Applications not opening, how do I fix this?

Question

This afternoon several of my applications have stopped opening. They just bounce in the dock a couple of times and then disappear. I have tried extracting the Webkit.framework since that is what it looked like was the problem. No luck there. I just tried to verify disk and this is the error message:
Verifying volume “Megan's hd”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Incorrect number of thread records
Checking multi-linked files.
ng Catalog hierarchy.",0)
Invalid directory item count
(It should be 38 instead of 37)
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
0)
Checking volume information.
The volume Megan's hd needs to be repaired.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
Any ideas? Help!
Thanks

Answer 1

HI oregon and Welcome to Apple Discussions ...
I have an iBookG4 also and had the same exact thing happen when I used DU to check the drive. I rain Verify, it reported the errors same as yours, I clicked the Repair button but that didn't do the trick, then I remembered something that is a basic rule of thumb. If the drive has 15% or less free drive space, application icons will bounce in the dock but not open the app itself. Check to make sure you have plenty of available space. Open any Finder window. At the bottom of that window you will see free drive space displayed.
Also, DU can't repair the disk from the Disk Utility app in the Applications folder, you have to do that using the system restore disc(s) that came with your iBookG4. I'm pretty sure DU is on the Disc 1. Insert the disc, double click the folder when it mounts on the Desktop. DU should be in there. Run DU from that disc to Verify and hopefully Repair any errors. Free up as much extra drive space as you can.
If DU can't fix the problem, you might consider either DiskWarrior www.alsoft.com or TechToolPro www.micromat.com Either one can fix disk errors. I personally like DW. Between my iBook and PBook, I've yet to have to take one into Apple for repairs of anykind because DW could fix the problem.
Hang in there ...
Carolyn