keys out of order

Question

keys out of order

IBook dual usb 700-640mb ram-10.2.8

Since feb I've had three occasions when I've run DFA due to stalls, freezes etc. and have been unable to repair disk.
1. DFA said "overlapped extent allocation "--I reformatted and reinstalled
2. DFA said "keys out of order"-I reformatted and reinstalled
3. DFA said "keys out of order" and after running DFA and Tech Tool Pro 4 several times have gotton it to pass all tests and seems to run fine.

What is causing this? How can I prevent it?
Is this behavior a sign that it may someday fail totally and is there any way I can have apple check it out? I have one month left on Applecare.
Joanna

Posted on Sep 6, 2005 12:39 PM

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Answer 1

iMaryC

Level 2

185 points

Sep 6, 2005 1:36 PM in response to Joanna Schaefer

Hi Joanna - Welcome to Apple Discussions

Are you still getting this problem?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=13628
This Apple article says:
Message: Keys Out of Order
Disk First Aid reports "Keys Out of Order".
Meaning
B-tree records or referenced records have become damaged.

I would think Tech Tool Pro would fix B-Tree records. If not then it would be a problem best handled by Disk Warrior another very good Mac utility program.

Hard to say what causes that problem but once everything is fine and working it might not hurt to reinstall the OSX2.8 combo update:
Combo OSX2.8 download link

If some of your system files are not recording the directory locations correctly this might help.

But this is a software problem not a hardware problem. If it continues after doing the above steps I certainly would call Applecare anyway.

iMary

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Answer 2

Sep 6, 2005 8:52 PM in response to iMaryC

Others have reported that DiskWarrior has repaired a directory with keys out of order. It's the only utility I've seen reported as being capable of doing this. (That's not to say others can't do it, but Disk Utility evidently cannot. TechTool or Drive 10 may do it, but it hasn't been reported here--to my knowledge.)

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Answer 3

Sep 7, 2005 6:43 PM in response to iMaryC

It's holding now--although I did have some trouble with Mail freezing since the last repair. But, it's still passing DFA and Tech Tool tests.

Running both Tech Tool Pro4 (repair volume) and DFA several times fixed the latest "keys out of order" and b-tree problems.

Would I have to reformatt and reinstall from 10.2 or can I archive and install or just run the updater?

Joanna.

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Answer 4

Sep 7, 2005 6:58 PM in response to Joanna Schaefer

You can try an Archive and Install (if you have enough hard drive space). If it doesn't work, you can always resort to the more drastic solution.

Be sure to back up your data, regardless of which route you take.

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Answer 5

kel

Level 3

850 points

Sep 10, 2005 1:47 AM in response to Joanna Schaefer

Hi,

I don't think it's true that this is limited to a software problem. If you have the chance to back up and reinstall, then you may come to the conclusion that it is hardware. I suspect that a bad logic board or bad memory may cause repeated keys out of order. My other thought was that it may be a bad disk. Note only if reinstall doesn't fix it permanetntly.

gl,

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Answer 6

Sep 12, 2005 3:48 AM in response to kel

I suspect that a bad logic board or bad memory may cause repeated keys out of order.

This is not a physical hardware error. I've seen this problem solved by emptying a hard disk and reinstalling.

Brian

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Answer 7

Sep 16, 2005 11:21 AM in response to Brian Reading

Wed 13 the iBook screen would not wake up-restart only led to grey screen. Re-booted after shut down once-then only after resetting PRAM. Ist attempt to use DFA from install cd froze machine. Ist attempt to use Tech ToolPro 4 from external drive froze machine, Second attempt could not see hard drive. I erased and reinstalled Jaguar -it took a LONG time to load-sometimes sounded like the CD was stalled, but finally loaded. (Still loading my other applications.) Thursday 14 Safari started to quit-it would launch, load one page, but quit when attempt was made to click on link. DFA from install CD found no problems. Tech Tool Pro4 from external hd found volume (bit) problems and repaired them. Safari is working again, but i'm not filled with confidence. This is the third time this year I've reformatted and reinstalled. If this is a software problem-how do I prevent it from happening? Joanna

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Answer 8

Sep 16, 2005 12:27 PM in response to Joanna Schaefer

If this is a software problem-how do I prevent it from happening?

Usually, repairing permissions regularly will prevent things like this. Try doing it once a week maybe.

Brian

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Answer 9

Sep 22, 2005 7:10 PM in response to Joanna Schaefer

Can a late mogel iBook G4 keyboard be installed on a 900Mz iBook G3? The present keyboard is a bouncy as a trampoline.

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