Q: Problem in Repairing Startup Disk

Question

blountcomick

Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

Q: Problem in Repairing Startup Disk

This morning I began a routine cleaning using Onyx. Although I usually skip the step, today I let Onyx go through the verifying startup volume. I got the message that I needed to do a Disk Repair. Using the instructions from this website (Testing and repairing your startup disk) I kept getting the message "There were errors installing the software. Please try installing again. I did, twice more, with the same result. How should I work around this to do the disk repair?

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 18, 2012 10:48 AM

I have this question too

Solved

Klaus1

Level 8 (48,821 points)

A:

That is verifying not repairing!

Posted on May 18, 2012 3:29 PM

Q: Problem in Repairing Startup Disk

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by Klaus1,

Klaus1 May 18, 2012 11:15 AM in response to blountcomick
Level 8 (48,821 points)

May 18, 2012 11:15 AM in response to blountcomick

There is no software to install to repair your hard drive, you do this using disk utility from your install disk.

Reboot from your install disk (holding down the C key). Once it opens, select your language, and then go to Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Select your hard disk as before and click Repair:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1782?viewlocale=en_US

Once that is complete reboot again from your usual start-up disk.

Do not use Onyx for this purpose.
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by blountcomick,

blountcomick May 18, 2012 12:35 PM in response to Klaus1
Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

May 18, 2012 12:35 PM in response to Klaus1

Like my previous efforts which used the Option key rather than the C key, the end result was the same. Disk utility reads "verifying destination volume" followed in short order by the "There were errors........" message. Any further thoughts?
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by blountcomick,

blountcomick May 18, 2012 6:25 PM in response to Klaus1
Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

May 18, 2012 6:25 PM in response to Klaus1

You are corresponding with an aging individual having little computer knowledge.

I got as far as First Aid and got the message that First Aid failed. To quote: "The underlying task reported failure on exit. 1 HFS volume checked. 1 volume could not be repaired because of an error.."
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by Limnos,Helpful

Limnos May 18, 2012 8:29 PM in response to blountcomick
Level 9 (53,936 points)

Mac OS X

May 18, 2012 8:29 PM in response to blountcomick

Okay, you have encountered an error Disk Utility cannot fix. Disk Utility can only do basic things. You will probably need to try a stronger tool for which you will have to pay. Diskwarrior is usually the top recommended for this kind of thing, although Techtool Pro and some others can also do repairs.

You'd be surprised at how many of us are also ageing individuals.
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by BDAqua,Helpful

BDAqua May 18, 2012 8:57 PM in response to blountcomick
Level 10 (123,618 points)

May 18, 2012 8:57 PM in response to blountcomick

What whippersnapper Limnos says!

You must repair the HD, if Disk Utility or fsck should fail to repair it, your best bet is DiskWarrior from Alsoft, you'll need the CD to boot from if you don't have another boot drive...

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/

Your best bet is DiskWarrior, you need the CD/DVD though, if you don't have another Hard Drive to boot from.

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/

But others that may work…

Intech Speedtools Pro...

http://www.intechusa.com/STU3.html

Drive Genius…

http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php

TechTool Pro…

http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=83

BTW, you might enjoy these DiskWarrior review/recommendations...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9645801&#9645801

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10541019#10541019

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11918925&#11918925

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12684129#12684129

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12744794&#12744794

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12912879#12912879
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by blountcomick,

blountcomick May 20, 2012 5:47 PM in response to BDAqua
Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

May 20, 2012 5:47 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks to all for the advice and information. I have another question (which may reinforce your opinion of my novice status): Would upgrading to Leopard or Snow Leopard solve my problem? If so it seems to me I have 3 options: (1) Repair with Disk Warrior (2) Upgrade or (3) Purchase a new iMac.

For reassurance on the Disk Warrior option, I sent an e-mail to their support asking if Disk Warrior would solve my specific problem.
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by Limnos,

Limnos May 20, 2012 7:00 PM in response to blountcomick
Level 9 (53,936 points)

Mac OS X

May 20, 2012 7:00 PM in response to blountcomick

Your directory is broken somewhere. You don't know where, we don't know where. The directory is like the old fashioned card catalog which tells your computer where all the files are located. Your card catalog is bad. If you are lucky maybe only those files are lost which a system installation (same old one or upgrade) would replace. Alternatively, it could make things worse and would be like your mother going in and cleaning your room for you. We can't tell you because we don't know.

Buying a brand new computer would only help if you don't plan on transferring your files from the old one. If you do, you may suddenly find you get a file error message. Or worse, you don't get a message but 2 years down the road when you're trying to open some critical document you find it is corrupt. Frankly if you are considering buying a new computer as a fix for this, why not just erase your whole hard drive (and lose all your files) and still use the old one? Wiping the drive is like burning down the library and building a new one. At least you know there won't be any corrupt catalog if there aren't any books to list.

The bottom line is, if you like playing it safe the only thing to do is repair the drive (and hope it can be repaired -- some directory things are beyond any tool).
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by blountcomick,

blountcomick May 21, 2012 10:04 AM in response to Limnos
Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

May 21, 2012 10:04 AM in response to Limnos

I ordered Disk Warrior this morning.
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by blountcomick,

blountcomick May 24, 2012 1:54 PM in response to Limnos
Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

May 24, 2012 1:54 PM in response to Limnos

I received and ran Disk Warrior this afternoon. I called Alsoft and discussed the results with their tech service. Conclusion: the hard drive is failing. What is involved in replacing it? The technician suggested I check with BestBuy which i did: up to $100 for the drive, $40 to install. I have the two Mac OS X Install disks. Do I need anything else? How difficult is it to remove and install the new hard drive? Any other thoughts or advice? Thanks.
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by Limnos,

Limnos May 25, 2012 9:35 PM in response to blountcomick
Level 9 (53,936 points)

Mac OS X

May 25, 2012 9:35 PM in response to blountcomick

Can't provide advice without knowing what hardware you have. Get more information about your computer. Go to the Apple in the upper left corner of any window, then "About This Mac", then "More Info..." Copy and paste the information here, but omit the serial number and Hardware UUID (if present).
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua May 25, 2012 11:35 PM in response to blountcomick
Level 10 (123,618 points)

May 25, 2012 11:35 PM in response to blountcomick

I'd consider that cheap if it is a G5 iMac,
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by blountcomick,

blountcomick May 26, 2012 3:32 PM in response to BDAqua
Level 1 (6 points)

Mac OS X

May 26, 2012 3:32 PM in response to BDAqua

I have the new hard drive and am having difficulty trying to install the Mac OS X discs. Disk 1 is in the computer now. It opened up Mac OSX Installer >Continue >License agreement>Continue>Agree>Select a Destination...... BUT........there is no destination to select. The only live option is Go Back.

I am using my son's Dell laptop to send this which alone is enough to give me a headache.
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua May 26, 2012 4:06 PM in response to blountcomick
Level 10 (123,618 points)

May 26, 2012 4:06 PM in response to blountcomick

Hello, you need to Format it first!

How to format your disks...

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html

Thanks to Pondini, Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks...

http://Pondini.org/OSX/DU.html
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Page 1

Accepted Answer · May 18, 2012 3:29 PM

Klaus1

Level 8 (48,821 points)

May 18, 2012 3:29 PM in response to blountcomick

That is verifying not repairing!

Q: Problem in Repairing Startup Disk

All replies Helpful answers

by Klaus1,

by blountcomick,

by Klaus1,Solvedanswer

by blountcomick,

by Limnos,★Helpful

by BDAqua,★Helpful

by blountcomick,

by Limnos,

by blountcomick,

by blountcomick,

by Limnos,

by BDAqua,

by blountcomick,

by BDAqua,

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by Limnos,Helpful

by BDAqua,Helpful