MFletcherOffice

Q: Disk Utility Error: What is Live file system repair is not supported?

I have attempted to use repair disk in Mavericks for other than the boot desk and receive an error message, "Live file system repair is not supported? What is this message?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 2, 2014 10:59 AM

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Q: Disk Utility Error: What is Live file system repair is not supported?

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  • by Timbuktu,

    Timbuktu Timbuktu Jan 2, 2014 11:44 AM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 3 (699 points)
    Jan 2, 2014 11:44 AM in response to MFletcherOffice

    It is likely related to the way Mavericks updates volumes to be bootable with its new EFI partition scheme. Make sure you select the actual partition and NOT the volume or disk as it will likely include this EFI partition and generate this error. "Live file systems" are files curremtly used or protected by the system from being altered.

     

    See the following Apple support docs with more info. (Repair errors, Using Disk Utility for repairs)

  • by BurbankMike,

    BurbankMike BurbankMike Jan 5, 2014 12:12 AM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 5, 2014 12:12 AM in response to MFletcherOffice

    I recently ran into a similar issue with my Time Machine backup disk. After about 6 days of no backups - I had swapped the disk for my photo library for a media project; I reattached the Time Machine disk and attempted a backup.

     

    Time Machine could not backup to the disk. Running Disk Utility and attempting to Repair the disk ended up returning the "Live file system repair is not supported" message.

     

    After much experimentaion with disk analysis softwares, I came to the realization that the issue might be that the USB disk dock wasn't connected directly to the MacBook Pro - it was daisy-chained through a USB Hub.

     

    Connecting the USB disk dock directly to the MBP and running Disk Utility appears to have resolved the issue. DU ran for about 6 hours and succesfully repaired the disk. Consequently, I have been able to use that Time Machine disk for subsequent backups.

  • by christine anastasia,

    christine anastasia christine anastasia Feb 27, 2014 9:06 AM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 9:06 AM in response to MFletcherOffice

    I had the same problem trying to repair a disk on a WD external hard drive.

     

    I googled for the answer, read several forums, and finally called live tech support at WD. None of this was helpful, but added up to a big waste of time and growing frustration.

     

    For me, I stumbled on the simple "duh" simple fix: Force eject all the disks the volume (to do that I had to first go to my Activity Monitor and quit any programs that might possibly be using any of the disks in any way); then shut down the computer & turn in back on; And then re-connect the external drive back with the computer.  After doing this, I ran disk utility and it said the volume and all its drives appear to be okay.

     

    Good luck.

  • by bettyfrommonticello,

    bettyfrommonticello bettyfrommonticello Mar 9, 2014 2:55 PM in response to christine anastasia
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 2:55 PM in response to christine anastasia

    This fixed my problem. Thanks

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Mar 9, 2014 6:38 PM in response to christine anastasia
    Level 9 (50,379 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 9, 2014 6:38 PM in response to christine anastasia

    For me, I stumbled on the simple "duh" simple fix: Force eject all the disks the volume (to do that I had to first go to my Activity Monitor and quit any programs that might possibly be using any of the disks in any way); then shut down the computer & turn in back on; And then re-connect the external drive back with the computer.  After doing this, I ran disk utility and it said the volume and all its drives appear to be okay.

    I also found that to be functional for a while. Been seeing the same thing for about 6 mos. to a year.

    My drive died last week.

    Could be coincidence, but none of my other drives ever display that behavior. And, if the drive cannot be ejected normally when it is obviously not in use, there is something afoot at the Circle K.

  • by bragiu,

    bragiu bragiu Mar 25, 2014 3:46 AM in response to christine anastasia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2014 3:46 AM in response to christine anastasia

    Fixed! thanks

  • by Scott Corbett1,

    Scott Corbett1 Scott Corbett1 Apr 8, 2014 10:56 AM in response to christine anastasia
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 8, 2014 10:56 AM in response to christine anastasia

    I am also now seeing this problem after upgrading to Maveriks. Time Machine stops working with an external USB drive (Seagate) and Disk Utility can't repair the drive with the error "Live file system repair is not supported".

     

    Force ejecting the drive, shutting down and restarting provides a temporary fix (Disk Utility checks out the drive fine) but the problem comes back on a regular basis now.

     

    Any one else have suggestions?

  • by ironteeth,

    ironteeth ironteeth May 2, 2014 12:17 AM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    May 2, 2014 12:17 AM in response to MFletcherOffice

    I just thought I would share my solution. I was having the same issues, but I turned off file sharing and it repaired the drive with no issues. Once it was done I turned file sharing back on.

  • by Johnnylane,

    Johnnylane Johnnylane May 18, 2014 6:38 PM in response to ironteeth
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 18, 2014 6:38 PM in response to ironteeth

    I just saw this error for the first time.  I beleive the drive is dying.

     

    See this for details:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2151621?start=915&tstart=0

  • by alsina,

    alsina alsina May 22, 2014 8:31 PM in response to ironteeth
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 8:31 PM in response to ironteeth

    ironteeth... this resolved the issue of Disk Utility unable to repair the disk due to "Live file system repair is not supported."

     

    Thanks for sharing.

  • by William Kucharski,

    William Kucharski William Kucharski May 22, 2014 9:28 PM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 6 (15,152 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2014 9:28 PM in response to MFletcherOffice

    You'll get this message if you try to repair a file system that's mounted.

     

    You need to eject a disk before repairing it.

  • by nhk,

    nhk nhk May 26, 2014 1:15 PM in response to christine anastasia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 26, 2014 1:15 PM in response to christine anastasia

    I have the same problem with my WD dsik. I found out that my anti malware is doing this when going through to check the backup files. Either stop the Malware/Virus software from scanning the disk or let it go through it all and then do another run with Disk Utility

  • by Scott Corbett1,

    Scott Corbett1 Scott Corbett1 Jun 4, 2014 10:28 AM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 4, 2014 10:28 AM in response to MFletcherOffice

    I was able to get my drive working again by running Seagate's SeaTools for Windows using VMWare Fusion as the Windows emulator. The drive failed the initial test but was repairable using the long scan, even though Disk Utility could not repair. I first formatted as a FAT drive, did the repair in Windows (which took 3 days to scan!) and then after repair was complete, reformated the drive as a Journaled IOS drive using Disk Utility. It has been working reliably with Time Machine ever since. Apparently there may have been bad sectors.

  • by IndyXIII,

    IndyXIII IndyXIII Jun 4, 2014 11:32 PM in response to MFletcherOffice
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2014 11:32 PM in response to MFletcherOffice

    +1 for turning off Sharing.

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