MacOS – Flashing question mark when I start the Mac

disk-utilityhard drivemacosUtilities

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204323

I tried everything in here didn't work. I am using a 13" macbookpro retina, latest OS.

Stuff I did that might have cause this:

  • I updated 3 apps 1 of them was Xcode, the other was something about OSX, the third I can't remember.
  • I installed Cocoapods but never used it.
  • Did some tutorials and learned a little bash commands, nothing extreme that should have caused this.

After these actions I used the mac to write software, browser internet, watch videos, I used it for half a day and nothing weird happened. I closed the screen and reopened in an hour and had this problem.

Right now I am connected from the internet recovery. I see this screen:

enter image description here

  • I cannot restore from time machine backup, cause I have none
  • I cannot reinstall OS X cause it doesn't see my SSD. "Select the disk where you want to install OS X, under it nothing"
  • Get help online isn't very helpful
  • In disk utility:

Macintosh Hd, Disk Status: Offline
Capacity: 120GB, Available: 120GB, Used: 335MB (Weird at least 100GB was used and I am pretty sure I didn't format it by accident)

I click "Verify Disk": The partition map needs to be repaired because there's a problem with the EFI system partition's file system.

I click "Repair Disk": Couldn't repair the partition map because a new EFI system partition couldn't be created.

Also tried this: What does "EFI system partition couldn't be created" mean?

  • I have seen a few posts where they recommend me to backup the system and then reinstall the OS. I cannot backup and I cannot reinstall.

What am I supposed to do? My hands seem to be tied..

Best Answer

If you have a backup, format the Mac's drive, taking care to protect the backup. If you don't have a backup, try some tools like DiskWarrior or TechTool on the Mac's drive. If those don't help, you'll probably have to format and lose your data.

If you can't format the drive, it will need to be replaced.