Scorned by bad hard drive!

My MacBook Pro is only 1.5 years old. I did not purchase the apple protection plan and I guess this is my mistake. Out of nowhere, the hard drive on the computer quit working. In the last two years I have convinced everyone in my immediate family to switch from Windows to Mac. Together we have easily spent $15,000 Dollars on apple products. I called the support and they wanted to charge me 50 dollars just to tell me a few things I can try to get the computer to boot up. This is madness, the computer is fairly new, and now all of my pictures, work files, and at least a $1000 dollars worth of music movies and tv shows are all gone. I work for a hotel management company that my family started and i will one day take over. We have over 500 employees that I would eventually have using all macs instead of PC's. I am seriously reconsidering this idea now. I have had PC's crash on me but not in a year and a half. I expected more from my apple products, especially when the computer cost $2500 dollars. This is just ridiculous. I just wanted to throw this out there so other people know how poor the customer service was for me, and what my product has done. I guess this could just be a 1 in a few hundred thing but I would think they would take care of their customers better when they are loyal and only want to purchase their products now and in the future. Thanks for those who care to read.
-Josh

Hi Josh,
Interesting that you can at least see the drive in Disk Utility. It sounds to me as if, at the very least, you have some serious corruption of the drives boot blocks or the like.
DataRescue 2, as sig suggests, is definitely worth a try if the problem is of this kind, though it won't help if the drive has suffered a major hardware failure. I'd definitely try the "free trial" version and invest in the full one if it is able to access your files on the drive.
If DataRescue IS able to recover your files it may be that reformatting the drive will resolve the issue once you have recovered your stuff. Don't attempt this until after running DataRescue , of course.
Clicks can indeed indicate drive failure, but they can also occur when some of the low level files on the drive are sufficiently stuffed to be sending the heads all over the place looking for non existent locations and the like. Was the drive very full when the problem occurred?
Rod

Similar Messages

How to recover data from bad hard drive

Once a hard drive goes bad (cannot get into the computer), is there any hope of recovering any data from it? If so, how?

Do you mean the hard drive is mechanically broken for sure? It's not a data corruption issue that is causing a problem with starting up the Mac, but maybe not be a bad mechanism?
If the drive is definitely broken, there are businesses that specialize in recovering data from bad hard drives. For example
http://www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com/ (I always saw their booth at MacWorld Expos...)
The cost of such services is usually high.
cannot get into the computer
So that probably means the hard drive in question is the internal drive? If you don't know for sure that the hard drive is physically broken, you can try starting up using your Mac OS X installation disc. Insert disc in optical drive and start up with the C key held down. When you get to Installer's screen, go up to the menu bar and run Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Does the internal drive appear in the Disk Utility sidebar?
Alternately, if you have another Mac (that has FireWire), you can try starting the Mac with the problem in FireWire Target Disk Mode,
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
Connect the "target" Mac to the other Mac (running normally) using a FireWire cable. Run Disk Utility on that Mac. Does the hard drive of the Mac in FireWire Target Disk Mode appear in the sidebar?
If you can get the internal drive to appear in Disk Utility, you may be able to run Repair Disk on the First Aid tab. There are also third-party utilities, such as TechTool Pro (Micromat), Drive Genius (Prosoft), and Disk Warrior (Alsoft), that may be able to fix (or at least recover data from) the hard drive.

Cannot uninstall cs6 bad hard drive, any suggestions?

Cannot uninstall cs6 bad hard drive, any suggestions?
THank you

Thank you for the Adobe contact. They connected me to the chat link and the Adobe tech Support rep sent me a License Recovery download link (attached) http://download.macromedia.com/pub/support/tools/LicenseRecovery111.dmg.
I have 10.10.1 Yosemite. When I open the download folder and click on the LicenseRecovery.app it shows up on the dock but it nothing happens. I cannot quit the app only Force Quit. I have restarted the mac and that did't help.
Adobe chat suggested I uninstall CS5.5/6 and re-install but why would that have anything to do with the app opening?
Any suggestion is greatly appreciated, again.
Thank you

Cloning a bad hard drive

If this were a PC, I'd have no problem. But I'm not a Mac Tech.
I usually back up my laptop's hard drive to an external hard drive using the Disk Utility. Has worked great, never had to restore from it.
Now, the hard drive is begining to fail. So I tried to make one more backup of it, to save me reinstalling when I get the new HD. But the backup fails because of a file system error (file/dir does not exist), which is due to the bad state of the hardware.
Now if this was a PC, I'd just use a utility to copy the drive, errors and all, which would be fine because then I could fix the problem once the data is on a good hard drive.
But I have no such utility for my Mac. My PC utilities don't recognize the Mac file system, so I can't trust them.
*So, how does one copy a slightly buggy hard drive using a Mac? Any tricks in Disk Utility? Tried it from the CD, same result. And other utilities?*
I could just reinstall, but I just got this thing built just right a month ago!

One Mac cloning utility that I like is Super Duper:
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
You can download it and do a clone of your hard drive for free. If you decide to register it, you can unlock other features.
Another utility is called Carbon Copy Cloner. I have never used it, so I don't know much about it. I believe you can download and run it for free, and then make a donation if you like it.
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
I have never attempted to clone a bad hard drive, so I don't know how this would work.
Good luck!

I'm replacing a bad hard drive on my imac. It was a 500GB Seagate 7200.12. Can I replace it with a 1TB Seagate 7200.14 HDD??

I'm replacing a bad hard drive on my imac. It was a 500GB Seagate 7200.12. Can I replace it with a 1TB Seagate 7200.14 HDD??

Yes of course.

Lenovo B570 Bad Hard Drive

My daughters laptop won't boot and won't allow me to do a system recovery which I suspect is indicative of a bad hard drive.
I've been through the troubleshooting forums and from the best I can tell, it's toast.
The laptop isn't under warranty anymore and I know can buy a new drive from lots of places but it doesn't come with the OS. Does Lenovo sell these drives with OS installed so I can just pop it back in without the hassle of buying a windows cd, finding the right divers etc etc.

Welcome to the Lenovo Community !
I don't know about Lenovo selling an OS installed hard drive, kind of doubt it, but another option to consider is purchasing a set of recovery discs from Lenovo for your model. Give Lenovo Support a call about the hard drive to see if that is an option. Otherwise check with them on availability and pricing on the recovery discs.
Lenovo Support
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● Lenovo Ideapad Z570 w/ Win 7 & Win 8.1 Dual Boot ● Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro w/ Windows 8.1 ● Toshiba A75-S206 w/ Win 7
● IBM Thinkpad T-23 w/ Win XP ● IBM Thinkpad T-22 w/ Win XP • As well as multiple desktops dual/triple booting XP, Vista and Win 7.
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Cisco IDSM-1 bad hard drive

Hello,
A bit of an odd question but does anyone have any kind of recovery software for the Cisco IDSM1? I have a Cisco 6509 with and old(!) Cisco WS-X6381-IDS that seems to work fine, but has a bad hard drive and therefore wont boot. I get the "boot loader" prompt where I can select maintenance partition or application partition but both result in an I/O bad disk error. I know the WS-X6381-IDS is ancient, but I find the card oddly fascinating. I can browse the "application" software on the download center but I don't see any kind of recovery software. I can obviously replace the hard drive, but how can I re-install the maintenance/application partition and software on the new drive? I'm not even sure if this part of the card was ever user replaceable/maintainable.
Thanks in advance!
--Will
*EDIT*
I was able to figure it out. The files hosted on Ciscos download section, are cab files of the root of the Windows NT 4 install that makes up the IDSMs primary operating system. If you take the hard drive (or another dirve) out of the IDSM and put it in a computer, install Windows NT (create two partitions), boot linux, delete the contents of the partition, and copy the files from Ciscos site to the partitions. The drive should boot right up.
Thanks,
--Will

Hello,
A bit of an odd question but does anyone have any kind of recovery software for the Cisco IDSM1? I have a Cisco 6509 with and old(!) Cisco WS-X6381-IDS that seems to work fine, but has a bad hard drive and therefore wont boot. I get the "boot loader" prompt where I can select maintenance partition or application partition but both result in an I/O bad disk error. I know the WS-X6381-IDS is ancient, but I find the card oddly fascinating. I can browse the "application" software on the download center but I don't see any kind of recovery software. I can obviously replace the hard drive, but how can I re-install the maintenance/application partition and software on the new drive? I'm not even sure if this part of the card was ever user replaceable/maintainable.
Thanks in advance!
--Will
*EDIT*
I was able to figure it out. The files hosted on Ciscos download section, are cab files of the root of the Windows NT 4 install that makes up the IDSMs primary operating system. If you take the hard drive (or another dirve) out of the IDSM and put it in a computer, install Windows NT (create two partitions), boot linux, delete the contents of the partition, and copy the files from Ciscos site to the partitions. The drive should boot right up.
Thanks,
--Will

Bad Hard Drive or Bad File System?

Good morning.
A few months ago my late 2008 iMac went to the Genius Bar for what I was convinced was a bad hard drive. I was having long "beachball" pauses, until I couldn't do much without waiting several seconds, at least, for the program to respond, even if I wasn't running much of anything. I started seeing I/O errors in the kernel log pointing to the system disk. Finally, the system stopped booting, getting stuck forever at the grey apple screen. The disk utility was unable to repair the file system and the complete hardware test confirmed a problem with the hard drive.
So I was pretty surprised when I lugged the thing to the Genius Bar and they decided the file system was just totally messed up. They reinstalled Snow Leopard (something I could have done at home, had the tech on the phone not agreed with me that it was a physical issue), and I went home. It worked great for a time. I couldn't understand how a system could develop a problem so severe, but it worked and I was happy.
But now it looks like I'm running into the same issue. WoW chokes. Firefox freezes. iTunes 10 makes me want punch a wall. I'm not necessarily running all three at the same time, and other program are starting to act the same way. And as of last night, those I/O errors are appearing in my log again (oh yeah, the console freezes too).
If it's not a physical disk issue, I just don't understand how this could happen twice. IIRC, the Genius explained that the file system is self-healing, but eventually the problems stack up until it just craps itself. Is HFS such a delicate flower? I was gently admonished for doing things like running WoW and having a Bootcamp partition (the latter of which I don't have now). This seems like a silly thing to worry about. Both are perfectly normal uses of any reasonably powerful system.
Could it really be messed up a second time? Should I just insist that the hard drive be replaced? If you do think it's nothing more than a logical issue, can you help me understand how this happens and how to prevent it? I'm trying to understand Macs as well as I understand Windows-based PCs.
Thanks!

Thanks for the reassurance on HFS, Macbig. I wanted to trust the expertise of the Genius, but it was a pretty confusing situation. I saw every sign that on a non-Mac would scream failing hard drive, including an actual failed hardware test, and to have someone confidently tell me that the hard drive was fine and that the test could determine the drive was failed based on a screwy file system left me doubtful that I could ever quite understand these Macs.
I know I won't be able to take my iMac in for service this week, but maybe I can get a ticket in for parts in the meantime.
WZZZ, I will definitely run the extended test again. S.M.A.R.T reports all is well, but I can't remember the last time I've seen S.M.A.R.T warn of approaching doom before it was too late.

Replaced What I Thought was a bad hard drive...

I recently bought an iBook that I knew had issues. I had another iBook with a bad hard drive that I replaced without problems. Now, I just tried to replace the hard drive on the new one, made sure all the connections had been made, etc. When I went to use the restore disk, it does not recognize the new hard drive.
Is this a bad cable or something else?

It sounds like you are having the same problem I did with a new hard drive not being recognized. I replaced the hard drive in my iBook G4 and it wasn't recognized at all. I took off the lower case to be sure it was securely plugged into the logic board and reassembled it and again no dice. I then completely disassembled the iBook and checked everything including the cable and put it all back together again and again, no dice. But I did hear it spin up and run. So I thought a while and then decided to try resetting the PMU several times. And then the drive was recognized, and I was able to proceed to install the OS. Don't know why this worked, but it did for me.
Start up and listen carefully and see if you can hear the hard drive. You may boot up to a flashing world which will eventually turn into a flashing Mac folder/question mark. After resetting the PMU, you should be able to boot up directly to the flashing folder/question mark. If so, try again and see if DU can see the drive then. If you can hear the drive spinning, then that it would argue that the cable is working to some degree at least.
Good luck!

Can I use my time capsule with a bad hard drive as a wireless router if I remove the hard drive?

I have a 500 GB time capsule with a failed HD (i've repalced the whole machine with a new time capsule). I cannot get past the start up when I plug it in and the light glows a solid amber. If I remove the hard drive can I use it as just a wireless router to exted my network?

Yes, although the existing power supply might go bad before long.. you can run the TC as just an AEBS..
It is a fairly easy job to get the hd out.
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Apple_Time_Capsule
Key to it is using hot air gun or even a hair dryer on really high temp lowest fan and spend enough time getting to glue to soften.

File recovery from a "bad" hard drive?

My macbook air was giving me the flashing-question-mark-folder. I took it into the apple store and they told me my hard drive "went bad" and has to be replaced. I don't have a back up (stupid, I know)- is there really NO way to get my files recovered? (the guy at the store was kinda rude and I got the feeling he wasn't trying very hard...)

For iTunes version 7 or later, then you can transfer purchased iTunes store music from the iPod to an authorized computer by using the "file/transfer purchases from iPod" menu. Note that the maximum of 5 authorized computers applies here.
Find out how to do that here.
How to copy iTunes purchases from an iPod to a computer.
For all other non purchased content (your own CDs etc) try this method which works on some Windows PCs.
Enable your iPod for disk use.
See: iPod Disk Use.
Open iTunes and select edit/preferences/advanced/general. Put a check mark in the box marked "copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" and also "keep iTunes music folder organized", then click 'ok'.
Connect the iPod whilst holding down the shift/ctrl keys to prevent any auto sync, and if you see the dialogue window asking if you want to sync to this itunes library, click 'no'.
Then go to file/add folder, open 'my computer', select your iPod and click 'ok'.
The music files should transfer to your iTunes.
If this doesn't work (and it may not because officially it's not supposed to), check out the instructions/suggestions here.
Music from iPod to computer (using option 2). This a manual method using "hidden folders" and although it works, it is a little more involved than other methods.
Much easier ways are to use one of the many 3rd party programs that copy music from the iPod to the computer.
One of the most recommended is Yamipod. This is a free program that transfers music from iPod back to the computer. However, it does not transfer playcounts/ratings etc.
Another free program is Pod Player.
SharePod is also freeware.

I have a laptop with a bad hard drive, my iTunes library is on an external hardrive. How do I move iTUnes to a new computer and have it work?

I have my iTunes Library all saved on an external hard drive. I have iTunes on the desktop of my laptop. The hard drive in my laptop is going bad. How do I move iTunes to another computer and be able to use my external hard drive? This may be easier than I might think. I hope so.
Thanks

Hey oob,
Thanks for the question. You may find the information in the following article helpful in moving your iTunes library via external drive:
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Thanks,
Matt M.

P745: Possible Bad Hard Drive. How do I get Toshiba Recovery Wizard on New HD?

Hey everyone last week my computer was behaving slouchy so I did a simple restart. When it restarted it took me to a screen which said loading "Windows files" then it took me to Startup Repair. Startup repair could not repair the issue and I did a few check disk scans and one of them said 4 sectors of the hard drive were bad. I used Toshiba recovery wizard and restored the computer to an out of box state.
I also installed ubuntu 12.04 as a dual boot option last night. Now fast forward to this morning and I am using Windows. After installing Toshiba driver updates the laptop is again behaving slouchy and refusing to load web pages. When I restart the computer after one to the driver updates I get an error about not being able to start windows and so I choose "Attempt to boot from last successful attempt" this works. However, something tells me that the bad sectors of the hard drive are to blame.
So I want to order this 1TB toshiba notebook hard drive and install in the P745. http://www.toshiba.com/us/accessories/Storage/Hard-Drive-Replacements-and-Upgrades/1TB/PH2100U-1I54
However, the hard drive will be blank and so I want it to have Windows 7 on it and the Toshiba recovery wizard which I find to be extremely useful.
How do I go about getting back Windows 7 on the new hard drive and the recovery partition on the new drive. Do I order the recovery usb from Toshiba? https://support.toshiba.com/repair?orderType=SFF
Then somehow this usb will assist me in transferring the contents of my current hard drive to the new one including Windows and Toshiba Recovery Wizard?
I would be grateful for any clarifications and assistance you can provide.
Thanks.

Post full model and operating system!
Your answer in general -
You should have the option to create recovery media from your Toshiba so you don't have to buy them.
Type in your search bar recovery and the recovery media creator or may be named something different should be there to make the 3 or 4 DVD's.
This will restore to out of box settings including the recovery partition. - IT DOES NOT BACKUP YOUR OTHER OPERATING SYSTEM or anything you have added since it was new.
During the recovery it will ask if you want to rescue your info or you can save your documents, pictures , etc manually before hand.
If you reformatted the drive and installed a stand alone version of windows 7 there will not be a recovery partition and you will have to order the recovery media, you can get it here in US : http://support.toshiba.com/recovery#media
S70-ABT2N22 Windows 7 Pro & 8.1Pro, C55-A5180 Windows 8.1****Click on White “Kudos” STAR to say thanks!****

No Mountain Lion and ? Bad Hard Drive ???

Tried to install Mountain Lion and the program stated the computer has a defective hard drive. It was working fine prior to the failed install of Mountain Lion. Now I'm dead in the water. ???

You should be able to restart while holding "command" and "R" until you see the Apple logo. Then you can use the recovery disk to:
1. Run disk utility and find and repair bad spots.
2. Reinstall the operating system.

G780 Won't start up- bad hard drive - warranty?

After many hours of frustration, I was finally able to run the diagnostics on my 6 week old G780. Looks like the hard drive is bad (failed almost every test). I called warranty- they said they would call me back (I am still waiting two days later). They said they would send me an email- still waiting two days later. How do I get this taken care of? I am very computer-savvy- if this wasn't under warranty, I would just yank the hard drive, install a new one and do a fresh install on windows and be done with it. Why is it so difficult for Lenovo to take care of me? (BTW, I purchased two of these- I hope the other one won't give me trouble.)

hi summersja,
Welcome to the Forums.
When you called the warranty department, did they asked you the issue, your contact info and scheduled a callback right away? (they usually tell you if there's a system downtime - which is the main reason for the callback).
The usual service for the G780 is to send the unit to the repair center (although you could just request for a new HDD and send the defective one back, this is still subject to approval by the support rep.). I recommend you contact lenovo support one more time to get the unit serviced.
Regards
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Scorned by bad hard drive!

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