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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Disk Utility

cking - Jun 23, 2005 - 1:18 pm

I seem to be having several problems with my Mac. I'm running OSX 10.3.9. Now my OSX mail program will not load & neither will Safari. I went to Disk Utility & when I choose the Hard Drive it gets hung up & I can not proceed any farther. I'm trying to locate my copy of disk warrior but I'm not sure I can find it right now. Its been a while since I have had to fix any major problems with OSX but if I do have to reinstall OSX can you give my some direction on steps to doing this or provide a link.

Also I already tried the /sbin/fsck - fy proceedure to no avail.

Thanks in advance

Christine

Natobasso - Jun 23, 2005 - 2:18 pm

Howdy! You might have to just run your "Zap PRAM" routine. Here's how you do it (it just resets the preference memory for things such as your clock and some background processes):

command + option + p + r

Hold this combo down on restart and wait for the chime 3 times. Hopefully this will shake your computer loose from it's issues. Unless you have Disk Warrior for 10.3 I would recommend not using it since it won't do you much good. OS X is pretty adept at file management and disk optimization anyway.

Let me know how the zap pram routine goes.

Also, you can try downloading a demo version of Cocktail and run all it's diagnostic procedures: www.macosxcocktail.com. It's a great program that gives you control over things your computer should do for itself on a regular basis.
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*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT

cking - Jun 27, 2005 - 12:31 pm

Hi Nathaniel,

Zapping the PRAM did not fix the problem. I seems to having some pretty major system problems. Disk Utility wont mount also I tried to run the MAC OSX update for 10.3.9 & the installer wont load anything. Should I rebuild my hard drive? If so, can you get me the steps to do this & do I need to uninstall?

Thanks
Christine

Natobasso - Jun 27, 2005 - 1:26 pm

You can do two things.

1. Start up using your system disk and don't reinstall X but go to File/Open Disk Utility and run "Repair Disk".

2. Then start up again using your hardware test cd and make sure you don't have a RAM or other hardware problem.

3. It's possible you have parts missing from your OS X install, but I can't be a sure. You should have a licensed Apple Tech look at your computer if neither of these tests/repairs brings you success.

Keep me posted!

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*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT

cking - Jun 27, 2005 - 2:35 pm

Sorry to bother you again. I found the Disk Utility on the OS X install disk & I chose the hard drive then chose First Aid but none of the "stop, repair or verify" buttons light up so I can select them. Any further ideas or is that the end of the road. Thanks


Christine

Natobasso - Jun 27, 2005 - 2:40 pm

You have to choose not the first drive listed, but the second drive underneath it. Did you boot up with that system disk? That will give you the options.

What happened when you tried the other steps I mentioned?

Keep me posted.
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*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT