How to Repair a Macintosh Hard Drive

Have a backup handy just in case., We are not going to reinstall Mac OS X. , Check if the disk needs repairs., Save your work in all open applications. , Turn on the sound to a point that you can hear it., Insert your install DVD., Restart your Mac...

22 Steps 1 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Have a backup handy just in case.

    There is a chance this can erase some data or just wipe out your entire hard drive.

    So, keep a backup handy.
  2. Step 2: We are not going to reinstall Mac OS X.

    , You can check this by going into Disk Utility, clicking your disk in the sidebar, and clicking Verify Disk. ,, It will be helpful for booting into Safe Mode after you repair the disk. , Don't do anything with it. ,,, Don't do anything else unless you want a new language. , This disk utility is the only one that can repair disks. , Wait.

    Don't turn off the Mac. ,,,, Don't press it before the sound. , Booting will take much longer than usual, so just wait. , The sound doesn't work, you can't use the internet, and the dock lags. ,,,,
  3. Step 3: Check if the disk needs repairs.

  4. Step 4: Save your work in all open applications.

  5. Step 5: Turn on the sound to a point that you can hear it.

  6. Step 6: Insert your install DVD.

  7. Step 7: Restart your Mac (Apple Menu > Restart).

  8. Step 8: When you see the white screen

  9. Step 9: start holding down C. Don't let go until you see the usual Apple logo and spinning wheel.

  10. Step 10: Click the right pointing arrow in the dialog box that appears.

  11. Step 11: Go to Utilities > Disk Utility.

  12. Step 12: Select your disk in the sidebar and Click Repair Disk.

  13. Step 13: Exit the installer.

  14. Step 14: Quit Disk Utility and choose Utilities > Start-Up Disk.

  15. Step 15: Click the disk with Mac OS X and click Restart.

  16. Step 16: Hold the shift key as soon as you hear the start-up sound.

  17. Step 17: Keep holding it until a loading bar appears at the bottom of the screen.

  18. Step 18: You are in Safe Mode.

  19. Step 19: Log in and launch Disk Utility.

  20. Step 20: Click your disk in the sidebar and click Repair Disk Permissions.

  21. Step 21: Restart normally.

  22. Step 22: Restore any lost data and get back to what you were doing.

Detailed Guide

There is a chance this can erase some data or just wipe out your entire hard drive.

So, keep a backup handy.

, You can check this by going into Disk Utility, clicking your disk in the sidebar, and clicking Verify Disk. ,, It will be helpful for booting into Safe Mode after you repair the disk. , Don't do anything with it. ,,, Don't do anything else unless you want a new language. , This disk utility is the only one that can repair disks. , Wait.

Don't turn off the Mac. ,,,, Don't press it before the sound. , Booting will take much longer than usual, so just wait. , The sound doesn't work, you can't use the internet, and the dock lags. ,,,,

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M

Margaret Stevens

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