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Veltliner · May 23, 2007, 01:33 AM

My apple technician (well, I actually don't own him) recommended to buy DiscWarrior 4.0 from Alsoft to keep all applications running smoothly.

(I always have the problem of the DVD drive not playing DVDs, for example, and this is only mended so far by an archive & install).

Do you recommend DiscWarrior as a maintenance and emergency tool, or would you recommend a different software?

Thanks!

CharlesS · May 23, 2007, 04:34 AM

DiskWarrior is the best disk utility for the Mac. You won't need to use it often, but when you do, you'll be glad you have it.

peeb · May 23, 2007, 10:01 AM

I would not think that you need one unless you have a specific problem - the automatic maintenance scripts are sufficient for most people.

CharlesS · May 23, 2007, 01:14 PM

The automatic maintenance scripts do almost nothing at all. They rotate some log files, update the whatis and locate databases, and... um... maybe something else. Nothing important. They don't do a single thing that overlaps with a disk utility like DiskWarrior.

Big Mac · May 23, 2007, 01:26 PM

DiskWarrior is the most important disk utility on the market. It's better to buy DiskWarrior in case you need in the future than to have to scramble to get it if you need it. I haven't urgently needed to run it since OS X, but disk corruption can occur and DiskWarrior can be a lifesaver if it does.

peeb · May 23, 2007, 01:27 PM

Right, but that is sufficient for most people unless they have some specific problem. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I don't think DiskWarrior's maintenance is particularly necessary - it can fix problems, but it is not needed as a preventative.

fisherKing · May 23, 2007, 04:56 PM

disk warrior is THE ONE when a drive won't mount, for example. so, as stated earlier, worth having when needed.

i run this once a month; it does the 'disk utility' thing (verify disk, repair permissions), can clear the user cache, has a lot of other options. and it's free.

essential? some would say no, but works for me.

OreoCookie · May 23, 2007, 04:59 PM

DiskWarrior isn't a `software maintenance tool', but maintenance software (it doesn't do anything to your applications, it fixes errors in the directory structures). It's definitely the best repair tool on the market.

peeb · May 23, 2007, 05:11 PM

I agree about it being a great repair tool, but am I way off base in thinking that recommending it as preventive maintenance is unnecessary?

Goldfinger · May 23, 2007, 06:29 PM

I use it as a preventive tool. I refresh external hard drives' directory structures once in a while. Don't know if there is any point in doing so but it can't be bad.

Sourbook · May 23, 2007, 07:52 PM

A lot of Apple repair centers use DiskWarrior to repair their customers corrupt directories. They'll run it on the machine overnight and charge them a few hundred dollars for the repair. I run it a few times a year for a streamlined directory. Usually after a major install or update.

CharlesS · May 24, 2007, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by peeb

Right, but that is sufficient for most people unless they have some specific problem. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I don't think DiskWarrior's maintenance is particularly necessary - it can fix problems, but it is not needed as a preventative.

Well...

1. If your Mac quits booting and you need to get your Mac working soon because you've got a deadline coming up, you don't want to order DiskWarrior and wait for the CD to ship - you want to be able to fix your drive now. You really appreciate having DW around if that happens.

2. Not every disk problem causes catastrophic, or even noticeable, problems right away. And problems do crop up, even on a journaled volume. Just last month I had a really bizarre problem where my iMac stopped responding to any startup keys from my Bluetooth keyboard - Option, C, Command-S, Command-Option-P-R, Command-Option-O-F - none of them worked unless I plugged in a ratty old black USB keyboard from my old G4. I tried a host of things - zapping the PRAM, set-defaults in Open Firmware, replacing the batteries in the keyboard, deleting and re-pairing the keyboard, various different combinations of turning the keyboard and iMac on after a cold boot, etc. Eventually I tried running DiskWarrior on the internal HD and for some reason, it fixed the problem. Anyway, running DW every so often would get rid of any random little problems like this that could crop up.

3. DiskWarrior supposedly optimizes the directory, although I suspect this is probably boondoggle and doubt it's really very important.

4. DiskWarrior includes a daemon that can run in the background and alert you if the disk is close to failure at the hardware level, which could be a nice thing to know if you had any un-backed up work on the drive.

Veltliner · May 24, 2007, 06:24 PM

Thanks!

I will get DiscWarrior 4.0.

I have already one recurring problem with my dvd drive not being able to read dvds. Also, regularly, the balance control for the speakers wanders to the left all by itself.

After what I read in this discussion:

100$ may look expensive when all is running well, but when you are sitting in front of a computer doing funny things and you have to get those photos to the printer or that text out there, then it may just save you hundreds on repair dollars and a crossed deadline to have it.

From what I read it will keep my directories clean, and my software running better, which may prevent a major failure.

peeb · May 24, 2007, 06:34 PM

Well, maybe I'm being a pedant here, but, while I agree it is good to have around in case of a problem, I still don't believe it will 'keep your directories clean or your software running better". It might fix a failure, but it won't prevent one. Am I off base here?

CharlesS · May 24, 2007, 10:48 PM

Well yeah, except that if a minor failure could potentially escalate into a larger failure if given the time.

Granted, I'm not one of those people who runs DiskWarrior once a month or whatever, and I generally don't run it unless something's acting up. With that said, when something is acting up, it's really nice to have around.

peeb · May 25, 2007, 10:38 AM

Agreed. I am just a little suspicious of it being marketed as prevention, rather than cure.

analogika · May 26, 2007, 03:14 AM

Originally Posted by Veltliner

Thanks!

I will get DiscWarrior 4.0.

I have already one recurring problem with my dvd drive not being able to read dvds. Also, regularly, the balance control for the speakers wanders to the left all by itself.

The DVD thing is a hardware issue, and neither DiskWarrior nor a system re-install will help.

The balance control issue is a known system bug (I thought it had been fixed in 10.4.8???) and neither DiskWarrior nor a system re-install will help.

I think you may be confused as to what DiskWarrior actually does?

At any rate, your assessment that this is $100 spent on a product that is good have lying around when you're hitting a deadline and your hard drive goes on the fritz is dead-on. It is worth having, even if you'll hopefully never need it.

The maintenence aspect, however, is much overrated, IMO.