Disk Utility Fails / no archive & install / how can I save my stuff?

Hey all,
I've had my mac since January and have tried to take good care of it.
Recently I downloaded the updates for iLife '09. I left my computer open and plugged in to a power source, but it went to sleep at some point through the updating process. I woke it back up when I came back into my room to check on it, and the installation continued. It appeared to work fine after, and I closed the mac to sleep while I went to work. While I was gone, my boyfriend noticed that the apple logo was blinking rapidly, so he opened it and restarted. It starts up but doesn't get past the white screen with the apple and the circle loading icon.
I'm an r tard and haven't backed up my files recently, so I'm very keen to not erase my hard drive.
I used the osx installation disk and tried running disk utility, but it only gets so far and then has an error message:
Verifying volume "Macintosh HD"
Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid node structure.
Volume check failed.
Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.
I read about archive and installing, but when I go through the installation menu on my startup disk, I don't have an option to archive and install.
My mac is under warranty for hard drive issues, but not software issues. I'm a student and I would like to avoid sending it away to get fixed if it turns out to be a software issue.
Is there any way to tell if it's a hard drive issue or a software issue? Any way to back up my files? I tried to start up in safe mode, but it still didn't get past that white screen.
I suck at computers and am pretty hopeless, so if there's any advice y'all could give me... it would be fabulous.
Oh, and... uh... I'm actually not sure which version of os x I have. I know it's leopard, and I believe at least one set of updates has been installed since I purchased my mac 6 or so months ago.
Thanks so much. :]

Disk Utility cannot repair the error. You would need to purchase Disk Warrior to fix the error or reformat the hard drive. Do not attempt to do an Archive and Install until you have repaired the drive's directory structure.
If you have a backup drive you can use and access to another Mac with which you can share files over your local network, then you may be able to access your data and back it up. If your MacBook has a FireWire port than you can connect to another Mac with a FireWire port, then put your computer into Target Disk Mode to try accessing the hard drive from the other computer. However, Target Disk Mode only works over FireWire.
If you have an external notebook drive you could remove the drive from the MacBook, put it in the external enclosure (after removing the drive installed in the enclosure) then connect the drive to another Mac to see if you can access your files.

Similar Messages

  • HT1296 How can I save my stuff on my ipad before factory resetting it?

    Apple said that I need to factory reset my ipad but how can I save my stuff because I payed for like 5 apps and and 29 songs. I don't want to delete them if I don't have to. Thanks

    Do you use iTunes to sync your iPad with a computer ?
    If so, do a sync before you reset your iPad and everything will be saved ready for the reset iPad.
    If not, anything you paid for using the App Store will still be available to you.  The App Store knows you paid for them and will just put them on your iPad again.

  • Measure for Windows, Disk 1 of 3 is damaged, how can I get a copy to install it?

    El disco 1 de 3 del programa "Measure for Windows" esta dañado, estoy intentando instalarlo por primera vez y desafortunadamente cuando lo estaba instalando fallo la instalación y despues no ha reconocido el formato de este disco, ¿como podria obtener una copia de este disco?, ¿hay alguna manera de instalarlo en linea usando mi número de serie para instalarlo?.
    Measure for Windows, Disk 1 of 3 is damaged, how can I get a copy to install it? or, can I install this SW online using my S/N?

    Hello to all
    another option is to download and install the portable firefox version from the next link, if you want to use it occasionally : http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Ed./
    portable version is more flexible, and you can delete it any time without worries
    please read the [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2249039 ultimate guide from '''the-edmeister''']
    thank you

  • Keys out of order, disk utility fails

    PowerPC (?, whatever came just before Intel-based machines) iMac running 10.3.something failed to boot - hangs at "Logging into OSX" window but never gets there to log in. Booting from Install CR-ROM and running Disk Utility fails to repair Catalog. Booting in single user mode results in "Keys out of order (4, 51882)" "The volume Macintosh HD could not be repaired". Also tried to boot from Prosoft "Data Rescue II" CD-ROM but no help
    Any suggestions to repair/recover?
    Files all appear to be there - can navigate around in Unix and list them. Also have external Lacie hard drives connected (unconnecting does not resolve problem) - Would there be a way to cp or rcp some key files to these external drives to at least recover some?

    Welcome To  Discussions jeff_st!
    If all else fails, and you have access to another Firewire enabled Mac, you can also use Firewire Target Disk Mode, to backup as much data as possible.
    Then reformat the HD, zeroing all data, and perform an Erase & Install.
    ali b

  • How can I save my current Firefox customization to install on a new Windows 7 installation

    This is not asking for a problem fix.
    How can I save my current Firefox 3.6 customization, toolbar set-up, plug-ins, add-ons, etc. to a file or files so I can install it, pre-customized, after I do a re-format and clean install of a new Windows 7 operating system?
    I am currently in Windows Vista.
    I'm just trying to make it so I don't have to re-customize everything I already have done by doing a fresh installation of Firefox.
    Or can I just save the existing Mozilla Firefox program folder and then drag and drop it into the new programs folder in Windows 7?
    Thanks,
    numetro

    A couple of links that can help with this, [[Backing up your information]] and [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup Profile backup - MozillaZine Knowledge Base]. The second one includes a link to a free utility that can make this easier.
    Just saving the progams folder will not work, the user data is stored elsewhere.

  • Disk Utility reports minor repair required - how risky is this?

    I was verifying permissions the other day and thought I'd check the hard drive as well. When running the verify hard drive it stopped with an error report as follows:
    Volume Header needs minor repair
    The Volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired
    Error the underliying task reported failure on exit. 1HFS volume checked. Volume needs repair.
    The Macbook seem to be running fine. Should I run the repair or leave it. Someone once told me that if the Disk Utility fails to repair the problem it can leave the disk unusable. Any truth in that?
    Thanks
    Michael
    iMac G4 15" flat screen : MacBook 1.83 (Tiger)   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

    Directory structure issues can lead to freezing, general slowness, startup issues (computer may not startup all the way), Applications or files may not open.
    It is usually suggested to repair the disk with Disk Utility that came with the computer or a disk utility that is compatible with the operating system that you are using.
    Here are some articles from Apple's knowledge base. Some are technical:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302411
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=13628
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=7565
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=19516
    Directory structure issues usually are not HW issues, but is the way the computer or OS, stores/sorts information on the Hard drive.

  • My Macintosh HD partition is damaged and the disk utility failed to repair it

    I cannot boot anymore after I tried to repair the disk with Disk Utility after my Mac became very slow.
    This is the second time it happened to me in a week with the same symptoms. When I try to boot, I see a gray screen and the computer just stops
    When I use the recovery partition, the disk utility fails to repair the disk, stopping after failing to fix the catalog file.
    I started to use TM to backup my data after erasing the disk and reinstalling Mountain Lion but I wonder if my hard drive is damaged because the same problem happened twice. (Thanks TM for keeping my data safe this time)
    Any advice or ways to fix that once and for all ?
    PS : The worst is that i can still boot with Bootcamp to Windows, not very useful though

    rpignard wrote:
     Any advice or ways to fix that once and for all ?
    Since your Recovery HD and Windows partition work fine, the problem is located in your Macintosh HD partition and I very highly suspect it's bad/failing sectors that's to blame for your troubles.
    This can sometimes occur if the computer was moved while the hard drive was in operation, else sectors fail all by themselves, or if the drive is having mechanical issues, which you problem will continue no matter what you do.
    This time when you use Recovery > Disk Utility to erase the Macintosh HD partition, use the middle secure erase option, not the far left or right options (the right will work also just take a really long time)
    What your doing is with the middle secure erase option is called a "Zero" write, which Disk Utility will write 0's over all the bits in that partition. When it's done it will read it back for confirmation and when it does so, any bits that are failing will be mapped off by the drive. Hopefully this will resolve the issue without needing a drive replacement.
    Once that is completed, reinstall OS X from Recovery, any programs from original sources, files only from backup and your problems hopefully should disappear.
    What happens is if your data gets corrupted on the boot drive by failing sectors, it gets transfered to TimeMachine (or to bootable clones) and when you restore your right back to square one. So it's important to rule out that possibility with original installs of OS X and third party programs.
    If your problems continue, then it's possibly a problem  with third party at boot kernel extension files, (and the catalog problem was yet another one) so to solve this you need to make sure all your third party software is updated and works with your current OS X version.
    A trick is, if you get gray screen at boot time, is to hold the Shift Key while booting the computer, this will disable a lot of things and allow you to fix the third party software issue.
    What I suggest you do is have multiple backup systems, including hold option key bootable clones, this way if your TM drive gets corrupted you can go back in time to a saved state on the clone, restore that and then your files from the TM drive.
    Most commonly used backup methods

  • How can I save Aperture in an external disk?

    How can I save Aperture in an external hard disk?
    Thanks,

    In addition to mende1's advice:
    The Aperture application should be installed in the "Applications" folder; otherwise software update will not work.
    Your Aperture Library can be stored where you want it, but if your Aperture library is referenced (if you are storing your original image files outside the Aperture Library), you will need to use the command "File > Relocate Original" to move the original image files to your external hard drive as well.  Check the "Import panel" in Aperture, how the option "Store Files" in the "Aperture" brick of the import panel is set - "in their current location" or "In the Aperture Library".
    Regards
    Léonie

  • How can i save my individual playlist on itunes on my external hard drive because i want to buy a laptop and install itunes and move all my music and playlist thats on my desktop to my laptop and almost all my music is from a bunch of cd's i own

    how can i save my individual playlist on itunes on my external hard drive because i want to buy a laptop and install itunes and move all my music and playlist thats on my desktop to my laptop and almost all of my music is from a bunch of cds i own

    Hello ryane84
    The easiest and most efficient way to copy your music is to follow the steps under the External drive section. Make sure that you have organized the iTunes library first before you copy it over. Then put the copied iTunes folder in the same Music folder on your computer.
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527
    Regards,
    -Norm G.

  • I get an error message saying "The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be found or created" when I try to open iTunes on my computer and the program fails to open.   How can I fix this?

    When I try ot open iTunes on my computer I get an error message stating "The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be found or created" and the program fails to open.  How can I fix this issue?

    Hi pgarard1,
    If you are having issues with launching iTunes after an update, you may want to take a look at the troubleshooting in the following article:
    iTunes for Windows: Doesn't open after upgrading in Windows Vista or Windows 7
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2363
    Regards,
    - Brenden

  • After a clean install, how can I continue using Time Machine?

    After a clean install, how can I continue using Time Machine?
    I booted from my recovery partition, erased my HD, installed the same OS, (Lion, 10.7.5) then restored from my TM.
    If it asks if i want to use TM, I say yes. When I chose the drive, it seems to want to start all over, instead of just picking up where I left off.
    Is there any way of picking up where I left off?

    Hi Frank,
    You are sure you looking in your Library in /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/Library and not /Library at the top level of your harddrive?
    When you open iCal what do you see?  Are the calendars the two default Home and Work ones?
    I really appreciate the responses -- especially if you are in the UK as opposed to Ontario.
    Why, do you have something against London Ontario?
    John M

  • Simple question:  I want to use iCloud as a back up disk for my documents folder.  How can I do this?  If I cannot do this, why am I paying for access to "the cloud?"

    Simple question:  I want to use iCloud as a back up disk for my documents folder.  How can I do this?  If I cannot do this, why am I paying for access to "the cloud?"

    iCloud does not provide general file storage or backup, so you cannot back up your Documents folder using it. You will need to find a third-party alternative - this page examines some options (some are free):
    http://rfwilmut.net/missing3
    iCloud at basic level, with 5GB is storage, is free: you only pay anything if you want to increase the storage space.

  • I have reinstalled mountain lion on my MacBook Pro and can't get the games back App Store says they'll already installed how can i download them can anyone help

    I have reinstalled mountain lion on my MacBook Pro and can't get the games back App Store says they'll already installed how can i download them can anyone help

    I have eactly the same problem - it seems that the downloaded version on MBA is version 6.0 and on iPad is is version 2.0 -
    Issue is when i tried to save the presentation on MBA Keynote 09 - Keynote crashed.
    I tried to save is as Powerpoint in MBA and it crashed as well!
    Message was edited by: Innovaxin

  • I need to reinstall my Linux Mint, therfore also Thunderbird. How can I save the adresses and all my messages (copy and past in new Thunderbird after install)

    I need to reinstall my Linux Mint 17 mate, therfore also Thunderbird. How can I save the adresses and all my messages (copy and past in new Thunderbird after install)?

    Thank you for your suggestion. I have installed Linux Mint 17.1 with the Thunderbird and everything I had installed was still there. So, I didn´t need these mesures.
    Thanks anyway.

  • HT4623 My iPad2 is frozen, I am trying to download the upgrade software but fails after a while, how can I solve the issue. I have not upgraded the iPad 2 since I bought it.

    y iPad2 is frozen, I am trying to download the upgrade software but fails after a while, how can I solve the issue. I have not upgraded the iPad 2 since I bought it.

    Try and force iPad into Recovery Mode:
    1. Turn off iPad
    2. Connect USB cable to computer; leave the other end alone
    3. Press and hold the Home button down and connect the docking end of cable to iPad
    4. Continue holding the Home button until you see the "Connect To iTune" screen
    5. Release the Home button
    6. Open iTune
    7. You should see "iTunes has detected an iPad in recovery mode"
    8. Use iTune to restore iPad
    Note: You need to be patient and repeat the above many times to recover your iPad

Maybe you are looking for