On 28/09/2010, at 6:31 AM, Janis Lynn wrote: > > Hi All > > Since upgrading to Snow Leopard my macbook has trouble on start up. I lose > my desk top and only screen saver appears. After several restarts it comes > back. I used disk utility and it said I need to do a disk repair. Can > anyone recommend a free 3rd party disk repair app? I downloaded applejack? > Thanks. > Janis >
Disk Utility is unable to repair the Startup Disk while it is in use, which is really what this message means, so you have two options: 1. Start up from another disk (eg the System Install disk that came with your Mac) 2. Start up in "Single User mode" and use the Mac's built-in repair program. For option 1, put your System Install disk (if you know where it is) into the Macbook and restart, holding down the "C" key. Do NOT try to re-install Mac OS X, rather look at the menu bar at the top of the screen for the Utilties Menu. Choose Disk Utility from there and then you can repair the internal hard drive. For option 2, simply restart your Macbook (you don't need the System Install disk for this) holding down the "Command" and "S" keys simultaneously (this is called starting in "Single User Mode"). Keep holding them until the screen goes black. The screen will briefly fill with text, and you will eventually be left looking at a line of text followed by a flashing prompt (usually an underscore character). You will then run the "fsck" command. Rather than run the risk of getting it wrong (I'm doing this from memory) I will reproduce the instructions from Apple's own support page (http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1417): -------------------------- To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse pointer to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck: Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager. At the command-line prompt type: /sbin/fsck -fy Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found: ** The volume (name_of_volume) appears to be OK If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message: ***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***** Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do). When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return. Your computer should start up normally and allow you to log in. ----------------------------- If neither of these approaches is successful, you may need to look at a third party solution such as Disk Warrior, Data Rescue or Techtool Pro, none of which are free or even particularly cheap. Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer Services FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482 Mob 0403 064 948 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[email protected]>
