HELP :( Unable to repair HD and needs to know a way to back up using disk utility via boot up.

I currently require assistance as I was thinking about sending my Macbook to the repair centre tomorrow but I decided to apporach here first before I send it over.
Anyway, my Macbook suddenly hanged one day and I switched it off. When I switched it on , it gave me an icon file with a ? in the centre icon. I do not have the CD for the OS or anything. I am currently assessing safari via command + R when I booted up my computer. I tried to repair my Macintosh HD but it failed and I am afraid of losing my data when I send it over to the repair centre. How do I back up my HD when it's corrupted? Please also tell me how to restore my data when I receive it from the repair centre (most likely scenario) as well! If you know how to fix this problem as well without losing my data (and no CD) as well , I would really appreciate it!

Sorry to say this but it is a little late now to start thinking about backing up your files. Should of done that all along for just this type of situation.
About the only thing you can do now is connect an external drive and use the Command + r boot system to install a copy of OS X on the external. then once that is done try to access the internal drive and copy your files over to the external

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My Macbook aliminium unibody from late 2008 will not boot. I reach the grey screen with the apple icon and the spinning grey gear. I used disk utility to boot it but it said integrity test failed. I don't know what to do can anyone please help?

My Macbook aliminium unibody from late 2008 will not boot. I reach the grey screen with the apple icon and the spinning grey gear. I used disk utility to boot it but it said integrity test failed. I don't know what to do can anyone please help?

Sounds like you may have a harddrive issue. You are probably going to need to get that changed out and then install the OS X again to get it going.

Cannot repair disk errors for OSX boot volume using Disk Utility while booted from different disk

I have tried three times to repair my boot volume (OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard) permissions using Disk Utility while booted up on a different volume (running Snow Leopard 10.6.4). After hours of Disk Utility reporting that it HAD fixed the problems, an immediate click of "Verify permissions" immediately results in the apparently same continuous stream of permission errors.

Then better luck next time around. Here are some ideas for then:
How to Install Lion Successfully - You must have Snow Leopard 10.6.7 or 10.6.8 Installed
A. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions:
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Utilities. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU 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 DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.3.) if DW cannot fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall Snow Leopard.
B. Make a Bootable Backup Using Restore Option of Disk Utility:
Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
Select the destination volume from the left side list.
Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
Check the box labeled Erase destination.
Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the backup volume. Source means the internal startup volume.
C. Important: Please read before installing:
If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it. Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've restarted.
You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update. While the installation is in progress do not use the computer.
D. To upgrade to Lion:
Purchase the Lion Installer from the Mac App Store. The download will start quickly. Lion is nearly 4 GBs so a fast internet connection is essential. Download time could run upwards of 4 hours depending upon network conditions and server demands at the time.
Boot From The Lion Installer which is located in your Applications folder.
Follow instructions for installation.

Start up and shut down is slow after erasing free space using disk utility?

I went to Disk Utility, clicked Erase, and then "Erase Free Space." When I saw that it was going to take 1 hour and 30 minutes, I tried closing disk utility. It wouldn't let me exit, so instead I pressed "Skip." But when you hover over the "Skip" button it says, "Erase all data and reformat the disk."
I'm wondering if the fact that I pressed the skip button has anything to do with my computer shutting down/starting up A LOT slower now. If so, what can I do to fix it?
Thanks!

Just wanted to give an update. I called Apple and apparently, you shouldn't empty the free space using disk utility while you're logged in. I had to insert the Installations CD and press the "C" button while my computer restarted, and used Disk Utility from there. My start up and shut down speed still isn't exactly the way it was before, but this definitely made a difference.
Thank you to those who replied to my question!

I need to uninstall then re-install Vista Home Basic and need to know if I must back up all my bookmarks to a disk first.

I have had on-going problems with communication between my Lexmark X3650 printer/scanner/copier and my Dell Vostro PC. Dell has instructed me to uninstall then re-install Vista Home Basic to my PC. I need to know if I will lose my Firefox bookmarks when I do this (I am waiting for them to send me the Vista disk before I can re-install). Will my bookmarks be saved on Firefox? Will I have to re-load my Firefox browser? I am certainly no computer whiz buy I simply cannot afford to lose all these links (collegiate workbooks and course-work submission links etc.). HELP!

You can backup the bookmarks in the Bookmarks Manager.
You can export the bookmarks in Firefox to an HTML file:
Bookmarks > Organize Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Export HTML
You can also create a JSON backup:
Bookmarks > Organize Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Backup
An HTML backup doesn't support tags and annotations, so if you want to preserve those then you need to use a JSON backup.<br />
Restoring a JSON backup will replace all existing bookmarks, so existing bookmarks are lost.<br />
Importing an HTML backup will merge the imported bookmarks with existing bookmarks, so you do not lose the bookmarks that you already have, but you may get duplicate bookmarks if some already exist.
See also http://kb.mozillazine.org/Backing_up_and_restoring_bookmarks_-_Firefox

Need help badly! In Africa and need to know...

if I can update, change or add to my iWeb from my laptop if I built the site on my home system. I'm shooting a documentary on my in-laws that are adopting two children from Africa. We just landed in Addis Ababa and I would like to continue the "blogg" page on my iWeb site (www.themarkjacobs.com). I have copied the site folder from my iDisk and have tried every combination and nothing seems to work. Can I edit, update, change or add via my mac book pro while on the road??? Someone help! The last thing I want to do is rebuild my site from Africa.
Thanks in advance!

You are out of luck unless you brought a copy of the Domain file with you, or can get one sent to you.
http://alyeska.altervista.org/en/iWebTwocomputers.html

I went to the full screen and don't like it and need to know how to get back to what I had. Also, is there a good way to set up bookmarks? Like in a column on the left or right side? Thank you.

I went to the full screen and don't like it and want to get back to what I had. Also, is there a way to set up bookmarks so that all show in a column on the left or right side?

Just press F11 on your keyboard to exit full screen mode.

I recently downloaded is x mountain lion and while it finished it erased all my data, some of which I need. When using disk utility I found my old data but it says corrupted. I can't repair and while restoring the error code 32 Broken Pipe appears. Help?

My data I need is on my computer but it needs to be repaired but can't and when I try to restore it/back it up it ends abruptly with error code 32 broken pipe.
It was damaged while installing os x mountain lion and I found my data on disk repair (utility)

Sounds like your hard drive is badly corrupted, likely due to problems that were already there when you started trying to install Mountain Lion. The problem is, if you don't have any backups already, you may not be able to recover all your data from this state. Do you have backups of that data already?
If not, I assume when you say that "it needs to be repaired but can't," you mean that Disk Utility tells you there is a problem with the disk, but that it is unable to repair it? If so, you can try repairing the drive using DiskWarrior, which can repair problems that Disk Utility cannot. That may give you access to your data again, but may not.
Also, it's important to understand that if your data is not backed up, everything you do with the computer runs the risk of overwriting or corrupting that data. You may want to go straight to trying to recover your data. See Recovering deleted files.
Regarding the error code, if you're trying to back up the drive using Disk Utility's Restore tab, note that that is often not successful when the drive you're trying to back up is corrupt.
Once the situation is resolved - either because you have backups, are able to recover your data files or are forced to accept that they are gone permanently - you will need to erase the hard drive and reinstall the system and all your apps from scratch.

Help! Having Serious Issues and need to save my data!!!

This is probably going to be a long post, and I apologie in advance, but before I give up completely, I need to see if there's anything that I can do to save the data on my computer. Also, I'm writing this from work and don't have access to the system right now, so I'm going to have to rely on my questionable memory to relay the situation.
Since the battery update was installed, I was having intermittent issues with my MBP battery - when I was fully charged, it only showed about 1:45 of time left (down from a usual 3:00 or so). When it would get down to about 50 minutes left, the system would shut off with no warning. I was about to take the system into the Apple Store to get the battery replaced last week, but just to make sure, I followed the instructions to reset the battery and after that was done, it seemed like the battery was fine (showed up as about 3:00 fully charged). But... the system started working very slowly.
As a result, I decided to try to back up the system (I use SuperDuper and backup to an external USB drive). The backup failed mid-stream and my backup file was now useless (that's the last time I use the erase before backing up option). So now I don't have a backup of my data (all of my data is on that laptop).
I tried running Disk Utility, by booting from the installation DVD, to Repair the disk and it stopped with an invalid node error. I tried again, but no joy. A third time, it appears to have completed. However, now when I boot the system, not only is it really slow, but it boots into some unfamiliar linux prompt ("I don't have a name#:", or something like that.
Since I still think that there was a file system problem, I bought a copy of DiskWarrior 4. However, I don't want to wait for the bootable CD, so I tried to install the OS on the external USB drive so I could run it from there. Everytime I tried to install to the USB drive, I got a kernel panic when the IT Tunes install script was loaded. Every time. I tried removing the second (add-on) RAM stick, removing the battery, etc. No joy. Finally on about the 10th attempt, this time on battery power only (no power cable connected), I managed to get the OS to install on the USB drive.
Okay, so now I can boot to the USB drive. I installed Disk Warrior 4 and ran it on the internal hard drive. Kernel Panic. Every time I've run it (error is about unlocking mutex). Even more frustrated now, I tried to backup the disk again (since all my data is on there, I can't afford to lose any of it). No joy. The backup (using SuperDuper or CloneCopyX) fails at various spots. I have some folders on the drive that I tried to copy off (about 7GB) that contain disk images and the like. That copy failed.
So now, I have un-backupable (is that a word) hard drive that I can't repair without kernel panics (although, now as I write this, I didn't try DW without the power cord). And what I need to know is if anyone can think of anything that I haven't tried to save my user data off of the system before I have to take it in to the Apple Store and potentially lose everything that's on it.
My number 1 concern right now is losing the data on the drive.
Can anyone help me at all?
Again, sorry for the long post...
Thanks!
Jim
17" MacBookPro Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2GB RAM, 120GB HD, Glossy Screen

You may not have the luxury of having another Mac but you must know someone who does. You need to boot your Mac into target disk mode. This is going to be your best bet as far as saving your files. Keep in mind that everytime you mess with this computer you are further endangering your data. Also, once your Mac is booted as a target disk, it may be possible to mount it on a windoze computer just to copy your files to another drive. I used to have one here and if i still did I would try this for you but I "offed" it in favor on running windoze (Parallels) on my MBP. But, one way or another, you need to get next to another computer.

I need help with boot camp. "Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again."

This message appears every time I try to partition my disk:
"Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again."
I verified my Macintosh HD disk on Disk utility and then tried to repair it, but I am unable to click the repair button.
It says it's not available because the startup disk is selected.
I don't know what to do or how to go about both these problems.
Please, any suggestions?

This message appears every time I try to partition my disk:
"Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again."
I verified my Macintosh HD disk on Disk utility and then tried to repair it, but I am unable to click the repair button.
It says it's not available because the startup disk is selected.
I don't know what to do or how to go about both these problems.
Please, any suggestions?

Help! I'm in UK and need to recharge but when I plug in (using a power converter) the square white batter pack is buzzing - what does it mean????

Help! I'm in UK and need to recharge but when I plug in (using a power converter) the square white unit is buzzing - what does it mean? I am using a power adaptor that works for other items - shaver, phone etc. and they don't buzz - it's coming from the square white unit before it's connected to the computer so I don't want to then connect my mac incase it means there's something wrong. Getting desperate as I need to recharge!! Thanks for any help!

Hi
If you're using a converter that changes the voltage from the UK ~230V to say 120V, rather than just a converter to different outlet/plug/socket sizes - then that's likely the problem.
All the Apple power units I've seen are rated from 100V to 240V & do not require any sort of voltage converter, just something to let you plug it into a UK outlet (or an Apple cable/connector set). Many cheap voltage converters can cause buzzing as you've described.
Many supermarkets & hardware/general stores will sell the right 'adaptor' for a couple of £UK - I'd find one rather than continue with the buzzing.

I have an old mini running os x 10.4 . im about to upgrade to 10.6 (the highest this dinosaur will upgrade to) but i have a ton of music recording software installed and need to know if it will affect it . please help ? any of it

i have an old mini running os x 10.4 . i'm about to upgrade to 10.6 but have a ton of music and recording software installed and need to know if it will affect any thing i have installed . does newer garageband work with older gband files ?please help ??

Sorry about that, yes, 10.5 and 10.6 on Intel can run Firefox 4.
Here's the process to roll back:
First, I recommend backing up your Firefox settings in case something goes wrong. See [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing+up+your+information Backing up your information]. (You can copy your entire Firefox profile folder somewhere outside of the Mozilla folder.)
Next, download and save Firefox 3.6 to your desktop for future installation. http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/all-older
You could install Firefox 3.6 over Firefox 4 (many have reported success) or you could uninstall Firefox first. If you uninstall, do not remove your personal data and settings, just the program.
Firefox 3.6 should pick up where you left off. If there are serious issues, please post back with details.
Note: I haven't actually tried this myself!

Downloading mountain lion damaged my hard disc. I took my Mac Pro to apple book store. They are unable to repair it and suggest I purchase a new hard disc for $160. It was a perfectly functioning Mac Pro that got damaged by downloading mountain lion.

Downloading mountain lion damaged my hard disc. I took my Mac Pro to apple store. They are unable to repair it and suggest I purchase a new hard disc for $160. It was a perfectly functioning Mac Pro that got damaged by downloading mountain lion.

Software upgrades do not generally damage hardware; your drive's failure must be co-incidental. On most MBP's, a hard drive is very easily replaced by a user. You might want to check out this site for both hard drives as well as install videos (check which model you have so you can check the correct video):
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/
hard drives:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/hard_drives_and_SSD
I just recently upgraded my MBP with an SSD; I purchased an kit with an external enclosure from OWC and cloned the current drive to the new one, installed the new drive and was done in no time.

How do I do this: "This disk needs to be repaired. Start up your computer with another disk (such as your Mac OS X installation disc), and then use Disk Utility to repair this disk?"

"This disk needs to be repaired. Start up your computer with another disk (such as your Mac OS X installation disc), and then use Disk Utility to repair this disk."

Stick the disk in, reboot holding c.
Disk Utility is a menu option about the 2 or 3rd screen in the installer. (don't install OS X!)
Because your booted form the installer disk, you can repair the disk.
Quit and exit the installer and reboot.
If your drive is not repaired, make a note of all what it says, for Apple to use.
Reboot and get your files off to a external drive,
Take the note and your comptuer to Apple for a warranty/Apple care call, they will replace the drive.

I need to block a certain number from my daughters phone and need to know how to do it, help?

I need to block a certain number from my daughters phone and need to know how to do it, help?

Go on your account and under where it says plan, there is a tab for blocking calls but the block only lasts for 30days i think or more. You may have to re-apply the block if needed.

HELP :( Unable to repair HD and needs to know a way to back up using disk utility via boot up.

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