Stina72

Q: My Macbook has a corrupted HD, can I fix this myself? How? Help please!!

I have Macbook 13 inch from mid 2010, 2.4 GHz 2 GB 250 GB running OS X El Capitan 10.11.1

It has been running so slow lately, so I have cleaned out all files, downloads and apps that I don't use any longer, hoping this would help.. But after running first aid in disk utility, it tells me that my Mac HD has been found corrupt and needs to be repaired. I am not a tech specialist, but can navigate myself through and around as long as I have clear instructions. Is there someway for me to fix this myself? If so how? Help please!! Thanks!

MacBook (13-inch Mid 2010), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Dec 7, 2015 1:59 PM

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Q: My Macbook has a corrupted HD, can I fix this myself? How? Help please!!

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  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Dec 7, 2015 4:38 PM in response to Stina72
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 7, 2015 4:38 PM in response to Stina72

    Did you run Disk Utilities from your recovery partition (command-r restart) or from your Utilities folder?

  • by Stina72,

    Stina72 Stina72 Dec 7, 2015 8:59 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2015 8:59 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Hi Mike! Thanks for responding! I ran it from my utilities folder. Should I run using command-r restart?

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Dec 8, 2015 3:22 AM in response to Stina72
    Level 6 (14,274 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 8, 2015 3:22 AM in response to Stina72

    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!

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Dec 8, 2015 3:40 AM in response to Stina72
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 8, 2015 3:40 AM in response to Stina72

    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.