MacMini saying HDD is damaged during OSX Mavericks install

Ok I finally started up my MacMini and downloaded the OSX Mavericks upgrade. Problem is now that it's restarting to upgrade and it's saying my HDD is damaged and can't be repaired. Says to resart, delete everything and retry. Except now it's stuck in a restart cycle and keeps trying to install Mavericks but of course it has the same error.
Now since it's a MacMini I don't have a wired keyboard, just bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
I can't figure out now what to do short of buying a keyboard which being in SE Asia it's not cheap. I may be able to pick up a generic wired kayboard but not sure how it would work with a Mac.
I searched and seems this is a problem. Not sure if it's because of Mavericks or my HDD is really damaged.

I'm not sure a wireless keyboard will work in the Recovery Volume.
Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair and Repair Permissions. Then reinstall the OS which should be Mountain Lion if Mavericks hasn't installed.
OS X Recovery
OS X Recovery (2)

Similar Messages

Can't open mac app store after osx mavericks install

i just finished the install of OSX Mavericks, but for some reason i cannot open the mac app store, i tried restarting the computer several times and nothing, try to open it from the dock, applications folder, even terminal, and NOTHING, it jumps once on the dock and nothing, i dont know what to do please help!!!
macbook unibody 09

I have the same problem. The install seemed to go fine, it rebooted and the only APPLE app I can use is Safari and Itunes, The Mac Apple store freezes, Ibooks, Iphoto etc, all of them just lock up when I open them, even drop down items under the little Apple are frozen. I'm disgusted, any help would be appreciated.

HT1338 I have OSX Maverick installed and numbers 3.0. Now I can not open previous excel spreadsheets?

I have made every installation or upgrade put out by Apple for 3 years. Now my excel spread sheets previously created will not open since I installed OSX. Says I need to install numbers. At the APP store it tells me

Are you sure you're using Numbers 3.0? I understand you may have installed it, but make sure you're running the latest version as shown here:
The latest Numbers may not have made ti onto your dock. If it didn't, find it in your Applications folder and drag it onto your dock. You can drag the old version off your dock and dispose of it (from an iWork 09 folder in Applications).
If you are actually running Numbers 3.0, the Excel file may be encrypted. See:

How to disable overscan during osx lion install?

I would like to be able to install lion osx on a mini connected to a TV
However as I cant find a way to disable the overscan,I am unable to see
the commands that I need to click on.
Is there a way to change the monitor's settings during installation?
alternatively, how to I tell Lion to continue using amkb shortcut?

These are user forums. You aren't speaking to Apple here. You will need to resolve your issue at Mac App Store Customer Service. If you hid your purchase then try Mac App Store- Hiding and unhiding purchases.

Where do I find OSX Mavericks INSTALL on CD?

I only have a wireless connection to the Internet and an 5GB data plan allowance so need to upgrade to Mavericks via CD install (as I understand that the new Mavericks is over 5 GB download - sounds WAY too big, doesn't it?). Does Apple have DISK installation options? I noticed that their marketing group thinks that everyone with a Mac is connected constantly to the NET probably thru fiber optic connection. Not so out here in rural Tennessee. BUT, at least I have a MAC! ;-)

kahjot wrote:
If you have a friend with a Mac and broadband, you might be able to get the friend to make you a Mavericks installer on a flash drive.
Which will then be licensed to your friend and require his appleID and password to update.
If you can take your Mac somewhere else to use a higher bandwidth connection, that would be the way to do it.
If they they have cleaned that up, you may be able to do it as suggested. I don't think it worked that way with Mountain Lion. The download may not have any ties anymore.

Heaving troubles with OSX mavericks installing

It ***** and want to install back my old OSX mountain lion 10.8 on my MacBook Pro

There may be problems with the sockets, could be dirty pins on the RAM modules, could be RAM not fully compatible with Macs which tend to be pretty picky, sometimes. Did you try one module at a time in each socket? Different brands may work better. Be sure you are using 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMMs. Don't try using faster rated RAM.
I have great success using RAM from DataMem.
Neither Lion nor your firmware have anything to do with this. Third-party RAM will work fine in Macs. Brand of RAM is generally of no importance, but a lifetime warranty is important.

Re instating GarageBand '09 after a clean install of OSX Mavericks

I have a Time Machine back up of my entire hard disk, and because of a couple of suspected system wide issues, I decided to do a clean reinstallation of OSX Mavericks, and reinstall GarageBand X. That all went very well, my HD cleaned up and reformatted fine, OSX Mavericks installed flawlessly, and I began reinstalling Applications, files and folders. I have now run into a problem with the legacy version of Garageband '09, which, on reinstalling from the TM back up, did not simply transfer to the new Applications folder in a working form. Previous to my HD clean up/reinstallation, it had worked pretty well. Now it simply won't open, and I get an error message telling me it cannot find a valid instrument library.
Here is the error message: The Instrument Library is invalid. GarageBand expects a valid Instrument Library folder in /Library/Application Support/GarageBand. Please choose a valid Instrument Library folder or quit and re-install GarageBand.
I do have a copy of the software installation DVD that shipped with my Mac, so in theory I could reinstall GarageBand '09, but I found that, on trying this, although the software 'installed', Garageband still will not open..
I could do a clean reinstall of Snow Leopard, along with it's associated software, iLife '09, then 'update' to Mavericks and re download Garageband X, which, in theory, would solve the problem, having started with a 'clean slate', but that's a lot of trouble, with a lot of downloading..
Any ideas? I'd be grateful for any possible alternative options..
Thanks,
Ontradio :-)

Hi leonie,
It looks like once my computer was subject to a clean install of OSX Mavericks, programs installed with iLife, i.e. iWeb, GarageBand. iPhoto, etc, were removed from my HD and cannot now be reinstalled.. I form the impression that they are not on the installation DVD's that shipped with my computer, and having examined the disks by placing them in my machine, there is no way I can tell whether that is correct, since there is no 'button' that allows me to look for their presence on the disks.
If you can shed any light on that conclusion, I'd be grateful for any advice you could offer. I guess it's not super imperitive that I have GarageBand '09, I can get by without it, but it would have been nice to have, and a couple of my songs use loops that were from GB '09, and these are now absent from the songs when played back in GB X. Of course, I cannot download the '09 version from the App store. Looks like Apple has me borked!
Thanks for your help, anyway, I'm always pleased to see your name here..
Regards, Ontradio..

IPhoto quits after upgrade to OSX Mavericks

I have a macbook pro & I have recently upgraded to OSX Mavericks & installed all the latest updates.
My problem is with iPhoto unexpectantly quitting after selecting slideshow to view an album. I set the transitions ,music etc then click play, then it quits.
I have created a slideshow then again selected transitions, music etc, clicked play & iPhoto quits again.
Perhaps there is something I am missing in the new upgrade, just can't see what.
Can anyone help please.
Regards Robyn

As a test launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it?
If the problem goes away in the new library you'll need to fix your current library.
Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - run Option #4 to rebuild the database.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button and select the library you want to add in the selection window..
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Failed install of OSX Mavericks and my iMac is now saying the Macintosh HD is damaged and can't be repaired! Help!

I need help getting my iMac working again.
Last night I tried to install OSX Mavericks, my previous/current OS is 10.6.8
After restarting the Mavericks install screen appears and then stops and give me this error message:
"Install Failed
OS X could not be installed on your computer.
The OS x upgrade couldn't be started because the disk Mackintosh HD is damaged and can't be repaired. After your computer restarts, back up your data , erase your disk and try installing again.
Click Restart to restart your computer and try installing again."
I tried restarting numerous time but to no avail.
Please help!

Have you got back to restore from if all else fails?
Try booting from the grey restore disk that came with the Mac: disk in drive and restart holding down the 'c' key. Hopefully it'll boot, albeit slowly. At the first screen select your language and from the menu bar of the next screen choose Utilities>Disk Utility. Select Macintosh HD>Repair Disk. Hopefully DU wil repair the errors. Click on repair disk again until you get a clean pass. Try to restart as normal from the Apple menu.

Remote printer is recognized but message says can't find printer? It worked great before installing OSX Maverick

Remote printer is recognized but message says can't find printer? It worked great before installing OSX Maverick?

Thank you for your response.
Unfortunately I have already rebooted the router and that did not fix the problem. The weird thing is that the computer is connected to the network, it just won't connect to my computer. I have printed the network configuration page to confirm this, and it says the wireless signal is strong.
I have not changed anything at all recently in terms of routers, networks, etc. The printer stopped working completely randomly.
Is there a part in the printer that like emits a signal which computers, phones, etc are supposed to detect? I don't know enough about the mechanics to really theorize about what is wrong, but it seems like that is the only thing that stopped working.
Do you have any other suggestions?

Hello, Im new to this website. Im having issues with my Macbook. I have the old 2009 model Macbook and it is our schools macbook. The school just upgraded these MacBooks to OSX Mavericks and when i try to open Minecraft it won't let me. It says no jd

Hello, Im new to this website. Im having issues with my Macbook. I have the old 2009 model Macbook and it is our schools macbook. The school just upgraded these MacBooks to OSX Mavericks and when i try to open Minecraft it won't let me. It says no jdk installed. I also try to install Java SE runtime but half way through the Software Update it says cant download software because of network problem but I'm connected to the internet and i can browse stuff just fine. Can any one help with my problems. P.S. I don't know the administrator password or stuff like that. And yes we are allowed to play games and stuff on these laptops but only at home not at school so don't tell me i need to focus on school and not games.

Since you updated the operating system, it is probably Minecraft is missing certain files that ware remove or are not longer comparable with the new version of the OSX. what I recommend, is to check is there is an update for Minecraft and install that. If there is not update available, probably the best thing will be reinstalling Minecraft. Hope this will help you.

I have Snow leopard, 10.6.8 on my iMac, I just tried to install Lion from the App store, but during proces, the install stops after one minute saying: "software might be damaged". I downloaded the software again, same thing. What must I do to install Lion

I have Snow leopard, 10.6.8 on my iMac, I just tried to install Lion from the App store, but during proces, the install stops after one minute saying: "software might be damaged". I downloaded the software again, same thing. What must I do to install Lion? I have still 487GB free.

Quit all other programs and open Disk Utility
Select your "MacintoshHD" drive on the left and indented and click Erase > Erase Free Space > Zero and let it complete.
Also run First Aid > Repair Disk and permisisons.
If Repair disk gives a error, you have a bigger problem, if repair permisisons fixes and completes, even if it fixes the same thing twice if you click it again, it's ok. Apple just changed things.
You should be able to download the file sucessfully this time, if not, take it to another location with better/faster internet.
If not then run through this list
Step by Step to fix your Mac

Why does the App store say 'download' to OSX Mavericks when i have already downloaded the update, and restarted the computer? I can't find Mavericks icon on the dashboard or launchpad either! Help!

Why does the App store say 'download' to OSX Mavericks when i have already downloaded the update, and restarted the computer?
I can't find Mavericks icon on the dashboard or launchpad either! Help!

It sounds like you've installed Mavericks. You can confirm this by clicking on the Apple located at the top left of the screen and choosing "About This Mac" from the menu. You should see a window appear with the text "Version 10.9.1" near the middle.
If it says "Version 10.9.1", then you've installed Mavericks. It still says "Download" in the App Store because you can still download the operating system after installing it. This is useful if you want to download it for a friend, or create a USB boot drive.
Morgan

What is the best sequence of upgrading: SSD, OSX Mavericks, iPhoto Library?

Working on breathing new life into / upgrading my wife's mid-2009 MacBook Pro (Macbook Pro 5,5 - Core 2 Duo, 2.26 GHz, 13"). Currently running OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.
So far: I have upgraded the RAM to 8 GB from 2 GB, and replaced the battery which recently reached the end of its life.
Next up: SSD upgrade and possibly OSX upgrade to Mavericks.
My questions:
(a) What is my best upgrade path (order/sequence), given the few things I want to with this machine still?
(b) Are my plans and reasoning below sound?
1.Upgrade the 120 GB hard disk to a 240 GB SSD. I have a SanDisk Extreme II 240 GB (although I know this MBP won't fully utilize the SATA III, I got a good deal on it and plan to use it as an add-on drive somewhere when/if this MBP logic board fails eventually), and a USB to SATA adapter for prep work.
Plan: Attach the SSD via USB adaptor, initialize and partition with Disk Utility (Journaled, GUID Partition Map so it's bootable), clone existing hard disk using Super Duper or CCC (recommendations welcome--I'm on a budget ). Set TRIM enabler, and other recommendations per Upgrading Your MacBook Pro with a Solid State Drive
Reasoning: Doing this SSD upgrade first will give me more free space for updates/changes I plan under #2 and #3 below. (For example, current drive has 11 GB free, which is not much room to try and upgrade to Mavericks now before swapping out for SSD.) Additionally, Mavericks will perform much better on the SSD, per other threads I've read with similar MBPs.
2. Upgrade OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard to Mavericks.
This is where some of my Mac knowledge is lacking: Is it best to upgrade here (what I've read so far indicates it's pretty seamless), or to install Mavericks freshly on the SSD and then use Migration Assistant to import from the old hard disk? I hesitate to do the latter, since this Mac still has some messes from a previous migration (see #3).
Coming from a Windows background, I have my biases, but I don't know if the jury's still out on performance differences between fresh Mavericks installs versus upgrades--any light to be shed here?
3. Fix iPhoto '09 Library and Consider Upgrading to iPhoto '11. Through reading on the great forums here I have concluded that my wife's photo collection currently exists in a weird place - 68 GB under /Previous Systems/<date of MBP upgrade from Macbook>/Users/<username>/Pictures/iPhoto Library. This seems to be left over from when she copied her iPhoto Library from her old Macbook, before this MBP. (Before I sat down to write this post, I had noticed there was an iPhoto Library (much smaller size, just a few GBs) in the normal place, under /Users/<username>/Pictures/iPhoto Library/ -- but now I don't see it, so maybe I goofed up and either lost that or imported it into the above library. Either way, that was going to be one of my questions!)
Should I move this "Previous Systems" iPhoto Library to a more normal place?
If I do again find extraneous photos or libraries outside of it, how best should I bring them back into one -- or a better question might be, how do I ensure THIS becomes the primary iPhoto Library going forward? (links to threads also appreciated -- I have come up short)
If this machine is now on Mavericks, is it a best practice to also purchase iPhoto '11? Eventually, our next Mac will come with it so it may be worthwhile eventually upgrading (I don't know if it is urgent, though).
Overall, does this process make sense? Any glaring gaps? Thank you for your time and wisdom!
Ryan

Thanks Melophage. I've been looking into my options, together with the advice you gave. It seems like I can salvage quite a bit of data after a fresh install if I follow the steps here - OS X: Manually migrating data from another Mac. However, applications are my (only) concern -- for my iLife suite apps (which as I mentioned, are old -- '09 editions) how can I restore those after installing Mavericks fresh? Can I just plug in the original Snow Leopard disc that says applications on it, to install? Or would they show up in Mac App Store (I think not since they are so old and I haven't purchased '11 with this account yet).
My wife's computer also has some third party apps which would be a pain to reinstall but not end of the world, I suppose. Another route of migrating and keeping these (but still doing a fresh OS install) might possibly be according to OS X: How to migrate data from another Mac using Mavericks, which is really designed for multiple computer copying. But with the SSD external, could I install Mavericks and then take a Time Machine backup of my internal (original) HDD, including those apps, and then follow these steps to import them into the Mavericks install on the SSD, once I booted into it? Does that make sense?
After some further reading on the subject, I found a lot of difference of opinion (especially on some MacRumor threads) about whether to install fresh OS X or upgrade, but I guess if the install ends up cleaner it could be worth it to install a fresh copy.
Any comments on the above approaches, or thoughts from others here? Thanks again for your help.

I have a 2009 Macbook Pro with 1T hdd 8GB Ram and ran Maverick without problem...Yosemite installation has me completely frozen, nothing works but the spinning ball...I had to force shutdown last night, and haven't turned it on again...what do you ad

I have a 2009 Macbook Pro with 1T hdd 8GB Ram and ran Maverick without problem...Yosemite installation has me completely frozen, nothing works but the spinning ball...I had to force shutdown last night, and haven't turned it on again...what do you advise? During installation emptied cache, etc. Backed up using time machine, fortunately.

Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:
1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
    b. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. 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 main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
4. Reinstall Yosemite: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu, and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.
5. Reinstall Yosemite from Scratch:
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
How to Clean Install OS X Yosemite
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.

MacMini saying HDD is damaged during OSX Mavericks install

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for