? start up

[deppy24]

Hi. I'm trying to help a colleague who has a ? folder on start up. Mac book pro 13inch 2012, operating mountain Lion.

We've booted in recovery mode and opened disk utility to find no disk other than Disk(0) and the Mac OS X Base System.

My next step was to reset PRAM which as expected did nothing, its a HD problem right?

So I've gone into target mode using my Mac and can see his HD, I can even open files to play a song or movie on my Mac from his HD.

2 questions now. I want to copy his desktop and documents folder (which is the bulk of his work) which I do not have permission to access (red minus in the corner) so how do I access these?

What is going on? Do I suggest fresh Mac OS install or does he need a new HD or something worse?

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

 

[Fishrrman]

"?" at boot means the Mac can't find a good copy of the OS from which to boot.

There may be a copy of the OS present, but it may be damaged in some way.

You need to tell us more about the MacBook Pro.
Is it a retina or NON-retina model?
The NON-retina is thicker and has the DVD drive on the right side.

If it's a NON-retina MBP, you can open up the back and replace the hard drive.
Put a new SSD in there (a cheapie SSD will work as good as any other), put a good copy of the OS onto it, and it may run "better than new".

If you're able to get into target disk mode...

I don't know if this trick works in target disk mode, but try it anyway, just to try:
1. Connect the problem Mac, and mount the drive icon on YOUR Mac desktop
2. Click on the icon ONE TIME, then bring up "get info" (command-i)
3. Is there a lock icon at the bottom of "get info"?
4. If so, click on it and enter YOUR password (that you use on YOUR Mac)
5. Is there a checkbox "ignore ownership on this volume" (in sharing and permissions) ??
6. If so, put a check into it and close get info
7. Can you access those items now (that were previously locked)?
(again, I don't know if this can work in target disk mode, I've never tried it).

IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, and IF the MBP is a NON-retina, you could try this:
Open the back and TAKE OUT the drive.
Put it into a USB3/SATA docking station (or a USB3 enclosure) and connect it to YOUR Mac.
NOW try the "get info" trick I posted above.

But... as I mentioned above... if it's a non-retina MBP, put an SSD in there, and it will probably be revived for some time to come.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Hi. I'm trying to help a colleague who has a ? folder on start up. Mac book pro 13inch 2012, operating mountain Lion.

We've booted in recovery mode and opened disk utility to find no disk other than Disk(0) and the Mac OS X Base System.

My next step was to reset PRAM which as expected did nothing, its a HD problem right?

So I've gone into target mode using my Mac and can see his HD, I can even open files to play a song or movie on my Mac from his HD.

2 questions now. I want to copy his desktop and documents folder (which is the bulk of his work) which I do not have permission to access (red minus in the corner) so how do I access these?

What is going on? Do I suggest fresh Mac OS install or does he need a new HD or something worse?

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

If the HD can't be detected by Disk Utility then why can you access that HD via Target Disk Mode? Something doesn't quite add up here.

So, despite what you said about not finding a physical drive via Disk Utility, it can simply be a matter of needing to reinstall the OS. If the drive can be detected, you'll be able to go forward with the reinstall attempt via Recovery Mode.

 

[deppy24]

If the HD can't be detected by Disk Utility then why can you access that HD via Target Disk Mode? Something doesn't quite add up here.

So, despite what you said about not finding a physical drive via Disk Utility, it can simply be a matter of needing to reinstall the OS. If the drive can be detected, you'll be able to go forward with the reinstall attempt via Recovery Mode.

Yeah, I'm pretty baffled as to why I can see it in target mode. I think I'm going to suggest he buys a new SSD and then reinstalls the OS. Could just do with saving his desktop and docs if I can get permissions sorted.

 

[deppy24]

"?" at boot means the Mac can't find a good copy of the OS from which to boot.

There may be a copy of the OS present, but it may be damaged in some way.

You need to tell us more about the MacBook Pro.
Is it a retina or NON-retina model?
The NON-retina is thicker and has the DVD drive on the right side.

If it's a NON-retina MBP, you can open up the back and replace the hard drive.
Put a new SSD in there (a cheapie SSD will work as good as any other), put a good copy of the OS onto it, and it may run "better than new".

If you're able to get into target disk mode...

I don't know if this trick works in target disk mode, but try it anyway, just to try:
1. Connect the problem Mac, and mount the drive icon on YOUR Mac desktop
2. Click on the icon ONE TIME, then bring up "get info" (command-i)
3. Is there a lock icon at the bottom of "get info"?
4. If so, click on it and enter YOUR password (that you use on YOUR Mac)
5. Is there a checkbox "ignore ownership on this volume" (in sharing and permissions) ??
6. If so, put a check into it and close get info
7. Can you access those items now (that were previously locked)?
(again, I don't know if this can work in target disk mode, I've never tried it).

IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, and IF the MBP is a NON-retina, you could try this:
Open the back and TAKE OUT the drive.
Put it into a USB3/SATA docking station (or a USB3 enclosure) and connect it to YOUR Mac.
NOW try the "get info" trick I posted above.

But... as I mentioned above... if it's a non-retina MBP, put an SSD in there, and it will probably be revived for some time to come.

I guess it is a retina, the DVD is on the left side.

Yeah I've tried to give myself permission as you said, and I'm able to give myself read and write access, yet the red - is still over the folder.

I'm going to try to copy the folders he needs, then suggest an SSD and new OS install. Thanks for help

 

[deppy24]

If the HD can't be detected by Disk Utility then why can you access that HD via Target Disk Mode? Something doesn't quite add up here.

So, despite what you said about not finding a physical drive via Disk Utility, it can simply be a matter of needing to reinstall the OS. If the drive can be detected, you'll be able to go forward with the reinstall attempt via Recovery Mode.

He actually re-tried recovery mode and disk utility and could see his disk, without me there, however when trying to verify, he left it for a few hours while nothing happened.

 

[justashooter]

I guess it is a retina, the DVD is on the left side.

Yeah I've tried to give myself permission as you said, and I'm able to give myself read and write access, yet the red - is still over the folder.

I'm going to try to copy the folders he needs, then suggest an SSD and new OS install. Thanks for help

The Retina does not have a DVD drive. The non Retina has a DVD drive on the right side and all ports , USB, magsafe, etc are on the left. If it is a non retina entertain the possibility the internal SATA cable is going bad. A way to check this is remove the drive, install it in a external enclosure and boot from the enclosure. If all works well I'd say your cable is bad.

 

[deppy24]

The Retina does not have a DVD drive. The non Retina has a DVD drive on the right side and all ports , USB, magsafe, etc are on the left. If it is a non retina entertain the possibility the internal SATA cable is going bad. A way to check this is remove the drive, install it in a external enclosure and boot from the enclosure. If all works well I'd say your cable is bad.

Yeah sorry, I had the Mac upside down when I said it wasn't on the right, IDIOT!!!

I've come to the conclusion that it is the cable, a new SDD intermittently works but not for long enough to install OS. Its sometimes in disk utility sometimes not. So I've ordered a new cable and hope this solves it.

Moral dilema, do I tell him he didn't need a new SSD and just pay for the £10 cable and give him back a faster MBP or what? hmmm

Cheers for your responses

 

[Fishrrman]

A new SSD AND a new drive ribbon cable are "the answer"...