[Mc Arthur]

I have an iMac DV SE 500Mhz, running under OS 10.1. Problem is that I can't write anything to my HD anymore. So I can't connect to another computer, copy folders, etc... My hard disk has two partitions, one with OS 9.2, and one with OS X. If I boot into the OS 9 partition, I can't write anything either.

Is there any possibility that it's a virus or something softwarematic, or does this mean that my hard disk is broken? Is there any chance that this can be resolved with erasing al data and doing a clean install, or will I need to buy a new HD?

[Appleman]

Can you start up from an installation disk and do a repair disk operation?

[pat++]

you need to be more specific... what happens? which error message do you get?

[Mc Arthur]

I booted from the OS X installation CD, and verified the disk for errors. The error I got was "invalid catalog PEOF". Apple's disk utility program wasn't able to repair it...

The error I get when I try to write something to my disk has the number "-36".

Is there any posbility to repair that so named PEOF-catalog?

- oh and I forgot to mention that I have a third partition with Linux Mandrake on it. I booted into Mandrake and everything works fine there, so it isn't a hardware problem .

- edit: here is the transcript from Apple's disk utility:
Checking disk “OSX”.
Checking "Mac OS Standard" volume structures.
Checking wrapper System file.
Checking "Mac OS Extended" volume structures.
Problem: Invalid catalog PEOF, 4, 0
Test done. Problems were found, but Disk First Aid cannot repair them.

[pat++]

you may want to try to boot in single user mode in OS X (hold command-S during boot) and then enter the following command :

fsck -y -f /

(repeat until no more errors are reported)

[Mc Arthur]

thanks for the quick reply

I tried it - but without success...
here's what it said:

CANNOT READ: BLK 16
the folllowing disk sectors could not be read: 16,17,18,19... to 31
ioctl (GCINFO): inappropriate ioctl for device
fsck: / : cannot read disk label

[gorickey]

You may need something like "DiskWarrior" to repair and hopefully restore your HD...

[Mc Arthur]

As I can't write anything on my OS X partition, I can't use any OSX software. So could you recommand me any OS 9 disk repair programs which can repair my HD? A usable demo version would be handy, so that I can try it out and see if it works.

[gorickey]

Originally posted by Mc Arthur:
As I can't write anything on my OS X partition, I can't use any OSX software. So could you recommand me any OS 9 disk repair programs which can repair my HD? A usable demo version would be handy, so that I can try it out and see if it works.

Well, DiskWarrior originated in OS 9 so you can get that version if you'd like...

The DW OS X version would work, as it's a bootable CD with the software on the CD...

[Telusman]

Well i read this, and it mirrors what was happening to my iMac DV shortly before the hard disk gave out completely. I'd back up whatever you can and move on with your life and buy a new disk. The fact that everything works peachy in Mandrake is of little consequence, it's very possible that part of the disk is uneffected by the bad blocks and sectors of the rest of the drive.

If it's the original hard drive that came with the DV500 then you should count yourself lucky. The hard drive in my DV SE died about 3 years after i got it. I recommend you skip trying to restore the drive to it's pristine condition and buget for a new disk drive to go into the unit.

CANNOT READ: BLK 16
the folllowing disk sectors could not be read: 16,17,18,19... to 31
ioctl (GCINFO): inappropriate ioctl for device
fsck: / : cannot read disk label

If this isn't enough proof the disk is dead i'm not really sure what is...

You have fun with that, if you don't replace it now it's very likely that within a month or less the system just won't boot into any OS one day.


Telusman