Having problems with my hard drive (running Panther) - hard drive less than a year old. After sitting idle for awhile, my screensaver came on, then it went into rest mode. When I moved the mouse to "wake it up" it wouldn't come out of sleep. Finally, I restarted. After waiting, the folder and flashing question mark came up. I can see both my Master and Slave WDC harddrives in Disk Utility. I click Verify my Master drive, it states "checking HFS Plus volume", but then I get the message: "Invalid B-tree node size; the volume needs to be repaired" - but it does not let me repair it. I've tried this a few times, and "Verify Completed" continues (once for up to 5 hours). Help please.
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Invalid B-tree node??? No repair?
- Thread starter Hamiltonmac
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Disk Utility won't let you repair a drive with open applications, or the boot drive.
You need to run Disky First Aid through your CD/DVD in order for it to make a repair.
An alternate is to boot into single user mode (hold command-s) and run fsck (directions on screen). 'reboot' when you are done.
Both of these are multipass repairs, will either repair it in a couple few passes -- or stop making repairs showing you that you need a better drive repair utility.
You need to run Disky First Aid through your CD/DVD in order for it to make a repair.
An alternate is to boot into single user mode (hold command-s) and run fsck (directions on screen). 'reboot' when you are done.
Both of these are multipass repairs, will either repair it in a couple few passes -- or stop making repairs showing you that you need a better drive repair utility.
"An alternate is to boot into single user mode (hold command-s) and run fsck (directions on screen)."
- This hasn't worked for me. I've tried it holding down the command-s and it doesn't show a black screen with letters no matter how long I hold it down, so it won't start in single user mode.
"You need to run Disky First Aid through your CD/DVD in order for it to make a repair."
- I don't get this. I tried to double click the CD/DVD drive, verify/first aid cannot be chosen. After verifying the Master drive, where it checks the HFS Plus, and receiving the b-tree notice, I do not have the choice to repair, though it states the volume needs to be repaired. What is the next step?
- This hasn't worked for me. I've tried it holding down the command-s and it doesn't show a black screen with letters no matter how long I hold it down, so it won't start in single user mode.
"You need to run Disky First Aid through your CD/DVD in order for it to make a repair."
- I don't get this. I tried to double click the CD/DVD drive, verify/first aid cannot be chosen. After verifying the Master drive, where it checks the HFS Plus, and receiving the b-tree notice, I do not have the choice to repair, though it states the volume needs to be repaired. What is the next step?
Let me make sure I'm clear on this - "I'm using the (Power Mac G4) Mac OS X Install disk and clicking in Disk Utility. Is there another way of using Disk Utility? Or another disk I should be using?
Hamiltonmac said:
I think you've got it right, Boot from either the Panther Install Disk (if you purchased Panther as a stand alone) or the system restore disk (if it came on your G4 already) then under the installer menu choose "Disk Utility" from there you will have the normal Disk Utility screen and should now have the option to choose "Repair Disk".
Boot using the OS X install CD/DVD ...Hamiltonmac said:
Simply running the DFA on another drive won't work, since that makes two drives you cannot repair.
The OS X version Disk Utilities/Disk First Aid will not repair the boot drive, or any drive you are currently running an open document or app -- and the boot drive is running a bunch of apps and docs.
If the drive isn't journaled, boot directly into OS 9 and run Disk First Aid in OS 9 -- DFA will repair the drive it runs on under OS 9 (not classic.)
This is what I have been doing, and it will not let me repair the disk.
I tried this, and it only saw the disk and my second HD.
Using the system restore disk, it freezes (and looks like it is running in OS 9). Panther does does not give me the Disk Utility option.
I contacted someone from Disk Warrior, but they cannot guarantee that it will fix it, though they say my "odds are good." Should I go that route, or simply take it into the Apple Store.
Hamiltonmac said:
You sure you are booting from the CD/DVD by holding down C during startup? In you're earlier post it didn't sound like you were booting from the system disks.
Sorry, I've been holding down the command-c button. I've tried holding it for ten minutes, I've also tried holding it until it restarts and see a gray screen. Usually then it goes to a flashing question mark for a few minutes then finally makes its' way to the install screen.
Hamiltonmac said:
As noted, to boot from the CD, simply hold down the C key at boot time. Keep holding it down until it's clear to you that it's booting (or booted) from the CD. Then select Disk Utility from one of the pull-down menus. Use as normal. If this doesn't fix the drive, you have basically 2 choices, but Disk Warrior or Tech Tool Pro to try and repair it (typically they can handle simply stuff like this), or replace the hard drive (which is a complete waste, but it IS an option).
Disk Warrior or Data Rescue?
Disk Warrior or Data Rescue?
I took tower into Apple store and the genius could barely explain to me how B-tree nodes work, but admitted he didn't know how to fix it, recommending I scrap it. I did n't like that response. I have since narrowed my choices down to DISK WARRIOR - attempting to fix the problem, but at least saving the data; or DATA RESCUE 2 - attempting to save the data, erase, and rebuild. The Mac genuis told me that Disk Warrior is destructive and could wipe out my data and ruin my hard drive. He pushed Data Rescue. Any one have any experience with either of these?
Disk Warrior or Data Rescue?
I took tower into Apple store and the genius could barely explain to me how B-tree nodes work, but admitted he didn't know how to fix it, recommending I scrap it. I did n't like that response. I have since narrowed my choices down to DISK WARRIOR - attempting to fix the problem, but at least saving the data; or DATA RESCUE 2 - attempting to save the data, erase, and rebuild. The Mac genuis told me that Disk Warrior is destructive and could wipe out my data and ruin my hard drive. He pushed Data Rescue. Any one have any experience with either of these?
Disk Warrior or Data Rescue II ?
I'm having problems with my HD - I'll spare you that issue. I'm down to - DISK WARRIOR - attempting to fix the problem, but at least saving the data; or DATA RESCUE 2 - attempting to save the data, erase HD, and rebuild. A Mac genuis told me that Disk Warrior is destructive and could wipe out my data and ruin my HD. He pushed Data Rescue. Any one have any experience with either of these?
I'm having problems with my HD - I'll spare you that issue. I'm down to - DISK WARRIOR - attempting to fix the problem, but at least saving the data; or DATA RESCUE 2 - attempting to save the data, erase HD, and rebuild. A Mac genuis told me that Disk Warrior is destructive and could wipe out my data and ruin my HD. He pushed Data Rescue. Any one have any experience with either of these?
Sorry Sunbaked - Thanks for the help. I feel like I tried everything, and now want to focus on Data Recovery, and either erase and rebuild the HD, fix it with Disk Warrior, or exchange it under warranty.
Hamiltonmac said:
This would only apply in a hardware failure. Your issue is most likely software related which is why you need to get the System CD to work...
From what I understand, anything you can do, short of throwing your computer at a technician and having them deal with this, is going to involve you booting off a CD or DVD. I don't think any application will let you safely fix this type of error while you the journalled volume in question is mounted read/write.
It sounds to me like, when you were trying to boot off the system CD/DVD, that you never actually succeeded, and instead were still booting off the Hard Disk. Is this correct, or are you sure that you are booting successfully off the CD? If you are not, we need to solve that issue first. I'm sorry that it's frustrating to you.
The other method, to which I think Sun Baked was alluding, to make sure you boot off that disc is, when your computer is running in Panther off the HD, to go to system preferences, startup disk, and then choose the CD there and click the restart button inside sys prefs.
Or else, go back to trying to get into single user mode. Are you sure you did *that* correctly? You hold down Apple-S right from when you press power, and it should work.
Anyway, sorry again that this is all frustrating....
It sounds to me like, when you were trying to boot off the system CD/DVD, that you never actually succeeded, and instead were still booting off the Hard Disk. Is this correct, or are you sure that you are booting successfully off the CD? If you are not, we need to solve that issue first. I'm sorry that it's frustrating to you.
The other method, to which I think Sun Baked was alluding, to make sure you boot off that disc is, when your computer is running in Panther off the HD, to go to system preferences, startup disk, and then choose the CD there and click the restart button inside sys prefs.
Or else, go back to trying to get into single user mode. Are you sure you did *that* correctly? You hold down Apple-S right from when you press power, and it should work.
Anyway, sorry again that this is all frustrating....
I believe I was booting off the CD/DVD Mac OS X install disk. I did it a number of times, holding down command-c before, at, and after startup. It appeared to be the CD. I also tried starting up in single user mode, but I wasn't successful. I know this sounds very basic, but is there a way to positively identify that you are starting up from a CD and not the HD? Also, is there a trick to single user mode?
Hamiltonmac said:
Once again, it's only C at boot to boot from the CD. And you have a Desktop or a login window when you attempt to boot from the CD, then you're not booted from the CD.
yellow said:
Yes, you will have a very limited number of options of things you can do when you boot from the CD, such as re-installing OS X or running disk utility. If you either get a login menu and are asked for your name and password, or boot to the desktop, then you have not booted from the CD.
As for single user mode... there is a way, I think in Open Firmware, that it can be disabled. I guess it's possible that this has been done by you or someone else on your computer. I can't say for sure, though. What exactly is your setup? I know you have an iMac G4. Are you using a Bluetooth or a USB keyboard?
If you are using a BT keyboard, these keyboard shortcuts on boot may not work. You can still definitely always boot from a CD or DVD by putting it in the drive while the computer is on and booted from the HD, going into System Preferences -> Startup Disk, and selecting it from there as your startup disk and selecting the restart option there.