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Invalid Index Key

Okay, I upgraded my RAM last week and my MBP started crashing. I took the new RAM out and put in my old RAM only to have my MBP crash completely. I kept getting an error and it said that the HD couldn't be repaired. Last night I reinstalled Leopard and restored all my files using my most recent Time Machine Backup. At that point I had one 1gig stick of RAM in. This morning I went to put my second 1 gig stick of RAM in (so I would have my original 2 that worked) and I almost immediately got the error message that I must restart my computer by holding the power button. I removed the second stick of RAM and my MBP won't even boot at all now. I boot from my Leopard DVD and try using Disk Utility and it tells me there is Invalid Index Key. After booting into Single-User-Mode I find that Invalid index key (4, 25781) and when trying "fsck -y"I get "The volume Macintosh HD could not be repaired."

A friend is telling me that I need to purchase two new sticks of RAM and reinstall them. I'm concerned that if I purchase it and that isn't the problem, then where would I go from there. I live about 4 1/2 hours away from an Apple Store and do not have AppleCare on my MBP. Anyone have any suggestions or any insight into what is going on?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, 2.16GHZ, Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.4), iPhone 3G 2.0.1

Posted on Aug 13, 2008 8:28 AM

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6 replies

Aug 13, 2008 12:48 PM in response to wallyfr00

RAM will not necessarily cause index errors. If the RAM causes your computer to crash, that's when you'll get the index and directory errors.

When you reisntalled Leopard, did you do an erase and install? if not, unless you have a copy of Disk Warrior, that's the only way you're going to cure an index error. By reinstalling your OS over the existing one...with errors...you're only compounding the problem.

I would backup your files, erase the drive and reinstall Leopard...then install the new RAM. If the freezes/crashes continue, I'd say you have some bad RAM.

Aug 13, 2008 5:28 PM in response to wallyfr00

Invalid Sibling Links can be an absolute devil to fix, wally. Sometimes the only solution is to actually replace the drive. At others they can be resolved using single user mode or even a utility like DiskWarrior.


You may find the tips at http://mahalkita.nanogeex.com/2007/09/28/how-to-fix-the-invalid-sibling-link-err or/ helpful but there is no certainty with this one. It depends on where the damage is.

I'd be inclined to try to resolve the sibling link issue before you purchase new RAM. Installing new RAM in itself won't fix the problem (though it may fix further crashes if it really was the cause of the problem in the first place rather than just one of those unfortunate co-incidences.) It may even be that the sibling link issue itself surfaced during some re-mapping of the drive to cater for the larger RAM footprint.

Good luck

Rod

Invalid Index Key

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