No . . . you need to sacrifice a virgin to Ianna and then [Stop that!--Ed.]
Right. Here is what you need to do:
1.
Go forth from this place of sin and iniquity and take about $100 and buy an External Hard Drive: you need to back up your data. NOW. Sure, it will recreate the volume problems, but you will still have your papers, your files, your porn. If what follows does not correct the problem, you may need to do something which will destroy such data. Besides, in this modern world, you will find frequent back-ups useful. I recommend
SuperDuper! since it will make a BOOTABLE clone--in other words, whenever I frell my MacBook beyond all comprehension, I merely boot from my Ex-HD.
2.
Reboot on Your Install Disk: When you go to
Disk Utility you will see not only the ability to "verify" the disk, you can now Repair it:
I am not booted on it, so mine is gray, but you get the idea. Clicketh repair, pour a stiff drink, and sing praises to . . . ME!
If it tells you it cannot be repaired you have a problem. Hold that thought. Check that it is "SMART." To do that you have to click on the ENTIRE HD:
as in my case. If it is NOT you have a problem with your HD . . . and backing up your data was a good idea was it not?
You should praise me more.
After Repairing the disk . . . do it again. Verify. Make sure it is fine. If it be fine . . . then DEFINITELY get
Onyx and make sure it is fine--it picks up volume problems better than
Disk Utility in my experience . . . even if does not fix them.
Then relax . . . and compose more praises . . . to ME!
3.
What? It Did Not Work? Well you are frelled! Actually not. You have a few options IF YOU BACKED UP YOUR DATA.
a.
Option the First: Send me your bank account, social security numbers, PIN [Stop that!--Ed.] Er . . . yes . . . you can try
Archive and Install. This will re-install your
OS. It saves your data and "you" and that usually fixes whatever was frelled. If not, you need to move on to the next ideas. ONCE you have re-installed you need to UPDATE. Rather than use
Software Update, go to the Apple Page . . .
www.apple.com . . . and DOWNLOAD the
Combo Updates. This is the best way to do it. Then update everything else. That should do it.
b.
Option the Second: Unless that does not. So, instead, you can consider a
Repair Program. These can be expensive, but they can be a saver.
Disk Warrior has an uncanny ability to fix a few Volume problems
Disk Utility and
Tech Tools--and when it was relevant
Norton Disk Doctor--could not. I like it for ONE reason: it can take a "picture" of your frelled drive which you can then access. So . . . someday if your HD is FAILING, and you did NOT back up your data like you should, you may still save your Jenna Jameson pictures.
DW and
TT will run you about $100.
c.
Option the Third: Clean Install. This erases your HD and installs a new OS. Takes care of all problems that are not "the HD is failing." Of course, that means you lose your data. That is the most extreme solution, but sometimes it is necessary. However, IF you . . .
. . . come on! You know the answer!
. . . BACKED UP YOUR DATA, you can do that. Granted, if you backed up from a frelled Volume, you are going to have to file-by-file largely pick out each and bring it back over--since Volume problems can, obviously, affect your data and will eventually in my experience.
Now, in the future, you will be prepared. You have an EX-HD, and you have
SuperDuper backing up your Internal HD every night--takes less than a half-an hour since it will simply update what you have changed. Next time pain happens, you merely confirm your EX-HD is okay, boot from it, and then clone it back to your Internal HD in less time than it takes to fix the volume on your HD.
Time Machine is another option, but I never used it since it did not create a BOOTABLE clone. This may have changed, and a Guru may be able to correct me on that.
And you will grin, and laugh, and chortle, and sing further praises . . .
. . . to me.
--J.D.