Repairing permissions taking long time (onyx)

Question

Repairing permissions taking long time (onyx)

I know this isn't really a snow leopard question but I'm repairing my permissions with onyx and it's taking longer then it's ever taken before. Should I let it continue?

Macbook Pro 13", Mac OS X (10.6), Total Mac Noob

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 12:34 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jan 6, 2011 12:40 PM in response to TomDefyingLife

You can quit if you wish. In the future use Disk Utility to repair permissions or your hard drive. DU is the utility provided for that purpose.

Depending upon how messed up your system has become, repairing permissions could take some time. Once you quit Onyx and startup Disk Utility to repair permissions expect the process to take a while.

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Answer 2

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Jan 6, 2011 4:37 PM in response to TomDefyingLife

OnyX is almost certainly doing the same thing as Disk Utility. It's handy to have several things all brought together in one app, but at least in this case, it's very doubtful there's any other benefit.

If repair permissions runs very slowly, there are a few possible causes:

Other things running that are using a lot of your CPU and/or disk access.
Problems with the +File System+ on your disk. When you start OnyX, one of the things it does (unless you cancel) is a +Verify Disk.+ If you haven't let it do that, do so. If that reports problems, see #6, especially the yellow box, in [Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
Problems with your internal HD. Try running this: [Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509]. Run the Extended tests.

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2011 10:14 AM in response to TomDefyingLife

I restarted and tried again and just left it going and eventually it finished. Cheers for the replies.

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Answer 4

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Jan 9, 2011 10:21 AM in response to TomDefyingLife

Good, but it does sound like there may be a problem -- it shouldn't take all that long to run.

When OnyX checks the S.M.A.R.T. status, and Verifies your startup volume, does it report they're ok? If not, post back and we'll help you find out what's wrong.

If they do seem ok, try running this: [Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509]. Run the Extended tests.

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Answer 5

Jan 9, 2011 10:29 AM in response to Pondini

The Verify Disk part runs fine.

To do the hardware tests do I need the disk that came with my mbp or do i need the snow leopard disk?

thanks again for the help

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Answer 6

Jan 9, 2011 10:32 AM in response to TomDefyingLife

after re reading the page you linked to it seems i need the disk that came with my mbp.

"For Intel-based Apple computers shipping with Mac OS X v10.5.4 or earlier, Apple Hardware Test is located on the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 and should be included with your computer.
For Intel-based Apple computers shipping with Mac OS X v10.5.5 or later, Apple Hardware Test is located on the Applications Install Disc 2 and should be included with your computer."

How do i know what it shipped with? I'm pretty sure it only came with one cd, will this be the correct one?

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Answer 7

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Jan 9, 2011 10:45 AM in response to TomDefyingLife

TomDefyingLife wrote:
after re reading the page you linked to it seems i need the disk that came with my mbp.

Correct. The AHT is tailored to the particular hardware in your Mac, so is not on the Retail discs.

How do i know what it shipped with? I'm pretty sure it only came with one cd, will this be the correct one?

There should have been two. The one with the AHT on it should say so on the label, with directions for running it, in very tiny type.

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Answer 8

Jan 9, 2011 10:47 AM in response to Pondini

I found the dvd and ran the tests and it found nothing. Should I run the extensive tests that take up to an hour?

Just out of interest whats on the other CD i should have got? Not sure where I must have put it

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Answer 9

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Jan 9, 2011 10:54 AM in response to TomDefyingLife

TomDefyingLife wrote:
I found the dvd and ran the tests and it found nothing. Should I run the extensive tests that take up to an hour?

Your call. It sounds like something is wrong, for the permissions repair to have taken so long.

You might have something else going on instead, but checking out the hardware is usually the place to start.

Just out of interest whats on the other CD i should have got? Not sure where I must have put it

Generally, one has OSX, the standard Apple Apps, the Installer, and a few optional things on it; the other has your iLife apps (they're not on the Retail version of OSX; when you upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard, you don't get the new iLife stuff).

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