Repairing external hard drive

Im trying to repair my external hard drive but everytime i try it stops and says "error: live file system repair is not supported"

I have a 1 TeraByte external that no longer would work or backup from my Time Machine backups after the OS update to Maverick, it claimed the drive was full and could no longer do backups unless I erased it or made room on the drive. So I tried to use disk utilities and also got the error: live file system repair is not supported. Then only thing left to do was.
Press Cmd + R on boot and then choose Disk utility then reformate the external drive and then I got a working clean external drive. Then I rebooted and the drive was ready for a fresh backup with Time Machine which is working as I write this. A full backup will probably take 6-9 hours as I have close to 800 gigs to backup.
Hope this helps everyone here.
JP

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Failing-but-possibly-repaired external hard drive: what to do?

I had a problem restoring a file from my external hard drive; disk repair said there were serious problems with the disk; DiskWarrior repaired it, but said there may be some missing files. (There's now a "backup" icon and a "rescued files" icon on the hard drive.)
What's the best next step? Assume the "repair" took? (Doubt this is prudent.) Clone the external hard drive onto another and resume Time Machine from that point? (Possible?) Simply start over with TM on the new drive and ditch the old?

Are these your only backups? If so, I'd advise putting that drive "on the shelf" until you can get a new one and get a full backup on it, preferably a "bootable clone."
The two most popular apps for that are [CarbonCopyCloner|http://www.bombich.com>, which is donationware, and [SuperDuper|http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html]. It has a free version, but you need the paid one (about $30) to do updates instead of full replacements, or scheduling.
Then, if you want to try to salvage your Time Machine backups, delete the "rescued files" folder. The only other thing on the drive should be your Backups.backupdb folder. Start your Mac up from the Install disc, then Restart normally. That should trigger a "deep traversal" on the next Time Machine backup, where Time Machine will compare everything on your system to the backups, and back up anything that's missing. You should see "Scanning nnnn items" on the Time Machine Preferences window. That will take somewhat longer than a normal backup, but should get you caught up with the current contents of your system (some copies of things you'd deleted or changed may be gone).
Or, as kingfumonkey says, do a zero-out erase and start fresh.
Either way, continue both normal Time Machine and regular "clone" backups. You might want to consider getting a portable external for the clone, so you can take it to your safe deposit box, workplace, relative's house, or other secure off-site location, so you're also protected against fire, flood, theft, direct lightning strike on your power lines, etc.

Disk utility can't repair external hard drive

A couple months back, I had to get a whole new hard drive case for my external because the power cord broke. Anyway, It's worked fine until now...
The hard drive doesn't show up with the other volumes.
It does show up on Disk Utility. When I try to repair or verify the drive, it works up until the end, but then it automatically quits and it says this:
Verifying volume “FIREWIRE”
** /dev/disk1s1
** Phase 1 - Read FAT
** Phase 2 - Check Cluster Chains
** Phase 3 - Checking Directories
Unable to read directory (Input/output error)
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 non HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
Anyway, I have 45GB of music as well as movies and photographs that mean a lot to me so I hope I don't have to erase the drive or anything...
Thanks to anyone who helps me out.

Hmm, I can't seem to find anything on Windows (XP) that will fix my exact problem...
Then again, I am the crappiest Windows user ever so, once again, any help would be great.
I searched "disk repair" on the help and support center, and it gave me a bunch of ways to fix the drive depending on the problem. The thing is, none of the problems seemed to match mine...
Your personal data files are missing or have been corrupted, or you want to revert to a previous version of a file.
After updating a device driver, you can log on, but the system is unstable.
After installing a new device, the system is unstable.
Changes made to your system or application settings are causing your computer to run poorly and you do not know how to restore the previous settings.
After installing an application, the system is unstable or an application is not working properly.
Operating system does not start (the logon screen does not appear)
I'm not really sure what the exact problem is, I just know that it isn't working on the Mac, but it is on the PC.

Error: Couldn't unmount disk -- when trying to verify/repair external hard drives. Has anyone had this problem and solved it?

I have a number of hard drives that my Mac Book Pro no longer 'recognises' at least for very long. When I turn them on the deskstop icon shows up but then shortly afterwards I get a message saying that it has been unplugged incorrectly. I haven't unplugged it any of them. When I try to run very/repair disk before they disappear I get the error in the subject line above. Has anyone had this problem and if so how did you rectify it?

The drive is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced, or you have some other hardware fault.
Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store.
Back up all data on the internal drive(s) before you hand over your computer to anyone. If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.
Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair
*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

Unable to verify or repair external hard drive

i am running 10.6.4 and had a Lacie 2tb external plugged into the computer; suddenly it says that the drive is not formatted for use with this computer.
I have tried: DiskUtility(no help) both from the install disk and from the computer
DiskWarrior(no Help) did not recognize drive was plugged in
I am unable to veryify or repair the permissions on this disk as well...?
is there a way to get this drive recognized?
There is about 1.5tb of data that I need so formatting it is not really an option. Unless you can format and get that data back?
Please help
Thanks Much

If the drive is not able to be repaired by both Disk Utility and DiskWarrior, you could try another utility, like [TechTool Pro|http://www.micromat.com>, but I'm afraid you may be disappointed. Chances are, in a case like this, that the drive has died or is dying. In which case, you're about to learn a valuable but painful lesson on the necessity of backups.
If nothing will repair it, you can try recovering what you can using a tool like [Data Rescue|http://www.prosofteng.com> or [File Salvage|http://subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?mainpage=product_info&productsid=1]. I believe one of those will let you scan and get a list of what can be recovered before purchasing, so you can determine if this will work without spending money. If I'm right and the drive is dead, though, a professional service will be your only option... they'll pull the drive apart and get what data they can, which probably won't be all of it.
In the meantime, you need to immediately start backing up any data on other drives. See my [Mac Backup Guide|http://www.reedcorner.net/thomas/guides/backups> for more information.

External hard drive error / disk utility not repairing

I am having problems with a particular external hard drive. Device is a Transcend StoreJet 25M (640GB) currently formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled). It was previously formatted in FAT32, exFat, and also Mac OS Extended (Journaled). It started giving me problems when I used it to store all my music on it. My iTunes library and music files were all stored on it, and at one point iTunes started acting funny - it would play a song for a few seconds, pause, play for a further few seconds, pause again, and so forth. I decided to stop using it and when I shifted the iTunes library to the Mac internal hard drive and the music file into another external hard drive, iTunes worked fine. So I figured it must be a problem with the external hard drive itself.
I recently reformatted it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and transfered some data on to it (include a back up of the music folder). I noticed that Spotlight keeps trying to index the drive but never actually managed. Times indicated for indexing runs into days. The hard drive tends to be slow to load files expecially when there are multiple folders and tiers, and is generally unreliable. It occasionally unmounts, or when I try to unmount it I get an error saying it cannot unmount because it is being used (but no indication as to which app is using it even if all apps are closed except for Finder).
I tried repairing it using disk utility. The attached image shows the results. It seems that it can't be repaired by disk utility. At this point, and after much deliberation, I would have to questions:
1. Should I just smash the thing on the floor?
2. Is there another application I could try and repair it with?
3. Even though I have reformatted it several times, it keeps giving me the same problem. When I do a disk verification of the hard rive itself it all seems fine, however when I do a disk verification or repair of the volume I get the error shown in the image. Is this a problem being caused during formatting?
Any help would be much appreciated.

Oh, I forgot to attach image....
Message was edited by: TheSpoon

I need help to repair my external hard drive

(1) My External Hard Drive finally stopped working. Whenever I tried to use it, I would only get variants of, "Time Machine couldn't complete the Backup to "My Passport for Mac", or "The backup disc is not available".
(2) "No problem," I thought. "There is no problem with my computer, so I'll just buy another external hard drive," and I did.
(3) About this time, I partitioned my computer hard drive to enable me to run both Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion. I did this with step-by-step instructions by Apple technicians.
(4) I now find that I have lost a considerable number of files, including those that I value most highly.
(5) I now find that I need the files in my old, abandoned external hard drive, and it seems to me that the easiest way to access those files is simply to repair it.
(Here's what I've tried so far: (1) Disc Utility Repair. Didn't help. (2) COMMAND-R start. This produced a window with the following entries: Restore from Time Machine Backup, Reinstall OSX, Get Help online, Disk Utility. It seemed to offer hope, but I couldn't highlight any of them, and the "continue" command was dimned out. Where do I go from here? Data recovery is the solution usually offered, and I've alwys wondered why. It seems to me that fixing the external hard drive should always be the first thing to be considered. Data recovery is expensive, and fixing the external hard drive might be cheap.

baltwo wrote:
I don't think the HD's broken. More likely, since you used it for TM, that's what causing your issues. However, since I don't use TM or ever use WD's crappy HDs, all I can suggest is to peruse Pondini's TM FAQs for starters. Then, check out his troubleshooting steps.
What is "WD"?

How do i repair or recover data from a corrupt USB external hard drive that does not show up on my Mac desktop or disk utility

How do i repair or recover data from a corrupt USB external hard drive that does not show up on my Mac desktop or disk utility?
Last night i was using my external hard drive, for some reason the folder just closed and i couldn't find it on my desktop.
After googling solutions, i found it in the disk utilities, i clicked on the 'repair' button many times, but it said the 'error...' message.
So i ejected it to try again, now when i connect the USB external hard drive it doesn't show up on my desktop or disk utilities.
I really just want to either repair or recover the data on it because it literally has everything (documents, work files, photos etc) on it,
I downloaded an application to recover my files but it needs the USB to at least show up.recognise it which mine doesn't.
I know i should've backed it up on another USB, this definitely teaches me for next time to back up all my files.
Are the files lost forever or can i recover them by going to a shop or using a software?

Thank you for responding.
This might sound stupid since i'm not really knowledgeable with Macs,
but since all my files were moved from my mac computer to the external hard drive,
is it possible to recover those files through my Mac - like recovering deleted files?

Disk utility can't repair disk (1 partition) on external hard drive

I've search here some to try to find the answer to my scenario, but I really don't understand how Disk Utility got involved in my external hard drive to begin with, so here's my question.
I have a 2TB Western Digital My Book Studio FW800 external that has 5 partitions, connected to my 2011 iMac. I had help doing the partitions and don't really remember the reasoning, but one is just for my SuperDuper! backup, one is Miscellaneous, one for movie clips off my camcorder, one for misc scanned photo's and one for my genealogy research.
I back up using Time Machine to a Time Capsule and also to this WD hard drive with SuperDuper!
Recently I'm getting a pop up message that "Mac OS X can't repair the disk "Genealogy"'. And it needs to be reformatted. It's become a read only disk. When I look in Disk Utility it shows all the partitions as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" EXCEPT for the one in question. I also noticed that there are a lot of files with "date created" being the same date in 1969! These files may be letters I've written or photo's I added to that partition within the last few years.
I think I have to completely reformat the entire external hard drive to repair this, but I want to make sure. Because it's going to be a major hassle backing it all up to another external (having to get one first) and then figuring out how to make the files that have turned "read only" in that one partition, back to their original state!
Does this sound right, that I have to reformat the entire external hard drive? And how do I get the read-only files back to their original state.
Thanks, Sandy

I don't back them up. There isn't much on them, besides the one I save video files too, but those are 2-3 min snippets of school events, that are just uploaded to youtube without any editing (like titles, fade ins, etc.) through iMovie. All those vid's are on original tapes I have.
The partition that is giving me problems, I do have most of that on my iMac's hard drive, just not as organized. I guess it's just seeming overwhelming to re-created those files into the same file structure on my iMac, but I think it could be done.
I'm still not sure why my brother had me do the partitions like this. In the past I had just two partitions, one for the back up and the other for random stuff that I didn't want to take up space on my iMac.

How do i recover data from an external hard drive that was accidentally deleted? After I verified the drive, a message appeared that said my drive needed to be repaired. When I tried to access the drive again, the 700 Gigs of music is gone!

How do i recover data from an external hard drive that was accidentally deleted? After I verified the drive, a message appeared that said my drive needed to be repaired. When I tried to access the drive again, the 700 Gigs of music is gone!

Stop using the drive immediately, un plug it.
Buy a copy of ProSoft DataRescue 4 and use it to search for deleted files.

Unmounted External Hard Drive, Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed

Earlier today, I disconnected the external hard drive while it was working.
Now, the External Hard Drive won't even show up on my computer. However, on the Disk Utility it does. I have tried to verify & repair the disk. Plus click the mount button nothing work.
Whenever, I ran the system verify or the repair. I got this error: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed
Ok. So I have searched all over the internet and forums. Tried everything. Nothing works.
I even tried Disk Warrior. It would work for a while, then when it came to step 8. It would make my computer go black and hold down the power button to restart.
Any suggestions? Please let me know, I would like to recover the files if I can. Thanks.
P.S.Yes I have tried to restart multiple time. I have tried with my USB 2.0, firewire 400, & 800 too.. Nothing.Everyone except the USB shows up in the disk utility but doesn't mount.

I have had the exact same situation occur, but was able to follow these steps to successfully save everything!!
The Unix program "dd" will instruct a drive to stream out all of it's data from beginning to end without regard to file structure, therefore creating an exact block-for-block duplicate. By doing this, it will allow you to copy everything off without having to mount the drive. It also ignores any corruption or physically damaged blocks on the drive which would otherwise crash or freeze the Finder. It saves the data to a disk image file which you can then open and use without fear of imminent failure (the format of the disk image will be the same as the original drive). Now that the data is preserved, you can safely go through and recover your files. Keep in mind that if a file was damaged or corrupted on the drive, it will be unusable, but at least you'll be able to get to the good ones safely. In my case, using "dd", I had no problems and got every file off. If it doesn't work for you, at least it's impossible for just trying it to further damage your files. I can recommend a few other remedies if this doesn't work for you.
Note: The computer must be able to at least recognize the drive. That means either 1) It mounts 2) When you connect the drive the Finder asks if you want to erase or ignore, click ignore and you should be able to do this, or 3) Nothing happens in the Finder, but the volume in question does appear in Disk Utility. If you connect the drive and absolutely nothing happens and it never shows up in Disk Utility, it won't work.
Note: As always, it is suggested that you backup important data on your startup disk before proceeding with stuff like this. It is possible to wipe a drive by mistyping a terminal command, so double check before you hit enter.
_Now, on with the show!_
Prep: Restart your machine so that it goes straight to the login window. Enter your user name and password. As soon as you press enter after your password, immediately hold down the shift key until the Finder finishes loading (this prevents any background startup items from running that might interfere).
1. Attach the drive to the computer and make sure you have another drive with enough free space to hold the entire capacity of the bad drive, not just it's used space, but the WHOLE size of the bad drive (for exception, see very bottom of this post).
2. In Terminal, type:
+diskutil list+
Look for the drive you want to recover in the "name" column, then write down it's "identifier" (ex. disk1s2)
3. In Terminal, type:
+dd bs=512 if=/dev/disk#s# of=/my_directory/image.dmg conv=noerror,sync+
!! Replace "disk#s#" with the identifier you wrote down before !!
!! Replace "/my_directory/" with the path to where you want to save !!
!! Replace "image.dmg" with the name you want to give the disk image (must end with .dmg) !!
4. To confirm that something is happening, open Activity Monitor (in the Utilities folder) and click "Disk Activity". Once you determine an average transfer rate, divide the size of the drive by that and then divide by 60 to see how many minutes it will take to finish. *+! ! FOR LARGE DRIVES THIS WILL TAKE A VERY LONG TIME ! !+* To be safe, do not use your computer for anything until the process finishes, you can leave Activity Monitor open so you can see when it's finished.
If you're only really concerned about a certain files and you know their exact path on the bad drive, let me know and I can give you modified instructions to copy just those files, saving the time and space of doing the whole drive.

External hard drive won't mount, even after disk repair.

My Toshiba external hard drive won't mount on my MacBook Pro 10.8.5. I can see it in my disk repair, and when I repair, "the partition map appears to be ok." But I can't access the icon to be able to open the hard drive contents on my desktop. Help!

Hello maccynicwhoalwayshasmacs,
Thanks for the question. After reviewing your post, it sounds like trouble with an external HD mounting. I would recommend that you read this article, it may be able to help you resolve or isolate the issue.
USB and FireWire Quick Assist
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Have a nice day,
Mario

After trying to change permissions on my computer so others on my network can access files, my external Hard Drive has a lock on it and I can't access files. I've tried repairing permissions, logging in under another Administrator account, using Terminal

After trying to change permissions on my computer so others on my network can grab files, my external Hard Drive has a lock on it and I can't access files. I've tried repairing permissions, logging in under another Administrator account, using Terminal to fix the problem, downloaded BatChmod but nothing works… Any other suggestions? I have an Imac running OS10.6.8.

There is suddenly a lock icon on my external backup drive!
Custom Permissions

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.
Is there any way to get this to work properly again? Or if not is there a way for me to recover my files on the external hard drive?
Thanks
I have a Macbook PRO late 2011 running OS X Mavericks.

Use a more powerful utility such as DiskWarrior, or a product such as those listed here.
(108710)

My hard disk is damaged and i have no external hard drive, and i was wondering, if i sent my computer to Apple, would they back up my files for me before repairing it?

My hard disk has been damaged for about 4 months now. When I ran the disk repair under disk utility, it told me to back my files and send it in for repairs. My problem is that I had a external hard drive, but I lost it, so I obviously can't back up my files. Also I tried using other external hard drives and that didn't work, pretty sure it was because they were not formatted for a mac. So my question is that if I send my computer to Apple, for repair, that would they back up my files there before repairing my computer. It could be a dumb question but at least I asked. Also my mouse pad no longer works. The "clickability" of it stopped about 3 months or so after getting the computer and just around last Christmas the mouse would not click anymore at all, it would move if one put there fingers on the mousepad but it would not "touch click" anymore. So yeah, help!
And the OS X was still a snow leopard, not sure the number of the OS.

Can't you just get another external drive, format it for Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and backup some if not all of your files? Apple's not in the data recovery business. You should have maintained a backup and now it might be too late. Your best bet would probably be just to call it a loss and buy both an internal, to put in your machine, and an external, for backup purposes. You can boot from your installer disc, format the 'new' internal and begin restoring your apps at least.
I'll never understand why some people don't have backups. Drives fail. It's best to have redundant backups so that all three or four drives don't all fail at once.
Sheesh - I know that I'm not helping your problem but maybe now you've learned your lesson and others will as well.
Clinton

Repairing external hard drive

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