How to restore mac os x recovery system. Resetting MacBook to factory settings: options and instructions. Recovering data from Time Machine backups

In order to restore the system we need:

External media with Mac OS backup;

Mac Book, Mac Book Pro, Mac Book Air, iMac, Mac mini;

About an hour or less, depending on the size of the backup and the speed of the Mac.

1 step. Connect the Time Machine backup media to your Mac.

Step 2. Restart your Mac by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner and selecting Restart.

Step 3. As your Mac boots (a gray screen appears), press and hold Command (⌘) + R.

Step 4 Select the external media with the backup, the recovery disk and the date of the backup to be restored.

Immediately after downloading the OS X utilities, select "Restore from Time Machine Backup."

Read the general information and click "Continue".

Select the recovery disk (the media on which the backup is located).

The next step is to select a backup copy, I recommend choosing the most recent one, since it will save the latest changes in the system.

After this, you need to select the disk to which the system will be restored.

At the end, a message will appear stating that the restoration was successful, after which the Mac will restart and the next time you boot you will see the restored Mac OS X.

Recovering data from Time Machine backups.

In order to restore files (photos, videos, music) made using Time Machine, log into Time Machine by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner and select "Login to Time Machine".

If your backup media is not connected, you will see the error “Your Time Machine backup drive cannot be found.” To fix this error, connect the media to your Mac.

If the media is connected you will see an interface that will allow you to travel back in time and view early changes to your files using the arrow or timeline on the right side of the screen. To restore files, select one or select several and click the "Recover" button.

In my opinion, file/system recovery has never been as elegant, beautiful and easy to do as in the Time Michine utility.

The good thing about the Mac OS operating system is that it is easy to learn and works almost flawlessly. But this does not mean that the possibility of problems arising with it is completely excluded. If a software failure occurs, most often you can fix it yourself. The main thing is to choose the right tool, and in this case, the method of emergency starting the computer. On a MacBook, there are more than a dozen emergency modes that you can enter when you boot your computer. In this article, we’ll look at how each mode is useful and how to get into it.

Table of contents:

Recovery Mode

To get into recovery mode, when you turn on the computer, after the sound signal about the start of the boot (if any), but before the boot indication appears, you need to hold down the Command+R key combination on the keyboard.

Recovery mode offers the user to use utilities to:

Restoring the system from a backup recorded in Time Machine. This can be done if the backup mode was enabled when the computer was running;
Reinstalling Mac OS. The utility allows you to quickly reinstall your computer's operating system step by step;
Read information on the Apple website. This may be required if problems arise with the computer and there is no other device to visit the site;
Check your hard drive for problems or erase information from it.

Recovery mode in Mac OS is useful when the computer does not boot, and the reason for this may be system damage. In this case, you can restore a copy of the system or reinstall it.

Autorun manager mode

To switch to startup manager mode, you need to hold down the Option button and the Menu button. It's worth noting that if you have an Apple Remote (connected to your device), you can use it instead of the Option button.

Startup manager mode is required to switch between operating systems, for example, if Windows is installed on the computer as the second system.

Boot mode from external CD/DVD drive

To boot from an external drive, you need to hold down the C button when starting the computer.

If the installation version of the Mac OS operating system is available on disk, you can install it in this way. But it is worth noting that at the moment computers running Mac OS have virtually no optical drives, and this boot option is only available for computers based on Intel processors.

Please note: If your computer does not have a disc drive, you can boot from an external CD/DVD drive by inserting it into an external drive connected to the computer via USB.

Booting in external hard drive mode

To enter this download mode, you must first enable it. For this:

In this mode, you can transfer information from one MacBook to another at high speed. To do this, you need to connect computers to each other via a FireWire or Thunderbolt connector. The computer on which the external hard drive mode is enabled will appear on the second computer as an external drive, and it will be possible to transfer data from it at high speed.

Safe mode

To boot into safe mode, you need to hold down Shift when starting the computer.

Safe mode is useful when you need to solve problems with your computer, for example, when the system does not boot for one reason or another. When you start your computer in safe mode, a diagnostic test is performed, according to which Mac OS can independently fix some of the problems that have arisen.

Starting the computer in safe mode assumes that functions and programs that are critical for the operation of the system are loaded. If problems occur with your computer due to third-party applications, the MacBook can boot into Safe Mode without any problems, from where you can remove third-party applications or disable their automatic loading at system startup.

Network recovery mode

To boot into network recovery mode, you must use the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+R when starting your computer.

This boot mode is close to safe mode, but it has one important difference. You need to boot Mac OS into it if you need to restore the system. For example, when the partition on the disk that is responsible for recovery is damaged, you can use this mode and use the distribution kit from Apple servers to reinstall the system.

Boot logging mode (Verbose mode)

To switch to detailed logging mode when the computer boots, you need to hold down the Command+V key combination.

This mode assumes that the Mac OS computer will boot normally. Its difference from the standard computer startup is that instead of the usual loading indicator, the user will see how the computer startup process progresses. An experienced user can use the boot protocol to determine what exactly is the problem if there are computer malfunctions.

Diagnostic mode

To enter diagnostic mode on a MacBook, you need to hold down the D button while booting.

The diagnostic mode on computers running the Mac OS operating system is required to test the hardware components of the device. In it you can check which hardware components are faulty, as well as perform initial diagnostics. If there are suspicions that the hard drive has failed or is damaged, the RAM is faulty, or there are problems with the processors, you can check them through the diagnostic mode.

Network diagnostic mode

To switch to network diagnostics mode on Mac OS, you need to hold down the Option+D buttons when starting the computer.

This mode is almost identical to that discussed above. It also allows you to test your computer's hardware components. The difference between this mode and the previous one is that it uses diagnostic tools located on Apple servers (an Internet connection is required). Accordingly, this mode can be useful in situations where an SSD disk or HDD drive is partially or completely damaged.

Boot mode via NetBoot server

To get into boot mode from the NetBoot server, you need to hold down the N button while booting.

This mode is used to restore the operating system. It can be used if the other recovery methods discussed above are not suitable for one reason or another. Recovery mode via NetBoot means that the finished recovery disk image is located on a server that can be accessed via the network.

Please note: This mode is most often used by system administrators to restore the functionality of Mac OS computers that are connected to a single network but not connected to the Internet.

Command line mode

To boot into command line mode, you need to hold down the Command+S key combination when you boot your computer.

In command line mode, also called single-user mode, only the command line is available. This mode is suitable if you need to diagnose your computer or carry out maintenance. To use the command line on Mac OS, you need knowledge of UNIX commands.

PRAM/NVRAM reset mode

To reset PRAM/NVRAM when the computer boots, you need to hold down the Command+Option+P+R keys. They must be held until the computer reboots (about 20 seconds).

If the computer beeps at startup, the beep will sound again.

NVRAM is a small non-volatile memory that stores Mac OS settings. Depending on what kind of computer it is, it changes the list of settings stored in this memory, for example, this could be screen resolution, boot volume, volume, etc. Resetting these settings may help if you have problems booting your computer.

SMC (System Management Controller) reset mode

Depending on what kind of Mac OS computer you have, the reset methods differ:
Spontaneous changes in the keyboard backlight level;
Problems with changing the display backlight level - lack of response to the brightness up/down keys, incorrect choice of backlight level when auto-brightness is on;
The computer does not respond to attempts to turn on (pressing the power button);
Incorrect reaction of the computer to opening/closing the lid. For example, the computer may not wake up from sleep mode or may not turn on (new MacBook models automatically turn on when the lid is opened);
Problems with battery charging or MagSafe indication of the battery charging process and operating mode;
Problems with recognizing the amount of battery charge, rapid discharge;
Enabling additional cooling (coolers) at low load;
Malfunctioning sleep mode - spontaneous falling asleep and waking up;
Problems in the operation of system or third-party applications - constant crashes, freezes when loading;

Problems with the external display.

When the computer stops booting and there is a high risk of losing all the data from the hard drive, this is probably the worst nightmare for any PC or Mac user. That is why OS X provides automatic Time Machine backups, and also has a convenient tool for “fixing” the system - OS X recovery mode, which will be discussed in this article.

Before you begin restoring your computer, you need to understand that during the recovery process there is always a risk of losing important files from the disk of your computer or laptop. That is why regular use of Time Machine is a guarantee of saving the user’s files in any situation.

How to reinstall OS X on Mac?

In order to use recovery and reinstall OS X you must have:

To access recovery mode in OS X, you must restart or turn on the computer while holding down the keys ⌘ Cmd And R. Once the Apple logo appears on the screen, you can release the buttons. Next, the recovery utilities will be downloaded.

The first step is to make sure that your Mac's primary drive is functioning properly and is error-free. To do this you need to use disk utility(which is located in the folder Other general directory with programs).

After opening it, in the left column, select main computer storage and press the keys Check disk, and then Fix disk if problems are found.

After completing these steps, try restarting your Mac again. If the error when loading the system still persists, then you need to resort to reinstalling OS X.

You can reset your personal settings on an Apple laptop or all-in-one in many cases. If your system starts to take a long time to boot, slows down during operation, the programs you need stop opening, and much more, then a reset is simply necessary. To understand how to reset your MacBook to factory settings, read our instructions.

Possible methods

First you need to determine the extent of the problem you have. There are two ways to reset the system:

full ;
Resetting system parameters to factory settings.

In many cases (for example, a system or program hangs) it is enough. Before you reset your Macbook Air, Pro, or iMac to factory settings using a reinstall, make sure to back up all important files and programs because this method involves wiping the hard drive.

The second option is simpler and more loyal - reset only the system parameters, but leave all the information on the disk untouched. Let's look at both options step by step.

How to restore Macbook Air, Pro, iMac to factory settings?

This method is suitable if the problem with the computer is not serious and not critical. For example, a long startup time, malfunction of a program, etc. In any case, we recommend that you use this method first before proceeding with the reinstallation. To reset factory settings, follow these steps:

Turn off your MacBook in any convenient way. You can also read about them in the next section of our website;
hold down the key combination Command+Option+P+R+power button;
wait until the power-up sound is played twice, then release the keys;
After turning on, the computer will be reset to factory settings. This way you can set up your MacBook like new.

How to restore macbook air, pro, iMac to factory settings: reinstalling the OS

Before this process, you need to complete the following steps:

connect the Internet to your computer;
copy all valuable information to an external drive;

connect the device to a power source so that it does not turn off during OS installation;
Now let's move on to the installation process:
reboot your Macbook in a convenient way;
During loading, press Command+R;

wait until the computer starts recovery mode;
in the window that opens, select “Disk Utility”;
select boot disk;
go to the “Erase” section;
select the installed OS and click the “Erase” button;

then return to the menu with the choice of programs for recovery;
click the “reinstall OS” button;
After this, the computer will connect to the Internet and begin downloading the distribution.

This method will not work to restore a macbook air, pro or iMac to factory settings without an Internet connection.

After the download is complete, the device will unpack all files and reboot. Next, the main screen with settings will appear. Log in with your Apple ID account, select the system language, and so on.

If you do not have access to the Internet, then you will need a bootable USB flash drive with the distribution. However, without an OS installer downloaded from the network, nothing will work anyway. Now you know how to reset your MacBook in two different ways and can put them into practice.

It refused to boot. CMD+R Does not help. What should I do?

The start of the working day did not foretell anything bad. A cup of coffee, a good mood, the Power key and the MacBook displays the following sad picture:

A restless thought immediately flashed through my head about the safety of the data, the current version of the backup copy TimeMachine(which was not at hand) and possible loss of information.

Attempt No. 1. Booting into recovery mode

Being an interested user and an avid Mac user, I immediately tried to start the MacBook in recovery mode by holding down the keys CMD+R. Instead of the usual disk utility, the system greeted me with a window with an attempt network recovery.

Having chosen my home Wi-Fi network, I began to wait for further developments. After a few minutes, OS X's recovery progress was interrupted error -4403F.

Attempts to start the process again led to exactly the same result. Rebooting the router confirmed that everything was fine with the network connection.

Trying to diagnose the Mac, fix possible hard drive errors, or simply reinstall the system was now out of the question. Section with Recovery HD, in which the tools for restoration are stored, ordered to live long.

Attempt No. 2. Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

Mac computers were created by highly qualified engineers, so the correct organization of the entire system and the presence of “hidden hardware reserves” allows you to avoid a number of interruptions in its operation. One of these reserves is memory sections PRAM And NVRAM. It stores settings data that is not reset even after the computer is disconnected from power. To revive the fallen system, a decision was made reset PRAM and NVRAM settings.

1. Turn on the Mac.
2. After the white screen appears, quickly press the key combination CMD + Option + P + R.
3. Hold until the Mac reboots again and the Mac greets the sound.

PRAM and NVRAM reset completed.

Although they say that hope dies last, it, lifeless and barely alive, continued to lurk in my mind. Resetting PRAM and NVRAM did not affect the error when booting the system. The MacBook continued to test my nerves.

Attempt No. 3. Reset SMS

Having become accustomed to storing all the necessary data “in the cloud” or on removable media, the simplest solution to global problems has always been to reinstall the system “from scratch.” This case was special. I needed data stored in memory and I needed a working Mac today.

In the Mac environment there is something called system management controller SMC. The stability of the entire system depends on the reliability of its operation. Resetting SMC settings can cure a number of problems like:

Sleep mode

To reset the SMC, follow these steps:

Laptops with built-in batteries

1. Turn off your MacBook and plug in the power adapter.
2. Press and hold the keys at the same time Shit + Control + Option + Power and hold until the MagSafe adapter indicator changes color.
3. Release all keys and press the key again Power.

Laptops with removable batteries (older models)

1. Turn off your MacBook and unplug the power adapter.
2. Remove the battery from the laptop.
3. Hold down the key Power And hold for at least 5 seconds.
4. Release Power, insert the battery and connect the power adapter. Turn on your laptop.

Desktops (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro)

1. Completely disconnect the computer from the mains power.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds.
3. Connect the power and wait another 5-10 seconds and then turn on the computer.

The above actions can become really effective and the system will start. In my case, a miracle did not happen.

Attempt No. 4. Recovery using a bootable USB flash drive

An attempt to revive the system using the above actions was unsuccessful. The only option left was to reinstall OS X using a bootable USB flash drive. For this step you will need:

another computer running the OS X operating system;
Flash drive with a size of at least 8 GB.

Preparing a flash drive

1. You will need to download the OS X Yosemite distribution from the Mac App Store.
2. To create a bootable USB flash drive, download the DiskMaker X utility (distributed for free). You will need it to deploy the distribution.
3. Format the flash drive using Disk Utility V Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

4. After the distribution has finished downloading, cancel the proposed installation and run the utility DiskMaker X.
5. Choose a system Yosemite (10.10). The utility will detect the distribution in the folder Applications. Click Use this copy(use this copy).

6. Select the drive installed in the USB port and agree to the warning about completely deleting all data present on the flash drive.

7. The process of mounting the distribution kit with OS X Yosemite to the drive will begin.

The copying process takes about 10-20 minutes and depends on the writing speed of the USB flash drive. During mounting, dialog boxes and folders may occasionally open on the screen. Do not pay attention.

Once the OS X Yosemite image has successfully deployed, remove the drive.

System installation
1. Insert the flash drive into the USB port of the “problem Mac”, press the key Power and hold down the key Alt.
2. In the list of available download sections, select OS X Base System. Please note that there is no section Recovery. .

3. The Mac will boot into recovery mode. After selecting the main system language, the installation menu will open. In the top menu you will find a standard list of utilities.

Use disk utility and first try to check the access rights to the system partition and correct any errors. If after rebooting the system still refuses to boot, you will need to separate a partition of at least 20 GB in size in order to install a new system. You will find detailed instructions on how to partition a disk.

From the same menu, you can either begin the process of installing the system on a newly created partition, or restore the system using a TimeMachine backup (see).

CAREFULLY! Be careful when choosing the installation partition. The installation must be carried out not on top of the old partition, but on a newly created one.

After the installation is complete, you will have access to all the data located on the “damaged” partition with the old version of the system.