[spookymulder825]

When I verify my startup disk with Disk Utility, I often get the following output:

Volume Header needs minor repair
The volume MAC needs to be repaired.

Yes, I know what to do about it (reboot from install disc and use Disk Utility's "Repair Disk" from there), and that is what I do. And it works -- verifying the disk again produces "Volume passed verification"... BUT

Within a few days, I verify the startup disk again and it says "Volume Header needs minor repair" again!

I'm not doing anything weird here. I'm just using my computer for normal, everyday tasks (internet, music, etc.); no forced shutdowns, no crashes. Yet the volume header still needs repair every few days. Can anyone tell me why?

Oh, and if it helps:

• 13" Macbook Core 2 Duo
• OS X 10.4.11
• Running Windows XP using Boot Camp (the Windows FAT32 partition always passes verification just fine!)

[Cold Warrior]

It most likely means there is a hard drive problem that keeps causing the volume header problem to recur. You could try using a commercial hard drive / system check and repair application. That may be able to fix it permanently.

Otherwise you'll want to keep regular backups in the event your drive problems get more serious.

[spookymulder825]

Thanks for the advice, Cold Warrior...

but DiskWarrior's "Manual Diagnostics" told me that "This hard drive's built-in S.M.A.R.T. diagnostics indicate the drive is functioning normally", and "Check All Files & Folders" didn't seem to find any problems either.

[analogika]

SMART status just means that the electronics verify okay.

If you've got a mechanical problem (such as surface damage), your drive may be dying fast, and SMART can't tell you anything.

If you use a hardware diagnostic tool like TechTool to verify the disk, it may come back and tell you it has bad blocks. In that case, backup whatever you can and replace the disk ASAP.

[spookymulder825]

Well, I used TechTools (4.61) to perform a Surface Scan (as well as all of the other tests under the "Drives" tab...)

My drive passed every test.



Now I'm going to create an eDrive so I can run the Volumes test.

[spookymulder825]

It passed the Volume Structures and File Structure tests as well.

[horseflesh]

SMART does look at the state of the drive's physical health too.

Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For example, the Read Error Rate.

Interesting SMART study results:

Google Releases Study on Hard Disk Failure - News - OmniNerd

However, despite strong SMART error correlations, “prediction models based on SMART parameters alone are likely to be severely limited in their prediction accuracy.” In other words, if you do not have errors your drives can still fail.

[spookymulder825]

WHOA!

I have been doing some research as well, and I have discovered...

...that the "Volume header needs minor repair" error is just one of several "that you can safely ignore when using journaling"!

Mac OS X: fsck reports benign errors when journaling is turned on

(fsck = Disk Utility, right?)

I think my problem is solved!

[analogika]

Originally Posted by spookymulder825 

WHOA!

I have been doing some research as well, and I have discovered...

...that the "Volume header needs minor repair" error is just one of several "that you can safely ignore when using journaling"!

Mac OS X: fsck reports benign errors when journaling is turned on

(fsck = Disk Utility, right?)

I think my problem is solved!

No.

Note: This document applies to Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier.

[spookymulder825]

Oops...

My brain must have decided to read "10.3.9 or earlier" as "10.3.9 or later."

[Sherman Homan]

I would do a full backup, which you are doing already, right?!
Then reformat, copy everything back. Volume header problems are not the result of anything you are doing, there is something wrong with that drive.

[spookymulder825]

Yes, I have been backing up... but I have already tried erasing the whole disk and starting over. (I did it several months ago, in an attempt to fix this very same problem.)

I could try it again (would it be enough to just click the "Erase" button in Disk Utility while booted from the install disc, or would you recommend a different method?)

----

Judging by the responses here, I'm guessing everyone can open up Disk Utility, verify their startup disk, and be told that everything is fine and no repairs are needed...?

[spookymulder825]

Oh, but it seems that I am not completely alone...

Disk Utility - repeated need for minor header volume repair... [Archive] - The macosxhints Forums

[mahoney2]

I have this problem constantly since upgrading to 10.5. I'm on an iBook and get this or "Journal magic is bad" issues when rebooting. I haven't had it since I turned journaling off in 10.5 but its a pain in the ass. I'm not sure what is causing it, i've reformatted and did a full reinstall and it still happens. Never happened before 10.5 and TechTool and DW say my drive is fine.