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Mac starting up from wrong startup disk after power failure

I have a 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon desktop running 10.8.5. The startup disk is an SSD disk. We had a momentary power outage, and when I re-started the computer I got the "prohibitory" or "no entry" sign (circle with slash) for a second, then the apple--I have an identical system on a regular HD, and it started up with that.


I've tried starting with command-option PR, shift, option (it sees the SSD drive, but even if I select it it goes to the other HD). I've repaired permissions. I've "verified" the SSD disk using disk utility--it says everything is OK. I've tried opening some files on the SSD drive, and they open fine.


The issue for me is that I had a lot of stuff just on the desktop, and unless I start from the SSD the SSD desktop files don't appear--maybe they're hiding somewhere, but I don't know where. Also all the bookmarks in Safari have disappeared, etc.


And yes, the SSD is selected as the startup disk in system preferences. It just doesn't seem to want to start up from there.


We have had other power outages before, but this is a new problem. I've read a lot online, but haven't seen this exact problem.

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), 2012 MacPro

Posted on May 31, 2015 10:21 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on May 31, 2015 10:47 PM

Hope that the outage did not damage the SSD.


Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM


Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive


Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.


Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive


Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.


When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.


Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.


Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.


Alternatively, see:


Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive


Choose the version you have installed now:


OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X

OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X

OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X

OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X


Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet

if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

4 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 31, 2015 10:47 PM in response to mamlukman

Hope that the outage did not damage the SSD.


Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM


Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive


Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.


Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive


Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.


When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.


Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.


Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.


Alternatively, see:


Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive


Choose the version you have installed now:


OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X

OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X

OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X

OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X


Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet

if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

Mac starting up from wrong startup disk after power failure

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