Macbook Pro fails to boot - how to resolve and/or get files off

[MarcLister]

I have a Macbook Pro at work which is generally used for assemblies. Last Monday morning I set the MBP up in a classroom for a training session and picked it up at the end of the day. I turned it on Tuesday morning for another training session. It was then I realised the MBP was failing to boot up. I got the Apple 'tone' when the MBP turned on and the grey screen with the Apple logo. However there was a progress spinner and a progress bar on the screen; something I'd not seen before. I assumed, not being a Mac expert, that it was performing some kind of update and so I left the MBP to it whilst I did another job. I came back a few minutes later to find the MBP had turned itself off. I thought this was a bit strange and turned the MBP back on. The same booting issue occured with the progress spinner and bar still appearing.

I did some googling and worked out that there was an error/issue with the hard drive. I have run an /sbin/fsck -fy command at least 3 times to try to fix the problem and get the MBP to boot up. Unfortunately, each time the process finishes, having reported numerous errors and problems, I am told that "The volume Macintosh HD could not be repaired."

Is this a terminal problem, i.e. am I not going to be able to fix the problems? If there is something I can do, what would that be?

If I removed the hard drive from the MBP and put it into an external hard drive dock, would my work Windows PC be able to read the disk and allow me to access and backup any files? Or would I need to connect the dock to another Mac OSX machine to allow me to read the disk and access/backup any files I needed.

 

[MarcLister]

This is what I'd do.

It would be easier to read the disk on a Mac as it will be HFS+ formatted. You could buy MacDrive for your PC if you wanted to read the drive on there.

Cheers. I'll try taking the disk out of the MBP and see if I can read it on another Macbook.

 

[MarcLister]

Why not just put the knackered one in target mode then connect to the other mac, saves taking the HD out.

I can't boot the knackered MBP up at all so how can I put it in target mode? Also how would I connect the MBP to my rMBP?

 

[MarcLister]

It is starting to boot (ot POST) and you can get into terminal so you can get into target mode.

On boot, right after you press the power button, press and hold T until the target screen appears.

It'll be firewire to firewire connection (assuming you have one) or at least it was last time I did it but that was about 3-4yrs ago

No Firewire on my rMBP. Would this target mode work with a Windows PC? Guessing not. I think it'll be easier to take the hard drive out and plug it into an external disk dock and hook that up to another Macbook.

 

[MarcLister]

I always have a bootable Linux live USB key for situations like this as Linux will generally read all file formats, allowing you to retrieve the documents and files.

Good thinking that man! Can you recommend any particular bootable Linux live OS?

 

[MarcLister]

OK I've got Linux Mint on an SD card USB adapter and have booted into the command line /terminal but the Linux Live USB doesn't boot up. Shouldn't it be automatic?

The Mac has said, ":/ root# pci pause: SDXC", so I believe the MBP can see the USB device but I've no idea how to get it to load.

Any hints?

 

[MarcLister]

Can't get it to see the USB SD card at all. It shows me the Macintosh HD drive and the Recovery 10.9 but nothing else. I've got some USB pen drives coming in the post today so I'll try one of those for the Live USB.

Would taking the hard drive out to put into a reader void the warranty? We got it in February 2013. Is there a 2 year warranty on MBPs?

 

[MarcLister]

There is a common problem with the HDD cable failing. Take the drive out of the MBP, put it in a caddy. If it works in the caddy then replace the HDD cable in the MBP.

Would that void the warranty? Is it a 1 or 2 year warranty with MBPs?

 

[MarcLister]

There are, with most MacBook Pros (exclusive of the Retina display models) only two modifications that you can make without voiding your Apple warranty or AppleCare extended warranty – upgrading the RAM and upgrading the drive in the hard drive bay.

EDIT: Apple provide a 1 year warranty.

Cool, thanks.

 

[MarcLister]

I took the hard drive out of the MBP today and put it into an external HDD dock. I was able to copy the files I needed off that disk onto an external HDD. I'll check over the weekend to see what files I do actually need.

As OSX couldn't fix the drive, would a format help with that or is it likely that the HDD is damaged beyond software repair and needing to be replaced?

 

[MarcLister]

Do you have a space 2.5" HDD? If so put it into the MBP and see if it is recognised.

I'm sure we have a few around somewhere. I can always copy the contents over to my external HDD and format it to a Mac file system. How would I know if it's been recognised? Or not, as the case may be. Would formatting a spare 2.5" HDD to exFAT suffice for the MBP to be able to recognise it?

If you get the same problem then replace the HDD cable and put your original HDD back in - its a common problem.

Interesting suggestion! Will check that out on Monday. How much are the HDD cables for MBPs? Are they the same as other computers or are they a specific Apple design?