Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Disk Utility Failure?

Hi all!

Before I start, let me first say that I did search for my problem here before posting, however the results I found were not exactly under the same circumstances as my own.

The long and short of it is this: I was running "Disk Utility" from my installation CD (I started up from the CD). While running "Disk Verify" and "Disk Repair," I received the following message just as the progress bar was complete:

"Disk could not be repaired because Disk Utility failed on exit."

According to the utility, it claimed my hard drive only needed "minor" repairs, and obviously my computer is still very usable (lol), but this still freaked me out a little bit.

Is there something I can (or should) be doing to rectify this? My computer isn't horridly slow or buggy, so perhaps I should go on about my business--unless there is a fairly straightforward way of getting everything back to normal.

Thanks ahead of time for your help! 🙂

iMac G5 2ghz, Mac OS X (10.4.6), 1.5 GB RAM, ION USB 2.0 160GB EXT HD, HP 3210, WACOM TABLET

Posted on Aug 15, 2007 11:43 PM

Reply
27 replies

Aug 16, 2007 6:54 AM in response to Doug Dellis

Although it can't be repaired when booted from the hard drive, you can run Disk Utility and check your drive and see if it comes up with anything. If it's clear, then go about your business normally and heave a deep sigh of relief. If no, then I suggest getting hold of TechToolPro or Disk Warrior and running them.

Please let us know what happens,



User uploaded file

Aug 16, 2007 4:02 PM in response to DaddyPaycheck

Thanks , DaddyPaycheck-- I think maybe you missed it(?) but my original post said: "I was running "Disk Utility" from my installation CD"

So, to answer your question, yes indeedy, I was using the Disk Utility that came with my computer... I honestly didn't really know there was some other version to use (via disc).

Unless you meant to write, "I WOULDN'T want to use the installation CD version? lol

Message was edited by: Doug Dellis

Aug 16, 2007 4:43 PM in response to MGW

Hi Miriam!

Well, I used Disk Utility to VERIFY my disk, and here's what I got:

Verifying volume “Dexter”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
%)
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51706 /usr/share/man/man1/history.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51707 /usr/share/man/man1/hup.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51708 /usr/share/man/man1/if.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51709 /usr/share/man/man1/jobid.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51714 /usr/share/man/man1/limit.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51716 /usr/share/man/man1/log.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51718 /usr/share/man/man1/logout.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51719 /usr/share/man/man1/ls-F.1)
51719 /usr/share/man/man1/ls-F.1
ion (file %@)",1)
51721 /usr/share/man/man1/notify.1
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51722 /usr/share/man/man1/onintr.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51723 /usr/share/man/man1/popd.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51726 /usr/share/man/man1/pushd.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51728 /usr/share/man/man1/readonly.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51729 /usr/share/man/man1/rehash.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file Overlapped extent allocation (file 1730 /usr/share/man/man1/repeat.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51731 /usr/share/man/man1/sched.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51733 /usr/share/man/man1/set.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51734 /usr/share/man/man1/setenv.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51735 /usr/share/man/man1/settc.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51736 /usr/share/man/man1/setty.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file Overlapped extent allocation (file /setvar.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51738 /usr/share/man/man1/shift.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51740 /usr/share/man/man1/source.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51741 /usr/share/man/man1/stop.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51743 /usr/share/man/man1/suspend.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51744 /usr/share/man/man1/switch.1)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51746 /usr/share/man/man1/telltc.1)
51746 /usr/share/man/man1/telltc.1
pped extent allocation (file %@)",1)
51747 /usr/share/man/man1/then.1
Overlapped extent allocation (file 51749 /usr/share/man/man1/trap.1)

Checking volume bitmap.
Volume Bit Map needs minor repair
Checking volume information.
Volume Header needs minor repair
.",1)
Dexter
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit


1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair

Hmmm so I'm getting the same error when I verify from my disk! So--you're saying my next step is TechToolPro or Disk Warrior? I just wish they weren't so pricey... 🙂 I guess something like cocktail, etc isn't going to help something like this... lol

Message was edited by: Doug Dellis

Aug 16, 2007 5:31 PM in response to Doug Dellis

Hi Doug Dellis-

Nah, I understood. I just didn't convey my thoughts too well.

My point was that if your machine originally came with Panther installed and you have since upgraded to Tiger, you would want to use the Disk Utility on the Tiger install disk and not the one that would have been on the original Panther install disk that would have shipped with your Mac.

I think that may be a better explanation.

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

Aug 16, 2007 8:00 PM in response to MGW

OK so that's pretty funny--I just downloaded DW! lol

Anyhow, I have a quick question: DW recommends I use it from an external hard drive (which I have). However, I only have my Mac OSX install disk to boot up from, and when I DO, I can't see my external hard drive (or anything else, for that matter).

I am assuming that this means I need to install OSX on my external hard drive and use THAT as the startup disk?? Is there something I'm missing here?

Aug 17, 2007 5:53 AM in response to Doug Dellis

You are forgiven, I have both, but use TTP more. The advantage of TTP is that you can add a tiny partition (without wiping your drive) that contains TTP and you can boot from that to make repairs. I should have told you that to begin with. Sorry.

I think DW can diagnose when it's run from your internal drive, but it can't repair. What do you have on the external now? Have you tried using Target Disk Mode and seeing if you can run DW from that?



User uploaded file

Aug 17, 2007 8:59 AM in response to Doug Dellis

Hi Doug,

DiskWarrior is a good choice (as is TTP, and Miriam's word is gold around here). I am a longtime and happy user of DW.

I have run into the problem that you are describing - when started up from the install CD, the external drive is not visible. To get around that here is my solution.

Install a clean copy of the system software on to your external HD. Also keep a copy of DW on this drive.

Start from the external drive (I am praying that your external drive is FireWire, otherwise you cannot do this) and then run DW that sits on the external to check and repair your iMac's internal drive.

I have found that having a copy of a clean system file on an external drive is extremely useful for occassions like this.

Hope all turns out well.

Aug 17, 2007 10:33 AM in response to MGW

Hey thanks, all, for the continued help. Here's a status report of what I did last night (I actually did what you did, NS! But thanks for that info in retrospect):

1) Changed my external hd connection to firewire (I didn't realize usb wouldn't work. lol)
2) Installed OSX from the installation disk on the HD (which took forever...)
3) Performed a software update on the newly installed OSX on the hard drive (again, took forever lol)
4) Put Diskwarrior 4 in my new HD's application folder.
5) Started up off the HD and ran DW--first running "FILES AND FOLDERS" utility, just out of curiosity.
6) Ran DW again, this time using the "REBUILD" feature.

Here's where it gets weird. Right at the end of the process, I got another error message stating that "diskwarrior encountered an error while trying to repair the overlapping files." The error code was 2175, 13.

sigh

All of the files in question were in the following directory, which is apparently "invisible" to me--right on the root HD level:

"/usr/share/man/man1/"

DW recommended I run it again, which I did, but I received the same error message. sigh

On the positive side, it did seem to fix the OTHER problems (minor) I might have had with the disk... however this is annoying me a bit.

I have sent a support request to Alsoft/DW, so hopefully, they'll have an answer for me.... any input from you guys would be much appreciated!

Disk Utility Failure?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.