can't unlock Recovery HD disk to install OS X

PNewt · PNewt #1 (**permalink**)

03-18-2012, 09:47 PM

Im having some issues with my macbook pro and i would like to erase and reinstall mac os x lion on the "recovery HD disk" but it says its locked and i can't do any with it

PNewt · PNewt #2 (**permalink**)

03-18-2012, 10:08 PM

so my question is how can i unlock it?!?

chscag · chscag #3 (**permalink**)

03-18-2012, 10:11 PM

How about telling us what issues you're having? Maybe we can help you resolve them rather than reinstall Lion.

You can gain access to the Recovery partition by holding down the option key during boot up and selecting Recovery. From Recovery you can then run Disk Utility to erase and reinstall Lion if you choose.

PNewt · PNewt #4 (**permalink**)

03-18-2012, 10:25 PM

the main issue I'm having is when i unplug the computer from the power source so its running on battery only, it slows wayyyyyyyy down. every thing i do with it lags really bad, scrolling in a browser, opening and closing applications. or even just click on a button.

PNewt · PNewt #5 (**permalink**)

03-18-2012, 10:26 PM

i would really just like to more or less restore it to factory default. i don't really have anything that I'm worried about losing on it.

chscag · chscag #6 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 02:56 AM

See my first post. You reinstall Lion from the Recovery partition not on it. Boot into the Recovery partition and select Disk Utilities. Use Disk Utilities to erase your hard drive and format it for Lion. After which, download and install Lion from the App store. You don't have to pay again.

PNewt · PNewt #7 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 05:55 AM

when i try and erase the disk it says cant unmount disk every time

gsahli · gsahli #8 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 11:27 AM

What chscag is trying to say is you don't erase the recovery partition. The message you're getting about can't unmount, is (nearly) always about the drive you started up from - the recovery partition. You don't want to erase the recovery partition. You want to erase the normal startup drive/Volume.

Your responses don't make it clear, so we've been repeating here.

PNewt · PNewt #9 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 11:39 AM

okay well i clearly dont know how to do what you are asking, is there somewhere i can read on exactly how to boot up to get me to where i need to be? how else do i get to the erase part without booting in recovery? if i boot up normaly i can erase it because thats the disk i booted from.

gsahli · gsahli #10 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 10:11 PM

Please, we're not trying to trip you up here. It really sounds like you want to delete/erase the recovery partition (not correct thing to do) - instead of the normal startup partition.
You do know that installing Lion puts two partitions on your Mac - a startup partition (the majority of the hard drive), AND the recovery partition (a small partition - I guess about 5 GB)?
OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery
Apple - OS X Lion Recovery - Introducing Lion Recovery
https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0

PNewt · PNewt #11 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 10:26 PM

Yea I understand that. So you said that's probably not what I want to do, do you have another suggestion? I really do appreciate the help.

PNewt · PNewt #12 (**permalink**)

03-19-2012, 10:29 PM

Okay I read your post wrong. I don't want to erase the recovery partition. I understand what the confusion is. I really just want to completely wipe out my Mac and start it back like I just bought it (if possible).

gsahli · gsahli #13 (**permalink**)

03-20-2012, 12:12 AM

OK - you need a different boot source. Did you make a bootable USB flash drive? Or, do you have a 10.6 DVD to start from?
You can't re-partition or erase a drive that you boot from.

To be sure - you know the recovery partition takes the place of a DVD for Lion? It is the installer and Utilities disk.

PNewt · PNewt #14 (**permalink**)

03-20-2012, 10:23 AM

i have a usb drive, how to i make it bootable? and is 4gb enough space?

yes- i understand now, thank you

mrplow · mrplow #15 (**permalink**)

03-20-2012, 10:42 AM

This tells you how to create a recovery USB disk:
OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery Disk Assistant

chscag #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,032 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	03-19-2012, 02:56 AM See my first post. You reinstall Lion from the Recovery partition not on it. Boot into the Recovery partition and select Disk Utilities. Use Disk Utilities to erase your hard drive and format it for Lion. After which, download and install Lion from the App store. You don't have to pay again. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

mrplow #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 01, 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,397 Mac Specs: 27" iMac i7 (2011), iPhone5, iPad3, AppleTV2	03-20-2012, 10:42 AM This tells you how to create a recovery USB disk: OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery Disk Assistant External hard disk acquisition addict - but admitting the problem is the first step to a robust backup Please use the reputation system if you think you've been helped - top right of this post
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Windows 7 Disk Recovery In Boot Camp Environment	sapph	Running Windows (or anything else) on your Mac	3	01-29-2011 10:38 PM
Macbook A1181 doesn't boot from it's original install disk	arastoo	Apple Notebooks	3	07-31-2010 07:24 PM
Archive and Install crashes constantly on second disk	itags.org	OS X - Operating System	4	08-16-2009 02:38 AM
Volume Header Needs Minor Repair	MrChris	Apple Desktops	3	08-02-2007 03:41 PM

can't unlock Recovery HD disk to install OS X

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

PNewt #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-18-2012, 09:47 PM Im having some issues with my macbook pro and i would like to erase and reinstall mac os x lion on the "recovery HD disk" but it says its locked and i can't do any with it
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-18-2012, 10:08 PM so my question is how can i unlock it?!?
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-18-2012, 10:25 PM the main issue I'm having is when i unplug the computer from the power source so its running on battery only, it slows wayyyyyyyy down. every thing i do with it lags really bad, scrolling in a browser, opening and closing applications. or even just click on a button.
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-18-2012, 10:26 PM i would really just like to more or less restore it to factory default. i don't really have anything that I'm worried about losing on it.
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-19-2012, 05:55 AM when i try and erase the disk it says cant unmount disk every time
	QUOTE Thanks

gsahli #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 11, 2010 Posts: 880	03-19-2012, 11:27 AM What chscag is trying to say is you don't erase the recovery partition. The message you're getting about can't unmount, is (nearly) always about the drive you started up from - the recovery partition. You don't want to erase the recovery partition. You want to erase the normal startup drive/Volume. Your responses don't make it clear, so we've been repeating here.
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-19-2012, 11:39 AM okay well i clearly dont know how to do what you are asking, is there somewhere i can read on exactly how to boot up to get me to where i need to be? how else do i get to the erase part without booting in recovery? if i boot up normaly i can erase it because thats the disk i booted from.
	QUOTE Thanks

gsahli #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 11, 2010 Posts: 880	03-19-2012, 10:11 PM Please, we're not trying to trip you up here. It really sounds like you want to delete/erase the recovery partition (not correct thing to do) - instead of the normal startup partition. You do know that installing Lion puts two partitions on your Mac - a startup partition (the majority of the hard drive), AND the recovery partition (a small partition - I guess about 5 GB)? OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery Apple - OS X Lion Recovery - Introducing Lion Recovery https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-19-2012, 10:26 PM Yea I understand that. So you said that's probably not what I want to do, do you have another suggestion? I really do appreciate the help.
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-19-2012, 10:29 PM Okay I read your post wrong. I don't want to erase the recovery partition. I understand what the confusion is. I really just want to completely wipe out my Mac and start it back like I just bought it (if possible).
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

gsahli #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 11, 2010 Posts: 880	03-20-2012, 12:12 AM OK - you need a different boot source. Did you make a bootable USB flash drive? Or, do you have a 10.6 DVD to start from? You can't re-partition or erase a drive that you boot from. To be sure - you know the recovery partition takes the place of a DVD for Lion? It is the installer and Utilities disk.
	QUOTE Thanks

PNewt #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2012 Posts: 20	03-20-2012, 10:23 AM i have a usb drive, how to i make it bootable? and is 4gb enough space? yes- i understand now, thank you
	QUOTE Thanks