Hard Disk Errors -- Ejecting Devices Properly

[kixsand]

I got up the other day to find my iMac was hung up and wouldn't awake from sleep. So, I re-booted it using the power button at the back of the computer. On re-boot it stalled out at the grey screen with the apple logo in the middle of it...only the apple logo was flashing from apple logo to folder icon with a question mark in the middle.

I called Apple care. My iMac was not able to access the hard drive. We used my set up discs to access the disk utility built into OSX and attempted to "Repair Disk". Didn't work...said...invalid node structure...yada yada yada.

The fella on the phone immediately said that it was not a hardware issue and that the only issue was that I was guilty of improperly disconnecting external devices such as cameras, iPods, usb memory sticks and the like. We could solve the problem right now with an erase and install or I could take my chances with 3rd party software or an Apple Certified repair shop to try and rescue my data.

I declined the erase option and went with the 3rd party software option -- Data Rescue 2 from Prosoft...worked like a charm. I also bought an 250gb G-Drive Q to move the rescued data to....also worked like a charm...what a nice drive.

My question after this long pre-amble is:

Is this Apple guy full of it or did I really cause this problem with the handfull of times I may have inadvertently disconnected my iPod without waiting for it to fully eject? At the time that the computer went down there had been nothing like this connected to the computer for a number of days.

On another front...Since erasing and reinstalling osx and then manually moving all my programs and data back onto the computer I have found the computer to be much more stable and snappier in it's performance. When I bought the computer I used the migration assistant to migrate from my old G4 800mhz iMac. I really don't think that the migration assistant is a good idea...brings over bad things with it!

darren

 

[mad jew]

I actually wonder how some of 'em get their jobs. Are you saying the tech guy was claiming you'd wrecked the node structure on your internal hard drive from not ejecting an iPod properly? If so, tell him you've slept with his Mum, 'cause it's probably equally true. Failing to properly eject hardware isn't good for the hardware you're ejecting. The worst it can do to your internal drive is that if you're copying something across to the internal from the iPod (or whatever device is connected), then the files may end up corrupted. This won't cause drive errors though. It'll mean you have some dodgy files.

As for the erase and install, some of the speed must be apportioned to the fact you most likely got rid of the drive errors (via the format). That in itself will speed things up. Having said that, I avoid Migration Assistant like the plague and only ever recommend it for basic components such as iTunes Libraries, iPhoto Libraries and Documents. I always reinstall my apps manually too.

 

[kixsand]

Mad Jew, (seems strange to write these words)

Thanks for the reply. I think you are correct...I had always thought that there was only a risk of an issue if you were to disconnect a device while your computer was accessing that device and that the risk was to the file itself, not to the device or to the computer.

So...what would have caused this hard disk corruption...migration?

Thanks,

darren

 

[mad jew]

Well, it could have been anything really. It can be the sign of an impending failing drive, but not necessarily. If it's coming back fine in Disk Utility then you don't have much to worry about.

 

[kixsand]

Now that I have the external G-Drive I will be backing up regularly so if it fails, it fails. I have Apple Care and the computer is just 3 months or so old. I am on top of things, ahead of the curve, on the ball etc.

I will overcome!

Thanks Mr. Jew.

 

[mad jew]

Excellent news mate.