B-tree catalog error, missing folder icons, item in use errors - Related?

Question

Hi,
I have a B&WG3 running 10.3.9 and two hard drives. I can boot from
one drive into OS 9.2.X. The other drive is also bootable into 10.3.9, and
is partitioned. There are 25 Gigs free on the partition containing 10.3.9.
I went to update to 10.4 and could not (yes, it is the retail version -
black disk). I found there are some
problems with the b-tree catalog and a missing thread record. fsck in single-user
mode (-f) cannot repair the catalog problem, nor does the Apple disk repair utility.
I have not yet tried a third-party program such as disk warrior or tech tool pro.
Am currently backing up datafiles to Lacie external firewire hard drive.
Computer operation seems normal.
Just after the 10.4 installation failure, indicating failing to repair the b-tree catalog (extent check seemed OK), I noticed that some folder icons went
missing and and the directory creation dates associated with those directories are bogus (December 31, 1903). If I move the items to the trash - I get the error that the items are in use (they are not in
use according to activity monitor and are all related Arcsoft digital camera/imaging programs). Trash cannot be emptied even when done from UNIX prompt as sudo whether typing the path name directly or by dragging the contents of the trash into the terminal window. Also I cannot
rm -r directoryname (directories are not empty - although they take up 0kb space and no
files are visible either from the GUI or from a terminal window). **I really don't know that
much about how to work in UNIX**
Are these problems related?
10.3.9 build 7W98
Disk repair: Keys out of order, 4, 1317
fsck -f (highlights only)
missing thread record (id=8249)
[31 mKeys out of order [0m
Rebuilding catalog b-tree
verify repair failed error -9972
target volume is damaged and cannot be repaired
Thanks for any insight!
bdennehey

Answer 1

Hi,
Just to update, I ran through a couple of iterations of repair with TechToolPro which
seemed to fix the "keys out of order" problem, but created/left other issues. However,
it fixed things enough to run the Apple Disk Utility. Finally things "appear" OK. Installed 10.4 without a hitch, things still seem OK.
Did find a new mystery folder that wasn't there before and was appearing/disappearing
after running TTP, but before running the Apple utility. After running the Apple utility,
the folder is a constant.
The directory name is:
-1010759277
containing the file
keyedobjects.nhb
(Yes, that's nhb, not nib). Does anyone know what it is?
Does anyone know if it is safe to dump it?
% ls:
-1010759277 TheVolumeSettingsFolder mach
Applications Users mach.sym
Desktop DB Volumes mach_kernel
Desktop DF automount opt
Desktop Folder bin private
Library cores sbin
Network dev tmp
System etc usr
TheFindByContentFolder lost+found var
Thank you!
bdennehey