Disk Utility Error: What is Live file system repair is not supported?

It is likely related to the way Mavericks updates volumes to be bootable with its new EFI partition scheme. Make sure you select the actual partition and NOT the volume or disk as it will likely include this EFI partition and generate this error. "Live file systems" are files curremtly used or protected by the system from being altered.

See the following Apple support docs with more info. (Repair errors, Using Disk Utility for repairs)

I recently ran into a similar issue with my Time Machine backup disk. After about 6 days of no backups - I had swapped the disk for my photo library for a media project; I reattached the Time Machine disk and attempted a backup.

Time Machine could not backup to the disk. Running Disk Utility and attempting to Repair the disk ended up returning the "Live file system repair is not supported" message.

After much experimentaion with disk analysis softwares, I came to the realization that the issue might be that the USB disk dock wasn't connected directly to the MacBook Pro - it was daisy-chained through a USB Hub.

Connecting the USB disk dock directly to the MBP and running Disk Utility appears to have resolved the issue. DU ran for about 6 hours and succesfully repaired the disk. Consequently, I have been able to use that Time Machine disk for subsequent backups.

I had the same problem trying to repair a disk on a WD external hard drive.

I googled for the answer, read several forums, and finally called live tech support at WD. None of this was helpful, but added up to a big waste of time and growing frustration.

For me, I stumbled on the simple "duh" simple fix: Force eject all the disks the volume (to do that I had to first go to my Activity Monitor and quit any programs that might possibly be using any of the disks in any way); then shut down the computer & turn in back on; And then re-connect the external drive back with the computer. After doing this, I ran disk utility and it said the volume and all its drives appear to be okay.

Good luck.

This fixed my problem. Thanks

For me, I stumbled on the simple "duh" simple fix: Force eject all the disks the volume (to do that I had to first go to my Activity Monitor and quit any programs that might possibly be using any of the disks in any way); then shut down the computer & turn in back on; And then re-connect the external drive back with the computer. After doing this, I ran disk utility and it said the volume and all its drives appear to be okay.

I also found that to be functional for a while. Been seeing the same thing for about 6 mos. to a year.

My drive died last week.

Could be coincidence, but none of my other drives ever display that behavior. And, if the drive cannot be ejected normally when it is obviously not in use, there is something afoot at the Circle K.

Fixed! thanks

I am also now seeing this problem after upgrading to Maveriks. Time Machine stops working with an external USB drive (Seagate) and Disk Utility can't repair the drive with the error "Live file system repair is not supported".

Force ejecting the drive, shutting down and restarting provides a temporary fix (Disk Utility checks out the drive fine) but the problem comes back on a regular basis now.

Any one else have suggestions?

I just thought I would share my solution. I was having the same issues, but I turned off file sharing and it repaired the drive with no issues. Once it was done I turned file sharing back on.

I just saw this error for the first time. I beleive the drive is dying.

See this for details:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2151621?start=915&tstart=0

ironteeth... this resolved the issue of Disk Utility unable to repair the disk due to "Live file system repair is not supported."

Thanks for sharing.

You'll get this message if you try to repair a file system that's mounted.

You need to eject a disk before repairing it.

I have the same problem with my WD dsik. I found out that my anti malware is doing this when going through to check the backup files. Either stop the Malware/Virus software from scanning the disk or let it go through it all and then do another run with Disk Utility

I was able to get my drive working again by running Seagate's SeaTools for Windows using VMWare Fusion as the Windows emulator. The drive failed the initial test but was repairable using the long scan, even though Disk Utility could not repair. I first formatted as a FAT drive, did the repair in Windows (which took 3 days to scan!) and then after repair was complete, reformated the drive as a Journaled IOS drive using Disk Utility. It has been working reliably with Time Machine ever since. Apparently there may have been bad sectors.

+1 for turning off Sharing.

+1 for turning off Sharing and Sophos Anti-Virus.