Disk Utility can't repair permissions

For the first time I neglected to repair permissions before security upgrade and now I find I can no longer repair permissions. Everything goes as normal until about 75% done and then it just freezes. I have tried running it from the install CD but it does the same. I used the disk repair and got this error message;
ERROR: The underlying task reported failure on exit (~9972)
1 Volume could not be repaired.
Computer otherwise OK. AHT reported all OK.
Is this the start of an HD failure or some querky software malfunction? Help needed!
G4 867 MDD   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   Extra 120Gb HD, 1.75Gb SDRAM LG 4163B Superdrive

If my HD has developed a bad sector then surely a clone will not work?
My best guess is that the cloning would fail when it tried to access the data that's referenced in the bad directory node. I've had similar problems when trying to copy files when there were directory problems. You may not have a bad sector per se, but certainly the directory record is damaged in such a way that Disk Utility can't reconstruct the record.
If I moved all my APPS folder to another HD and then did a Zero and format on this one could I then still use the APPS folder with a new install by repairing permissions?
You have to remember that apps store files in other locations - particularly in the /Library, /System/Library/ and /Users/username/Library directories. While you can copy the Applications directory to another drive, you're liable to miss supporting files the apps are going to look for. Since there's no real way to determine what the damaged directory is referencing, you'd be chancing something's going to get missed and leave you with apps that won't run. The only way I've ever been able to find what directory erorrs were pointing to was to copy files to another drive one chunk at a time until I found the offending directory and then narrow down the search by copying files individually. Given the nature of OS X to store files in directories that are otherwise hidden from the user, this can be a complicated and tedious process.
Since Disk Utility running from the install disk can't repair the damaged directoy record, I'd go to the Disk Warrior repair strategy next.
-Douggo

Similar Messages

  • Disk Utility Can't Repair Permissions - A different one

    I'm posting this separately from the previous thread I saw somewhere, because my situation is a little different.
    I did the software updates on my G4 15" Aluminum this morning: Battery thing, iTunes, QuickTime and Safari. Security Update? FUGGETTABOUT. Went through THAT nightmare weeks ago.
    Anyways: I can't repair permissions any way at all: not in Disk Utility, not in ONYX, and Not from Disk Utility from the Boot CD.
    MY error reads:
    "Disk Utility Internal Error: Disk Utility has lost its connection with the Disk Management Tool and cannot continue. Please quit and relaunch Disk Utility"
    When I do THAT, I get the ever-so-encouraging warning, essentially telling me that I've been given a bum steer in the previous alert: "Operations Still in Progress. Disk Utility still has some operations in progress. Quitting in the middle of some operations can leave a disk non-operational. Are you sure you want to quit?"
    Other details: Ran Disk Verify and Disk Repair from the boot CD and it was claimed that the disk was repaired and ok. Zapped the PRAM. Other problems are that Keychain Access just freezes when I ask to see a password. Never gets to the point of even asking for my administrative password.
    Originally, too, just as when I had problems with the Security Update, I couldn't join my Airport Network, but for no apparent reason, after a couple of reboots after zapping the PRAM, I managed to connect.
    This is the second time in less than a month that a machine which has always operated flawlessly has gone south after downloading Software Updates from Apple in good faith. I hardly think I should be expected to purchase third-party disk utilities to fix this myself.
    Owen
    G4 15" Aluminum PowerBook Mac OS X (10.3.9)

    Thank you, JRSY Man SO much. Just for the sake of anyone seeing THIS forum, go to the one JRSY MAN linked in the second post of this thread. There are about a hundred posts from people with this problem, and a lot of hair-pulling, but someone has come up with a temporary solution, and it finally worked for me.
    There is an incompatibility in the stupid iTunes update, that creates all kinds of havoc.
    Thanks again.
    Owen

  • Disk utility won't repair permissions (related to error -8003)

    I have an odd, recurring problem I can't diagnose. Recently my seven-month-old MacBook Pro has begun showing an error code (-8003) when I try to do common, system-related things like empty the Trash. At the same time, Time Machine stops backing up and Disk Utility can't repair permissions. If I go into System Preferences I can't open the lock to make changes, even though my account is still clearly marked as the Admin account. All third-party applications run fine, so I can't quite figure out what's going on.
    I've tried repairing the disk via TechTool to see if there was directory damage and it checks out fine. I've reformatted my TM backup disk with Disk Utiity according to Apple's instructions, used the Terminal to ensure my Trash and old TM files were properly deleted, etc. Nothing seems to have made a difference.
    When I restart the problem goes away for a couple of hours and then – at some point that I haven't been able to identify – the problem starts up again. This is the case whether I'm working on the MacBook or if it's just sitting there idle.
    Before I reinstall I wondered if anyone had run into a similar problem and had figured out what caused it.

    error code (-8003) when I try to do common, system-related things like empty the Trash
    That's a common symptom of throwing stuff from a Time Machine backup into the trash in the Finder, which is a big no-no and can irreversibly corrupt your backup.  In the Terminal, type the following command:
    sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*
    Copy and paste that!  Don't try to re-type it, I've seen people put a space in the wrong place and wipe their whole user folder.  Type your password when prompted, and expect that nothing will show until you hit return.
    Next, repair your Time Machine backup according to:
    http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/A5.html
    At the same time, Time Machine stops backing up
    If the above troubleshooting doesn't fix your backup, you may have damaged it beyond repair.  In that case, you'll have to erase it and start your backups over from scratch.
    Disk Utility can't repair permissions
    Where are you trying to repair permissions?  Note that repairing permissions is only meaningful on a drive with a system installed on it, and only repairs permissions on a specific subset of the stuff on the drive.  Also, note that there are permissions messages you can safely ignore...  if you think it is failing because you're seeing them over and over, it's not failing.
    If I go into System Preferences I can't open the lock to make changes, even though my account is still clearly marked as the Admin account.
    I've never seen that before, and it may indicate you have much more serious problems with your computer.  First, try repairing your hard drive with Disk Utility.  Then trash the System Preferences preference file, located at:
    ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
    ...where '~' means "your home folder".

  • Disk Utility can't repair Macintosh HD.  What should I do?

    Here is a "quick" synopsis of what has happened thus far:
    About one month ago, my computer started getting very sluggish (ie, it would take forever to startup, would always freeze after sleep, etc.)  I lived with it for about two weeks, since it would always run quickly after waiting ~30 minutes after starting/waking up.  Eventually, this grew old.  I browsed the internet and did multiple suggested fixes (reset PRAM, run Disk Utility, ran in Safe Boot Mode, etc.).  Nothing seemed to work.  I opted to zero out the harddrive and reinstall Mountain Lion after making a backup.  That was about two weeks ago.
    Everything worked fine, up until yesterday.  Once again, things started getting slow.  I decided to shut down my computer for the night and would check it in the morning.  When I turned it on this morning, it wouldn't startup correctly.  I could login, etc., but it was frozen and I couldn't open any applications without getting the spinning beach ball.  I waited about an hour, but it was still slow/loading.  I shut the computer down and booted it in Verbose Mode.  I ran the various commands to check the conditions of my disk, but when I ran the "fsck -fy" command, I got an "I/O Error."  I then tried rebooting my Mac, but it would get to the gray screen with the apple logo and the spinning wheel, and then the progress bar would appear.  Before the progress bar did anything, it would shut itself down.
    I then started the computer up and directly went to OS X Utilities.  I went into Disk Utility and tried to check permissions and repair the disk.  Only this time, Macintosh HD was grayed out and seemed to be unmounted.  I couldn't get it to mount.  I went into the Apple Store to have them run their own diagnostics.  However, the apple store employee was unable to get the test working, so that was basically a bust.  At this point, the computer still didn't turn on.
    I got home and, just for kicks, held the "N" key while booting up my computer.  For whatever reason, my computer started up (though it took a long time and there was a progress bar).  Now, I made another backup of my disk and am wondering what to do.  I ran Disk Utility again to repair my disk, but it says that Macintosh HD is not able to be repaired.  When I checked permissions, there were tons of Input/Output Errors.  Based on my research, it would appear that I have two solutions.
    I can either purchase DiskWarrior and use that to try and solve my problem, or I could just get a new hard drive (and I would upgrade to a SSD or SSHD).  DW is about $50 if I just download it, and the hard drive would cost me $150 or so.  Since I don't know exactly what is wrong with the disk, I don't know if DW would be able to fix it.  That being said, if the hard drive isn't the problem, there would be no reason for me to purchase a new one.  I guess I would just like some advice, as to what you would do.  I apologize for the long post.
    TL;DR: Disk Utility can't repair Macintosh HD.  Should I get DiskWarrior or a new harddrive?
    Thanks in advanced!

    Most importantly, youve already backed up all the data.  All else is cake.
    A new HD would cost you only $20 more than disk warrior,....theres no reason to repair a worthless crippled HD, .....new HD 1TB is $70.
    Once you back up all the data on a failing HD, further diagnosis has no meaning,....not anymore.
    Grab a 1TB  or 750GB  Toshiba/Hitachi (both used by Apple inside their Macbook Pro nonRetina,...both are made by Hitachi)  5400RPM SATA HD.
    Forget the repair,.......repair only serves to bring a HD to a point of BACKUP.....since youve already done that, its now just wall art or trashbin fodder.
    These are the same HD used by Apple in their Macbooks
    http://www.amazon.com/MQ01ABD-2-5-Internal-Hard-Drive/dp/B0077CV2RO/ref=sr_1_1?i e=UTF8&qid=1376281905&sr=8-1&keywords=toshiba+1tb+2.5%22
    In the future ALWAYS remember to have 2 backups for everything.  2 backups is 1, and 1 is none.
    That way when something crashes (and they all do).....its no worries.

  • 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.

  • After getting the dreaded gray/blue screen, I tried to run disk repair on the internal disk. I got an error message saying "Disk Utility can't repair this disk and restore your backed-up files. The volume Macintosh HD could not be verified completely

    After getting the dreaded gray/blue screen, I tried to run disk repair on the internal disk. I got an error message saying "Disk Utility can't repair this disk and restore your backed-up files. The volume Macintosh HD could not be verified completely." What do I do now? This is an iMac and I'm running 10.6.8.

    Clean Install of Snow Leopard
    Be sure to make a backup first because the following procedure will erase
    the drive and everything on it. See below for how to clone a drive.
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             After the chime press and hold down the  "C" key.  Release the key when you see
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             button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
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         4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
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    Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
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  • TS1901 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.

    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 need to take out the data from a WD320 that shows this error and then format the WD and put the data into again
    THANKS !!!

    I'm sorry, is there a question here? You seem to know precisely what you need to do…

  • Error disk utility can't repair this disk...disk and restore your backed-up files

    I have been working on a project using an external hard disk. I used my Macbook Pro (2010)  to create this project and files (about 31 GB). Now I am trying to open the disk on my iMac (2014) and it doesn't show up. I can see the HDD when I use disk utility but get this message when I try to repair/restore the disc:
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    Imac :OSX 10.9.4 , 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 Gb Ram.

    Nico,
    Did you find a way?
    This just happened to me too.
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5981446
    -John

  • Can I fix a disk with this message?-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.

    Can I fix a disk with this message?
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    Some problems can indeed be fixed this way. But working from Recovery_HD or Disk Warrior DVDs and working in the restricted environment those provide can be difficult. You can literally spend days working on this problem (while your regular work is unavailable) only to discover the old drive is unsalvageable.
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    If the old drive eventually provides some needed data, and is salvageable, Merry Christmas.

  • "Disk Utility can't repair this disk...and restore the backed up files"

    Hello, my macbook crashed a few days a go  as well and after going to the recovery drive and OX Utilities  tried to verify and repair disk it gives me this error "Disk Utility can't repair this disk...and restore the backed up files" is the second time that occurs after replacing the hard drive for a new SSD, i thought my problem was solved and is not. Any Ideas? the only other thing i can think of is the logic board?

    Backup your files and arrange for an appointment at an Apple store genius bar for a free evaluation.
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  • My computer is shutting down before fully booting up.  I am running the disk utilities program and have this message: Error: Disk Utility can't repair this disk . . . disk, and restore your backed-up files.  Can anyone suggest what I should do next?

    My computer is shutting down before fully booting up.  I am running the disk utilities program and have this message: Error: Disk Utility can't repair this disk . . . disk, and restore your backed-up files.  Can anyone suggest what I should do next?

    So, you can't Install OSX to the external?
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    You're not the only one wondering... I'm reminded of the Goose that laid the Golden Egg story.

  • Disk Utility can't repair this disk...disk, and restore your backuped-up file.

    Computer got uber slow.
    I started to worry.
    Now computer won't start.
    VERY worried.
    Tried to repair disk. Received error message above.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    sulaver wrote:
    Computer got uber slow.
    I started to worry.
    Now computer won't start.
    VERY worried.
    Tried to repair disk. Received error message above.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    You can't have received an error message "Disk Utility can't repair this disk...disk, and restore your backuped-up file." since that is pure gobbledegook and isn't even good English.
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  • External Hard Drive Disk Utility Can't Repair the Disk

    Hi,
    I have a Seagate 1 TB Backup Plus Drive which was working perfectly fine until I plugged it into a USB hub. It detected it while in the hub and I was able to get files off of it, but when I ejected it from the hub and put it back into the USB slot on the computer it was not detected by finder. It shows up in the disk utility and I clicked verify and repair and it says:
    Verify and Repair volume “Seagate Backup Plus Drive”
    Checking file system
    Volume repair complete.
    Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.
    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.
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    Use a more powerful utility such as DiskWarrior, or a product such as those listed here.
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  • Disk Utility can't repair TM backup disk

    Hello all
    Recently, my external backup disk (a 750 GB WD My Passport) that I use with Time Machine has been acting up. At first, it wouldn't show up on the desktop, but was being recognized in Disk Utility (with the "Time Machine Backup" partition greyed out). After multiple restarts and unplugging/replugging the hard drive, I finally got to be properly recognized, i.e. it showed up on the desktop with the proper Time Machine hard drive icon. So I thought the problem was gone and started a routine backup. However, Time Machine returned an error:
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    I tried repairing the disk, but DU couldn't repair it:
    Verify and Repair volume “Time Machine Backups”
    Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
    Detected a case-sensitive volume.
    Checking extents overflow file.
    Checking catalog file.
    Incorrect number of thread records
    Checking multi-linked files.
    Checking catalog hierarchy.
    Checking extended attributes file.
    Checking multi-linked directories.
    Checking volume bitmap.
    Checking volume information.
    Invalid volume file count
    (It should be 3991498 instead of 3904049)
    Invalid volume directory count
    (It should be 678218 instead of 673790)
    Invalid volume free block count
    (It should be 9588404 instead of 11784378)
    Volume header needs minor repair
    The volume Time Machine Backups was found corrupt and needs to be repaired.
    Volume repair complete.Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.
    Error: 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.
    So now I'm still following the advice on the above mentioned page by posting on here. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. I am using a 2010 15in 2.66 i7 MBP, if that makes a difference, although my guess is the problem's with the harddrive itself. I think there may have been one time about a month ago when Time Machine stopped responding (or something like that) which forced me to pull out the harddrive, possibly corrupting the data. But I'm not sure, and I do recall making at least one successful backup after that. Well, actually TM confirms this: "Latest successful backup: 5/27/11 at 11:51 PM". So I have no idea what's going on. Again, any help would be appreciated.

    You can't tell what's corrupted or where.  Time Machine backups have a very complex structure, all linked together.  So, you can often do new backups, or restore individual items, or even entire backups, as long as you don't stumble over the damage.
    There's a chance a heavy-duty 3rd-party disk repair app, such as Disk Warrior, can repair them.  It's about $100, and probably a good investment for the future, but there's no guarantee it can fix them.
    If not, or if you don't want to spend the money, your only option is to erase the disk and let Time Machine start fresh.
    It sounds like you may have other data on it; if that's in the same partition, that's not a good idea.  This is a good time to copy the data off, erase the disk, and make 2 (or more) partitions on it, so Time Machine has its own, exclusive space.  See #3 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions for details and instructions.

  • Disk utility can't repair a partition on external hard drive

    I have a 1TB Western Digital external FW drive that's only a couple years old (2 or 3, probably). I have it split into partitions, one of which I'm using for Time Machine. The non-Time Machine partition checked out fine with DIsk Utility, but when I ran Disk Utility on the Time Machine partition, I received this message:
    Disk Utility stopped reparing "Time Machine." 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.
    Does this mean the drive itself is failing? I erased the Time Machine partition and recreated it through Disk Utility, and then I verified it. Everything checked out okay, but I want to make sure, especially since I'm hosting my iTunes music in the other partition (it's backed up to a 2nd external drive, so if the drive does die, at least I don't lose everything).
    Before this problem happened, both partitions dropped off the Finder and the light on the drive went off. I unplugged the drive and plugged it back in again a couple times, but nothing happened. Finally, the light went back on after plugging it back in for the 3rd or 4th time, but I'm wondering if the drive could be going bad, which would surprise me since it isn't very old.

    Brad Cook wrote:
    Disk Utility stopped reparing "Time Machine." 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.
    Does this mean the drive itself is failing?
    Possibly, but not necessarily.  The File System on the disk was so badly corrupted that Disk Utility couldn't fix it.  That might indicate a problem with the drive.  It's not unusual for consumer-quality (ie, inexpensive) drives to fail after 2-3 years, although many will run for several years.  It's a bit of a crapshoot.
    Before this problem happened, both partitions dropped off the Finder and the light on the drive went off.
    Whatever caused that is another good possibility -- if a drive is improperly disconnected, OSX can't "close it out" properly, and that can cause damage to the file system.  Sometimes Disk Utility can fix it, sometimes it can't.  And sometimes heavy-duty 3rd-party disk repair apps like DiskWarrior can fix things Disk Utility can't.
    A power dip or spike could have caused it, or an overheated electronic component, etc.  If it has it's own power supply, be sure it's on a good (ie, not cheap) surge protector or U.P.S. system.
    Otherwise, keep an eye on it.  If you don't have "secondary" backups, this would be an excellent time to get another drive for that purpose.  See #27 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions for some suggestions.
    Bottom line:  personally, I'd not trust my only backups to that drive.
    (But then, I'd never trust my backups to any single drive, no matter how new or high-quality.)

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