Robert Glass

Q: Disk Utility - First Aid process failing

I've been running into issues with my iMac, such as random freezes and shutdowns at random times while doing completely different things. I thought I narrowed down the problem to a USB hub, but it crashed on me again the other day. For no apparent reason everything stops responding, trackpad is unresponsive, music stops, and within about a minute it shuts down and restarts by itself. The behaviour is totally random and unpredictable. Sometimes I can go a couple weeks, sometimes it will happen after subsequent restarts. Super annoying, especially since I never had this issue with my 2008 iMac.

 

Lately I've had a lot of spinning beachballs in the Finder. Sometimes I can wait it out, sometimes I need to restart completely. I've tried reinstalling the OS, resetting PRAM, removed all peripherals, booted in Safe Mode, all to no avail.

 

The other day I tried running Disk Utility to repair the permissions, but I'm getting an error - "First Aid process has failed. If possible back up the data on this volume."  "The operation couldn't be competed. (Cocoa error -1)". Not sure why this is happening. I'm wondering if this has to do with my problems possibly? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), 27" - 2TB Fusion Drive, 16GB RAM

Posted on Jul 1, 2016 1:24 PM

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Q: Disk Utility - First Aid process failing

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 1, 2016 1:27 PM in response to Robert Glass
    Level 10 (122,600 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 1, 2016 1:27 PM in response to Robert Glass
  • by Robert Glass,

    Robert Glass Robert Glass Jul 1, 2016 1:42 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 1, 2016 1:42 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Thanks for your reply. I tried that before, and just did it now and there were no issues found.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jul 1, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Robert Glass
    Level 9 (72,507 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 1, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Robert Glass

    Try running this program and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.
      

    Etrecheck – System Information

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Jul 1, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Robert Glass
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 1, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Robert Glass

    Do you have a good backup? You can try reformatting the drive and do an Internet Recovery.

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

  • by Robert Glass,

    Robert Glass Robert Glass Jul 1, 2016 1:54 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 1, 2016 1:54 PM in response to Eric Root

    EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)

    Report generated 2016-07-01 13:52:41

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 1:45

    Performance: Excellent

     

    Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

    Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

     

    Problem: Computer is restarting

    Description:

    Computer keeps crashing

     

    Hardware Information:

        iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)

        [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

        iMac - model: iMac17,1

        1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

        16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                4 GB DDR3 1867 MHz ok

            BANK 0/DIMM1

                8 GB DDR3 1867 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                4 GB DDR3 1867 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM1

                Empty  

        Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

        Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

     

    Video Information:

        AMD Radeon R9 M390 - VRAM: 2048 MB

            iMac 5120 x 2880

     

    System Software:

        OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: less than an hour

     

    Disk Information:

        APPLE HDD ST2000DM001 disk0 : (2 TB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 2.10 TB (1.31 TB free)

                Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

                Core Storage: disk1s2 120.99 GB Online

                Core Storage: disk0s2 2.00 TB Online

     

        APPLE SSD SM0128G disk1 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

            EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Boot OS X (disk1s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 2.10 TB (1.31 TB free)

                Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

                Core Storage: disk1s2 120.99 GB Online

                Core Storage: disk0s2 2.00 TB Online

     

    USB Information:

        VIA Labs, Inc.          USB3.0 Hub             

            VIA Labs, Inc.          USB3.0 Hub             

        Western Digital My Book 1234 3 TB

            EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Boot OS X (disk3s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

            WD My Book 2 (disk3s4) /Volumes/WD My Book 2 : 1.00 TB (630.54 GB free)

            WD My Book 1 (disk4) /Volumes/WD My Book 1 : 2.00 TB (28.38 GB free)

                Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

                Core Storage: disk3s2 2.00 TB Online

        Broadcom Corp. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

        Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

        APC Back-UPS ES 550G FW:904.W1 .D USB FW:W1 

        VIA Labs, Inc.          USB2.0 Hub             

            VIA Labs, Inc.          USB2.0 Hub             

     

    Thunderbolt Information:

        Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

     

    Gatekeeper:

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Kernel Extensions:

            /Applications/Parallels Desktop.app

        [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-04-23) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.netbridge (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-04-23) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-04-23) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.vnic (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-04-23) [Support]

     

            /Library/Extensions

        [not loaded]    com.FTDI.driver.D2XXHelper (1.0 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-06-04) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.3.15-3 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-06-04) [Support]

     

    System Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    7 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    151 Apple tasks

        [running]    80 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons:

        [not loaded]    46 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    155 Apple tasks

        [running]    89 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-04-15) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.citrix.AuthManager_Mac.plist (2015-06-22) [Support]

        [running]    com.citrix.ReceiverHelper.plist (2015-06-22) [Support]

        [running]    com.citrix.ServiceRecords.plist (2015-06-22) [Support]

        [running]    com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (2015-12-16) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2014-12-03) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2015-11-14) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-05-15) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2015-11-05) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (2015-12-16) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist (2016-05-22) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-11-14) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-08-05) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.shirtpocket.backuponmount-login.plist (2016-01-06) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.shirtpocket.backuponmount.plist (2016-01-06) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (2016-04-28) [Support]

     

    User Login Items:

        Flux    Application  (/Applications/Flux.app)

        iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

     

    Other Apps:

        [running]    2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper

        [running]    com.bloombuilt.dayone-mac-agent

        [running]    com.etresoft.EtreCheck.180512

        [running]    com.getdropbox.dropbox.47392

        [running]    com.wacom.TabletDriver.72032

        [running]    com.wacom.WacomTouchDriver.86752

        [running]    org.herf.Flux.253792

        [loaded]    397 Apple tasks

        [running]    200 Apple tasks

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-18)

        Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-18)

        SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.5.7 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-19) [Support]

        CitrixICAClientPlugIn: 12.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2015-06-22) [Support]

        Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-07) [Support]

        WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 - SDK 10.9 (2015-12-16) [Support]

        JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.1 - SDK 10.11 (2014-12-03) Check version

     

    Safari Extensions:

        1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2016-05-22)

        Pin It Button - Pinterest, Inc. - http://www.pinterest.com/ (2016-03-19)

        Save to Pocket - Read It Later, Inc. - http://getpocket.com/ (2016-03-19)

        Open in Internet Explorer - Parallels - http://www.parallels.com (2016-04-23)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

        WacomTablet (2015-12-16) [Support]

     

    Time Machine:

        Skip System Files: NO

        Mobile backups: OFF

        Auto backup: YES

        Volumes being backed up:

            Macintosh HD: Disk size: 2.10 TB Disk used: 795.86 GB

        Destinations:

            WD My Passport [Local]

            Total size: 2.00 TB

            Total number of backups: 15

            Oldest backup: 2016-03-12, 7:09 PM

            Last backup: 2016-06-28, 2:20 PM

            Size of backup disk: Too small

                Backup size 2.00 TB < (Disk used 795.86 GB X 3)

     

            WD My Book 1 [Local]

            Total size: 2.00 TB

            Total number of backups: 94

            Oldest backup: 2014-12-31, 5:03 AM

            Last backup: 2016-07-01, 1:02 PM

            Size of backup disk: Too small

                Backup size 2.00 TB < (Disk used 795.86 GB X 3)

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

             7%    kernel_task

             3%    mds

             2%    fontd

             2%    WindowServer

             2%    Safari

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        1.06 GB    kernel_task

        754 MB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(6)

        541 MB    mds_stores

        360 MB    iTunes

        344 MB    com.apple.MediaLibraryService

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

        8.59 GB    Free RAM

        7.41 GB    Used RAM (4.17 GB Cached)

        0 B    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information:

        Jul 1, 2016, 01:49:00 PM    Self test - passed

  • by Robert Glass,

    Robert Glass Robert Glass Jul 1, 2016 2:00 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 1, 2016 2:00 PM in response to macjack

    Thanks. I may try that. Funny thing, my computer just crashed again while reading your response! Argh!!!

  • by theratter,Solvedanswer

    theratter theratter Jul 1, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Robert Glass
    Level 4 (3,917 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 1, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Robert Glass

    It means that your disk is either corrupt or is failing. Backup your files, erase the disk, then reinstall a fresh copy of OS X. If you are unable to do this then the disk is failing.

     

    Install Yosemite or El Capitan from Scratch

     

           Backup if possible before continuing.

     

    1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
    2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
    3. When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
    4. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
    5. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
    6. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
    7. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
    8. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

     

    [Permission to use part or all of the above has been granted by Kappy, exclusively, to theratter.]

  • by Robert Glass,

    Robert Glass Robert Glass Jul 2, 2016 1:08 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 2, 2016 1:08 PM in response to theratter

    Thanks for your response. I did this, and reloaded everything from Time Machine backup. I was always hesitating at doing this, but in reality it was pretty straight forward, and none of my settings or files were lost. I can now see the Macintosh HD partition in Disk Utility and I can run the 'Repair Disk' routine. I am guessing my disk must have been corrupted sometime back, that's probably why I seeing all these other issues. Hopefully this fixed it! Loving my iMac again.

  • by Robert Glass,

    Robert Glass Robert Glass Jul 2, 2016 2:20 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 2, 2016 2:20 PM in response to theratter

    Never mind, problem not solved, just crashed again after all that. Just booked Genius bar appointment. So frustrated .

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jul 2, 2016 2:30 PM in response to Robert Glass
    Level 4 (3,917 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 2, 2016 2:30 PM in response to Robert Glass

    I would not have restored from the Time Machine backup because it may contain aa corrupted file or two causing the problem. Of course, the drive may be failing or there is some other hardware problem. You might try running a hardware test:

     

    Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support


    How to run Apple Hardware Test on Intel Macs

     

    To check your hardware use the hardware diagnostics.  Boot from the OS X Installer Disc One that originally came with your computer.  After the chime press and hold down the "D" key until the diagnostic screen appears.  Run the extended diagnostics repeatedly over the course of an hour or so to allow possible errors to be detected.  If you receive any error messages note them down.  You will need that information if you take the computer in for service.

     

    Apple Hardware Test- iMac (Mid 2007) and later models

    upekkha-AppleHardwareTest · GitHub

  • by Robert Glass,

    Robert Glass Robert Glass Jul 10, 2016 2:30 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 10, 2016 2:30 PM in response to theratter

    Ok, I've gone about seven days without a crash or freeze. (I think it did reboot on me over night once, but I was transferring a large file, so maybe Finder crashed.)

     

    I must have had some corrupted info from previous accounts. Thanks for the suggestion! Wasn't really that painful with so much data in the cloud now. Hopefully this has solved my problems. Starting to love my iMac again.

     

    One weird thing I noticed when I erased my HD and installed new copy of OS X, is that my Guest account was still there, and it still had items in the trash from before I erased the disk. I thought this was really weird because I figured wiping it clean with Disk Utility would have completely erased the whole disk.

     

    Thanks again!

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Jul 10, 2016 4:12 PM in response to Robert Glass
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 10, 2016 4:12 PM in response to Robert Glass

    It certainly should have, if you followed the steps carefully. My suspicion is that came from iCloud backup?