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All replies
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Helpful answers
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Dec 7, 2015 4:38 PM in response to Stina72by Mike Sombrio,Did you run Disk Utilities from your recovery partition (command-r restart) or from your Utilities folder?
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Dec 7, 2015 8:59 PM in response to Mike Sombrioby Stina72,Hi Mike! Thanks for responding! I ran it from my utilities folder. Should I run using command-r restart?
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Dec 8, 2015 3:22 AM in response to Stina72by K Shaffer,If you start the computer into OS X Recovery, as indicated by the keyboard commands
and use the version of OS X Utilities found there to attempt a repair of the internal HDD
then it may be able to attempt the same. However if the computer hard drive is original
it may need to be replaced; so a backup of your content is highly recommended as it a
new replacement or upgrade (quality, capacity, etc) hard drive while doing so.
If the computer does not have a Recovery partition in the hard drive, it won't boot to
OS X Recovery; by the time you've upgraded to OS X 10.11, from the original shipped
OS X, there should have been an opportunity to add this feature, if not automatic.
OS X Tips Using the Recovery HD:
http://pondini.org/OSX/RecoveryHD.html
• OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
• OS X: About Recovery Disk Assistant - Apple Support
You could try & boot from the original OS X install-restore DVD media, disc one or if
there is a separate disc that says Apple Hardware Test on it, that may help to see if
the hard drive may be reading as failing; but these tests are inconclusive. A visit to
an Authorized Apple service provider who can work on these older model Macs, is
advisable since the Apple Store with Genius usually won't work on older Macs since
they apparently do not stock parts for these vintage or not-current models.
(hold C key down while attempting to get original install-restore media to load & boot)
The diagnostic at an Apple Store with genius would be without charge, generally, but
they likely will defer you to some company that could do that replacement work. As
time goes on, some of these AASP (authorized Apple service providers) have been
known to ask higher prices to work on older models the Apple Store genius will not.
A friend in the Seattle area found this out, after I urged them to get an appointment
or advance reservation at the Apple Store to discuss a failed hard drive in an Intel-
based Mini with a Genius. The Genius said they did not work on those (circa 2009?)
anymore and then suggested a different AASP they knew about; on contacting this
other independent company about doing the work, a surprise was found in the quote
to replace the failed HDD with similar OEM (5400-RPM) spec HDD: up to $300. and
then some, since the optical drive had also failed. +Add another $200? = Not worth it.
The Genius said they used to do those in Mini Mac for $50... & not charge for labor.
You could do a complete backup of whatever you can to an externally enclosed hard
disk drive -- and if you also have a separate Time Machine backup, that's even better.
There are fairly good repair guides in the iFixit.com site, guides for mac repair and
the range of portables are covered. Parts to match or exceed specs can be found if
you have time, from sources of good reputation in the Mac community such as OWC
macsales.com. They also have various accessories and other external backup drives.
You can see a variety of items, specifications and parts for use in specific models.
Anyway, I'm looking at about 2:25AM and should be asleep & not be doing this...
Good luck & happy computing!
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Dec 8, 2015 3:40 AM in response to Stina72by Mike Sombrio,Stina72 wrote:
Hi Mike! Thanks for responding! I ran it from my utilities folder. Should I run using command-r restart?
Yes, try that first as Disk Utility cannot repair the partition on which it resides. Having a current backup is always recommended.