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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Need to repair B-directory problems

mclan - Sep 3, 2006 - 6:23 pm

When I ran Disk Doctor (after several months of not checking my hard drive)I was given a warning that there was a problem with my B-directory, and directed to boot up from the Norton Systemworks or Norton Utilities disk. However, when I tried to boot up from the Systemworks disk, it was not recognized--even though I had selected it as my start-up disk.

This has never happened before! I had booted from the Systemworks disks several times in the past. I had recently installed the new "upgrade" for Systemworks, Norton Internet Security. I thought that might have had a bearing on why the G5 wouldn't start from the Systemworks disk, so tried to start up from the installer disk that came with the G5 (purchased October 2004) in order to fix the directory problem with Disk Utility. No problem getting the machine to start up from the installer, but there was no "First Aid" or Disk Utility on the installer menu. Only a hardware tester.

Can you give me some help on what I should do in order to get my directory problems taken care of? Thanks!

G5 Dual Processor, running OS 10.3.9

Cathy Miller

DeltaMac - Sep 3, 2006 - 7:02 pm

First - there is no good news with Norton - SystemWorks has not been updated since more than 2 years. Most support people here recommend that you do NOT use SystemWorks for any purpose. Too many reports of Norton causing directory problems instead of repairing them. If you have installed SystemWorks on your hard drive, you should uninstall it. There's a good support page at the symantec.com web site that provides the info to uninstall all your Norton software.
You should be able to boot to your OS X installer DVD (reboot with the DVD inserted, and hold the letter C ). Then check the installer menu, you should see Disk Utility there.
However, it's unlikely to help you. The Disk Utility that comes with the Tiger (10.4.6) installer WILL help, but that means purchasing that upgrade. The other software that will help you is DiskWarrior, which is a good disk repair utility, and will fix your directory. You have to buy that one, also.
Maybe you know someone who has one of those, and can share to help you fix your problem. If you can, make sure you get version 3.0.3 of DiskWarrior, which is the most recent version. (the box will show disk version 57 or higher)
Let me know how it goes...
- Dale

mclan - Sep 4, 2006 - 3:53 am

Hi Dale,

Thanks so much for your help. Tough to learn about Norton products, I have been using them since the 80s and have never had any problems. Do you also recommend dumping Norton Internet Security (contains Norton Anti-virus)? If so, which virus protection do you recommend? Pleas let me know, as I certainly don't want to use any products that could damage my G5 in any way.

I think I'll go the DiskWarrior route, I've read about this utility and think it would be a good piece of software to have. I'll make certain I get 3.0.3. Will wait to close ticket until problem is solved.

Again, so much appreciate your help.

Cathy Miller

DeltaMac - Sep 4, 2006 - 4:44 am

Norton Internet Security, still being updated, may be OK, but I don't have anything good to say about Norton anymore.
I'll dodge your internet software question by asking you one - Do you require virus protection? (school/business networks often do). Currently, no viruses will directly affect your Mac, and a home computer is unlikely to be targeted yet. If you regularly email to/from a PC from your Mac, then you may get emails that are infected, and you would pass those on to a PC undetected, even though you will not be affected at all.
If you MUST have virus protection, then ClamXav is known as the most effective option for the Mac and OS X, and it's free! Here's a link to the ClamAV info page. http://www.markallan.co.uk/clamXav/index.php

- Dale

mclan - Sep 4, 2006 - 6:11 am

Thanks again! I'll definitely be making a donation to macosx.com, as I think the help is outstanding. And so fast. Wow.

I run a home-based biz from my mac, emailing PCs all the time. Thanks for the ClamXav link, I'll go that route and just uninstall everything Norton, including Internet Security. I don't need the firewall (I'm told) because we run our connection off of a Linksys router.

Again, will keep this ticket open until I get my disk repaired. Will be a few days before I receive Disk Warrior.

Thanks. Cathy

mclan - Sep 5, 2006 - 3:33 am

Hi Dale,

Sorry to bother you with this. I just got a note from MacosX.com, telling me they hadn't heard from me since a tech was notified, and asking if I'd go ahead and close the ticket (or they would on Sept. 7). I don't want to close the ticket until I get my disk problem cleared up, because if I have more trouble, then I'll be able to contact you again, and you already know all the details and what I've done. I won't have the software for several days--possibly longer than the 7th. How do I contact MacosX.com and let them know this? Again, sorry to bother you with it. Cathy Miller

DeltaMac - Sep 5, 2006 - 10:10 am

I'll simply return to this ticket in a few days. You can choose to not close it, or, as a hint, just send a short 'hi' every couple of days to keep this open.

mclan - Sep 10, 2006 - 2:19 pm

Hi Dale,

The ticket was closed, so I just opened it back up again. However, after reading this, you may tell me to open another ticket.

I'm still waiting for the Disk Warrior software, should be here by Monday or Tuesday. In the meantime, thought I'd try the Safe Boot (holding down shift key at start-up). Well, the little gray whirley-gig started spinning, and spinning, and spinning and the fans begin to ramp up, and up, and up. After about 60 seconds or so, I thought I'd better turn the machine off (even though the little gray boot-up icon was still spinning) or else the entire machine would experience lift-off. I restarted the G5 normally, and it booted up fine.

I decided not to try Safe Boot again until I conferred with you: Few days ago when I tried to boot from my G5 install disk, I ran a hardware test that was on the install disk (no disk first aid, though--it's not on my copy for some reason.) I got a message via the hardware test telling me that there was a problem on the logic board with the fan (or fans.) The fans were running like crazy during the test with no revving down taking place, so I just shut the G5 down and restarted. No problems.

I wasn't surprised about the problem the test found, as when I first got my Mac, I had a bad fan problem that took two trips to the Mac doc to get fixed. (Super high revving that wouldn't stop.)

Anyway, I decided I'd ask you before I tried booting in safe mode again. Should I try, or leave well enough alone until DiskWarrior gets here?

Thanks, Dale!!

Cathy

TechSupport - Sep 10, 2006 - 7:10 pm

mclan - Sep 12, 2006 - 2:22 pm

Hi Dale,

Software did not come today. It should have been here by now, will check into it. Will keep you posted. Thanks!

Cathy

mclan - Sep 14, 2006 - 5:35 am

Called Alsoft. There was some kind of delay in getting out my software last week, so it went out on Monday. Coming from TX by Priority Mail, it should have been here (CA) by now, so let's hope it gets here today.

Saw your private message--you are really a prince for helping me figure out what's going on with my G5 install disk. I'll go reboot with that disk later today, take notes based on your questions. Will also let you know exactly what it says on the disk itself.

Cathy

mclan - Sep 14, 2006 - 8:12 pm

Disk Warrior arrived today and was able to rebuild and replace my directory. Whew. So now can I figure all is well? Should I rebuild the directory every few months? Or should I use the disk utility?

I'll also go ahead now and download that free virus protection program you told me about, too.

Tomorrow I'll start the G5 up from the G5 install disk, take notes on stuff, and let you know. I'll answer you over in the private message area to be sure I've covered all the points you asked.

Thanks again for everything, Dale.

mclan - Sep 18, 2006 - 7:14 am

Just checking in so as not to have this ticket close. Just one more response from you, and I'll close it. Thanks again, Dale. Cathy

DeltaMac - Sep 18, 2006 - 10:33 am

Better to simply repost here again. I may not be available during the coming weeks, but will answer if I can.