mchen518

Q: Permissions Errors with Macintosh HD

Hey guys,

 

I'm running a Macbook Pro (Samsung Evo 256 GB SSD) with Mac OS X 10.10.

 

I had a problem with an Adobe product installation, so I followed their instructions to enable root user. Additionally, I deleted a directory domain under Users and Groups that was causing my account to find a lost server upon login and would at times hang my account. Upon reboot, my username/password combination would not work.

 

I booted into recovery mode (my username being System Administrator (root)) to try to do a TimeMachine restore but an error prevents me from completing the restoration. I then tried to reinstall OS X via system utilities, and it's telling me that Macintosh HD (my internal drive) is locked. I then tried to use disk utility to either enable journaling or repair permissions, but all those options are grayed out. I do not see an unlock drive option anywhere in recovery mode. I tried to reset me password via the resetpassword interface, but I do not see any volumes/options to reset a password for any user. Reset home folder permissions and ACLs is grayed out.

 

I then tried to use the following command to reset my permissions in single-user mode:

 

sudo chmod 1777 "relevant volumes"

 

The sudo command shot pack an error saying "command not found". I tried to chmod without sudo, and an error shot back that the disk is write locked.

 

I was reading that this could be due to a wrong path, so the echo $PATH output is the following:

 

/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

 

So, I'm pretty much stuck at the moment. I have all necessary data backed up via TimeMachine on an external (no clones unfortunately). I'd just like to reinstall OS X or do something to resolve the situation.

 

Cheers,

Michael

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Jan 6, 2015 9:21 AM

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Q: Permissions Errors with Macintosh HD

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Jan 6, 2015 10:00 AM in response to mchen518
    Level 10 (312,565 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 6, 2015 10:00 AM in response to mchen518

    You need to run:

     

    mount -uw /

    chmod 1755 /

     

    in Single User mode. You don't need to use sudo in it.

     

    (119618)

  • by mchen518,

    mchen518 mchen518 Jan 6, 2015 10:06 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 10:06 AM in response to Niel

    The chmod 1755 / command is still giving the following response in Single User mode:

     

    pci pause: SDXC

    **** [IOBluetoothHCIController][SearchForTransportEventTimeOuthandler] -- Missing Bluetooth Controller Transport!

    disk1s2: device is write locked.

    disk1s2: device is write locked.

    disk1s2: device is write locked.

    disk1s2: device is write locked.

     

    Upon exiting, OS X Utilities freezes permanently.

  • by stefanfromaa,

    stefanfromaa stefanfromaa Jan 6, 2015 10:40 AM in response to mchen518
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 10:40 AM in response to mchen518

    Hey,

     

    please check whether there is an filevault encryption at the hard drive, because the error message state that your hard drive is protected and you has no access to write on there.

     

    start for this into recovery hdd again > open disk utility > choose on the left the 2.nd Macintosh hdd.

    press and hold the control key(ctrl) and click on the macintosh hdd and try to unlock this with your password.

    then you can be maybe reinstall or restore from backup or try to change the password of root user.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 19.36.32.png

  • by mchen518,

    mchen518 mchen518 Jan 6, 2015 10:52 AM in response to stefanfromaa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 10:52 AM in response to stefanfromaa

    Thanks for your help, but right (ctrl) clicking on Macintosh HD does not give me any options at all. By the way, verify disk returns no problems, partition map appears OK. I've included screenshots of my disk utility interface below:

     

    IMG_1186-1.JPGIMG_1185-1.JPG

  • by stefanfromaa,

    stefanfromaa stefanfromaa Jan 6, 2015 11:09 AM in response to mchen518
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 11:09 AM in response to mchen518

    ok i see in your pictures that you have no partition. so i it is impossible to reinstall on there an system or start from they.

    if you have an backup from you data i can show you an way how you can create an new partition and restore then the system from the backup, because by the way the hard drive would be erase complete.

     

    but first a question? what for an mac do you have? macbook, mac mini, imac, mac pro? from which year?

  • by mchen518,

    mchen518 mchen518 Jan 6, 2015 11:55 AM in response to stefanfromaa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 11:55 AM in response to stefanfromaa

    I have a Macbook Pro 15" from 2012 running 10.10. I tried to reinstall via the OS X utilities prompt, but I'm stuck at the choose installation HD because it says the HD is locked.

     

    I do have a TimeMachine backup, so I'd be fine with a complete erase. However, I'm accustomed to doing the erasure via disk utility, but I can't access the erase or format options because the disk is locked.

  • by stefanfromaa,Solvedanswer

    stefanfromaa stefanfromaa Jan 6, 2015 12:30 PM in response to mchen518
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 12:30 PM in response to mchen518

    ok i would recommend you to start the mac with the internet recovery hdd ( by starting the alt + cmd + r) after the article OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

    then open there the utilities at the menu bar at the right site of edit. go into terminal, and open an new window over the option shell > new window with settings basic:

     

    1.st terminal windows wrote down the cmd:

    diskutil cs list

    2. there you can see in the first line a logical volume group number. Mark this and copy this with cmd + c.Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 21.24.20.png

     

    3. At the second window use the following cmd:

    diskutil cs delete (paste here the logical volume group from step 3)

     

    you must see then as last steps finish corestorage operation, after this you can check at disk utility and you must find the internal hdd(unlocked) and a partition named untitled.

    if you are at this step you can choose from the os x utilities reinstall os x or restore from time machine backup.

  • by mchen518,

    mchen518 mchen518 Jan 6, 2015 12:56 PM in response to stefanfromaa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 12:56 PM in response to stefanfromaa

    Thanks stefanfromaa, that solved my issue. I'm now able to restore from recovery mode (weird error shot back at me while doing the restore in internet recovery mode).

  • by stefanfromaa,

    stefanfromaa stefanfromaa Jan 6, 2015 1:10 PM in response to mchen518
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 1:10 PM in response to mchen518

    your welcome

  • by siouxzep,

    siouxzep siouxzep Apr 2, 2015 10:16 AM in response to mchen518
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2015 10:16 AM in response to mchen518

    You are AWESOME!!!  I have continually been disappointed by the phone as well as the "Genius" bar support!  Yourt very simple to follow instructions saved me what I would consider a painful trip to the Apple Store!  I cannot thank you enough!  I am over the moon with gratitude!

  • by justinsowhat,

    justinsowhat justinsowhat Jul 12, 2015 8:14 AM in response to stefanfromaa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 12, 2015 8:14 AM in response to stefanfromaa

    This is awesome! Thanks! It totally saves me a trip to Apple store

  • by iKittyp,

    iKittyp iKittyp Aug 1, 2015 4:56 AM in response to stefanfromaa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2015 4:56 AM in response to stefanfromaa

    I've run into this problem, and am following Stefan's instructions. However, when I type the "diskutil cs list" command into the Terminal window, I get the response "NoCore storage logical volume groups found". I can't get past that, and as I'm just following the instructions without having the first idea what I'm actually doing, I'm stuck now. Stefan, if you're still following this thread, could advise me, please?

     

    Thanks!

     

    -Kit

  • by stefanfromaa,

    stefanfromaa stefanfromaa Aug 1, 2015 11:54 AM in response to iKittyp
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Aug 1, 2015 11:54 AM in response to iKittyp

    Hi iKittyp,

    this message told me only that you have no logical volume group. Can you describe your issue a little bit more?

  • by iKittyp,

    iKittyp iKittyp Aug 1, 2015 12:58 PM in response to stefanfromaa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2015 12:58 PM in response to stefanfromaa

    I had a permissions error that locked up my drive, and tried to go through internet recovery using your instructions as to what to type in the Terminal windows. I did all that and literally, it just told me I had no logical volume group—that's all. Because I've never used commands in Terminal before, I wasn't able to try anything else! As I had to get back to work but had no idea how to rescue the situation, I decided in the end to just zero the drive and boot from the clone I always keep on an external. A lengthy and somewhat radical solution, but it does seem to have worked...fingers crossed! Thank you sooo much for replying, though—people on these boards are brilliant, always willing to try and help others out.

     

    Thanks again.

     

    -Kit

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