Try booting into the OSX disc at start up and see if you can access the internal HD.
Moved Important OS X folders -- won't boot
I did the stupidest thing yesterday. I stored a series of files in my 'Macintosh HD' part of the hard drive. I didn't want to pick files individually so I just went select all and moved them to another folder. This meant that my important folders like Library, System, Applications, Users are all moved into a folder on my desktop. No wonder OS X won't boot. Is there anyway I can access the files on the drive to get my pictures off of there. My backup drive died last week, and my new drive is coming in today, so I don't have a backup. Also, is there anyway I can go in and move the folders to the correct location? It is an Intel iMac core duo system. I feel like such an idiot for doing something so stupid! :-(
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
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I would boot from the DVD. Hook up the external drive. Disk utility is available from one of the menus. Use it to partition the external as needed then install the system onto one partition. Boot from the external and you will be able to see your main drive and copy your important files to a different partition on your external. Now you can reinstall or try to recover your original system.
Hope that works
Hope that works
Boot from a System Disc (the one that came with the unit) and perform an 'Archive and Install.' - Problem fixed.
Lesson learned: Don't move folders or files that which you don't know their function.
Lesson learned: Don't move folders or files that which you don't know their function.
Thank you Lars for your input!Boot from a System Disc (the one that came with the unit) and perform an 'Archive and Install.' - Problem fixed.
Lesson learned: Don't move folders or files that which you don't know their function.
Archive and Install is not an option for some reason. It only says it can Erase and Install or Install. Archive and Install is greyed out. The thing that bugs me the most is that I knew exactly what the files and folders did and moved them unintentionally and by accident. I would never have moved them if I hadn't just hit "select all" when trying to organize my computer by putting all of the files stored in the folder "Macintosh HD" (movies, songs, etc.) and moving them to another folder.
Thank you for the advice, I think this is how I will have to go about recovering my files.I would boot from the DVD. Hook up the external drive. Disk utility is available from one of the menus. Use it to partition the external as needed then install the system onto one partition. Boot from the external and you will be able to see your main drive and copy your important files to a different partition on your external. Now you can reinstall or try to recover your original system.
Hope that works
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