Is this a sign that hard-drive is failing?

Hi all,
My SnowLeopard started to NOT show icons under icon view in the documents, desktop, applications windows; only the name will be shown in white color font against a black backdrop. (This has happened before but it returned to the normal state where I can see both the icon and the name of the documents.) Why is that so? Is it a sign that the hard drive is failing?
I would like to know how to post screenshot here so that people can perhaps, better understand my situation.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ wrote:
I used S.M.A.R.T. and it says "Verified"
Is the SMART check foolproof?
Nope
On the other note, my hard drive is making clicking noise occasionally, for instance when I start a video file or an app, but is there any way to better define "loud noise"?
Erm.....I would say two or three times it's normal click volume. Does it make them at start up and take quite some time to start up or find files?
If so get a new one. Before it decides to turn its last spin. If you haven't got a portable HD, now might be the time to get one. You could keep it as a backup and clone to or from it.

Similar Messages

Is this a sign my Hard Drive is failing?

I was using my iBook today and thought I heard something a little different coming from the HD (just barely audible). So the first thing I did was go to the Disk Utility.
Here is what it said:
Volume Header needs minor repair_
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
I understand there is a repair utility on the OS X install disc, so my question is, is this and issue that can be repaired by that utility or say DiskWarrior, or is my HD going to crash at any time?
Thanks a lot for your help.

Xipher,
I had a similar problem. When running Disk Utility, it failed Repair Disk when it came to "Checking Catalog File" and then reported, "Keys Out of Order Rebuilding Catalog B Tree". The SMART status all the time was "Verified". I took it to an Apple store and in 2 minutes it was diagnosed as a failed Hard Disk and sent in for repairs (free-still under warranty!). Pop over to an Apple store if you are near one and see if they can get you sorted.
Good Luck...and Happy New Year, Chris

Was told that hard drive crashed/failed. Apple support was able to retrieve downloads and docs but none of my pics or video. Help!!

My 2011 MacBook will not boot past the gray screen with the apple. I took it in to Apple and was told that my hard drive failed. The specialist was able to retrieve all of my documents and downloads but none of my pictures and videos, which are the most important. I was told that I would have to send my notebook to a company in California to retrieve my pics and should plan to pay at least $1000-1200 for the service.
Is there any way to get my pics and video aside from the above? How were they able to retrieve all of my other files but no pics? Can the hard drive be fixed?? I would like to replace the hard drive but am afraid to remove it from my notebook for fear of damaging it any further and not being able to retrieve anything else from the drive. Please help!!

Salsgal,
unfortunately, you’ve just found out the most important reason why it’s a good idea to make regular backups of your MacBook Pro’s internal disk. There are other data recovery services; call around and do price comparisons if there’s no time constraint on recovering your data, but as with any other specialist service, you’ll get what you pay for. What Apple was able to retrieve was dependent upon which part of the disk crashed; in your case, it sounds as though your picture and video folders were the ones to suffer physical damage. No, the hard drive cannot be fixed. Removing the damaged hard drive from your MacBook Pro will not damage it further, unless it is dropped, gets wet, or receives a static electricity discharge.

Harddrive is noisy when waking from sleep, is this a sign that my harddrive is failing?

When my Mac wakes from sleep it makes a sound like the harddrive is kinda groaning. It does not happen every time but it just started a few days ago. How can I check to be sure that it is the drive making the sound.

Not sure if it's exactly "normal" but I've notice mine do that once in awhile. I've got a first generation MacBook and it hasn't seemed to have an effect on it yet.
I don't think mine does it all the time (I really don't pay that much attention to it) but I have noticed it.

My i mac is having trouble at Start up and often makes a clicking sound followed eventually by a folder icon on the screeen that shows a file with a questionmark inside, Is this a sign that my hard drive is failing?

My i mac is having trouble at Start up and often makes a clicking sound followed eventually by a folder icon on the screen that shows a file with a question mark inside, Is this a sign that my hard drive is failing?

As for the folder with a '?', here is some info that might help:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5201710
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
Hopefully you are making regular full backups just in case the hard drive is failing?

I set up Firefox sync from my old computer. This has had its hard drive replaced and been sold. I now want to retrieve the information and got my bookmarks on my new computer. I can't see any way to do this!

I set up Firefox sync from my old computer. This has had its hard drive replaced and been sold. I now want to retrieve the information and get my bookmarks on my new computer. I can't see any way to do this!
Help please

To build on the second option provided by The Edmeister make sure that you have your Sync Key, if this is not the case Firefox Sync will not help you (data is encrypted with that Key).
Finally, if the last sync happened long time ago, it may be the case that your data is not on the servers anymore. Firefox Syn wasn't designed as a back up service.

I am not much of a computer technician. I bought a time capsule thinking I could use this for an external hard drive and keep my MAC hard drive free. Was I mistaken? One I back everthing up on the TC, can I delete everything off of my MAC?

I am not much of a computer technician. I bought a time capsule thinking I could use this for an external hard drive and keep my MAC hard drive free. Was I mistaken? Once I back everything up on the TC, can I delete everything off of my MAC and then use my TC as my hard drive??

Once I back everything up on the TC, can I delete everything off of my MAC and then use my TC as my hard drive??
TC was designed to backup your Mac. The TC literature is pretty clear about this:
If your Mac's hard drive has a problem....it will sooner or later....you can use your backup on the TC to rebuild your Mac.
But.....if you move all of your data to the TC from your Mac....you only have one version of that data now, and it is on the TC.
Have you thought about what will happen when....not if....the TC has a problem? Since the only version of your important data was on the TC, and the TC has failed......you lose all of your data.....because you have no backup.
A much better plan would be to add a USB or FireWire hard drive and connect it directly to your Mac. Move the data on your Mac over to the hard drive.
Then, the TC will backup both your Mac and the hard drive. So, you have original data on on one drive and backups on another drive.
That would be a minimum backup plan. Most of us have more than one set of backups.

I have an 2tb time capsule 802.11n Wi-Fi base station can I use this as an external hard drive and use a new airport extreme 802.11ac Wi-Fi for my wifi?

I have an 2tb time capsule 802.11n Wi-Fi base station can I use this as an external hard drive and use a new airport extreme 802.11ac Wi-Fi for my wifi?

You can use the 2 TB Time Capsule as a network drive. That means that it must connect to one of the Ethernet LAN <--> ports on the new AirPort Extreme, or connect to the network using wireless.

I have just selected all my desktop icons and accidentally deleted them. This included my external hard drive with 22,000 photos in iPhoto. I cannot open iPhoto now. Can someone help please?

I have just selected all my desktop icons and accidentally deleted them. This included my external hard drive with 22,000 photos in iPhoto. I cannot open iPhoto now. Can someone help please?

What is the file system of that external HD? is it MacOS Extended (Journaled)?
Which iPhoto version do you have?
If you directly select the iPhoto Library in the Finder and use "File > Get Info", does the library still show as "Kind: iPhoto Library" and is the file size correct for 22000 Photos?
If the library does no longer have the correct size, restore it from your backup.
But if the library has the correct size, try to open it directly by clicking it. This should work, if your iPhoto version is iPhoto '11.

Hi, ive been backing up my computer to an external hard drive (with time machine). When i buy a new macbook will that hard drive put all my info on to the new computer?

hi, ive been backing up my computer to an external hard drive (with time machine). When i buy a new macbook will that hard drive put all my info on to the new computer?

When you boot the new machine for the first time, you'll be prompted to import your data from a Time Machine backup.

If I already have an Airport Express Base Station, can i hook an external hard drive into it's USB port and use that hard drive with Time Machine?

If I already have an Airport Express Base Station, can i hook an external hard drive into it's USB port and use that hard drive with Time Machine?

No, and that shouldn't be done with an AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule.
(66017)

How do I get out of kernel panic? kernel panic upon boot. I did that hard drive cleanup and reinstalled Lion. What about memory? Anyone think I need to upgrade my memory? I have 8gig.

I get kernel paic upon boot. I did that hard drive cleanup and reinstalled Lion. What about memory? Anyone think I need to upgrade my memory? I have 8 G of upgraded RAM. (20 inch iMac core 2 duo)

If you're able to boot, launch the Console 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.
☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.
Select the most recent panic log under System Diagnostic Reports. Post the contents — the text, please, not a screenshot. For privacy’s sake, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header and body of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.) Please don't post "shutdownStall" or "hang" reports.
If you can't boot in the usual way, try a safe boot. 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).
During startup, you’ll see a progress bar, and then the login screen, which appears even if you normally 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 slower than normal, and some things won’t work at all.
Note: If FileVault is enabled under Mac OS X 10.7 or later, you can’t boot in safe mode.

How to add screenshot to this thread from my hard drive?

How to add screenshot to this thread from my hard drive?

Unfortunately there is no built in way to do this. You would need to upload the picture some where and link to it in HTML.
(Flickr, Picasa, Drop Box, etc.)

My 2008 Macbook Pro logic board failed...am I still able to copy that hard drive onto my 2011 Macbook Pro hard drive?

My 2008 Macbook Pro logic board failed...am I still able to copy that hard drive onto my 2011 Macbook Pro hard drive?

What you can do is to extract the hard drive from your old computer, put it in an enclosure and connect it to your newer computer, so you can restore your data.
It's not too difficult to do it yourself, but if you think you will do something wrong, take it to a store where you can get your data restored

How to backup data when hard drive is failing.

I think my hard drive is failing..
I booted using Install DVD, and got message in Disc Utility that "this drive has a hardware problem that can't be repaired." It mentioned I should backup data and consult apple representative..
I clicked on Macintosh HD under the red physical drive (500.11 GB Hitachi HTS) and did disc repair.
Strangely, the message went away on the physical drive when I finished. It turned back to black wording and gave green "verified/repaired" messages in the log.
I am still able to boot my macbook, although everything is running slowly... Desktop excel files take 15 mins to open.
Does this still sound like a failing hard drive?
I am trying to act fast and borrowed my sister's external harddrive/ "passport for mac", and it slowly prompted a time machine backup. It is slowly working through "8.34GB of 200.33GB"
I do not really understand what I am doing, but hoping this is the right move. Could someone explain what time machine will do or how it will help?
Is there any chance I will harm her external hd?
I am mostly worried about iPhoto and itunes library, iMovie projects,and important excel spreadsheets on my desktop. Is time machine looking after these concerns?
Any help greatly appreciated.

Where is you TM backup?
Where are your external data redundancies?
Now you will need to use very expensive data recovery experts to recover data when you could have had it safely on a $100 worth of 2 external HD.
Mechanical HD failure circumvents using recovery software.......so, now you backed yourself into a corner and needed expensive data expert recovery.
You took a wrong turn a long while back before reaching this cliff edge.
that wrong term was not having (preferably 2) external HD as a redundant data archive.

Is this a sign that hard-drive is failing?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for