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TICKET ARCHIVE -> DiskWarrior on a FileVault laptop

jverschu - Dec 16, 2006 - 1:41 am

Dear MacOSX support member,

Running Diskwarrior on a FileVault enabled laptop. It was mentioned to me that the laptop should have FileVault disabled before running DiskWarrior as DiskWarrior would not include the encrypted Home folder otherwise. Wondering very much whether that is correct or not.

Your advice is much appreciated
Best regards
Jan

DeltaMac - Dec 16, 2006 - 9:02 am

Yes, that's true about File Vault.
But, the new version 4 DiskWarrior now repairs and rebuilds FileVaults

More info here - http://www.alsoft.com/index.html

- Dale

jverschu - Dec 16, 2006 - 9:47 pm

Thank you Dale for the answer.
How often should one run this Diskwarrior in a year?
I am a windows user about to switch and the question was for my girfriend´s Powerbook. The question out of a windows background is: how does Diskwarrior compare to a Disk Defragmenter/Scandisk running in windows? I also use SpinRite by www.grc.com which seems to an in depth Harddrive maintenance and recovery program. However this Spinrite runs off a floppy which is not bigger than 1.4 MB. This DiskWarrior is a 100 MB big program. Where does it fit in comparison to my familiar windows experience? Does OSX have any basic tools built in like Defragmenter/Scandisk or is Diskwarrior the one and only to use?
You can reply inline to the multitude of questions.

Best regards
Jan

DeltaMac - Dec 16, 2006 - 11:32 pm

There's answers to part of your questions at the link to Alsoft that I posted.
Basically, Disk Warrior is a directory repair program, which is probably the most mentioned for the Mac, and works the best.
OS X has the Disk Utility, which works well, but is somewhat limited in repair capabilities compared to Disk Warrior.
How often should you run it? When you have problems that may be related to disk directory problems. The Mac OS X is usually pretty stable, you shouldn't need to run it on any regular basis, it's a repair tool, not a maintenance utility.
Defragmentation is not usually necessary on modern operating systems, which includes OS X. Windows on NTFS is about the same, not usually needed.
- Dale

jverschu - Dec 18, 2006 - 11:27 pm

Thanks again Dale,

Your information that Diskwarrior is a repair tool and not a maintenance tool makes me wonder about the aplication. You mention: "How often should you run it? When you have problems that may be related to disk directory problems." Well, as you say: MAY... How does one know for sure the source of the problem? As you mention the stability of OSX. What about the carrier: the Hardrive. Spinrite (claims) to work in conjunction Scandisk and Defrag. It does not substitute either one. Spinrite works on the fysical condition of the Harddrive. Diskwarrior in my understanding does not work on the HD but on the data organisation of OSX and apps plus data. You mention it to be a directory repair program. Like a windows Defrag on steroids? Only to be used when encountering problems. BUT when those problems can also arise due to an aging HD? As in my girlfriends laptop case the HD is about 2.5 years old. 3 Years, the Genius bar mentioned, is the average life of a laptop HD. So spending 100 dollars on Diskwarrior can probably be better spent on a new HD maybe? In my opinion (when I understand the working of the program...!) Diskwarrior is very expensive for what it can maybe do. WHEN it only works on a software level: why not do it the best way possible and do a complete reinstall? Inconvenient? YES. Better than what Diskwarrior can do? When so: I personally take the inconvenience for a better endresult. Correct me where my thinking is wrong.
Thanks beforehand Dale.
Jan

jverschu - Dec 21, 2006 - 12:35 am

Hi Dale,

Things are getting confusing here. You mentioned Diskwarrior NOT the be a maintenance tool. I read now on the Alsoft website´s recommendation to run it monthly AS A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE option...
Girlfriend´s laptop just "died" due to login confusion starting up. She could not startup the laptop anymore. Genius bar help cleared that up and there it was recommended to reinstall OS X on a yearly basis and run the built in Disk utility on a monthly basis...
Please clear a few things up for me here as a yearly reinstall is not even needed for a Win 98 system as I am running a very stable Win 98 system here for (I think) 4 years now. The macworld sounds to be in confusion to me...
Who knows what?
Just what is the average user to do now with their Mac to keep it stable???
A yearly reinstall is not what I expected to hear from a tech as that is "windows-talk". :-)

Thanks for your thoughts beforehand.
Jan

DeltaMac - Dec 21, 2006 - 7:43 am

OS X, in general, does not need the regular maintenance that a Windows install needs - but, similar to Windows, is not perfect...
It doesn't hurt to do these things (even a reinstall) on some regular schedule if that works for you....
I think if you ask for a second opinion from another so-called 'genius', then you will get a different answer. That fellow simply has a job title, not really a state of mind.
You can run regular maintenance if you like, that's completely up to you.
My opinion, and that genius had an 'opinion', and not a recommendation based on any facts except his own experience, the Mac OS X does not 'expire' after a year. I have heard the same about Windows 98, but your own experience is different. I was taught in a PC maintenance class that Microsoft recommends reinstalling Windows every two years, so you get mis-information from every direction. BTW, you should consider wiping and reinstalling that Win98 system, as you are living on borrowed time.
Here's what I believe (based on my experience - not everyone would agree), you should run repair utilities when you think they are needed. What do I mean by that? You use your computer. At some point, you begin to experience a change in performance - lots of the spinning beachballs, or just a noticeable lag in many activities. You get occasional 'unexpectedly quit' messages when an application that you normally use, does not work consistently for you. Try running one of the maintenance utilities when those types of things happen.
But, reinstall OS X annually? No offense, but I'm still laughing on that one. Don't talk to that genius the next time - And tell another genius that one, I hope he's the other one's supervisor....

My last tidbit - go to a good bookstore, and pick up one of the Mac OS X for Dummies, or the Little Black Book for OS X, or something similar. Those will have a variety of GOOD recommendations for regular maintenance. Look to those utilities/apps if you are having problems or questions about the performance of your Mac.
Are you having any problems currently?
- Dale

TechSupport - Dec 30, 2006 - 11:30 pm

jverschu - Dec 30, 2006 - 11:30 pm

Hi Dale,
Just reopened the ticket to thank you for your time. But with your last question: "having any current problems?" Well my 4 year old Win98 (point taken that I am running on borrowed time...) runs smoother than my girlfriend´s G4 Mac OS X Tiger..
Lot´s of spinning beachballs. But she has done ZERO maintenance EVER on her system. I picked up a MacOSX book and have the "for dummy´s" on order. BUT... I never had to pick up a book on Windows maintenance. The girlfriend SHOULD have known better a bit but oh well... shit happens. BTW: friends have a XP system with 5 logins for the kids who HAMMER this computer with games and installs and uninstalls.. No problems now for 3 years I think. But I will switch to the Mac platform nonetheless. The "it just works" is just a tad arrogant I think. It remains a fragile man made thingy...

Many thanks Dale and best wishes for the year ahead!
Jan