Accidentally deleted startup disk

I dont really remember what exactly I was doing to have deleted my start up disk, but recently my keyboard has been on the fritz and wont let me type anything, or, it lets me type, but its in symbols and its locked with no way out of it. Therefore I cannot log into my interenet connection. How do I get my startup disk back? I just got this so there are no back up points on it. I feel like it'll be nearly impossible to fix this. I can get to disk utility, after that I am lost. Help please!

You have a hardware problem. Take it to an Apple store and have them fix it.

Similar Messages

Accidentally deleted a disk image. How can I restore it?

I don't use time machine and I haven't backed up my computer since I created the disk image. Then it was accidentally deleted and the trash was emptied. How can I find and restore the .dmg? Hopefully it's possible. Thanks!

Hi Mercer215,
If you just trashed the dmg and emptied the trash, the file is actually still there on your drive.
Emptying the trash, just makes the diskspace available again, without erasing anything.
If you have written files afterwards on this disk, it is possible that osx decided to overwrite it to this location, then it is not recoverable.
So if you didn't write much afterwards, you have a good chance with recovery software.
Google for OSX Data Recovery software
such as Disk Warrior.
Costs some money of course. Depending on how valuable your data is?
I've come across this free program, but I must say: I haven't used this yet. Try at your own risk.
http://www.cleverfiles.com/
Disk Drill
maybe read some reviews about it first
Good luck !

Deleted Startup disk remains default startup disk?

This one is new to me....
I have one disk with two startup partitions and a third as a "backup". I was working on the two startups partition disk and both worked fine. But recently one of the System Preference panels for Spotlight was corrupted so I did an "archive and install" on that partition. But when I did the restart after the archive and install I was unable to boot into the newly installed Leopard disk. Furthermore the machine default booted into the OTHER partition. So I tried to log into that one and the password input says I was putting in the wrong password (I was not). So I tried holding down the Option Key at startup and selected the startup disk I wanted - again, it booted to the other and the password was somehow fubarred. So I went ahead and "dismantled" that pesky defaulting startup disk, trashing both the system and the library folders - but on reboot it STILL boots to that disk even though now it doesn't exist AT ALL. Even the name remains? ***?
I went ahead and revealled all the invisible files - trashed those. I did Option+S at start up and fsck. I used TechTool Pro to repair, I used Disk Utility and permissions... UGH.
Why is this deleted startup STILL showing up and booting off the other present startup system on the other partition (Note: If I hold down Option key at start up I can still boot into the third OS I keep). What is interesting is that everytime I reboot and check the "pesky" startup disk from the other one I see a new System folder added to that (remember, I deleted it). After the invisible files were deleted it no longer did this. But, again, still boots into a non-existent login screen.
I know the "simple" answer is to reinstall and reformat this disk - but on the other "pesky" partition I have 750GB of data I'd rather not migrate (it's in the default user's folder that I didn't delete). And I'd like to learn what the heck is going on.
Thanks for anyone's illuminating insights on the phantom startup disk.

Hi, I vaguely rember you from before, but nothing here is the same as before, as it is with OSX in general!
Have you done a PRAM reset, CMD+Option+p+r...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
Does it boot into Open Firmware with CMD+Option+o+f ?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642
reset-nvram (press Enter)
set-defaults (press Enter)
reset-all (press Enter)
What shows as boot choices if you hold the Option/alt key down at bootup?

I accidentally deleted Garageband on my MacBook Pro, version 10.6.8. The new version of Garageband is only compatible with 10.9 and above. Is it possible to still get the older version? OR, can I get another copy of the startup CD for my computer

I accidentally deleted GarageBand on my MacBook Pro, version 10.6.8. The new version of GarageBand is only compatible with 10.9 and above. Is it possible to still get the older version? OR, can I get another copy of the startup CD that came with my computer so that I can reinstall GarageBand?

The new version of GarageBand is only compatible with 10.9 and above.
If your Mac can run MacOS X 10.6.8, it probably can be upgraded to Yosemite, if you don't have to stick to Snowleopard for other reasons.
Is it possible to still get the older version?
Amazon or eBay are still selling iLife '11 installer disks, and you could reinstall GarageBand from these DVDs. But it will be expensive.
Have you checked your backups, if you can restore GarageBand from a backup?
OR, can I get another copy of the startup CD that came with my computer so that I can reinstall GarageBand?
Sometimes the AppleStore Support will replace missing installer CDs for a fee.

Delete files from startup disk?

Under system preferences I see the StartUp Disk, but where do I delete files from that in order to clear up some space?
I have MacBook Air OS 10.6.8. Is it just under my User? everything like applications and documents, etc?

Open Finder and look on the sidebar for the House Icon:
Click on it and you should see a list similar to this:
You should be able to delete any items in those folders to create the required space.
You may also delete any third party applications from your Applications folder.
Ciao.

Unable to delete files from my startup disk; can move to trash and delete them there, but cannot delete from startup disk?

I constantly get a warning message that my startup disk is full and I need to remove/back up files from it. I have already backed up the files from my "All Documents" folder, which is on the left side of the menu in my startup disk. The problem is, I cannot delete those same files from the "All Documents" folder on my startup disk. It will let me move them to the trash, which I can empty, but they still do not delete from the "All Documents" folder. Does anyone know why?

Drag the files you want to delete (this applies to applications too) from their current location to the Trashcan icon in the dock. The trash will appear full. Hold down the control key and click on the Trashcan and select "Empty Trash" from the pop-up menu.
Alternatives to the control-click method: double-click on the Trashcan and click the "Empty" button in the upper right corner of the window that comes up; right-click on the Trashcan (only works if you have right-click enabled); press shift-command-delete; select "Emtpy trash..." from the Finder menu.

Why is my Macbook pro with OS lion prompting me my startup disk almost full when i have deleted many files, photos and videos? Even thrashing them doesn't help. There seems to be an automatic space usage in the background

I have deleted many unwanted files and apps and yet the available space keeps depleting every time i am using my Macbook Pro. I believe under the OS 10.7.4 one of the features is it backups or has backgrounding features which uses memory. Sometimes even when i hv 8GB space after using my Macbook Pro for say 2hrs surfing internet and using Pages which has a "Save Version" feature suddenly my 8GB goes down to 300+MB only and it starts prompting me "My Startup Disk is almost full" once it reaches 1GB space left. How can i get more space.... Please someone can help me? Do i need to re-format my hardisk??!! Any help out there is greatly appreciated.
My original HD is 320GB. And i don't hv too many Apps installed. I do have abt 50-70apps. I do have many photos and videos stored in iPhoto's Library though.

One thing I've noticed is that a shared tab pops up when I open the finder under "favorites" with a random connection. It's called hp68b... None of my friends that I live with have this and we all use the same internet. Two days ago when I would click it and click get info, it said it was a pc. When I checked it today it said it is a "sharepoint" and looks like a harddrive.
I took it too the store after i spilt water on it but when I got it back it ran perfectly fine. I don't know a lot about computer so if somebody could help me. It says I'm connected to it and I can't disconnect or delete it. I don't know if the guy at the computer store put something in my computer and is sharing all my files.

My MacBook Air keeps alerting that the startup disk is full and I've deleted applications, iTunes and MobileSync backups. What else??

I don't consider myself an advanced Mac user but I'm really trying to use my Macbook Air much more than I do... but the biggest hurdle for me is that it's been alerting me that the startup disk has been full for several months now no matter what I do. I'm on 10.9.1 OSX and can't even update to the newer version because I'm always out of space. I have 4GIGs of memory and a 60GB SSD of which 52GB are in use. Using OmniDisk Sweeper, I see I have 14.6 GB in Library of which 8.1 GB is Mail and 5GB is Application Support (and I have nearly 480 MB in Caches and 191 in Containers, 131MB in Messages). As for the rest, I've deleted my iTunes content multiple times but my iTunes library STILL says 1.7GBs in Music. I also have 672MB in Movies which I moved to an external drive and trashed so I'm not sure what still exists here. I only have 2 movie files and I deleted them both! I also have 16.9 MB in hob, whatever that is.
I have 32.8 MB in Logs, 19.8 in Safari, 7.9 MB in Calendars, 5.6MB in Google, 4.3MB in Preferences (!!), and 1.6MB in GameKit (not sure what this is), 1.1MB in KeyChains.
I'm just not sure what's going on. I have everything backed up via SuperDuper on a huge external drive and when I delete on my Mac, it doesn't seem to "take." Is is syncing that's the problem? Are my iTunes music files from my iPhone reinstalling back on the Mac as are all my photos and movies? I don't have that checked in iTunes so that shouldn't be happening either.
Again, I'm not an advanced user so maybe I'm not completing a final step to make sure it doesn't sync with my other devices (I also have an iPad mini). I like to get messages on my Macbook Air when I'm not near my phone but if it means I have 131MB in Messages that I can't pare down, I'd rather not. I see no way to reduce the Messages file so that it's not so large. I definitely want to get a handle on this before I even consider upgrading to a Macbook with more RAM and a bigger hard drive.
Final thoughts: Should I delete my mail accounts and just check mail on the web? Can I delete most of the files in Application Support or leave them alone? What's the difference between the MobileSync files and the MSYNC files?
Thanks in advance for help!

Go step by step and test.
1. Start up in Safe Mode.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11212
2. Empty Trash.
   http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13806
3. Disk space / Time Machine ?/ Local Snapshots
Local backups
   http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4878
4. Delete old iOS Devices Backup.
    iTunes > Preferences > Devices
    Highlight the old Backups , press “Delete Backup” and then “OK”.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
5. Re-index Macintosh HD.
    This will take a while. Wait until it is finished.
    System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2409

My fiancee accidentally deleted my iphoto app. When we got the computer it didn't have a disk with the applications on either, can I get it back?

Hello everyone,
its pretty much as easy as the question in the title bar, my fiancee has deleted iphoto by accident.
I didnt get any disk with the computer when i got it (its a macbook - the white model, ive had it nearly 2 years) and i know this for sure because the box and all enclosed papers are in my home office, ive checked through and looked online and found something about a download code that some people get if the software is already on the computer... i dont know how true it is, but then again I dont seem to have a code either.
If anyone has a clue please let me know - in all honesty I really like this app and I hate the idea that I may not get it again just because of something silly like an accidental deletion when i've essentially paid for the product in the cost of the macbook.
Sorry to get long winded on you all but there it is - hope someone can help me - and if ive posted anything to the wrong place im sorry! be gentle folks, its my first time on the community boards!
Mike

What system did the Mac come with and what system are you running now? If it's 2 years old, i.e. bought in 2010 then it came with Leaport or Snow Leopard installed and would have had install disks. Included in those disk would be a disk similar to one of these:
That would have included iPhoto 8 (09) if bought before October 20, 2010 or iPhoto 9 (11) if bought after that date. In either case you should have a disk like in the screenshot. If not then you'll have to purchase an iLIfe 11 boxed disk from a 3rd party retailer like Amazon.com: iLife 11 and install your missing applications from it and then apply the latest updaters from the Apple Downloads web page/
OT

Startup Disk full. I have external backup drive. Can I delete folders in My Lightroom photos?

I am using Mac Intel OSX Lion. I received a screen message that stated my startup disk is full. I am positive this is due to my 10,000 or so photos (mostly RAW files) stored in My Lightroom photos folders. Since my photos are externally backed up can I delete those 9000-10,000 photos in various folders of My Lightroom? And by doing this do I free up disk space in my computer's hard drive?
I might also mention that photos created in LR5 are saved to folders in the Mac's Pictures area under "Favorites." So am I duplicating, i.e, doubling the file hogging capacity, because it is in Pictures and also in LR5. Any help is much appreciated.

Jim,
See my posted title: I backed up all 9000+ photos in 3 external hard drives. Two are full but the third still has a lot of capacity. All photos are saved in lossless .dng file. I don't have a problem going back to those external drive files if I want to do more post processing with the photos. I fail to understand why my startup disk on the Mac is full as the great majority of file space taken up are from LR5 photos. I only have two or three Mac Applications: Swift Publisher and Quicken Essentials, both of which do not require huge hard disk space.
By the way, those 9000+ RAW files are also stored in Pictures in the Mac. 9000 files each about 20Mb I calculate to 180Gb. Am I right?

My startup disk keeps saying it is full but I have deleted as much as I can and emptied the trash......what do I do?

My startup disk keeps saying it is full and has done for a few moths. I have been through and deleted as much as I can, transferred movies to an external drive and emptied the trash, but it keeps coming up as full again after a while even though I haven't loaed anything else on......what do I do? It is so short of space now that it is saying there isn't enough memory to run some applications?? HELP!! I am new at all this stuff.

It sounds like a runaway process is filling up your volume.
Boot in safe mode. First, disconnect all wired peripherals except keyboard, mouse, and monitor, if applicable, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including your login items.
Use a tool such as the one linked below to explore your volume and find out what's taking up the space:
OmniDiskSweeper - Products - The Omni Group

TS1702 how do i delete from the startup disk? I am trying to get Mountain Lion from the App store and it says that the purchase was not complete because i need 4.06 GB space to download OS x 10.8. and to remove items from my startup disk to increase space

how do i delete from the startup disk? I am trying to get Mountain Lion from the App store and it says that the purchase was not complete because i need 4.06 GB space to download OS x 10.8. and to remove items from my startup disk to increase space. How?
Thanks

You can use iCloud with 10.7.5. You do not need to upgrade to Yosemite. You should provide a minimum of 15 GBs of free space or 10% of the hard drive's capacity, whichever is greater.
Freeing Up Space on The Hard Drive
1. See Lion/Mountain Lion/Mavericks' Storage Display.
2. You can remove data from your Home folder except for the /Home/Library/ folder.
3. Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on freeing up space on your hard drive.
4. Also see Freeing space on your Mac OS X startup disk.
5. See Where did my Disk Space go?.
6. See The Storage Display.
You must Empty the Trash in order to recover the space they occupied on the hard drive.
You should consider replacing the drive with a larger one. Check out OWC for drives, tutorials, and toolkits.
Try using OmniDiskSweeper 1.8 or GrandPerspective to search your drive for large files and where they are located.

I am getting the popup window that says my startup disk full even after deleting many files.

I am getting the popup window that says my startup disk is almost full. I have transfered most of my photos to an external HD, deleted most of my iTunes library, and emptied the trash. The problem is that with these steps, the diskspace did not increase at all-not even a megabyte. Any ideas why or how to fix it?

Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the page that opens.
Drag or copy — do not type — the following line into the Terminal window, then press return:
df -Hl
Post any lines of output that appear below what you entered — the text, please, not a screenshot.

Mini telling me to delete files on startup disk

A screen started popping up last night telling me to close all my applications to create more space and that I needed to delete files off of my startup disk because it is too full. I'm not sure what files to delete, and/or, if I should even pay attention to this notice.... Help!
Also, I was only running Safari when the notice came up. It happened twice last night and once this morning.

If your computer is locking up and if you have been running out of room on your hard drive, you should make sure your hard drive has not suffered some corruption by running Utilities > DiskUtility and verifying the hard drive.
BTW you should try to keep 10% of your hard drive free space, for better performance. And if you can't do that, at least keep 2 Gigbytes or more free. (OSX gets very unhappy when it runs out of room -- and bad things start to happen.)

Startup disk full - Outlook won't start to delete

Hi,
I have Outlook on my MBP and it crashed last night and said I had to rebuild my identity. Before it will rebuild, it wants to backup everything. This has filled up my startup disk. 0 space available. Now I can't get anything out of my outlook or get in there to delete. I have already deleted all of my pictures and documents and dowloads. Is there anyway to delete what it started to backup in Outlook so there is room? HELP! this is my life...
Thanks!

Have you emptied the trash yet?

Accidentally deleted startup disk

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for