[janothebear]

Hello,

I"ll try to keep this direct and clear.

I have an iMac 2.4 Ghz, I believe OS 10.5.8. Recently it has been running slow, still booting up but running pretty slow.

So I tried to verify the volume and that didn't work. Got messages, "invalid node structure", and "invalid key length."

At this time my external HD, which I use with Time Machine started acting funny also. When it mounted I think I got a message saying it was a read only volume. I'm sorry I'm so confused right now I forget exactly what it said.

So I do some research and it seems I should try Disk Warrior. Local Apple store says they have it in stock and I can come get it. When I get there it turns out they don't have it after all. The guy sells me Drive Genius 3 and says its the same thing. But he also tells me he thinks my HD's are both dying (internal and backup) and I should get the whole mess to The Genius Bar and let them figure it out so I don't loose everything.

I walk out of there pretty P.O.'ed with a copy of Drive Genius 3, not even sure if I'm going to open the box because I still think I'd be better off using Disk Warrior.

I get home and boot from my OS disk, then run "disk repair." on my main drive, not the external. I should have done this before Apple Store- I know-

Well the disk gets through the repair process OK. I get nice green words saying everything checks out. Then I click "verify disk" and that runs just fine. So for some reason I run "repair disc" again and I start getting all sorts of errors. The last thing that popped up before the utility stopped was "invalid key length."

I am still inclined to get a copy of Disk Warrior and try that, and just return the Drive Genius software.

Can anyone offer suggestions? What are the chances both my HD in the iMac and my backup external are crappin out at the same time? I'm kind of overwhelmed right now as I've never had an issue like this in 15 yrs. of owning Macs.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Jan

[turtle777]

I don't understand why you passed on the offer of having the Genius take a look at it.

From what it sounds, something is seriously messed up.

-t

[janothebear]

I didn't have the computer with me at the time. I had just gone to the Apple store to get Disk Warrior.

[turtle777]

Well, just be aware that you can do a lot of damage if you use DiskWarrior without knowing what you're doing.

-t

[janothebear]

update:

disk warrior allowed me to rebuild the directory on my backup drive, so all my files are accessable. DW also built a preview directory for the internal HD, which allowed me to access files, but it also warned me of a disk malfunction. Took it to an authorized Apple repair center and I'm expecting they will replace said HD.

[Spheric Harlot]

I didn't see this earlier, but gut feeling is yes, the internal disk is dying.

[Doc HM]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Well, just be aware that you can do a lot of damage if you use DiskWarrior without knowing what you're doing.

-t

Well it's all fairly simple. Find directory info, repair, replace. What's not to love.

Your gut belong was right (and the Apple store were wrong) Drive Genius is not at all the same application as Disk Warrior and cannot repair disks in the same way. That said it does stuff that DW doesn't so it's horses for courses.

Drives are not expensive and yours sounds fatally wounded. Swap it out, it's not worth the danger of it going down at the wrong moment.