Help: Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required

I assume that means you don't have a complete backup.

If you haven't already done so, force quit Disk Utility. Back up all the data on the drive, if you can get it to mount. Be sure to check that the USB cable is securely seated at both ends. If you can't get the drive to mount, either on that Mac or another one, then you're in a recovery situation. I can't help you much with that, because I always back up my data and I've never tried to recover a damaged volume. The first thing to try would be to remove the drive mechanism from the USB enclosure and install it in another enclosure or dock. That might be all it takes, if you're very lucky.

Otherwise, depending on the value of the data to you, you may want to consider sending the drive to a professional recovery service such as Drive Savers, which will be very expensive but gives you the best chance of success. If you prefer to do it yourself, some people have reported success with tools such as "Disk Warrior" or "Data Rescue." I have no idea whether those tools will work in this case.

I'm having the same problem, and it seems to be Lion that it does not support NTFS disk format. I have 1TB Western Dig with all my media in it and know I'm stuck. I shouldn't have update to Lion until any support for came along.

Is there something could be done to solve these? Anyone?

I am hanging here in Disk Utility as well with the same "updating boot support partitions" message. I have Mac OS Format. Originally it was formatted on Snow Leopard. I updated to Lion. I tried accessing the drive on a different Mac with Snow Leopard and that's what I'm repairing it in. I could see the drive in disk utility in both macs but it wan't mounted. Now it's been doing this update for over an hour. Is it save to stop repair? Or should I close out disk utility? What is the best way to stop this loop and disconnect the hard drive? Can I do it without damaging my data? This is my backup and it holds all my iTunes and iPhoto files.

I'm having the exact same issue on Lion with a SeaGate 3TB Go Flex HDD using the USB 2.0 mount. The HDD is my time machine backup and has been working fine for the past month since i bought it, but not won't work on any computer and hangs in the updating boot....

I finally just stopped the updating. Once it finally did stop I was able to use the hard drive again. It is now mounted, which appears to be the reason it dropped. As soon as it reappeared I backed up all my files. Now it is working again but I've ordered another hard drive to replace it. I have no idea if it will drop again or if replacing the hard drive with a new one is a better idea. It would be nice to know a permanent solution to this problem. I lost my hard drive connection (dismounted) sometime Monday morning. I reestablished a connection, remoounted and completed the back up by Tuesday morning. (I had to leave it overnight because it was at work.) Not quite a week later I have had no more symptoms of dropping my connection to the hard drive. I reordered the same WD 1TB drive because it works best with my MacBook for size and convenience as it is packed along with my MacBook everyday. I plan to backup with TIme Machine on a Network HD in the future. What's the best HD for quality and ease of use with Macs? Can you share a networked HD with a PC once it's set up for use with TIme Machine?

I plan to backup with TIme Machine on a Network HD in the future.

Apple goes all crazy with ease of use solutions that are in reality have many points of potential failure.

It's ok to experiment with these solutions as a secondary backups but not as one's only form of backup.

For example a network is prone to interference and compromise especially since most people don't know how to properly secure their network. TimeMachine is a complicated piece of software that introduces more complexity in the user backup experience, the drives TM creates are not bootable therefore offer no hardware protection.

For one's primary backup, the saying "keep it simple stupid" comes to play, a simple and highly effective hold the option key bootable clone, two in fact, rotated about two weeks apart and updated nightly if you have many daily changes. This allows one to be back up on their working computer with all their files and programs intact in the time it takes to boot.

The two software's of choice for this are Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper, both have scheduling and updating ability so one isn't copying the whole boot partition all over again each time.

Also one should try to avoid using external Western Digital drives, especially the "green" ones that tend to self power down and don't lend themselves to operating correctly when access is needed.

ds store wrote:

For one's primary backup, the saying "keep it simple stupid" comes to play, a simple and highly effective hold the option key bootable clone, two in fact, rotated about two weeks apart and updated nightly if you have many daily changes. This allows one to be back up on their working computer with all their files and programs intact in the time it takes to boot.

The two software's of choice for this are Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper, both have scheduling and updating ability so one isn't copying the whole boot partition all over again each time.

Also one should try to avoid using external Western Digital drives, especially the "green" ones that tend to self power down and don't lend themselves to operating correctly when access is needed.

Hello,

you said "keep it simple stupid" -- that IS the reason why most people use Time Machine there is nothing really to set up, it is built into the system. For that reason we trust that since it is made specifically FOR Mac that is is the best solution. I for one was not aware of the problems you mentioned.

Could you please explain exactly what you mean by "hold the option key bootable clone" ?

And why do you NOT want to copy "the whole boot partition all over again"

One last thing: if you recommend not using "external Western Digital drives ..." what do you recommend?

Thank you,

BTW - When I also have "and then volume repair complete, it shows "updating boot support partitiions for the volume as required" and then stuck there " on my main drive. What can I do?

Macbook Pro (2011), Lion

silentwings wrote:

. . .

it shows "updating boot support partitiions for the volume as required"

That's not a problem; it's just saying it has done that as/if required.

As long as you see "appears to be ok," it's ok.

What backups do you have?