Is hard drive failing - should I erase and reinstall?

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by thetravelbug, Mar 4, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. thetravelbug, Mar 4, 2011

    thetravelbug macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    #1
    I have had my MAC for around a year and half. It is a Macbook Pro with OS V 10.6.

    A few days ago it started taking ages to start - a grey progress bar comes up and takes maybe 5 to 10 minutes to start. Then it would be fine. I cleared out the hard-drive, freed up some space and still no better.

    I tried MacKeeper as said there was loads of critical errors etc. Shortly after running that I could no longer open word documents and excel files etc with office for mac. Something to do with not right edition. Now just get that encountered error and will send report.

    I have tried disk repair from the install disk and says cannot repair. Volume thing fine but next bit it tries and then stops repair and says it cannot do it, I should reinstall.

    I have most important stuff backed up - did an email back up a couple of days ago and documents etc.

    I am currently running a virus scan but wondering whether I should erase and reinstall everything or if it is more serious.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  2. Hellhammer, Mar 4, 2011

    Hellhammer Moderator

    Hellhammer

    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    Location:
    Finland
    #2
    Have you run Disk Utility from the install disc? You can't repair your boot drive if you're running an OS from it. Could be that the HD is taking its last breaths though. Try Disk Utility and a reinstall of OS X.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  3. thetravelbug, Mar 4, 2011

    thetravelbug thread starter macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    #3
    yes ran from install disk.
    Will try reinstalling OS X tomorrow.
    Need to make a note of a few things first! Hope it lasts till tomorrow!
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  4. -aggie-, Mar 4, 2011

    -aggie- macrumors P6

    -aggie-

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Location:
    Where bunnies are welcome.
    #4
    Your problem is that you used MacKeeper. I looked at that awhile ago, and it offers nothing that you can't get from more popular programs, and it looked fairly dangerous if you just let it do it's thing without unchecking certain things. Who knows what it deleted.

    You're going to need to reinstall OSX from the install disk, like he posted above.

    Use programs like Onyx from now on.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  5. thetravelbug, Mar 4, 2011

    thetravelbug thread starter macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    #5
    This problem was occurring before I used MacKeeper. I tried Onxy as well before that and no difference. Although Mackeeper might be why office now does not work. Will see if they honour their refund offer I guess! Will reinstall tomorrow and hope for best.

    Any tips as to erasing everything and re-installing?
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  6. -aggie-, Mar 4, 2011

    -aggie- macrumors P6

    -aggie-

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Location:
    Where bunnies are welcome.
    #6
    No, I mean the problems you are having now are due to MacKeeper.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  7. patrick0brien, Mar 4, 2011

    patrick0brien macrumors 68040

    patrick0brien

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2002
    Location:
    The West Loop
    #7
    It isn't necessarily an HD failure. If it were I'd expect your S.M.A.R.T. to be screaming at you.

    It sounds more like a volume directory issue, which is one possible side-effect of using MacKeeper from what I understand.

    Regardless, I recommend you invest in TechTool Pro from Micromat. It'll be cheaper that a new HD or a tech (because that's what he'd use)

    TechTool is so indispensable for me and my machines, it has it's very own portable HD for booting (and is necessary if you have headless systems like mine)
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page