"Error: Invalid node structure" - now what?

Question

Level 2

238 points

"Error: Invalid node structure" - now what?

I've been having problems trying to reinstall Palm Desktop, and in the process of running Disk Utility First Aid, I uncovered a problem. When I ran Verify Disk, I got the following error message:

"Error: Underlying task reported failure on exit. Invalid node structure. Volume needs repair."

However, the Repair button is grayed out, so what do I do?

A little background info that may or may not be relevant: In the process of migrating from my old iMac to this iBook last September, I seem to have created quite a few permissions problems, which I have tried to straighten out by changing permissions at folder levels and running Disk Utility's Repair Permissions.

Thanks.

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3), 80GB hard drive; 1GB RAM; AirPort Extreme w/Direcway satellite

Posted on Mar 30, 2006 2:52 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 30, 2006 3:01 PM in response to luneluxe

Hi luneluxe;

If you are booted from the disk, disk utility will not let you repair it, hence the icon is ghosted out. It is necessary for you to boot from you install CD and run disk utility from there.

Generally speaking, the "invalid node structure" is a fairly serious problem and it is very likely that disk utility will not be able to repair it. If this proves true you will need DiskWarrior to repair it.

Allan

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Answer 2

Mark Jones

Level 4

3,070 points

Mar 30, 2006 3:03 PM in response to luneluxe

Running 'Repair Permissions' from Disk Utility will only set permissions to information from the /Library/Receipts folder it won't do anything to help with permissions of folder not contained in the information in those packages. Folders in the home folder for example.

Mark

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Answer 3

Mar 31, 2006 11:25 AM in response to luneluxe

Try using Disk Utility to repair your startup disk (hard drive) as shown in Dr.Smokes Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption. His link will guide you thru what Allan was talking about.

As Allan said, you'll most likely need DiskWarrior to fix that problem. If you buy it, get the CD, not the download, so you can bootup on the DW CD.

If you have a good backup, you can do the following to fix it;
This is the best way to Erase and Install. First backup all your important stuff, if you can, as the following will erase everything on your drive; it will be unrecoverable. Put your install disk in your Mac and Restart while holding down the C key. In Tiger, When you get to the install screen, don't click install and go to the title bar at the top of the screen and click on Utilities (in earlier OS's click on the installer menu).
Click on Disk Utility and choose the hard drive you want your OS on. Then click on the Erase tab. In Tiger, click on the Security Options button near the bottom (it's similiar for Panther and Jaguar).
Once in there choose Zero Out Data (write zero's in earlier versions). This will map out any bad blocks on your drive and bring it back to almost new condition (providing there's nothing wrong mechanically with it, bad bearings, defective or damaged surface, etc.).
Once this is done, go back to the install screen and begin the "Erase and Install" installation. This will put a factory fresh system on a clean hard drive.

Cheers!
DALE

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Answer 4

luneluxe Author

Level 2

238 points

Mar 31, 2006 1:17 PM in response to Dale Weisshaar

Yikes. This sounds serious. Thanks, guys, for the advice. I will try booting from the install CD and hopefully that will fix it. I do have weekly backups of my documents and settings; however, I'm behind on my photo and music backups. I will get those done ASAP.

Question: If booting from the install CD and running Disk Utility First Aid doesn't work, is this problem covered under my warranty? I have the extended plan. I'd really rather not spend $79.95 on Disk Warrior, or have to reformat entirely. Not to mention I don't really have time to deal with this ....

I'll report back on how the First Aid goes. Thanks again.

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Answer 5

Apr 1, 2006 12:47 PM in response to luneluxe

Since this is likely not a hardware problem, I don't think Apple repair will do anything more for you then you can do yourself. They'll probably just Erase and Install your OS.

Cheers!
DALE

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Answer 6

luneluxe Author

Level 2

238 points

Apr 3, 2006 10:29 AM in response to Dale Weisshaar

Hi guys, just wanted to let you know I took my iBook in to the shop this morning. When I booted from the install disc and ran First Aid, the repair failed and then the hard drive disappeared. Since there was no hard drive, I couldn't even reinstall.

Bummer. But at least I got everything backed up first (I hope). And I believe it will be covered under warranty.

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Answer 7

Apr 3, 2006 9:27 PM in response to luneluxe

Thanks for letting us know.
Sorry your hard drive may be dead.
Wish you luck!

Cheers!
DALE

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Answer 8

luneluxe Author

Level 2

238 points

Apr 5, 2006 1:19 PM in response to Dale Weisshaar

Yep, it's dead. It's been shipped to Memphis for a new hard drive. Only seven months!

The tech here thought the permissions problems I inadvertently created when migrating to the new computer may have caused the hard drive to work harder and burn out sooner. Well. Hmph.

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Answer 9

Apr 5, 2006 10:41 PM in response to luneluxe

The tech here thought the permissions problems I
inadvertently created when migrating to the new
computer may have caused the hard drive to work
harder and burn out sooner.

Yeah, sure! LOL. Well, at least you know how knowledgeable that "tech" really is if (hopefully not) something like this happens to you again.

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Answer 10

Mark Jones

Level 4

3,070 points

Apr 6, 2006 2:09 AM in response to luneluxe

Drives can go at any time to hardware failure, no amount of activity you put them through will decide this. If S.M.A.R.T. detects a failure then the drive was most likely faulty at some point pretty much in it's early life.

I've been setting up brand new machines and the hard drive has completely failed before. Sometimes they run for years though with no problems. It's just down to the mechanics of Hard Drives and how they work.

Mark

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Answer 11

Apr 6, 2006 3:28 PM in response to luneluxe

My hard drive has lasted 6 years in my present Mac.

My previous Mac's drive only lasted 4 months. Luck of the draw!

Cheers!
DALE

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