Hard drive failed - totally unprepared - anything we can do?

[Neil65]

Hi, our situation is as per the title ...

When we start up the Mac, most of the time it plays a sound and then shows a grey screen. However sometimes it gives us the options of disk utility, re-install OS etc.

When we run disk utility we get:
"The volume Macintosh HD could not be verified completely"
"Error: Disk Utility can't repair this disk"

I have attached a photo of the screen. The drive also makes quite odd noises as it starts up.

We are totally unprepared - no recovery disk, time machine etc. There are some files we do not have anywhere else that we would like to get if possible.

I know there is lots of discussion out there about ways of getting data off when a hard drive fails, and I don't expect anyone to repeat all of that here, but before I go down that road I just want to ask one question:

Given our lack of preparation, is there any point looking into stuff we can do ourselves or do we need to just take it to the shop?

Thanks,
Neil

 

[pigoo3]

The drive also makes quite odd noises as it starts up.

This means something mechanical has failed in the drive.

We are totally unprepared - no recovery disk, time machine etc. There are some files we do not have anywhere else that we would like to get if possible.

This is probaby going to be an important lesson in maintaining a backup. Hopefully you didn't have too much important stuff on the drive.

I know there is lots of discussion out there about ways of getting data off when a hard drive fails, and I don't expect anyone to repeat all of that here, but before I go down that road I just want to ask one question:

Given our lack of preparation, is there any point looking into stuff we can do ourselves or do we need to just take it to the shop?

Yes there are lots of discussions...but not always lots of viable solutions. Just like there are lots of discussions when someone spills water on their laptop. Lots of discussions...but not lots of solutions.

Some situations are beyond viable solutions. Not trying to be negative...just realistic.

In your case...are you still able to access the drive at all? If so...copy anything important ASAP! If not...a $100 solution is to purchase a program called "Disk Warrior" (file recovery program). Or a $1000+ solution is to have a professional do it. All depends on the importance of what's on the drive.

Also...keep in mind that some data on the drive may be lost forever. That mechanical sound could indicate that the read/write head in the hard drive may have scratched some of the hard drive platter surface...making file recovery almost impossible where the damage is (if there is any).

Good luck,

- Nick

 

[MacInWin]

Get a new drive ASAP. Install it and reinstall the OS to the new drive. Then you can try to recover what you can from that dying drive. The less you do now to that drive, the more likely it is that you may be able to recover something. But if you keep trying to do something to or with it, the more likely it will finally fail totally and all that data will be gone, unless you want to pay the $1,000s it could be to recover it through a professional service.

If you don't know how to replace the drive, take it to a professional who does...and make that a Mac professional, not a local PC fixit guy. PC guys know very little about Macs.