Disk Utility can't repair disk...Can I still create a new image to back up?

Two days ago my computer died and I haven't been able to get past the Apple screen since. I've tried starting in Safe mode, etc. that did not work. I just started up using my installation disk and got into Disk Utility. It says it cannot repair the disk and that I should back up as many files as possible and reformat the disk. How am I supposed to back up if I can't start up? I am currently creating a new image of the HD to an external drive but my question is if Disk Utility couldn't repair the disk, with the external drive copy also be problematic? How can I tell before I reformat the whole thing and start over?
Please help someone! I am in a little over my head!
Thanks

I am currently creating a new image of the HD to an external drive but my question is if Disk Utility couldn't repair the disk, with the external drive copy also be problematic?
Maybe.
How can I tell before I reformat the whole thing and start over?
Run Repair Disk on the copy.

Similar Messages

Anyone clean their mac using the disk utility using the repair disk permissions??

anyone clean their mac using the disk utility using the repair disk permissions??

No. Threads don't hurt anything. If your computer is not functioning properly perhaps you need to try some basic maintenance. Let's start by having you do this:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
Next, try booting into Safe Mode then immediately restart normally. Safe mode is going to take a while so be patient. It's slow.
Next, create a new user account. Log out of your account then log into the new account. Try using iPhoto and the publishing button. Do they work now?
If you still have a problem, then do the following. If you don't want to go through the above then just start with the following and forget the others above.
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

Disk utility unable to repair disk. What next?

Disk utility unable to repair disk. What next?

I encountered the same problem. After verify disk, I got the message to repair the disk. But it was unable to complete the repair. Rather than purchase Disk Warrior, I tried something else.
What I did was reinstall the OSX (this iMac is still on Leopard). I backed up everything, naturally, before doing the reinstall. I chose the "Archive and Install" option, along with "Preserve Users and Network Settings". This method moves existing files to a folder named "Previous System" and imports existing user accounts, network settings, and home folders into the new OSX.
After the successful reinstall, I ran Disk Utility. It checked AND repaired Permissions. It verified that the disk was fine and no longer needed repair.
If this didn't work, my plan "B" was to reinstall the OSX again, this time with the "Erase and Install" option. Fortunately, I didn't have to go to plan "B".

Encodings folder empty, Disk Utility won't repair disk

Hello, I've been having some issues with my old powerbookg4. I've done a clean reinstall already on this machine, which seemed to correct alot of problems, but there seems to be at least one significant problem remaining. the Encodings folder in system/library/coreservices/encodings is completely empty, so ichat will crash when trying to type a message, or firefox crashes when it hits a website with chinese on it. Anyways, I went to disk repair with the 10.3 install disc, but after a while the repair stops, saying that it can't repair the volume. I've also tried just copying the encodings folder from the install disc, but that encounters an error (i think its error 52 or something). thank you very much for any help you could provide.

i should also add that I've run it with the apple hardware test cd that came with the computer, and that says all the hardware is fine. But when I've booted the computer up in safe mode and had Disk Utility try to "Repair Disc," it stops after about ten-twenty minutes saying that "the volume can't be repaired." So, I'm wondering if there really is a problem with the hard drive that the hardware test isn't picking up, and so even if I reinstall the OS or try and do a clean install of a newer os like os 10.5, the problems won't go away. Is this a hardware issue, or am I just going about this the wrong way?
I've tried reinstalling several of the language packages on the os 10.3 disc, but I didn't try much because I don't know which of the language packages installs the files for the Encodings folder.
And on the first OS10.3 install cd, I found the path to the Encodings folder, and tried copying those contents over into the Encodings folder on my hard drive, working under the assumption that for about five minutes I get root access. It throws up an error message when I do that, even though it lets me tinker around in the other parts.
I'm really as in the dark as to what I'm doing here, which is why I haven't tried much else. So any advice or info you can throw my way would be very much appreciated.

Disk Utility unable to repair disk

My IMAC started to freeze up for a couple of minutes while running Word for Mac 2004 and Entourage. Microsoft tech support suggested running rebuild database for Entourage. Rebuild database did not execute citing I/O problem. Ran Disk Utility from Install Disk and it was unable to repair one volume after repeated attempts. Also tried ckfs but that found no errors. Some posts recommend Disk Warrior or other recovery software. Any suggestions before the trip to the Genius Bar?

Disk Warrior repaired the disk on its first pass. Disk Utility confirmed the repair. No symptoms any more in Word for MAC and Entourage 2004. Still could not rebuild database. Will back up to be safe.

Disk Utility won't repair disk....what do I do?

Hey Everyone,
So for about the last two weeks, whenever I boot into OSX, I've been geting this weird grey bar at the bottom.   Also, I run bootcamp and Macdrive (windows program that allows to write onto Mac Formatted disks) kept on telling my that partition was damaged.
Now as far as actual use goes, I never noticed a problem. I was able to get in, do work, absolutely no problem.   But, I decided to run disk utilty just in-case and that's where problems started. Disk permissions repaired fine, but when I went to verify disk, it said it had to be repaired. So I booted the computer using the install disc, but disk repair failed and said I need to re-install OSX.   And now it takes FOREVER to boot into OSX. Sometimes, it takes hours.
This actually happened before a couple of months back and it is going to be a pain in the *** to do this again. I was hoping there was some other way to repair the disk that doesn't involve me losing a whole day re-installing crap. Any ideas? Maybe a third party disk utility program?
And on a side note, What the &%#@ Apple? My windows partition is more reliable than OSX. Seriously, no problems with windows at all.
The thing that drives me crazy is that I don't understand why this keeps on happening. If this happens I again, I'm going back to windows full-time.   Everything Apple has ever said about reliability and how windows is so buggy is a TOTAL LIE. OSX is sooo soo soo much worse.

Possibly if the partition is on the part of the disk that is okay I believe it is possible. I have had partitions working fine in the past and had disk utility or other programs of the same nature tell me that the disk was corrupt. At the apple stoe where I went they replaced the HD and no problems with my old macbook since then. However I do agree that from here I can't be sure. The first step definetly needs to be erasing and reinstalling if that does not work (and that is what I meant, because I'm betting against it) then I believe that you will have to change the HD or go see a tech. Sorry you are right I was not clear the first time around.

Disk Utility: First Aid: "Repair Disk" grayed out when i select the HD

I'm getting the flashing question mark folder icon at startup and my Mac never does start. I'm trying to run through the repair suggestions on this forum and on the support pages but I can't do much of anything with the disk utility. (I've done the reset PRAM step and I've tried reselecting a startup volume both with the startup manager --HD wasn't shown as an option-- and by holding down "X" on startup... neither helped.)
Under first aid, verify disk permissions, i get the "no valid packages" error message. But "Verify Disk Permissions" is the only button available to me when I select my internal hard disk. The support pages say to "Repair Disk" but I can't select that option.
I've tried to reinstall the OSX from the CD, but when the installer asks me to select a destination volume, nothing is available to select.
I am running version 10.4.something at least. My CD is the one that came with the computer a couple of years ago. I have one of the early Intel Macbooks.
I have an appointment at the Genius Bar after work tonight but I'd love it if I could fix this baby sooner.
Am I hosed?

OK- Try a Single User boot- hold command +s while starting, and try and repair with fsck.
-Startup in Single User mode.
-At the command-line prompt, type */sbin/fsck -fy*. Press Return.
fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found:
*The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK*
-If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message:
*FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED*
Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command again, until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
-When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type *reboot* at the prompt and then press Return.
-Your computer should start up normally and allow you to log in.
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Why isn't Disk Utility clear after "Repair Disk Permissions"?

Having used my computer for several days I decided to use Disk Utility to “Repair Disk Permissions” after a few hours of use.
2008-11-29 08:30:17 -0800: Disk Utility started.
2008-11-29 08:30:24 -0800: Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
2008-11-29 08:30:24 -0800: Reading permissions database.
2008-11-29 08:30:24 -0800: Reading the permissions database can take several minutes.
2008-11-29 08:43:29 -0800: Permissions differ on "private/var/log/secure.log", should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r----- .
2008-11-29 08:48:26 -0800: Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
2008-11-29 08:48:28 -0800:
2008-11-29 08:48:28 -0800: Permissions repair complete
2008-11-29 08:48:28 -0800:
2008-11-29 08:48:28 -0800:
I shut down the computer, turned off its power for 1 minute and restarted. I initiated Disk Utility once again.
2008-11-29 09:16:42 -0800: Disk Utility started.
2008-11-29 09:20:55 -0800: Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
2008-11-29 09:20:55 -0800: Reading permissions database.
2008-11-29 09:20:55 -0800: Reading the permissions database can take several minutes.
2008-11-29 09:38:47 -0800: Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
2008-11-29 09:38:49 -0800:
2008-11-29 09:38:49 -0800: Permissions repair complete
2008-11-29 09:38:49 -0800:
2008-11-29 09:38:49 -0800:
When Disk Utility was finished, I clicked on “Clear History” and reran “Repair Disk Permissions.”
2008-11-29 09:42:01 -0800: Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
2008-11-29 09:42:01 -0800: Reading permissions database.
2008-11-29 09:42:01 -0800: Reading the permissions database can take several minutes.
2008-11-29 10:00:19 -0800:
2008-11-29 10:00:19 -0800: Permissions repair complete
2008-11-29 10:00:19 -0800:
2008-11-29 10:00:19 -0800:
Now everything seems clear.
My question...
Why did I initially see:
2008-11-29 08:43:29 -0800: Permissions differ on "private/var/log/secure.log", should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r----- .
2008-11-29 08:48:26 -0800: Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
and why after restarting should I end up with only
2008-11-29 09:38:47 -0800: Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
and after “Clear History” and rerunning Disk Utility why is everything clear until I start using the computer again?
I’ve had it explained that “Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26” is not meaningful, but I’d like to know WHY it happens. I’d also like to know why “ Permissions differ on "private/var/log/secure.log", should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r----- .” initially appears.
Thank you,
ZTIWYM3ZUI

As a casual "Apple Discussions" user it hadn't occurred to me that if a question had been answered previously, it should never be asked again.
It's not that. It's because the problem's been beaten to death over the past fourteen months, since Apple shipped Leopard, that most consider it common knowledge, no matter where one's been visiting or how often. Every Apple/Macintosh related website has addressed the never ending issue. Finally, since the forums Help file says:
*I have a question or issue—how do I search for answers?*
+It's possible that your question or issue has already been answered by other members so do a search before posting a question. On most Apple Discussions pages, you'll find a Search Discussions box in the upper right corner. Enter a search term (or terms) in the field and press Return. Your results will appear as a list of links to posts below the Search Discussions Content pane.+
+You can also refine your search by using the options in the Search Discussions Content pane. Click the Search Tips link for help with our search features. You can streamline your results by restricting your search terms by category or forum, specifying a date range, or searching for posts by username. You can also search the User Tips Library.+
Maybe that should be retitled: *+I have a question or issue—how do I resolve it?+*
Just out of curiosity, I wonder if any of these exceptional people can figure out my signature.
ZTIWYM3ZUI - "time is what you make—use it" or something of that nature.

Disk utility couldn't repair disk

OK GUYS, SO FOR A START, WHEN I PLUG A HARDRIVE INTO THE COMPUTER, IT DOESNT SHOW UP IN FINDER. THEN WHEN I GO TO DISK UTILITY, IT SAID I NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DISK. I TRIED DOING THAT BUT AFTER A FEW SECONDS, MY ENTIRE COMPUTER CRASHES. CAN SOMEONE PLZ HELP ME FIGURE A SOLUTION THAT DOESNT REQUIRE ERASING ANY DATA BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF IMPORTANT FILES IN THERE THAT I REALLY REQUIRE.
THANKS

Typing in all capital letters is considered shouting on the Internet and makes your post harder to read.
You might also update your profile to reflect the OS you are using if it isn't 10.9.3.
Do a backup, preferable 2 separate ones on 2 drives. Boot into the Recovery Partition (command - R on a restart) and use Disk Utility's Restore tab to copy your data to another external hard drive. This will reformat the destination drive. Then run disk repair on the external hard drive. If the drive can't be repaired, reformat the drive using Disk Utility/Erase Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click the Option button and select GUID.

Disk utility asks to repair disk

how do I repair disk using disk utility

Boot from Recovery http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
Disk Utitlity>Repair Disk

Disk utility - Verify and repair disk permission does not work

On my dual i'm trying to make a verify and than a rpair disk permission but the bar stop after a while and will never finish (even if the estimaed time is less than one minute).
Ideas?
mg

Same boat... here's my thread from early this week:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1403467
Haven't had time to test the suggestion yet though.

Disk Utility - Won't Repair Flash/Thumb Drive

So my Mac froze for some reason, while my Kingston thumb/flash drive was in. I tried to eject it, but I could only force eject (which it said may cause issues). After that, whenever I put the thumb drive in, it said something like the drive won't work and I had to copy the files to my desktop. When I go into disk utility and click repair disk, it says this: "Disk Utility stopped repairing “UNTITLED 1”: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files."
I can't erase the thumbdrive, because it says I need a source, which I don't know what that means.
Can anybody help? The files are useless now as I have transferred them to a CD, so I'm fine with erasing the whole thing. And yes, I know I can get a new on at any store for cheap, but I'd like to know if this can be repaired. Thanks.

You haven't mentioned how the thumb drive was formatted to begin with; is it GUID partition map and Mac OS Extended (Journalled), or is it FAT 32 with MBR partition map?
If it's the latter, DU can't repair it, but should be able to format it. However, the forced ejection may have damaged the file system to prevent that.
If it's FAT32, re-format it on a PC and try again on the Mac.
If it's Mac formatted, you could try erasing and reformatting on another Mac (or as Hackintosh says, from the DVD), but if that doesn't work, try the PC route; reformat to FAT32 on a PC (if the PC will recognise it - thay don't always), then go back to the Mac, repartition and format.
If that fails, it's recycling fodder.

I can't burn a dvd using any method, Idvd tells me that my super drive is missing, dvd studio pro quits when i click burn and disk utility keeps spitting the disk out when i click burn and enter the disk??? how do i repair my superdrive for imac

I can't burn a dvd using any method, idvd tells me that my super drive is missing, dvd studio pro quits when i click burn and disk utility keeps spitting the disk out when I click burn and enter the disk??? how do i repair my superdrive for imac, or how do I do whatever I need to do to get it working: I have already tried using a lens cleaning cd and also restored my nvram or something i forget what it was called but i restarted my computer holding down command+optoion+p+r and still nothing???
Free solutions are the best, although if I have to pay I will, I would prefer to not have to buy an external burner if possible and already know that is an option so please don't give me that answer... thank you for any help you can give

Unless your iMac is still covered by AppleCare, get an external DVD burner.
You can get perfectly good ones from Amazon for less than $40.

I purchased a Mac book pro in oct 2011, I restarted it after updating and it,s stuck on apple symbol, I hit command R while restarting and clicked on disk utility. It says disk can't be repaired, apple wants $249 to tell me what's wrong. Please help!

I purchased a mac book pro in oct 2011, I restarted it after updating and it,s stuck on apple symbol, I hit command R while restarting and clicked on disk utility. It says disk can't be repaired, apple wants $249 to tell me what's wrong. Please help!

What Apple store told you they wanted $249.00 to tell what is wrong?
If this is a 13" Macbook Pro then that is the cost of the Extended Applecare warranty. As you are outside the 90 days of Free Phone Support then what Apple told you is that to get Phone Support you would either need to pay $45 per phone call or pay $249.00 for the Applecare extended warranty which comes with 3 years Free Phone Support from date of purchase.
Or you can take it to a Apple Genius Bar and have them look at it for Free.
Every Mac comes with 1 year warranty and includes only 90 days of phone support. You can buy the extended Applecare warranty anytime within the first year of ownership, IE until the 1 year warranty runs out.
I suggest you have your computer looked at by either an Apple Authorized Repair Center or Genius Bar and then before the 1 year warranty runs out buying the extended warranty

External drive - disk utility won't display long - can't repair

Long time mac user --- this one has me stumped.
I have an external disk that I'm using for time machine. USB3.
Sometimes I'm in a hurry and I don't disconnect it properly. Looks like that's messed up the drive - I get "disk not ejected properly" now. Fine. That happens. Reformat, repair, apply journal, whatever.
But the drive doesn't show up in disk utility or `diskutil list`. Or, it does show up, for almost exactly 10 seconds. Although, now, it seems to show up for only about 2 seconds. Too little time to click on it and try to repair it.
I see the drive pop in, 'disk1', and in diskutil list, then vanishes. In the diskutil GUI, it shows up for less time than that, maybe only a second or two. Then the dreaded "Disk not ejected properly" dialog shows up. Every once in a while, OSX seems to retry and the disk pops up. When it does, it's read enough volume information to see that there is a controller, it's found a disk of the right size, it knows about the old volume, and then it vanishes. again.
Any tips? How do I "nuke from orbit" if disk utility keeps vanishing the disk before I can click on it. Lay in wait and hope a click hits it?
There must be a better way.....

Love the resounding silence here.
The problem was hardware. Even though putting in a different disk to the dock seemed to work, that would detach after about 3 minutes.
Buying a new dock and switching to it solved the problem.
I wish I knew which system log would have helped me trouble shoot this without having to buy another doc, but at least it's not a software problem.

Disk Utility can't repair disk...Can I still create a new image to back up?

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