directory valence check error on Disk Utility

As I understand it:

• This is not a problem.
• The wording "they'll go away once the snapshot is deleted" is key; snapshots are automatically deleted over time so any one that's corrupted just disappears eventually. You do not need to delete it yourself.

I did a search for nchildren and deleted all 4 files then ran disc utility in recovery mode. Problem seems solved. Will update later.

Can anyone help us? I'm having the exact same error since upgrading to 10.14.4 on my 2015 MBP.

Recovery Mode + First Aid does not fix it. It attempts differed repairs but they are not successful. At this point I'm considering wiping the entire disk and preforming a clean reinstall.

I'm very unhappy that Apple would push such a destructive update. This better be a cruel April Fools joke.

Same issue. Seems to trace back to local snapshots that are being kept AFTER an online time machine backup to an external drive.

Most recently after running First Aid in Recovery Mode, I received the "warning: directory valence check: directory (dir 0xXXXfXXX): orphan directory record" for each of 9 snapshots, even though my Time Machine has been backing up hourly with no problems. When I do a tmutil listlocalshapshots / command in terminal, there the 9 snapshots there. Doesn't matter if I "back up now", turn Time Machine off/on for a few minutes (as recommended by Apple), delete them manually through Terminal, they inevitably come back over time. I have 5 snapshots from today alone despite successful hourly backups.

Any suggestions, please?

Thanks in advance,

Hi All

I had the very same and spent half a day going through the wormhole of 'how to repair' links. I have a feeling it's something to do with a third party app kernel panic (as opposed to a hardware issue) but that's just my assumption. My iMAC is now at the repairs being diagnosed. I'll let you know more when I get it back in a few days.....

@Robinbb

Ok so after taking my iMAC 27" 2017 in to support they said it was definitely a hardware issue unfortunately. I had previously run the HD tests you can do yourself but they said that their equipment went deeper etc.. Anyway, they replaced the SSD and thought it had worked, but then started getting some 'odd' error' reports and now think it's the logic board. They are replacing the logic board and the SSD (again.) Sorry it's not better news and I hope it's not the same for you. I'll report back again when I get it back 'in a few days'..

Thanks for that. I am pretty convinced that my problem is not hardware, rather a bug in the system.

It only started after the last Mojave update and only relates to TimeMachine never being able to complete its first backup (it chases its tail - this AM is started at 4.4GB of 4.8GB, now it is at 14.4 of 15.8.

I have spent several days trying fixes proposed though this Community, to no avail. Time Machine can go to heaven until we get the next OS and in the meantime I will rely on Acronis. At least I am not alone... https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8558511

Good luck with your hardware!

Yes it sound different to mine. I don't 'think' mine was anything to do with Time Machine. I'm also not convinced the shop exactly knows what it is either and they're gone for a 'replace everything' approach (which I guess I don't mind as I have a MBP to work from. I'll still post an update IF they find anything that will help anyone else. Good luck.

Ok so unfortunately this is my story. In fact look at my story above and then come back. Right so having taken it in after doing everything I could the Apple repair store said it was an SSD problem. An SSD problem? Never heard of one of those but there you go, got it swapped out. Then they said having checked further 'they were still getting bad results' so it must be the mother board, but had to also put another SSD in . So finally they almost rebuilt the bamn thing - new SSD and Processor. I don't actually believe it was either but they returned an almost new machine within warranty, so I wasn't too upset.

Sorry it's not what you want to hear. I hope yours isn't a hardware issue. Accidently did any of you uninstall CleanMyMac X at the similar time? I have a sneaking feeling it may be that but have no proof or real training to know. As soon as I told CleanMyMac they issues a 'patch' to resolve another issue....

Good luck all.

What do you mean by a combo update? I’m having the same problem. Thanks for your time! 🙂

Does not help. I can’t even scroll through my mails any more without the iMac completely freezing.

Same problem, well described by davidfrombasking ridge.

Thanks for that. Looking forward to your update!