Problem activating volume

[GoggeN67]

Imac 27" with 120 GB SSD start disk"disk2s2". 4 T SATA disk for storage. Screenshot attached.
No disk icon on desktop for the 4T disk as I normally get for both the start disk and storage disks.
2nd line is translated to "The physical APFS storage" - "Not activated."
Tried to activate, but I failed.
iMac disk icon ok, but the 4T HD disk icon is missing on desktop.
Happy for some advice to solve the issue!

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Two things, either the disk has an OS on it already, or the disk has to be adjusted to fit the version of mac you have.

Look for either a vendor utility or another utility either on this system, or another one to 'low level format' the drive (zero-fill). Low leveling a whole drive will take a lot of time, when usually all you need is to do the first bit of the drive, usually.

If the drive is too large, you can again get the vendor utility, or some other program, and set the drive to be a smaller size than it actually is. It 'caps' the drive, so the rest of the drive is unavailable.

 

[GoggeN67]

This job is very much above my "pay-grade", I feel! But trying again!
I had this configuration for very long time, and this is the first issue.
Turned off computer for the night as usual. Everything OK.
Next morning turning on computer. I suspect an autoupdate happened that night. Only difference is that the 4T disk icon is missing, so no access to the 4T disk.

On the screenshot 2nd line from top, icon and text "The physical APFS-storage disk2s2" is grayed out. Owners are disabled.

Hope this is useful.

 

[stayupforever909]

Have you try to run first aid on the disk?

Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

If you have problems with your disk, use Disk Utility on your Mac to test and repair it.

support.apple.com

 

[GoggeN67]

Thought it was best to start checking disk health with Disk utility.
Start disk is ok, no remarks.

Then did run First aid on 4T disk. Error, disk icon and text " The physical APFS-storage disk2s2" is in grey.

Did run First aid on that volume.
Error message: "Running First aid on << >>. First aid process failed. If you can, you should backup content on this volume".

Thought reinstalling OS might be a good idea. Tried from Disk utility. Internet connection ok. Error message: "Can not connect to upgrade server."

Are there any hope for a rescue?

 

[stayupforever909]

Can we get a bit of history of this iMac.
As far as I am aware Apple never sold an iMac with this configuration of disks.
120GB SSD
4TD HDD

What I expect is this was sold with a fusion drive and has been split at some point.

Have you owned the iMac since new?
Did you split the fusion drive or somebody else? I ask these questions because it is quite common for people to split fusion drives when the HDD fails.

 

[GoggeN67]

Enclosing screenshot "About". Sorry I do not know fusion drive :-( so i Guess I do not have one!

I bought the computer secondhand two years ago. So the configuration was done for me. Could the fusion drive be a fix I can do? Sounds that could be a solution. Will it work at this stage?

 

[stayupforever909]

From what I have been able to work out this iMac was not sold with a fusion drive until I checked th model on every Mac https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...inch-aluminum-mid-2011-thunderbolt-specs.html. Also looking at the first screen shot you posted this shows the SSD as being of the brand PNY. From what I can work out the seller must have put both of these drives in the machine. More than likely the HDD has failed and need’s replacing. Ifixit have some good guides on this https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2429+Hard+Drive+Replacement/7555
Another easier option would be to use an external HDD in a Thunderbolt enclosure (this may end up being more expensive though).
As to why internet recovery did not work when you try it that is due to the age of the OS. I have heard there are workarounds for this. Something to do with changing the date on the iMac when booted into the installer. Personally I would swap the internal HDD

 

[stayupforever909]

Another quick one I would screenshot you took of about your iMac with the serial number blanked out. Real Mac serial numbers can be useful to those in the hackintosh so you shouldn’t really post them online

 

[GoggeN67]

Thanks for your very detailed and informative posting. Will keep in mind your remark abt. serial number.
In all, i think I understand things much better know!

I did replace a drive on an iMac some years ago. Age and trembling hands i think stops that option now. But I still have the two suction cups for taking out the screen . Might be handy later.

Weighing the options. Age of iMac and expected cost to fix it is not very tempting. I think I am more into just giving up this project and put the money saved into a newer iMac. The reward is a Mac I can use for experimenting and hopefully get even more learning!

Thanks to all you for your patience. Guess you will hear from me later!

 

[GoggeN67]

Hi! I am back for an update. They say I am a very stubborn man, so I had to do some more testing and trying out before throwing in the towel.
Reading manuals and stuff. At last I found an article by a lady suggesting I delete the faulty partition and creating a duplicate. Well, so I did, and surprise, surprise, it worked!

So now i have the old working partition iMac and the new working partition MacHDD!
Very happy!

Tanks to all of you!

 

[stayupforever909]

It would be interesting to see the results of a first aid run on the HDD

 

[GoggeN67]

Trouble creating screenshot from First help page. Made a photo below.
This is however the result for First aid page.

First aid finished "Running First aid on "Mac HDD". First aid process completed." (With a green checkbox ticked. Seems to be ok.).

Different now is it is just only one volume. But i guess that can be adjusted if needed.
Is this ok now? Feel i it has been too easy!

 

[stayupforever909]

Trouble creating screenshot from First help page. Made a photo below.
This is however the result for First aid page.

First aid finished "Running First aid on "Mac HDD". First aid process completed." (With a green checkbox ticked. Seems to be ok.).

Different now is it is just only one volume. But i guess that can be adjusted if needed.
Is this ok now? Feel i it has been too easy!


View attachment 1998269

Thanks for posting this. Good learning experience, from this all I can guess is the volume was bad and not the disk. Looking at the sidebar I can still see two volumes
iMac & Mac HDD. But how you have the view preferences set you can only see the volumes at not the physical disks. I sometimes find this confusing but it is a matter of personal preference.