Can't seem to repair disk or reinstall OS X - help!
Original problem - grey screen on startup. Went through the following to fix:
- remove peripherals etc. and reboot; did not rectify
- safe boot - did not rectify
- reset nvram / pram - did not rectify
- start from install disk, in disk utilities tried to verify disk - said needs repair
- tried to repair - THE VOLUME MACINTOSH HD COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. BACK UP AS MANY OF YOUR FILES AS POSSIBLE, REFORMAT THE DISK AND RESTORE YOUR BACKED UP FILES
- as I have no backup (silly me) wanted to attempt an archive and install ... however install screen showed only the 'install' option.
WHEN THE INSTALL SCREEN COMES UP, IT HAS A BOX ‘SELECT THE DISK WHERE YOU WANT TO INSTALL MAC OS X – OFFERS MACINTOSH HD AS THE ONLY OPTION
CLICK ON MACINTOSH HD, CLICK INSTALL … SAYS THAT THE CONTENTS OF THIS DISK CANNOT BE CHANGED – MAC OS X CANNOT BE INSTALLED ON THIS DISK
ICON SHOWS MAC HD WITH ‘AT LEAST 985.58 GB FREE 999.86 TOTAL
Was hoping I could rescue third party installed software, settings etc. but had all but given up and decided to do a system reinstall ... but it seems I can't even do that. Does this seem to suggest a hardware problem???
i-mac is 6 months old and still under warranty, though wanted to try to sort out without taking to the shop.
Unfortunate that you don't have another Mac available. Reason - if Disk Utility can 'see' the drive sufficiently well to attempt repair, then the data on it might be recoverable via Firewire Target Disk Mode. This is a setup between two Macs connected via firewire; your hard drive, if mountable, would be seen by the other machine as an external hard drive.
If you don't mind losing all your files, then you can erase/reformat the drive. Best way would be to erase the drive rather than just the volume. Use the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.
However, since the machine is still under warranty, I would recommend you take it in to an AASP - an authorized Apple service provider. Reason - they may be able to recover your data in the process of erasing and reformatting the drive. And, if your hard drive proves non-repairable, they could replace it right then.
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I migrated my software/documents from another laptop so don't have the disk to reinstall. Please help! Can't open any Microsoft Office software, like Word (for 2008), and stuck in a loop?
Whenever I select Word Microsoft Setup Assistant appears, asks for feedback, then after selecting okay (both on saying yes or no to feedback) goes on to a registration page. When I click on this it says I've already registered so I just click okay, and then move on to a update page. After this, if I click on Word, the process repeats itself.
As I said, I don't have the disk to reinstall, and can't find the Office Settings to delete as many pages have suggested I should try. Safe Boot restarting also hasn't worked... Really stuck and need Word very soon for work.
If you can help, that would be great, and feel free to ask any questions about the situation as I'm not an expert here.
Cheers,
JackFirst, export your contact from iCloud.com and save them on your computer in a safe spot some where (like you desktop). Use this to help you do this: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH3606
Next, on both of your devices, go to Settings > iCloud and turn on contacts and select Merge. Then turn off contacts and select 'Delete form my [device]' when prompted.
Now go back to iCloud.com and select a contact (yes they will all be messed up again) and select Command+A on a Mac or Control+A on a PC to select all of the contacts. Tap the delete key on your keyboard (or right click /control click a contact and select delete).
You iPhone, iPad and iCloud.com should not be empty for contacts.
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You cleaned up contacts should import correctly into iCloud.com and sync to both of your devices.
Good luck. -
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Can't seem to repair permissions
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Problem description:
I have ordered a new iMac but my current one seems to be running really slowly. I believe it to be a memory related problem but can’t seem to identify what is causing it. Your help is greatly appreciated.
EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)
Report generated March 7, 2015 at 4:01:26 PM PST
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
iMac (24-inch, Early 2008) (Verified)
iMac - model: iMac8,1
1 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core
2 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM1
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro - VRAM: 256 MB
iMac 1920 x 1200
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10 (14A389) - Time since boot: 23 days 18:5:35
Disk Information: ℹ️
ST3320820AS_Q disk0 : (320.07 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 319.21 GB (195.05 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
USB Information: ℹ️
HP Officejet 6000 E609n
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Primax Electronics Apple Optical USB Mouse
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Western Digital External HDD 500.11 GB
My Passport (disk1s1) /Volumes/My Passport : 500.11 GB (200.60 GB free)
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/Applications/Popcorn 4/Popcorn.app
[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) [Click for support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.aliph.driver.jstub (1.1.2 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
[killed] com.apple.accountsd.plist
[killed] com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist
[killed] com.apple.bird.plist
[killed] com.apple.CalendarAgent.plist
[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
[killed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist
[killed] com.apple.cloudd.plist
[killed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist
[killed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist
[killed] com.apple.coreservices.uiagent.plist
[killed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist
[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist
[killed] com.apple.pluginkit.pkd.plist
[killed] com.apple.printtool.agent.plist
[killed] com.apple.rcd.plist
[killed] com.apple.recentsd.plist
[killed] com.apple.sbd.plist
[killed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist
[killed] com.apple.secd.plist
[killed] com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy.plist
[killed] com.apple.spindump_agent.plist
[killed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist
22 processes killed due to memory pressure
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[killed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist
[killed] com.apple.awdd.plist
[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist
[killed] com.apple.diagnosticd.plist
[killed] com.apple.emond.aslmanager.plist
[killed] com.apple.GSSCred.plist
[killed] com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist
[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist
[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist
[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist
[killed] com.apple.periodic-daily.plist
[killed] com.apple.periodic-monthly.plist
[killed] com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist
[killed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist
[killed] com.apple.softwareupdated.plist
[killed] com.apple.spindump.plist
[killed] com.apple.tccd.system.plist
[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist
[killed] com.apple.xpc.smd.plist
[killed] org.cups.cupsd.plist
20 processes killed due to memory pressure
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.sonos.smbbump.plist [Click for support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
iTunesHelper UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)
Jawbone Updater Application (/Applications/Jawbone Updater.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
Photo Center Plugin: Version: Photo Center Plugin 1.1.2.2 [Click for support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 [Click for support]
CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.2.0 [Click for support]
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Citrix Online Plug-in [Click for support]
Flash Player [Click for support]
UE Smart Radio [Click for support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 319.21 GB Disk used: 124.16 GB
Destinations:
Time Machine Backups [Local]
Total size: 3.00 TB
Total number of backups: 98
Oldest backup: 2013-08-28 05:45:36 +0000
Last backup: 2014-12-30 19:39:32 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 319.21 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
5% com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64
3% WindowServer
2% sysmond
0% AppleSpell
0% com.apple.WebKit.Networking
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
41 MB Finder
41 MB iTunes
37 MB Safari
32 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64
32 MB mds
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
53 MB Free RAM
501 MB Active RAM
463 MB Inactive RAM
398 MB Wired RAM
78.46 GB Page-ins
3.04 GB Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Mar 7, 2015, 12:41:34 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Inkjet4_2015-03-07-124134_[redacted].crash
Mar 5, 2015, 07:42:29 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.WebContent_2015-03-05-194229_[ redacted].crashThat certainly looks like a low memory issue, 2 GB ram is barely enough to run Mac OS X versions from Lion through Yosemite. The high number of Page Outs and killed processes show very high memory pressure.
Try adding memory, but be sure it is high quality, Mac certified memory such as that from OWC, http://www.macsales.com or Crucial, http://www.crucial.com -
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I am a new Mac/Apple user, trying to download so I can print coupons from a website.I
I think I understand the problem, but am not sure of the solution. What you want is Java not JavaScript which is a totally different thing.
Lion is supposed to automatically offer to install Java for you if you try to run a Java applet on your Mac, but you don't have such a thing, yet.
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Tried to install Mountain Lion and can't as damaged files (not been an issue before), tried to repair in disk utilities but can only verify, no repair disk option available (greyed out).
I rarely post, however, because of a major screw up with Mountain Lion, I will. I have been using mac computers since 1987, have obviously installed and upgraded multiple OS new and upgrades and never, I mean never had a problem with any of them, until now. The install stalled with the message that the hard disk needed repair. I thought all of my data was lost, except for time machine backup, which was not as current as it should have been. Losing that data would have been a royal pain.
Went through the restore OS from Time Machine, then tried to repair the disk with apple disk repair utility. Not repairable. Why? I still don't have a clue. After reading multiple threads, decided to go ahead and buy DiskWarrior. This was a weird experienc. Loaded it onto external hard drive, hooked my MacBook Pro as Target disk. Loaded in DiskWarrior as hardware probelm. ???? Immediately went online to see what advice about this message. Looked like a massive coincidence had hit my laptop. Worked perfectly until loading Mountain Lion, the decided to have hard disk melt down. Suddenly, DiskWarrior indicated it was ready to rebuild my directory. The hardware warning was gone. A few minutes later, directory repaired. Rebooted, same problem. Can't load OS X, need to repair hard disk. Apple disk repair still unable to repair disk. Used DiskWarrior, repaired it no problem.
Deleted original OS 10.8 dmg. Rebooted and downloaded fresh copy of OS 10.8. This time install went flawlessly. Mountain Lion transferred all info flawlessly. Mid 2009 MacBook Pro running flawlessly and actually more smoothly now than in Lion.
1. I think original download was somehow corrupted and that is what screwed up the disk directory.
2. I do not know why apple Disk Utility would not repair the disk and Disk Warrior would. Expensive fix, but ultimately worthwhile. Did it mysefl and did not have to mess with "Genius" bar.
3. I will never go so long without backup again. That was a big mistake.
My advice:
1. Be sure you have smooth download of entire Mountain Lion file, if not, start over. My download was paused a couple of times.
2. If the install is messed up and you need Disk Repair, buy DiskWarrior and repair directory, it works flawlessly. If it initially says your disk has hardware problem, wait a few minutes while it finishes entire evaluation. It may well disappear like mine did, then actually repair the directories without a problem.
3. Be sure you have deleted old OS 10.8 Install file and load fresh one.
4. Install OS 10.8 and you should be OK.
5. Good luck.
Mountain Lion seems to have some problems, but many of them may be due to server overload at apple, delayed download with incorporated unrecognized code problems. If there is any delay, start over and get a smooth download.
Disk Utility is too light weight. Apple needs to beef it up. This is my biggest complaint. Apple utility should be able to fix disks. We should not have to spend $100 to fix a disk, but there you are.
Once fixed however, back to usual beautiful, flawless apple experience.
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