Trying to Bootcamp, Hard Drive Won't Partition

Hello there,
I am trying to use the bootcamp assistant utility to install windows 7 on a Late 2009 iMac. I got the Microsoft support software downloaded to an external Flash Drive using the Bootcamp utility and have a full Windows 7 Home Premium install disc that I have been trying to use, brand new bought yesterday. The problem is that I can't seem to get past the point in the Bootcamp utility where it makes the partitions for me. I receive this message:
"you disk cannot be partitioned. an error occurred while partitioning the disk."
I tried using the disk utility (as suggested online) to look at the hard drive and received this message due to an "invalid directory count":
"this disk needs to be repaired using the Recovery HD. Restart your computer, holing down the command key and the R key until you see the Apple logo. When the OS X Utilities window appears, choose Disk utility."
I've done that but for some reason the Disk Utility there says that everything is okay after being checked and verified. I even chose the repair option to no avail.
I then went back online and was routed to trying to reboot my iMac using the Single-User Mode (command S at reboot). I used the command line:
"/sbin/fsck -fy" (no quotes) [enter]
the system ran the command; it checks and repairs inconsistencies in file systems that may prevent you from partitioning the drive. the result was
"**the volume macintosh HD could not be repaired.****the volume was modified.****"
i can post a pic of the set of command lines and results if needed, but the hard drive has never been modified. I need help figuring out how to solve this partitioning/hard drive issue.
Thanks

well I believe it always starts in safe mode; i'm not sure but it always starts up with the progress bar loading.
my situation has changed, I tried repeating my steps as aforementioned and have gotten the partitioning process to work but now upon startup the screen is black and says there is no bootable device, I can access my apple side of the machine restarting and using the "option" key and see that it is the only bootable drive. I think the reason for this is because I'm trying to boot Windows 7 using an external superdrive as the disk drive inside the iMac itself is unable to work. I don't know for sure if this is an appropriate solution, but I was wondering if there is a way to get the iMac to recognize the external usb superdrive as its internal optical drive.

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External Hard Drive won't partition

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Never Mind. I learned about switching to GUID and now everything is fine!

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Kevin - There might be a few reasons as to why your external drive won't appear have you tried any of these suggestions:-
STEP ONE - Confirm that the drive is being seen by the system
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Double-click the Mac hard drive icon.
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Hello Everyone,
I am hoping that one of you fine mac experts may be able to assist ~
Problem: External Seagate FreeAgent Desktop USB external hard drive
won't mount on desktop=ie: no access to my important files.. Please Help!
Details:
External seagate freeagent 500 GB Desktop USB HD ( only 2 months old)
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~
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~
The External hard drive will show up in disk utility, but is grayed out.
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~
message 2- when unplugging and repluggin the usb in-and upon
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~
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Invalid key length ( <<<IN RED )
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~~
Though it said the repair was completed, the "invalid key length" issue
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~~~~~
If there is a mac genius out there that can help?- it would be greatly
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~~~
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what version?
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L

Will zapping the PRAM be of any use in getting the external to mount on the desktop?
Your external Hard drive is already recognized. But it cannot be mounted on the desktop due to its directory damage. You can certainly Zap the PRAM, and it will not hurt anything, but I am skeptical that it will change the situation.
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My other thought was to take the external HD there and have them try to recover the files.
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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.
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Message was edited by: stewiesno1

HT5622 My Ipod Classic shows a red circle with a cross in the middle. I've completed diagnostic tests which have popped up, however any HP/FW/Hard Drive tests freeze the ipod, as if the hard drive won't spin. What do I do?

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Reply
This happened to me with a LaCie external drive as well.
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I believe this article answers most of your questions.
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Autumn

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Had just installed updates to snow leopard and was successful...but went to restart it...and this crap happened.
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MT1111
< Edited by Host >

I'll try that tomorrow. Thinking it could also be:
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