what is Disk Utility error -39

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Level 1

8 points

what is Disk Utility error -39

I'm trying to copy my primary HD to a secondary, external HD as a compressed image, so I can replace the primary HD and re-install the image on a new primary HD. (Is there a better way to replace a primary HD?)

Process:

1. boot from the 10.4 DVD

2. start Disk Utility

The primary HD is 150GB, 92GB used. The secondary HD is 950GB, 700GB used.

3. choose the primary HD

4. select "make image", and save to secondary HD, option "compressed".

A window shows copy progress.

At end of progress (about an hour or two later)..

New window opens with an error, something like: Cannot save image. Disk utility error -39.

What does the error mean? How do I fix error?

Is there another way to copy/backup the HD (option drag fails with not all info will be copied..)?

Thanks kindly,

Liselotte/tb

Disk Utility-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Sep 18, 2011 2:44 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

BDAqua

Level 10

238,889 points

Sep 18, 2011 3:03 PM in response to tekbasse

Hello,

-39 eofErr End of file; no additional data in the format

Some file or the Disk Directory is corrupt it seems.

Could be many things, we should start with this...

"Try Disk Utility

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.

2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)

*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*

3. Click the First Aid tab.

4. Select your Mac OS X volume.

5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.

(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.

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Answer 2

lupunus

Level 4

1,000 points

Sep 18, 2011 3:07 PM in response to tekbasse

On first, to create a image of the sytem disk you have to "clone" the entire disk.

Creating just a copy as an image wont work for that.

You may do it with the Disk Utility or a 3rd party tool like carbon copy cloner CCC

On this, you will get a real bootable clone of your system disk.

To replace the old smaller disk with a new bigger, you can also...

put the target disk (your new one) in a USB enclosure and connect direct to the Machine. The clone the system disk to it

Alternative:

Put in the new (empty) disk in the sytem and the old one in a enclosure. Then "restore" a clone to the new disk.

A easy how to for the Disk Utility is here --> http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1553

For the error -36 troubleshoot use the post above mine, he/she was faster in answering.

Lupunus

Message was edited by: lupunus

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Answer 3

tekbasse Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 18, 2011 3:12 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you, BDaqua. I also just found this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/369670?tstart=0

I'll try these and report back.

cheers,

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Answer 4

tekbasse Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2011 1:59 AM in response to tekbasse

Disk Utility for 10.4.2 and 10.4.3 DVD failed with same error,but DU for 10.5.1 works.

It seema that earlier DUs had an issue with an alias to the external HD for Pictures directory.

Thank you also to lupunus for the link confirming that I"m doing things correctly.

cheers!

Liselotte/tb

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