Internal HD: Need just a bit of insight and/or advice

Question

I have searched through about 25 pages of discussion topic search results to find an answer here but am unable to find anything regarding this specific question:
My PowerBook G4 (1 GHz) 15-inch is now just over 3 years old. I periodically run Disk Utility in order to verify the S.M.A.R.T. status and the integrity of the original internal HD. Backups are done routinely as well. The hardware on this machine has never given me any trouble. The skinny on the HD from System Profiler is as follows:
Hitachi IC25N080ATMR04-0:
Capacity: 74.53 GB
Model: Hitachi IC25N080ATMR04-0
Revision: MO4AAD0A
Serial Number: MRG426K4GKY85H
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Protocol: ATA
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal
OS9 Drivers: No
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
Snap:
Capacity: 74.41 GB
Available: 17.47 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s3
Mount Point: /
Now when I ran Disk Utility last weekend and verified the disk, I noted the following:
Verifying volume “Snap”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Illegal name
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking volume bitmap.
Volume Bit Map needs minor repair
Checking volume information.
Invalid volume free block count
Invalid volume free block count
,2)
4248910
4248909
Volume Header needs minor repair
The volume Snap needs to be repaired.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
Disk Utility stopped verifying “Snap” because the following error was encountered:
The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
This is the first time I have ever seen this message. I booted up from the Startup CD, ran Disk Utility, and followed through on the repair of the volume. Everything went fine and it reported that the disk was successfully repaired.
The advice that I am seeking is this: Is this really a "minor" repair in the volume header structure or is it a possible clue that the hard drive itself has begun a slide towards its death in the physical sense?
I am curious to know how long these drives are expected to last, in ideal conditions, based on actual user experiences.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Regards!
Garret Wilkerson

Answer 1

Garrett:
If you do not have an up-to-date backup and you have valuable data you don't want to lose, be sure that you take steps to make a backup now. (Post back if you need help).
Disk Utility reports "Underlying task reported failure" when repairing a volume is a serious directory error. It is recoverable, although not always. You will note that the article linked recommends backing up. This is important.
The article also recommends the use of a third party utility, as Disk Utility is not able to repair this kind of directory error. You will need to have either Disk Warrior or Tech Tool Pro to have any chance of repairing the disk.
Your other option is to backup your HDD then completely reformat your drive (post back for step-by-step directions) then re-install the OS and recover your data from the backup.
Please do post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius