Disc Utility, "Error: Couldn't create temporary directory."

Question

Disc Utility, "Error: Couldn't create temporary directory."

My System:

(24") iMac early 2008

2.8 GHz Intel Core Duo

Memmory: 6GB 800MHz DDR SDRAM

OS: Yosemite v10.10.3

When running Disc Utility from my Main HD, on 3 three separate partitioned drives, I get the message:

"Problems were found with the partition map which might prevent booting. Error: Couldn't create temporary directory." &

"Problems were encountered during repair of the partition map. Error: Couldn't create temporary directory."

But if I run the utility on each volume of the partitioned drives, the volumes of each drive check out clean and there are no problems. However the error messages remain when testing the drive as a whole.

If I perform the same tasks (i.e. run Disc Utility) from Micromat's TechTool Pro (v8.0.1) eDrive, created on an ancillary (external) HD, connected to the computer via FireWire the three HD's come up clean, with absolutely no error messages. What's going on? It's as though the 3 drives are busy when booted from my main drive. My main drive also has MacKeeper (Disc Utility & Antivirus) installed, while this application is not installed on the eDrive. It may be the root of the problem.

The drives are partitioned as follows:

1) Main Drive (internal): WDC 320GB, 2 Volumes including Apple's repair volume,

2) Ancillary External Drive: Buffalo 2TB with 2 volumes of 1 TB each,

3) Ancillary External Drive: Maxtor 164 GB with 2 volumes, including eDrive

Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3), Late 2008 Mdl

Posted on May 3, 2015 1:34 AM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,649 points

May 3, 2015 7:14 AM in response to Ronald Prochat

"MacKeeper" is a scam with only one useful feature: it deletes itself.

First, back up all data.

Note: These instructions apply to the version of the product that I downloaded and tested in early 2012. I can't be sure that they apply to other versions.

If you have incompletely removed MacKeeper—for example, by dragging the application to the Trash and immediately emptying—then you'll have to reinstall it and start over.

IMPORTANT: "MacKeeper" has what the developer calls an “encryption” feature. In my tests, I didn't try to verify what this feature really does. If you used it to “encrypt” any of your files, “decrypt” them before you uninstall, or (preferably) restore the files from backups made before they were “encrypted.” As the developer is not trustworthy, you should assume that the "decrypted" files are corrupt unless proven otherwise.

In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Applications

from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-A. The "MacKeeper" application is in the folder that opens. Quit it if it's running, then drag it to the Trash. You'll be prompted for your login password. Click the Uninstall MacKeeper button in the dialog that appears. All the other functional components of the software will be deleted. Restart the computer and empty the Trash.

☞ Quit MacKeeper before dragging it to the Trash.

☞ Let MacKeeper delete its other components before you empty the Trash.

☞ Don't try to drag MacKeeper from the Dock or the Launchpad to the Trash.

☞ Don't try to remove MacKeeper while running in safe mode.

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Answer 2

May 5, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thank you Linc for your reply.

I have removed MacKeeper, disconnected all external drives, turned WiFi OFF, emptied the trash, and rebooted only to find that there is no change to the error message. Disc Utility (with Mac OS 10.10.3) still states that it cannot verify the entire disc because it cannot create a temporary directory, although when it verifies the volume, the volume comes up clean. And again, when I reconnect my external drive containing TechTool Pro's eDisc and run Disc Utility from this back up drive (which contains the same OS as my main HD), Disc Utility states that all drives are in good condition.

I'm not sure where to go from here. Should I simply reformat the drives? I have backed up the Volume, but not the entire drive which I assume also contains Apple's Repair Disc.

Once again, thanks for your assistance.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,649 points

May 6, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Ronald Prochat

The error message is not documented. I can't find any other reports like yours. You have two choices.

1. Put the message down to a harmless bug, ignore it, and hope for the best.

2. Back up and repartition the drives, after making at least two independent backups all data (which you need anyway.) There may be no change, but at least you'll know that the partition tables aren't corrupt.

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Answer 4

May 6, 2015 6:15 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks Linc. It is bizarre in so far as when checked with 1 version of Disc Utility there are reported problems, but when checked with the same version of Disk Utility from another hard drive there are no issues. The only thing I can think of is that there is something running in the back-ground which prevents these drives from being accessible to DU when run off my main drive, but which is not installed on the eDrive, hence allows the drives to be accessible. Thanks for your assistance.

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