Header Damages Can't be Repaired

Question

I keep seeing log reports during Disk Utilities or DiskWarrior repairs saying that PrintOption.rsrc and Localized.rsrc have header damages that cannot be repaired. First, what's this mean to me? Second, is there another way to eliminate the problem: delete some unimportant file that will regenerate once I attempt to use the printer or ???

Answer 1

The files in question are system resource related ones, and as such, the easiest
approach if a repair is not happening and you have no third-party utility capable
of the repair, is to do an Archive & Install, then upgrade the System using the
Combo upgrade file; and then apply the latest Security Updates, Java, QuickTime,
and other bits you may be accustomed to using if they were added to the System.
{The resource file .rsrc has underpinnings in the root OS X, data and resource files.}
Your Applications folder and other drive contents should remain intact; and in order
to save your user account settings and move them into the new System the A&I
creates, there is a checkbox to be sure these user preferences, etc, are transferred.
There may be a better way; not sure if a different third party disk utility can fix
damaged system resource files in OS X. Some of the .rsrc may be used to
access and store system themes, so that may explain a visual issue in the
damaged headers as mentioned earlier. These files, in other circumstances,
can be edited by someone familiar with their purpose and content. Some of
them probably should not be edited if the path to fix other corruptions or un-
determined damages elsewhere is best covered by the blanket Archive/Install.
Perhaps someone with a better grasp of this resources file damage issue
may see this thread and offer another perspective. Some people would
suggest making a full content clone of the computer's hard disk drive and
then have that (bootable clone copy) to fall back on should some other
course of action fail to be viable. That would save everything, if done to a
correct level and tested before proceeding further with a system repair.
The Archive and Install process isn't all that complex; but adding the new
parts (and repairing disk permissions between update/upgrade steps) is
a path that will take some time and a level of attention to detail. If you get
the Combo update file for the system, and install that after the A&I, that
would make it easier to get correct update files from the Software Update
utility online. After several items are installed, the Software Update can
find more applicable updates. There are some it may not find, so you are
going to have to check for Flash player, & other stuff which may be needed.
Not sure if TechTool Pro 4 (or other) can fix damaged resource files; there
are some third party disk utilities that an do more than rebuild directories
or attempt to fix low-level corruption on a disk. A standard home-fix to an
odd issue such as you've experienced, would be to do the Archive & Install
and then update. The old system folder then gets named "previous" so it
can serve as a reference; some items may be possibly moved from it, but
the former system cannot boot the computer and should be removed at
some date when it appears to be no longer needed. (And to gain the space
on the hard disk drive otherwise wasted should it remain.)
Be sure there is an adequate amount of unused hard disk drive space in
the computer's hard disk drive before attempting to perform an A&H. This
is where a clone also comes in handy; to facilitate going ahead with repairs.
Well, I'm looking to find some food...
Good luck & happy computing!