fsck_hfs.log and other problems...

Question

fsck_hfs.log and other problems...

I am having three very odd things happen on an iMac (details on the machine posted below) and would really appreciate some help:

1) The file "fsck_hfs.log" in private/var/log is growing out of control until the disk is filled up. I had to boot off a CD and trash the file to get the machine to run. I have run disk repair and permissions repair from Disk Utility as well. After clearing the 150 Gb file last week it has already grown to 63 Gb again.

2) I cannot get the administrator privileges to assign to anything but root. I have followed instructions found on the forums here and it still will not "stick"

3) Even logging in as root the Software Update will not work on any update that requires a reboot.

This machine is also connected to a Time Capsule for backup purposes. It always seems to be in "preparing backup" mode.

Thanks in advance, Jay

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version: 1.20f4

iMac G5 20 inch, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 12, 2008 11:14 AM

Reply

Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Oct 12, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Thomas Graves3

Thomas Graves3 wrote:
I am having three very odd things happen on an iMac (details on the machine posted below) and would really appreciate some help:

1) The file "fsck_hfs.log" in private/var/log is growing out of control until the disk is filled up. I had to boot off a CD and trash the file to get the machine to run. I have run disk repair and permissions repair from Disk Utility as well. After clearing the 150 Gb file last week it has already grown to 63 Gb again.

did you look inside the log? open Console.app and see what's inside. I don't know on what schedule this one runs but it seems probable that you have a problem with the file system on one of your drives. run "verify disk" on all your drives and repair them if necessary. to repair the startup drive you'll have to boot from the install DVD and use disk utility on it.

2) I cannot get the administrator privileges to assign to anything but root. I have followed instructions found on the forums here and it still will not "stick"

please don't say things like that. we have no idea which instructions you are talking about. provide full details.

3) Even logging in as root the Software Update will not work on any update that requires a reboot.

given the number of problems you are having I would recommend an archive and install. repair your drive first though.

This machine is also connected to a Time Capsule for backup purposes. It always seems to be in "preparing backup" mode.

Thanks in advance, Jay

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version: 1.20f4

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 12, 2008 4:28 PM in response to V.K.

V.K. wrote:
did you look inside the log? open Console.app and see what's inside. I don't know on what schedule this one runs but it seems probable that you have a problem with the file system on one of your drives. run "verify disk" on all your drives and repair them if necessary. to repair the startup drive you'll have to boot from the install DVD and use disk utility on it.

Interesting. There are lots of entries that look like this:

/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 210338757)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 212052206)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 214122808)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 215738147)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 217496704)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 219190908)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 220648341)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 222031626)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 223593018)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 225051992)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 226780789)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 228330026)
/dev/rdisk1s2: Orphaned file hard link (id = 229770905)
/dev/rdisk1s2: ** The volume Backup of Liza’s iMac could not be repaired.

/dev/rdisk1s2: fsck_hfs run at Sun Oct 12 17:51:46 2008
/dev/rdisk1s2: ** /dev/rdisk1s2 (NO WRITE)
/dev/rdisk1s2: QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM DIRTY

/dev/rdisk1s2: fsck_hfs run at Sun Oct 12 18:17:43 2008
/dev/rdisk1s2: ** /dev/rdisk1s2 (NO WRITE)
/dev/rdisk1s2: QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN

/dev/rdisk1s2: fsck_hfs run at Sun Oct 12 18:17:44 2008
/dev/rdisk1s2: ** /dev/rdisk1s2 (NO WRITE)
/dev/rdisk1s2: QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN

This is all new to me. Any thoughts appreciated.

V.K. wrote:
please don't say things like that. we have no idea which instructions you are talking about. provide full details.

Fair enough - my apologies for bad forum etiquette:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1278

I would like to avoid a reinstall until I can figure out the root cause. I don't even see a disk for "Backup of Liza’s iMac" and smell something funny going on...

All thoughts appreciated.

Thanks, Jay

Reply

Answer 3

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Oct 12, 2008 4:46 PM in response to Thomas Graves3

I would like to avoid a reinstall until I can figure out the root cause.

that's often impossible especially with as many problems as you've got.

I don't even see a disk for "Backup of Liza’s iMac" and smell something funny going on...

you don't have a drive like that?! this looks like a Time Machine drive that the system is trying to repair and can't. do you use Time machine?

All thoughts appreciated.

Thanks, Jay

Reply

Answer 4

Oct 12, 2008 5:29 PM in response to V.K.

V.K. wrote:
you don't have a drive like that?! this looks like a Time Machine drive that the system is trying to repair and can't. do you use Time machine?

Yes, I use Time Machine via a Time Capsule. How do I figure out how to repair this drive? Could that be filling the log file on the local machine?

Thanks, Jay

Reply

Answer 5

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Oct 12, 2008 5:34 PM in response to Thomas Graves3

start by turning TM off. see if that stops the log from growing. then open TC in finder. there should be a sparse bundle corresponding to your computer with all your backups. double-click it and wait for it to mount. it should mount the disk
"Backup of Liza’s iMac", or so I hope. open disk utility and try repairing this drive (repair disk, not permissions). are there other Macs that back up to TC?

Message was edited by: V.K.

Reply