can the files be saved?

[BugsBunny]

so guys i posted earlier about how my computer was screwing up...finder doesn't work, i can't open to view any folder, etc....it is definitely a hardware problem, i hear things click inside the computer every once in a while...i tried running time machine on a brand new drive, and it got thru like 700MB/100GB and then failed.

and to be honest, i'm really stupid (i realize now) i've only ever used my (non-time machine) external hard drive to offload movies and tv shows that i download. i don't care if i have to get a new computer, i've actually been considering it for a few months, but will someone at an apple store be able to save my pictures (most important to me is the pictures, everything else i can get again), music, etc.? it's really weird because the OS loads fine and looks good on the surface until you try to run anything...and in the menu bar spotlight is constantly indexing. you don't know how heart breaking it was to get excited that time machine was gonna work and save me, only to see it fail before getting 1% through

sorry for posting again but i'm freaking out and just want peace of mind that my things can be saved by an expert who might be able to take it apart, fix the hardware problem, then get it off. is that going to be possible?

 

[BugsBunny]

maybe its worth mentioning too, the files that i can see on my desktop, they show me the little preview thing, so like i have some .pdfs and i can see that the first page is the icon, or a couple pictures i can see the picture in micro, so i know the files are still there, the OS just can't load them for some reason.

 

[aaronw1986]

Have you tried an archive and install?

 

[LeeTom]

Boot from the Install DVD (put the cd in the drive, restart, and when the chime goes hold down the C key), and go like you're going to do a reinstall.

As soon as you see the menubar at the top, go up to Utilities and down to Disk Utility. Choose your hard drive on the left, and click the Repair Disk button.
Do it a second time for good measure after it's done. Also do the Repair Permissions button.

Then, quit Disk Utility. Open Password Reset Utility. Don't reset your password, but DO Repair your Home Folder permissions.

Reboot.
Run time machine onto the drive again. Does it work now?

 

[BugsBunny]

Have you tried an archive and install?

hi and thanks for your help!

what does that mean? how do i do that? i can't open finder to move my files into an external, so if you mean reinstalling the OS i assume that won't be any good, right? as in, everything's gone when you reinstall, right?

i've tried loading into safe mode, but when i'm holding shift after the chime the rotating gear never comes up, even after like 5 minutes. this is really frustrating because this is my first apple, and though i haven't had a problem in 2 years, i always used to know how to fix PCs (or at least give it a try). any help you give me in learning how to fix this is so helpful and thanks a million. i'm almost in tears over losing all this stuff -- but it's all there, so I can't imagine its gone, my computer is just having issues.

 

[ziggyonice]

Archive and install DOES reinstall Mac OS X.
It DOES NOT erase the hard drive, like a Windows PC would. Just make sure to follow what's in bold below, and you'll be all set.

Info from Apple's knowledge base article:

Start up from your Mac OS X Install Disc 1 or Install DVD. If you have different versions of Mac OS X Installer discs (for example, if your computer came with version 10.3 and you later purchased and installed version 10.4), start from the disc that most closely matches the installed Mac OS X version. Usually, that's the latest (newer) version.

Usually, you can start from the disc by putting it in your computer, restarting, and holding the C key. Or, put it in the computer and click the Install or Restore icon you see in the disc's main window (after which the computer will start from the disc without you needing to hold C.)

Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.

Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.

After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.

After reading or printing the information, click Continue.

An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.

Click the volume that you wish to install to.

Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.

Select Archive and Install.

Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.

You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.

Click OK.

Click Continue to begin the installation.

 

[BugsBunny]

Archive and install DOES reinstall Mac OS X.
It DOES NOT erase the hard drive, like a Windows PC would. Just make sure to follow what's in bold below, and you'll be all set.

Info from Apple's knowledge base article:

i'm doing this now. if it works (or for that matter, anything that eventually comes out of this thread works), and i'm not joking, i will eagerly donate $20 to a charity of your choice - you'll have saved me much more than that anyway!

 

[BugsBunny]

it didn't work

the archive and install failed, saying "the following install step failed: run postinstall script for Essentials. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance."

any ideas what that means?

edit: i'm now trying LeeTom's disk repair series of suggestions.