Error in Disk Repair - PLS HELP

Question

Dear All,
I have posted a message a week ago, about Error in Verifying Permission and Onyx Error -1. Then ~Bee (thanks for the suggestion, really appreciate it) replied and suggested me to try Disk Repair. I tried it this morning and the result was not very promising.
Below are the message:
Verify and Repair disk "Rich's HD"
Checking HPS Plus volumn.
Checking Extends Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid node structure
Volume check failed
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit.
1 HFS volume checked
1 volume could not be repaired because of an error.
<--end of message-->
I also tried to verify Permission and it ran until 85% and it stopped without any activity until I 'stopped' the verification.
I really hope my HD is not up to something bad. What I have done were only installed CS3 (only installed Photoshop and Illustrator) and it was running fine until recently.
If anyone has any idea or suggestion, please let me know.
Thanks a lot!
Worried,
chityc.

Answer 1

The reason you need to boot from the DVD and run Disk Utility is that an active, mounted disk cannot be repaired.
If you want to save some time (bypassing the need for the DVD) on this and don't mind using single user mode (type a command similar to DOS on a PC) then do the following:
- Restart the Mac and hold down the Command (Apple) and 'S' keys simultaneously. This will put you into what is known as 'Single User Mode' (white text on a black background like DOS).
- At the prompt, type the command fsck -fy and press the 'Return' key.
- This will run through the same check/fix as Disk Utility.
- Repeat if errors are found (you can either retype or press the 'Arrow Up' key of the keyboard to revisit the command.
- If the error is resolved, type the command reboot and then press the 'Return' key. The Mac will reboot into its usual GUI interface.
Note 1: When in Disk Utility, look to the bottom part of the application window for the drive's 'S.M.A.R.T.' status. If it is 'Verified', your hardware is okay.
Note 2: I prefer to install a free app called AppleJack that gives you more functionality (disk check/repair, caches flush, preference checks etc..) in single user mode without needing to know the actual UNIX commands.
- If the error does not resolve (here or with Disk Utility from the DVD), your problem will require either a more powerful tool like DiskWarrior (commercial software) or backing up your present drive, reformatting it and re-installing.