When a recent software update provoked a minor disk failure, many Mac users had no idea how to run a simple disk repair service. Here are eight steps to a healthy disk.
According to the Apple publicity machine 'Macs just work'. But, Mac users know that no machine is infallible and although the UNIX system that underlies OSX is more robust than Windows, Macs do still suffer disk crashes.
If you find you cannot boot up your Mac after a software update, your first option should be to run a utility tool that will repair the hard disk. To do this you will need your OSX installation disk and a printed out copy of this simple step by step guide to disk repair.
Eight Steps to a Healthy Disk:
- Find the original installation disk (or borrow one) and insert it in to the disk drive. Reboot the computer and keep the OPTION key pressed until the screen asks you from which drive you wish to boot.
- Select INSTALL DVD and then the arrow to continue.
- At the welcome screen, a menu will appear at the top. Select UTILITIES and then DISK UTILITIES. (Although this program already exists on your hard drive you will not be allowed to repair the main drive if you are using it. Hence you need to boot up from the DVD and use the program from there.)
- Once the DISK UTILITY opens, select your hard disk from the list on the left (normally the second icon down) and you will then see a range of choices on your right at the bottom of the program. You can run all of these tasks if you wish to be extra sure, or if you are in a hurry just press the REPAIR DISK button.
- Once completed, quit DISK UTILITY from the menu above and then quit INSTALLER.
- You will the be asked to choose between RESTART, STARTUP DISK or DON'T QUIT.
- Select STARTUP DISK and then select your computer hard disk icon (not the DVD icon).
- Click RESTART.
If all has gone well your computer you will now be able to reboot your computer without the use of the OSX disk and you will be able to get back to work. If however, you are still unable to boot up, then it is advisable to run through the sequence again and this time run all the tests. If after having completed this, there is still no response from your computer, then you may have to think about reinstalling the operating system or, even more seriously, reformatting your hard drive. Have a look at Apple help or try a commercial utility such as Disk Warrior or Drive Genius to help recover lost data before a format.
