Apple Disk Utility message

Hi all,
I opened Apple's Disk Utility, chose "Macintosh HD," and clicked "Verify Disk." No more than 1 minute into the Verify, I got a message (in red) in the Show Details output box saying "Incorrect number of file hard links."
Before I boot from the OS X Recovery HD (command-r) and try to fix it with Apple's Disk Utility, I was wondering if anyone had any insight about the message I got. My HD is not experiencing any problems.
MacBookPro8,3. OS X 10.8.3.

Thanks birmingham for responding to my post. I think the problem i encountered is more common than i at first thought, so i'm gonna sum up what i learned.
Sometimes, when upgrading the OS a full dot point -- 10.7. to 10.8. for example -- via Mac Application Store, the User will get an error saying, " Incorrect number of file hard links" when running apple's Disk Utility. The error is an "inode" error -- look it up at wikipedia. The solution is simple enough: Don't freak out and run apple's Disk Utility from the Recovery HD (command-r). Don't use DiskWarrior, Drive Genius, TechTool Pro, or anything other than apple's Disk Utility. Also no need to reinstall the OS or anything like that.
hope this helps someone in the future,
jim
she's from birmingham, way down in alabam. whoa black betty. BAM-BA-LAM.

Similar Messages

Always have Permission Errors running Apple Disk Utility

I always have Permissions errors when running Apple Disk Utility. Even after a clean install (and restore of User prefs using Time Capsule).
Most of the errors are "Repaired" but are still there if I "Repair Permissions" immediately again.
Is this a problem that I can just ignore of should I try and rid my system of them?
For example:
Permissions differ on “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Support/Rem ote Desktop Message.app/Contents/Resources/pl.lproj/UIAgent.nib”; should be -rw-r--r-- ; they are drw-r--r-- .
Repaired “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Support/Rem ote Desktop Message.app/Contents/Resources/pl.lproj/UIAgent.nib”
The above error will still be there if I re-repair.

You can just ignore them all.

Apple Disk Utility made thing substantially WORSE!

Our Powerbook 1.67 Ghz 15" Aluminum wouldn't run iCal (it quit unexpectedly) so we ran Apple Disk Utility. It said it couldn't verify so ran repair, then - 1 HFS volume checked couldn't be repaired. After this the computer would not run at all! Gray Apple screen with spinner until shutdown. Bought Apple tech support and went through all options of restarting with option button, etc, etc. Tried to do target disk something or another with fire wire between desktop and powerbook, that didn't work. HDD doesn't show as destination in utility "startup". They eventually said "All is Lost". What gives here? The thing was running fine, except for iCal, I ran Disk Repair - and now ALL is Lost? How can this be? Any advise GREATLY appreciated. We have family and business photos that number in the thousands at risk.

I agree, Disk Utility didn't kill your hard drive. The fact that it said it could not repair the disk says there is a problem that is more complex than Disk Utility can handle. Often, programs like Disk Warrior are one option used to fix those problems Disk Utility can't fix. You may want to try that. If Disk Warrior can't fix it, then you'll need to use a data recovery service to pull the data off. If you don't have one, buy a firewire backup (Powerbooks can only boot from a firewire device) to use with your replacement hard drive. One example might be http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go . SuperDuper is a good backup program: http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Do you have OS X CDs that you can boot from? Insert the first one and boot holding the C key down. That should boot to the CD. Pull up Disk Utility from the Utilities on the menu bar. First, what does it say for SMART status? If it's anything but verified, there's a pretty serious problem on the hard drive, as in close to failing. If it says verified, nothing has tripped the SMART sensors. Run disk utility and repair the disk ... does it still say it can't be repaired? If so, proceed as above.
Replacement hard drive would be a 2.5" parallel ATA interface hard drive. Serial ATA or SATA hard drives won't work in our Powerbooks. New drives mostly come in 5400rpm speed, some are slower and there's no reason to buy them.

Disk Utility messages

My i-mac G4 with Tiger upgrade is starting to act up again. Works pretty good until I try to shut it down. Takes forever to shut down, and then when I go back on it takes forever to boot up. When it says "loading Mac OSX" it goes very slow with the chug, chug sound from hard drive. Usually that speeds through. When I do a disk utility and try with verify disk, I get this message shortly after it starts, right after it reaches Checking Catalog File.
"Invalid key lenght
The volume Hard Drive needs to be repaird
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
Can anyone tell me what all that means???
Thanks

Try booting into safe mode (KB 107393, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode).
Then reboot normally and run Disk Utility.

Disk Utility Messages, Interpretation of

I have an external hard drive with problems, and am looking for some repair advice. When I use Disk Utility Verify, I get the following messages in red - Keys out of order. The volume needs to be repaired. The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972).
When I run the Disk Utility Repair program, I get the following messages in red - Keys out of order. Rebuilding Catalog B-tree.The volume could not be repaired. The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972).
Can I save this volume? Are there other disk utility programs that might be able to repair this disc and save the data? Can I erase it, and lose the data, and begin to use it again with confidence, or is it likely to fail again soon. Thanks for your help.
NJZ

As John said, DiskWarrior is a good place to start, especially if you already have it, or don't mind spending a few bucks for it. And with all due respect to John's opinion, just be aware that you may run DiskWarrior and find that it can't help either, which could indicate a failing HD. If DiskWarrior can't fix the corruption, you can back up your important data, and try to re-format the HD. If the external HD is not a boot disk and you can easily back it up and you don't have DiskWarrior already, I'd at least consider erasing (re-formatting) it before shelling out $$$ for DiskWarrior. It really depends on how much time you have and whether you can easily back up the data.
Not to be a broken record, but DiskWarrior is a great tool and may fix your problem without a hitch. On the other hand, the corruprion may not be repairable, or may be an indicatino of a failing HD and more corruption to come. If you erase the HD and you still have trouble, you'll know there's more likely a hardware problem rather than just data corruption.
Just my 2 cents.
Jeff

Disk Utility Message: Invalid Sibling Link

I just verified my HD in disk utility for the first time, and I got this message:
Verifying volume “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid sibling link
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
What does that mean?
When I tried to do a repair disk, it failed.
Please help me!!!

Take a look at this site for the skinny on what an Invalid Sibling Link is.
According to another site, the ISL may not be repairable.
You're best bet is to run a utility like Disk Warrior and see if the ISLs can be fixed without reformatting the hard disk.
Good luck--let us know how you fare!
mg

Disk utility message "partition failed". What to do??

HI,
I just downloaded Lion and was trying to make a seperate partition for it do I didnt delete Snow Leopard..
WHen i was doing it, my computer froze for a while so i had to turn it off manually...
Now when i try to create a partition i get this message..
Partition failed with the error:
Could not modify partition map because filesystem verification failed
how can i fix this so i can install Lion on a partition??
PS I dont have a external HD so i dont want to risk losing all my files...

Well the first thing you need to do is get yourself a external powered drive, format it HFS+ Journaled in Disk Utility and transfer a copy of your Users folders off the computer.
If you can't boot off the internal hard drive, you can hold c and boot off the 10.6 installer disk and under the Utilities menu is Disk Utility which you can then (careful!) select the external hard drive to Erase and format Hfs+ journaled.
Once you do that quit and your back into the installer where you can (careful!) install OS X 10.6 onto the external drive.
Once that's completed reboot holding the Option key and select the external drive to boot from, then go through the setup using the same user name as before. Access the internal boot drive and grab your files.
If you can't access the internal boot drive in a normal fashion, you might have to install DataRescue to read your files off the platters via the 1's and 0's that make up the files themselves, not what the screwed up partition map says.
Once your files are off the computer and the drive disconnected, your free to wipe everything and reinstall OS X and programs if necessary, just follow the same steps.
Next time have a Carbon Copy Clone of your boot drive on another external HFS+ journaled formatted drive already prepared before experimenting. This drive is hold option bootable and you can erase and reverse clone if need be.

Error uninstalling, and weird disk utility message?

So I installed a keylogging app call type agent and it came with an uninstall terminal command, which I just tried to run. Unfortunately, terminal won't let me run the command, giving me this prompt:
/Library/StartupItems/Type\ Agent/uninst ; exit;
Macintosh:~ Sinemus$ /Library/StartupItems/Type\ Agent/uninst ; exit;
/Library/StartupItems/Type Agent/Type Agent: line 23: kill: (120) - Operation not permitted
I'm the admin, so I don't know why it won't let me uninstall this - what can I do?
Also, when I run disk utility (which takes forever now, btw), I get this:
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
What's it mean?

Hello
you do not need any cd to perform a disk repair / check , you need to start in single user mode
restart your mac , just after startup sound hold on , Comande and "S" key on key board togather until fall in comande line interface
type at cursor this
fsck -fy and validate by press enter key
then WAIT until the end of verification / repaire processus ( may take long time ) when cursor appear again
type at cursor
exit and validate by press enter key
HTH
Pierre

Disk utility message...what does it mean?

Hello all
Been having a few problems with my mac book pro since iphoto (bane of my existance) crashed. Problems with iphoto are ongoing discussion on this forum - but I seemed to have concurrent issue with the computer - when I restart the dock loses word and a couple of other things, and a large question mark appears, claiming to be imovie (when infact Imovie is next door). It also no longer seems to be 'retrieving space in my file vault' when I shut down.
I ran disk utility and had a series of repaired permissions, then ran verify disk and got the following:
Verifying volume “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume information.
Volume Header needs minor repair
d.",1)
Macintosh HD
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
Which clearly implies the volume needs repair---wasn't running disk utility off the dvd, so no repair option was visible. (The original disk is at home some distance away) Can anyone tell me if the above implies major surgery required, hence a shop, or whether I might be able to deal with it from the original dvd, once I head home in the new year?
Thanks
Vx

Vx,
No, a disk error is just that, and not generally caused by anything you may have done (unless you are in the habit of forcing shutdowns while copying or otherwise writing files, etc.). Likewise, it won't be caused by "bad" files. Actually, the opposite is true; disk errors create bad/corrupt files.
More specifically, a disk error occurs when the "index" that describes each and every file on your hard drive, and the actual physical locations on disk of the data associated with those files, fails in some way. This can be caused by some random write error at a critical point in time, or it can less frequently be caused by a true "dead spot" on the surface of the drive platter (a "bad block" or sector. You only need worry about this if the error recurs after a format).
I will second Sig's suggestion that you attempt to repair the error using Disk Utility's command line interface, while booted into "Single User Mode." Please follow his instructions for doing so, if you want to make this attempt. I will state, however, that I am pretty certain that in any case where the "Verify" function fails with the error you have reported, Disk Utility probably won't be able to make the repairs.
If this becomes an emergency, you can use one of the more powerful and flexible third-party utilities, such as Diskwarrior. They can be pretty pricey, but they can often make repairs when Disk Utility cannot.
Once you have erased that hard drive and reinstalled OS X, you can indeed copy back or otherwise re-import all of your backed up data. If at all possible, do try to make another backup copy of anything and everything in your current HOME folder before erasing that drive.
Scott

Using Apple "Disk Utility" to partition a disk drive

I have seen some incorrect info on the forums about partitioning disks.
You CAN do this with Disk Utility.
To do this will erase the new partitions you create, so BE CAREFUL.
To partition a disk, start Disk Utility and click on the DRIVE (not Volume) you want to partition.
The DRIVEs are the icons all the way on the left side of the Disk/Volume window area.
If you click on a Drive, the PARTITION tab will appear. Click on it and it's pretty self-explanatory.
Good luck.

It looks like the mountable image option only applies to NTFS partitions. The preferences interface does not show a choice for FAT32.

Stipr Sets with Apple Disk Utility DU

We have installed a Raid System with two Raid Volumes, partitioned into 2 spaces, striped together as Stripe Level0. After expanding the two Volumes trough adding new disks, we will have two new Bigger Raid Volumes which can the DU see, but the two Stripe Sets based on the two new bigger Volumes will have the same size we had before!
I can remember that we have done the same in Panther, which was running fine,
after expanding we have the same Partitiones like before, just bigger!
How to solve the problem without Backup 2TB, restriping it again etc.???
G5 PCIx Mac OS X (10.4.8) Atto/ Driver 3.0

You cannot assume that someone else reading your post is as familiar with your problem as you are.
If you make the message clearer someone may be able to help you.
Good luck.

Disk Utility can't repair and refuse Partition to work

Hi,
Is there any ways to solve this message appearing in the Disk Utility?
When i click repair disk on Disk Utility, message shown;
Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Deploy.bundle/ Contents/Resources/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar", should be lrwxr-xr-x , they are lrw-r--r-- .
Repaired "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Deploy.bundle/ Contents/Resources/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar".
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Admin.framework/Versions/A/Resources/readconf ig" has been modified and will not be repaired.
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Admin.framework/Versions/A/Resources/writecon fig" has been modified and will not be repaired.
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Repaired "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar".
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/libdeploy.jnilib", should be -rwxr-xr-x , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Repaired "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/libdeploy.jnilib".
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
Permissions repair complete
Then i thought its might not be repair just by one repair.
After that i try repair again however this message still appear.
I ever try restarting and shutting down my MacBook but the message still appear.
I do some research and find that one of the message in the list can be safety ignore
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1448
Hence i just ignore the message.
Meanwhile i try to partition my hard disk and message shown;
Partition failed
Partition failed with the error:
Could not modify partition map because filesystem verification failed
I getting too frustrated about this problem.... ARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
Any solutions are welcome. Thanks

You can find an extensive discussion of the permissions repair messages you can ignore at Topic: Permissions Snow Leopard 10.6.4. Nothing on your list of permissions messages is unusual or indicates an issue that needs correction.
However, the partition failed message indicates that you need to run Disk Utility's Repair Disk function on the disk volume. Note that if this is your normal startup volume, you will have to start up from some other disk, such as your installer disc, & run the Repair Disk step from it.
If Disk Utility is unable to repair the HD, you can try more powerful (& costly) utilities like Disk Warrior, but there are no guarantees that any of them will be able to fix all possible problems the HD may have.

Disk Utility's "Disk Description" is wrong?

When plugging in my newly bought 2TB Toshiba Canvio Basics 3.0 I get the following message:
The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer. (Initialize/Ignore/Eject)
If I chose "Initialize", then it's recognized in Disk Utility. However, it is not recognized as a 2TB "Toshiba Canvio Basics 3.0", but as a 20 GB "DK23DA-20 media", which I can google as being a 20GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) For Hitachi Computers. (See screen shot)
Can anybody help me on how I should adress this issue?

Unbelievable. It certainly does seem based on your describtion, the drive is most likely fraudelent. Hope you have a recourse to get a refund. If you are still in the market for a new drive, hopefully the following info will help.
You don't have to purchase a Mac formatted drive. It's easy to format with Disk Utility. It's also recommended that you do not use the manufacturer's software to format the drive but to use Apple Disk Utility.
USB 3.0 drives work on USB 2.0 but you do get 2.0 speed. They are cheaper because they are popular PC drives. If you get a new computer you'll get the bump to 3.0 speed.
I like the Seagate USB 3.0 Backup plus drives. They come formatted for PC but easy to format in Disk Utility. Currently the Seagate Backup Plus 1T is more than the 2 & 3T drives.
This Western Digital drive has good reviews: WD My Book Hard Drive for Mac 2 TB $99.
LaCie recently was purchased by Seagate. They are known for good drives.
OWC makes good drives. http://www.macsales.com
All companies make different qualitity drives.The length of the warranty is a good indicator for quality.

Tiger Disk Utility filled up target AND system disk, CANNOT reboot!

I used Apple Disk utility to securely erase free space on a target drive on my laptop. Disk Utility filled both my target disk and system disk (system disk was not even specified in the erase procedure). Both disks have ZERO bytes free. The System disk will NOT startup and I cannot use DiskWarrior to rebuild the directory cuz there is no space. Tried using terminal to rm temp files, but it did not see the system disk.
*Problem Path:*
1) Laptop (Leopard OS X current version) video stopped working. Likely known problem with Graphics card.
2) Connected G5 (Tiger) to Laptop via Firewire with Laptop working in Target Disk mode (data only mode).
3) Laptop disk showed up as a disk volume on G5.
4) Used Apple disk utility on Tiger G5 to securely erase FREE disk space on Laptop disk drive B4 taking it in to get repairs. Amount to be securely erased was appr 65 to 70 GB.
5) Left G5 Tiger disk utility to work overnight... had to interrupt next day. Restarted..
6) Next day, the G5 disk utility said that it would be an est. 97 hours to complete. Stopped process.
7) Both target disk and system disk showed that 0 bytes (yes, ZERO bytes free) were free on either drive.
8) Attempted to restart with literature saying that you can restart Disk Utility as though it would delete temp files and start again. System could not be found (folder/face/folder/face showed on the screen)
*Attempted Solution:* (DW ~ DiskWarrior 4)
1) Started system up using DW CD. System disk came up as unknown.
2) Used Disk Warrior to rebuild directory on disk, but I believe that there is NO space at all. Disk Warrior took a very long time...more than an hour.
3) Terminated DW (it was still verifying directory)
4) Restarted system from Tiger install.
5) Attempted to use Tiger Disk Utility to verify system disk (System still can see it, but won't mount it-- name is now disk1s3 or something like that). Disk Utility said that disk directory had problems and needed to be repaired. Ran the repair, but Disk Utility said that it could not be repaired.
6) Quit Disk Utility and entered into the terminal to see if I could access the disk through unix commands. Access volumes from root. Only the other disk on the system showed up, not the system disk. So attempt to delete temporary files that MAY have been created by Disk Utility could not be done.
7) Restarted system using DW. Drive showed up as Unknown. Clicked on [Apple key] rebuild to do scavenge function. Left it for two hours. Little to no change. Left it to work all night.
HELP!
Will DiskWarrior use other volume on system or memory to save off or rebuild directory of bad drive? Anyone know of a utility that can help?
ANY HELP you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated. I have been put behind on research in my graduate studies and am in a terrible situation in now BOTH of my systems are inaccessible.

Hello HB3, and a warm welcome to the forums!
8) Attempted to restart with literature saying that you can restart Disk Utility as though it would delete temp files and start again. System could not be found (folder/face/folder/face showed on the screen)
You really shouldn't use a lower OSes DU to work on a higher one.
2) Used Disk Warrior to rebuild directory on disk, but I believe that there is NO space at all. Disk Warrior took a very long time...more than an hour.
What version of DW?
Anyone know of a utility that can help?
If DiskWarrior can't fix it, you might try Data Rescue II...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php
(Has a Free Demo to see if it could or not, but you'll need another drive to recover to).
Or FileSalvage...
http://www.subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?%20mainpage=product_info&productsid=1
to recover what you can, both can work when Disks are unmountable.

Disk Utility - Scan Image for Restore - Freeze

I backed up my wife's iBook by starting her computer in target disk to my iBook which has a huge external attached. After about an hour, the image process was complete. Apple disk utility help says next to scan image for restore (not too sure why because I'm not restoring anything unless her drive dies). I begin the scan image for restore and get the progress bar that never shows and progress. Just keeps spinning/scanning for hours and I have no option to shut if off. Can't move external to trash because it in use, etc.
Does this mean the original disk image may be bad? Do over?
I'm using Disk Image as a solution for a total disk backup if a drive fails. No messing around with reconfiguring apps, etc. (i.e. plug and play) Is this the best way to do this?
I come from the Mac Plus days. Hopefully I can contribute to the new OS discussions at some point. Thank you much!

What format is the external drive?
Is it Firewire or USB?
Does the external drive have one of those front button touch things, like a My Book?
I'm using Disk Image as a solution for a total disk backup if a drive fails. No messing around with reconfiguring apps, etc. (i.e. plug and play) Is this the best way to do this?
I prefer a Clone myself.
Get carbon copy cloner to make an exact copy of your old HD to the New one...
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
SuperDuper...
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/
Have a look at Synchronize! Pro X 6.0.5
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/6897/synchronize!-pro-x
Or the most expensive one & my favorite, ...
http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html
Does this mean the original disk image may be bad? Do over?
It can take quite awhile, and the progress bar isn't accurate at all, but it sounds like something is wrong.

Apple Disk Utility message

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