Disk optimizing hell

karavite

karavite

Registered
Okay, I have DiskWarrior, PlusOptimizer and Techtool Pro - all the latest versions and I can't get any combination of these damn programs to optimize my OS X 10.1.2 partition.

PlusOptimizer (PO) said I have directory problems, so I use DiskWarrior (DW) and when I go back to PO, it doesn't like what DW did (but OS X seemed a little more snappy after this). So, I run disk utilities and now PO is happy with my directories but only gets a little further when it gives me a cryptic error message (1850,-43) and tells me to tell this to tech support (I'm waiting to hear back).

I decide to run TechTool Pro (TTP) and it grinds away for five minutes on the first pass and then tells me I do not have enough contiguous space to optimize the drive. Am I crazy or is creating more contiguous space part of the reason one optimizes a drive in the god damn first place? The partition is 10 GB with about 4.5 GB free. I'm not having problems, but I'm trying to keep up on my disk hygeine and see if I can get 10.1.2 to run a little faster. I'm not excited about buying Norton, but I don't understand why this is such a hassle with the tools I have - it should work! I can't wait to see new OS X specific utility programs. Drive 10 looks interesting, but no defrag or optimization!
 
each of the Programs you have, optimize with different criteria or goals in the design. If one completes successfully, running another may undo the others 'adjustments'. Same with Disk repairs. I normally use TTP, make sure you have latest update to work with 10.1.2 (today, that would be 3.0.5) as older versions don't know what to do with OSX file structure. TTP normally takes about 1 1/2 hours to optimize. Bottom Line --- all these programs have their use and are compatible, but maybe not with each other. Why not stick with one that does the job, don't screw things up by using a completely different app just to cross-check:D
 
Hi Delta,

Thanks. I have TTP 3.05 and it gave me the not enough free contiguous space message. I'm hoping their tech support responds to my email (I'm sure they will). I'd like to stick to TTP, my most successful and trusted OS 7 through 9 utility and all I ever seemed to need. 1.5 hours for optimizing is no problem - I have to sleep some time!

Do you know if I can use TTP 3.05 for any other operations (beside optimizing) on OS X 10.1.2?
 
IIRC, TechTool Pro 3.0.5 can also check and repair OS X volume structure. And part of its optimizing routine involves working with directory data, so it should be repairing your directory as well (theoretically).
Did you run PlusOptimizer from the CD? It generally runs better that way.
 
Did you run PlusOptimizer from the CD? It generally runs better that way.
Click to expand...

Thanks - yes I did, and I tried it from a 9.2 partition too, but it always gave me the error message "1850,-43". I'm guessing that although 10.1.2 is running great, I have some directory problem that PlusOptimizer or TechTool just don't like. Or maybe the "not enough continguous space" message from TechTool Pro is the issue? If it is, I have no idea how to handle that! I'll wait to see what their techsupport people say and post the answers here. Both companies are very responsive.
 
You might need to reformat that drive OS X is installed on. You've got 2 HDs. Suggestion: Squeeze everything up. Copy everything important to your other Drive. do a complete format and repartition, (Why do you need 9.2 on two different drives, Might let you use 0SX just on that drive with just one partition, Have 9.2/Classic all available from just one HD (with SUSE) Might not be workable in your situation. just a suggestion, but better to start with a fresh format, than one you're not sure about now.
 
Are there any free apps that can defrag and/or optimize OS X? I don't have classic on my drive, and don't have much money to buy apps (the most i can afford is 50 bucks).
 
AFAIK, there are no freeware defragmenting applications. XOptimize and/or the corresponding Terminal command are free, but that doesn't help the fragmentation problem.
Try contacting a local MUG (Mac Users Group). You might find somebody who is willing to lend you their utility disk.
 
first - TTP is telling you that you have one or more files that are larger than your current biggest block of free space. TTP should tell you how large that space is. then find the culprit(s) and move them to another disk while you rerun TTP. everything should go fine at that point provided your disk and system are ok to start with. However it sounds like this has been part of your problem from the start. probably best to run a complete check from TTP multitester first.

second - why have 9.2 on two disks? so you can boot from the second disk and run your diagnostic and repair programs from it. Advantages to this - being able to allocate more memory to the programs and being able to run the latest version as opposed to the version that came on your disk. so try running plusoptimizer from your second boot disk and using get info to increase the memory allotment. i recommend keeping minimum and preferred equal and be very liberal, after all it will be only program running besides your system requirements. (increasing memory will also help TTP). Plusoptimizer should complete the job even if a file(s) is bigger than free space except that it won't touch that file. a second pass after creating a larger space would then be required. PO will id any files that were not defragmented. on my osx drive it also reports there is one fixed file that cannot be moved.

third - if you don't already own norton don't rush out and buy it thinking it will work better. it never has in my experience. TTP and DiskWarrior/PlusOptimizer have always solved more problems than norton even admits are there. the only advantage in my mind that norton has is the speed at which it operates which might come in handy when you have a minor repair and work left to do for the day. optimizing with speed disk is reported to be risky if you should lose power during the process. even NAV is probably overkill as there are not enough viruses written for macs in a month's time to make getting one a big risk. of course running some kind of virus check before optimizing is a good idea. TTP can do this well enough usually.

last - run the repairs on all your drives first. if you are getting errors running from a partition, then repair it first. you may have multiple system screwups and until you fix them all, you may have some kind of problem pop up during optimization process. I know that rebooting 2 or 3 times to get this done properly is a hassle, but not near as big a deal as doing a low level reformat (which is the type that should really be done to assure you have completely cleaned directories). I keep wondering if people who recommend reformatting are just too cheap to buy the repair programs or if they are just new to macs and don't realize we have better tools than other platforms for dealing with these issues.

oh, and for JohnnyV - save your money and get one. save more money and get two. You actually could buy plusoptimizer without diskwarrior for under $50 but it's a much better deal to buy the combo. I personally recommend these two as the essentials. Techtool Pro has some added features that are worth having in the long run but will not be needed as often. really, if your time and peace of mind is worth anywhere near as much as money is to you, find a way to save a few $$ and buy either of these.
 
Hey Ed,

Thanks for all the great advice. It all makes a lot of sense and I will try everything you suggested - especially giving PO more memory. I was dreading a refomat and I think it is an absolute last resort that I have not yet reached.

I have my second 9.2 parititon on another disk for the reason you suggested - as a back up/emergency boot up partition with all my disk utilities. Also, I have TTP 3.01 on disk but downloaded the 3.05 upgrade. Ever since OS X 10.0 completely hosed the system on my Classic partition I have kept a dedicated spare - heck I even copy my entire Classic system folder once every few weeks. I guess I have been burned by OS 8 - 9 too many times to be anything less than obsessive compulsive about this!

Ed - what do you think of Drive 10? If I had some Chirstmas money to spare, would it be worth it?
 
Ed - you are GENIUS!

Giving PlusOptimizer more memory was all that was needed. I bumped it from its standard 350k to 100MB (better safe than sorry) and it ran through my OS X partition no problem. You know, I could have handled this if only I had been given more clear error messages from PO and/or TTP, but the lack of clear information led me (and others) to assume the drive had major problems, should be reformatted... even though it was running just fine! It's great that this forum gives me access to a detective-like mind like yours, but a sharper front end to the utility programs could make life a lot easier for all of us. Gees!

Thanks!
 
glad it worked for you karavite.!!! and thanks for the kind words.

there's a lot i don't know about osx, but how to run disk repair is something i have needed to learn the hard way over many years. i constantly screw things up somehow.

i think we are starting to get too adjusted to osx sometimes - we forget the little tricks that always saw us thru times like this in the past.

as for drive10, yes i own that too. My opinion of it is still undecided. It is faster than TTP and does some good checks. It is really easy to use and has the nicest eyecandy interface of any repair program. But so far it has never caught anything after one of the others have been run so i am not sure it is really worth investing in at this point. I am hoping they will add optimization with next release and this would make it a much better deal. one small thing that bothers me is that it runs on osx. (huh?) well, when the other programs update, it is easy enough to create a new boot disk by burning your own updated cd with latest system. I personally don't know how to create an osx startup disk yet. so you would have to use your original version to repair your osx boot drive if you don't have a second drive. i boot the original disk but run drive10 from my external to get around this. I guess my bottom line on it would be to wait and see.

so is the drive a little faster now like it should be?
 
Ed - yes it is running pretty darn fast now. Actually, the biggest difference is in how fast my computer shuts down now.

I think you have a good point there - since OS X is so stable and crash free, I was starting to think disk utilities were a thing of the past! I may try out Drive 10 since Micromat is pretty generous about upgrades.

Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top