Keys out of order, disk utility fails

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Level 1

17 points

Keys out of order, disk utility fails

PowerPC (?, whatever came just before Intel-based machines) iMac running 10.3.something failed to boot - hangs at "Logging into OSX" window but never gets there to log in. Booting from Install CR-ROM and running Disk Utility fails to repair Catalog. Booting in single user mode results in "Keys out of order (4, 51882)" "The volume Macintosh HD could not be repaired". Also tried to boot from Prosoft "Data Rescue II" CD-ROM but no help

Any suggestions to repair/recover?

Files all appear to be there - can navigate around in Unix and list them. Also have external Lacie hard drives connected (unconnecting does not resolve problem) - Would there be a way to cp or rcp some key files to these external drives to at least recover some?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Sep 16, 2007 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

roam

Level 6

13,637 points

Sep 16, 2007 7:34 AM in response to jeff_st

In addition to what Bob has suggested you could try using fsck; instructions in this article, though you need to scroll down the page a bit:
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

It would be good if you could fix it without cost.

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Answer 2

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 16, 2007 11:11 AM in response to jeff_st

Welcome To  Discussions jeff_st!

If all else fails, and you have access to another Firewire enabled Mac, you can also use Firewire Target Disk Mode, to backup as much data as possible.
Then reformat the HD, zeroing all data, and perform an Erase & Install.

ali b

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Answer 3

Bob Bujic

Level 1

134 points

Sep 16, 2007 7:12 AM in response to jeff_st

Try a few Disk Utility repair attempts. Sometimes running it once does not fix the problem.

Visit http://mac.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/AppleJack.shtml and explore what Applejack can do for you if you can start your Mac in a Single User Mode.

Finally, "DiskWarrior" may solve the problem.

Godd luck!
Bob

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Answer 4

jeff_st Author

Level 1

17 points

Sep 16, 2007 12:27 PM in response to ali brown

Thanks for the advice. I connected an Intel based iMac with Firewire and booted dead machine with "T" and it went into Firewire Target disk mode showing the firewire icon, but the computer hard drive doesn't appear on the Intel iMac (though the Lacie does, which is connected to the dead iMac's other firewire port), so I'm still stuck.

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Sep 16, 2007 5:03 PM in response to jeff_st

Hi, jeff. Apple's instructions for using FW Target Disk Mode are explicit in warning that no other FireWire device should be connected to either computer while the FWTDM connection is "live".

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Answer 6

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Sep 16, 2007 7:49 AM in response to jeff_st

If the other suggestions fail, DiskWarrior should have no trouble making the necessary repair.

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Answer 7

jeff_st Author

Level 1

17 points

Sep 16, 2007 8:15 AM in response to roam

thanks. multiple Disk Utility and fsck -f attempts have not gotten through error in repairing the Catalog.

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