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Bogartte · Feb 22, 2006, 10:46 PM

Working with a very large image file in Photoshop CS (1.7gig) I discovered I couldn't save it! G5 1.8 Dual, 250gig, 3.5ram (Ramjet) and with only 11gig left on my hard drive. Well I trashed the file, and couldn't get PS to close. I shut down computer.

I restarted and got the black shade, in various languages, to restart, plus the kernel panic information from the left side:

No Debugger configured-dumping debug information
MSR=00001030
Latest stack backtrace for CPU 0:
Backtrace:

<Many numbers here like 0x00095718 and 0x002BFF24 etc. Eight sets of numbers.>

Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state: (sv=0x0055A280)
PC=0x00000000 MSR=0x00000030 DAR=0x00000000 DSISR=0x00000000 LR=0x00000000
R1=0x00000000XCP=0x00000000 (unknown0

Kernel Version:
Darwin Kernel version 8.5.0 <the date here> Root xnv-792.6.61 obj-1/RELEASE_PPC
Panic: We are hanging here

The computer fan is running loudly!

I cannot get past this black and white message. I started up on installer and ran Utilities, but it failed: Underlying task reported failure on exit.

Reserved fields in the catalogue record have incorrect data.
Invalid node structure <on 2nd try, I also here had this:> (keys out of order)

Error: The underlying task reported failure to exit (-9972)

I started up using Disk Warrior, but it also failed with this:

Damage in the wrapper volume information for the 'Macintosh HD'

So, I cannot access my computer in any way. Naturally, I just purchased 100 DVDs with the intent of backing up a ton of visual images (I'm a visual artist here) and I'm up the creek!
Does any of the above suggest a way out? Or am I resigned to taking my computer in to try and salvage my data?

____________________
I also just got a new Lacie 300gig external. Can I hook of this new drive to my other computer, a G4, then connect my failed G5 and try to see if it mounts, and then if it does try to get my data to the new external hard drive??

Help!!

Bogartte · Feb 23, 2006, 06:38 AM

I should also state that i did just update my OS to the latest, 10.4.5. I've been experiencing kernel panics since 10.4, shortly after each update, but none as serious as this.

kick52 · Feb 23, 2006, 07:29 AM

your hard drive may be failing.

Big Mac · Feb 23, 2006, 10:23 AM

Yes, I concur with kick. If Disk Warrior can't help the disk is hosed. Startup from another drive and backup whatever you can immediately, and then look to get the drive replaced.

thestumper · Feb 23, 2006, 11:05 AM

Odd that you coudln't boot with an OS CD. Try booting up with just the regular OS X system CD and see what happens. I had a boot drive fail catastrophically a few months ago, and I could still at least get my system up with a CD boot. In my case, I couldn't see the disk or mount it; Disk Keeper found it but it was so screwed up at that point it didn't help.

If nothing helps, and you have extremely valuable data on it, you might consider calling the people at Drive Savers and let them do the recovery. It is EXPENSIVE: we're talking thousands in many cases, but if your data is priceless, it might be worth it.

Bogartte · Feb 23, 2006, 12:17 PM

BIG MAC, when you say: "start up from another drive," do you mean another external hard drive connected? If so, i assume this means that I need OS X installed on it?

Big Mac · Feb 23, 2006, 12:22 PM

Correctimundo! You need to boot up successfully and then rescue your data, unless you already have a backup.

Bogartte · Feb 23, 2006, 09:51 PM

Well, latest update: I hooked up my new Lacie 300gig external, got in, and found my internal HD on the desktop, looked in and there was nothing! Nada! Seemingly no data, nothing, all gone! Does this mean that if I took my computer in that nothing therefore can be retrieved??

Big Mac · Feb 23, 2006, 11:21 PM

No, your data should still be available, even though you've had a catastrophic failure. If you have no backups and really need your data, you have to look to a dedicated company like Drive Savers.

steve626 · Feb 23, 2006, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bogartte

Well, latest update: I hooked up my new Lacie 300gig external, got in, and found my internal HD on the desktop, looked in and there was nothing! Nada! Seemingly no data, nothing, all gone! Does this mean that if I took my computer in that nothing therefore can be retrieved??

I have heard that the program "Data Rescue" has miraculously recovered data from drives in such situations. I have it but have never had to use it ... but it is less than $100 which is a lot cheaper to try first than the thousands of $ that Drive Savers will require to try to get your disk recovered ...

Apfhex · Feb 24, 2006, 02:09 AM

If the drive isn't physically damaged, then a program like Data Rescue (I think there's another one or two also like it... look on MacUpdate or VersionTracker) might very well help recover your data a lot (and I do mean a LOT) cheaper than sending it off to Drive Savers.

I should also mention that you should try and find demos of such software if available, hopefully they'd tell you if they could recover your data without spending the money and finding out they can't.

kick52 · Feb 25, 2006, 07:51 AM

ive heard of another person who couldnt boot from a cd or hd because her hard drive was hosed. try unpluging the hd.

Brass · Feb 26, 2006, 07:09 PM

What's a Minor kernel panic like then?

Or did you mean Major as in Major/Colonel/General ?

Detrius · Feb 27, 2006, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by Brass

What's a Minor kernel panic like then?

Or did you mean Major as in Major/Colonel/General ?

I was wondering the exact some thing (what's a minor kernel panic?)

As someone who was a bench tech for a year and a half, I agree with the Data Rescue recommendation. As long as the drive can be read, Data Rescue should be able to help you. It's a FABULOUS utility. It rates right up there with Disk Warrior.