How do I recover files when the install fails due to a damaged HD

Question

While updating to Mavericks for Mountain Lion, the install failed. It stated that the hard drive was damaged. I ran disk utilities and the option to repair is not avalible. Prior to the install there was not a problem. I unfortantly do not have a back up to restore from.  Do any of you fine Apple supporters have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Emergency recovery of your data on your internal drive/SSD.
Can you boot in normal or Safe Boot mode (Boot Command-R)?
If so do so and run a Time Machine backup.
If you can’t run Time Machine, proceed below.
          You will need a blank disk or a disk that you are willing to erase (a lose the data on it).
          If you do not have one it is time to purchase one larger than your internal drive/SSD.
          At this point your goal is to recover as much data as you can onto an external disk.
          First, disconnect all unneeded peripheral equipment, including external drives.
          (Use an external wired keyboard and mouse if necessary.)
A)          Try to boot in normal mode (just press the power key).
          If that won't work try to boot in Safe Mode.
                    • Press the power button and as you hear the bong, then hold down the Shift key.
          If it does not work either way jump to B.
          If it booted, from the Finder > Go > Utilities > Disk Utility, jump to C
            (formatting the emergency drive) and come back to here.
          Go > Computer.
          Double click on the system disk and then on the Users folder.
          Drag your named user folder to to the recovery disk.
          If that does not work double click on the named user folder
        and try dragging each folder individually to the recovery disk.
          Repeat for other users if there are any (logging into their accounts or an admin account).
          If this works you have recovered your personal data.
B)          Boot the recovery partition.
          • Press the power button and as you hear the bong, then hold down the Command and R keys.
           If that won't work jump to E.
          Once booted, click on Disk Utility.
C)          To format (and erase) the destination recovery disk:
          Plug in the drive you are about to erase.
          Select the volume that is NOT your system disk.
          Click on Partition.
          Pull down under Partition Layout to 1 Partition.
          Click on Options…
          Select GUID Partition Table.
          Name: Emergency Backup
          Format: Select Mac OS Extended (journaled)
          Click Apply.
          Click Partition.
D)          Drag and drop the named system disk to Source:
          Drag an drop Emergency Backup to Destination:
          (Do not reverse these.)
          Click Restore (the lower Restore button).
E)          Seek expert help to test/replace the internal disk.
          If it is an SSD then trash it.  DiskWarrior recovery from damaged SSDs is futile.
          Save the ailing disk.  You might be able to recover data on it
          buy placing it in an external enclosure and mounting it from a healthy machine
          then using the Finder and/or DiskWarrior.
          http://www.alsoft.com/diskwarrior/
F) Once your system is healthy again be sure to maintain two reasonably current backups.
More about backups:
Time Machine Basics: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
Most commonly used backup methods:  https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3045
Methodology to protect your data.  Backups vs. Archives.  Long-term data protection: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6031