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Oct 18, 2014 8:20 PM

I also have this problem. Seems we can't all have bad hard disks??

17 replies

Oct 18, 2014 9:15 PM in response to BigJim6825

If you are getting a S.M.A.R.T. error then you should be more worried about losing everything on your drive then about upgrading your Mac OS. Regardless of if you are running Mac OS, Linux, or Windows, you should never just disregard such a drive error. S.M.A.R.T. is designed to give you a warning that your drive is statistically having far more errors than normal and should be backed up immediately and typically replaced.


In your case, it's likely a coincidence that your drive is failing at the time you are attempting to upgrade to Yosemite. You should stop what you are doing, backup your drive (if you don't already have the backups that you should prior to any OS upgrade), and replace the hard drive prior to moving forward.


To make it clear, your hard drive is likely going to fail soon and you may lose everything on it at any moment. This failure has nothing to do with Yosemite or any Mac OS. All hard drives fail at some point. Hopefully this S.M.A.R.T. notice has given you the opportunity to solve a major problem before it gets worse.

Oct 18, 2014 10:33 PM in response to BigJim6825

BigJim6825,


As suggested, then easiest way is to take it to an Apple Store (especially if it is still under Warranty or AppleCare). Depending on your iMac model, it's actually not that difficult to replace the hard drive in a modern iMac.


The important thing is for you to make one or more backups of your data while you still can. If you currently have no backups, then I would highly suggest turing your Mac off now and not using it until you can take it to someone that can assist you with your disk problem. Just be sure to immediately advise them if you have no backups of the data on the drive to be replaced!


Good luck with your drive replacement.

Oct 19, 2014 3:43 PM in response to BigJim6825

I also just had this message...the Mac has showed no signs of a bad drive or any pop ups or warnings. I downloaded Yosemite and all the sudden I have a failing drive? ***...


Even if I did a backup and got a new drive, what would I have to do? Save a backup on an external HDD and then somehow load it on the new drive? How much is a new Mac harddrive? This is bull

Oct 20, 2014 3:48 PM in response to leroydouglas

This will be my fourth time trying to install Yosemite on my iMac. It's fairly new, under warranty and I'm getting "The oS X Installation couldn't be completed". I've tried multiple times to Verify Disk and Repair the HD. It says the HD is okay. I've tried re-downloading the installer of OS X Yosemite. I've gotten to the point where I don't really care about what was on the HD, so I Erased it and partitioned the HD again. With a clean HD, I tried to install Yosemite to no avail? This IMac was working perfectly until the installation of this new OS. Suggestions???

Oct 26, 2014 1:05 AM in response to BigJim6825

It is interesting that many of us are having this same message come up while trying to install Yosemite. A message I have NEVER seen before on any of my Macs.


In my case I am loading a Mac Mini Server with two hard drives (not being used as a server). The main Drive, where I want to load Yosemite, is getting the SMART message, whereas the secondary drive is being described to me as the backup drive for Time Machine (which it is not - I use an external drive for that).


If Yosemite is incorrect about my second drive, what assurances do I have that it is correct about the first one.


So, while Tim says I should trust that the message regarding the pending failure, my confidence in Yosemite is being tested.


QUESTION... is there any other software we can download to verify the SMART error message?

Oct 26, 2014 1:07 AM in response to BigJim6825

It could be a problem with the disk management software and tools on Yosemite. I am facing this problem with one of our Macs in which we just installed a fresh hard drive a few months ago, working perfectly with Mountain Lion. Yosemite keeps reporting SMART errors. We re-imaged the machine with Mountain Lion and there were absolutely no SMART problems.

Oct 26, 2014 11:54 AM in response to BigJim6825

I used System Profiler, and it showed my S.M.A.R.T. as "failing". I backed up my hard drive to Time Machine, and ended up getting a new, most current iMac. I migrated the old to the new from Time Machine, and all is well on the new iMac. Yosemite installed flawlessly on the new one. Cost me $1,489 for the new, much better iMac, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run. Meanwhile, my son is using the older iMac with Mavericks... at least until it finally fails....


Thanks, everyone, for all your suggestions and helpful comments.

Oct 26, 2014 1:00 PM in response to BigJim6825

BigJim6825 wrote:


I used System Profiler, and it showed my S.M.A.R.T. as "failing". I backed up my hard drive to Time Machine, and ended up getting a new, most current iMac. I migrated the old to the new from Time Machine, and all is well on the new iMac. Yosemite installed flawlessly on the new one. Cost me $1,489 for the new, much better iMac, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run. Meanwhile, my son is using the older iMac with Mavericks... at least until it finally fails....


Thanks, everyone, for all your suggestions and helpful comments.


Thanks for posting the final resolve on your issue. Good computing.

Yosemite won't install due to a "S.M.A.R.T. drive problem that can't be repaired."

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.