User profile for user: JPak1
JPak1 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

warning: directory valence check / orphan directory record

On my MacBook Pro mid-2015 OS Mojave 10.14.6 I've tried to get rid of the dozens of Disk Utility First Aid warnings (warning: directory valence check ... orphan directory record) several times, but they won't go away. After listing around 20 of them in the details of the repair, it says that there are too many of them to list and that it will surpress the remaining ones so I don't know if they number in the hundreds, or if they have a negative effect on my computer, or they are growing in number over the years. The final report at the end says the disk appears OK, but why the errors still appear while being "OK" is confusing. The directories seem to be hidden so they can't be found to be removed. Help! Anyone else with the same problem? There was a previous thread, but it ended without a solution. Thanks.

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 18, 2020 10:50 AM

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User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
362,007 points

Posted on Apr 18, 2020 1:27 PM

Are they generated for APFS disk snapshots? If so, then they can be ignored. Otherwise, I would backup your files, reformat the startup volume, and reinstall macOS.


Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch


If possible, back up your files.


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo and progress bar appear. Wait until the Utility Menu appears.
  2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
  3. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (out-dented entry w/type and size info) from the Device list.
  4. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  5. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  6. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  7. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  8. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  9. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
362,007 points

Apr 18, 2020 1:27 PM in response to JPak1

Are they generated for APFS disk snapshots? If so, then they can be ignored. Otherwise, I would backup your files, reformat the startup volume, and reinstall macOS.


Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch


If possible, back up your files.


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo and progress bar appear. Wait until the Utility Menu appears.
  2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
  3. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (out-dented entry w/type and size info) from the Device list.
  4. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  5. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  6. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  7. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  8. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  9. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


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warning: directory valence check / orphan directory record

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