My iMac [might have] a virus.

[mloffa]

I am typing this from my iPod Touch right now because I am trying to re-install leopard on my computer in the hopes it will help. So far it's not working. When it asks me where to install, it keep loading and never comes up with a place to install. I know what a virus looks like on a computer and mine has it. Programs don't open, overall sluggish performance, etc.

Any advice?

[Nermal]

You don't have a virus. Try repairing permissions in Disk Utility or create a new user account and see whether the problems occur there.

[iGuardian]

I somehow doubt it's a virus from what you've described. If it can't come up with a HD to install on, open disk utility and take a look-see as to whats happening in your harddrive. If your HD shows up in disk utility, format it into Mac OS Journaled and try again.

Hope that helps.

[mloffa]

Are you guys sure? I'm almost positive it's a virus.

What exactly should I do in Disk Utility?

[pvmacguy]

Reformat the partition in disk utility and then start the install again.

[mloffa]

Reformat the partition in disk utility and then start the install again.

How do I do this?

[Consultant]

First, there is no virus for osx.
Second, is it under warranty?

[js81]

Not a virus. Repair permissions, zap PRAM, etc... if all else fails, reinstall (though it sounds like you're there already)...

[Cave Man]

It must be the Gnu.B virus. ;)

[mloffa]

It must be the Gnu.B virus. ;)

Honestly, that would be funny if I weren't so angry at my computer right now.


You guys are telling me all this stuff but I don't know how to do this. I am in disk utility and it's not allowing me to do any of this.

I can't install my OS again because it won't let me chose were to install it.

Some problems:

http://i37.tinypic.com/2qd687c.png
http://i34.tinypic.com/dlkz1k.png

[Lancetx]

Honestly, that would be funny if I weren't so angry at my computer right now.


You guys are telling me all this stuff but I don't know how to do this. I am in disk utility and it's not allowing me to do any of this.

I can't install my OS again because it won't let me chose were to install it.


Follow the instructions showing on your screen in that dialog box. Starting up your computer with your OS X installation disc will allow you to run Disk Utility and repair the disk. It's definitely not a virus, your HDD is simply corrupt and it needs to be repaired.

[thegoldenmackid]

Follow the instructions showing on your screen in that dialog box. Starting up your computer with your OS X installation disc will allow you to run Disk Utility and repair the disk. It's definitely not a virus, your HDD is simply corrupt and it needs to be repaired.

To provide further explanation, shut your computer down and hold the alt key, choose the disk, rather then the hard drive to boot from and then run Disk Utility.

[Sorkvild]

Putting you have a virus especially in the thread title is really misleading to people... Imagine everybody who read it and thought What! Everyone says macs dont get viruses, but look!

There for real are no mac viruses... yet at least!

[chrono1081]

I am typing this from my iPod Touch right now because I am trying to re-install leopard on my computer in the hopes it will help. So far it's not working. When it asks me where to install, it keep loading and never comes up with a place to install. I know what a virus looks like on a computer and mine has it. Programs don't open, overall sluggish performance, etc.

Any advice?

Um thats definitely not a virus.

As others says, try repairing disk permissions and looking at system monitor to see what processes are running.

Now for viruses, if you have a viruses chances are you will never know. All the stuff you see in movies is completely fake. If it is a well written malware it doesn't want to be found and you will see no evidence of it being on the system (unless its a phishing type malware or browser redirect).

[mloffa]

Nothing is working. I can't repair my disk or whatever because it's not being found. I will post a pic once my computer is turned back on (which is taking over 10 minutes). Once again I am on my iPod touch. I don't know what to do. I need specific intructions.



-edit-
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/mloffa/0mac.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/mloffa/0mac3.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/mloffa/0mac2.jpg

See, there is no Macintosh HD.

[mrsir2009]

Dude, you don't have a virus, just maybe something wrong with your disk.

Looks like you might also have a corrupted Leopard Disk

[Sun Baked]

Boot in single user mode, and run fsck...

Likely you will find that there is something seriously wrong with the file system/catalog ... which means, it'll likely require a 3rd party repair utility if you want to save the data.

Note: You have to run disk utility off the DVD, since disk utility will not "repair" a drive with open files on it, and has to be able to unmount the drive (and since the OS is running off the drive, it has open files and is hard for disk utility to unmount). Hence, fsck and single user mode.

[mloffa]

Boot in single user mode, and run fsck...

Likely you will find that there is something seriously wrong with the file system/catalog ... which means, it'll likely require a 3rd party repair utility if you want to save the data.

How do I do this? And I really don't care about my data. There isn't much of it and it can be lost... I just want to be able to USE my computer.

And how does something like this even happen?! I am generally pretty smart about my computer and don't delete random things and whatnot.

[Sun Baked]

How do I do this? And I really don't care about my data. There isn't much of it and it can be lost... I just want to be able to USE my computer.

And how does something like this even happen?! I am generally pretty smart about my computer and don't delete random things and whatnot.

People who shut the computer down with the power button, who have a lot of kernel panics, or need to force quit apps a lot.

All these can lead to small errors that build up over time until the file system get fragged.

---

Or the drive is failing, and will build up write errors leading to an unresponsive drive.

---

If you have ever noticed the HELP Menu ...

just follow the directions on the screen when you start up in Single user mode. Just keep running fsck until it tells you it cannot fix the errors, or tells you nothing was modified.

Starting up in single-user mode
If you want to troubleshoot the startup sequence of your computer using only UNIX commands, you can start up your computer in single-user mode. You should do this only if you are comfortable with UNIX.

To start up in single-user mode:

Choose Apple menu > Restart, or press the power button if the computer is turned off.

Press Command-S as the computer starts up.

The computer screen is black with standard white text. You can now run the UNIX commands that you want.

In single-user mode, not all functions of Mac OS X are available. To use the Mac OS X interface or other high-level aspects of Mac OS X, you need to start up in the standard mode.

To switch back to the Mac OS X interface, type reboot and press the Return key. The computer restarts and you see the login dialog or the Mac desktop, depending on your login preferences.

[dejo]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/mloffa/0mac2.jpg

See, there is no Macintosh HD.
Erase your Hitachi and give the volume a name of Macintosh HD and then you will.

[mloffa]

Erase your Hitachi and give the volume a name of Macintosh HD and then you will.

Well I have a MacintoshHD. I can see it along with Hitachi when I use disk utility without the installation disk.

I currently trying to use fsck

[dejo]

Well I have a MacintoshHD. I can see it along with Hitachi when I use disk utility without the installation disk.
So, you're saying when booted from the install disk, you can't see your Macintosh HD volume, but when you boot normally Disk Utility can see it? If so, whoa, freaky.

[mloffa]

So, you're saying when booted from the install disk, you can't see your Macintosh HD volume, but when you boot normally Disk Utility can see it? If so, whoa, freaky.

That's exactly what I'm saying! I have no idea what's going on.

[mloffa]

Just tried fsck. It got to "Cannot repair MacintoshHD after 3 attempts" or something like that.

I am still having problems.

[Chaszmyr]

Honestly, that would be funny if I weren't so angry at my computer right now.

Nope, it was definitely still funny. :p (no offense)

[apfhex]

Just tried fsck. It got to "Cannot repair MacintoshHD after 3 attempts" or something like that.

I am still having problems.
Sounds like something bad happened to your partition. At this point if you don't care about any data loss, just reformat it from the OS X installer and re-install. I'd be concerned about potential problems with the hard drive itself. Since I don't know the exact circumstances that lead you to this situation I can only speculate. Be watchful and always keep a backup.

[Nermal]

If you can still boot the system from the hard drive then do so and back up what you can. Then reboot from the OS X DVD, launch Disk Utility, click the Hitachi drive itself and format it from the Erase tab*. This will create a new Macintosh HD volume that you will hopefully be able to install to.

*It might be better to use the Partition tab, and set it to 1 Partition. Try one if the other doesn't work.

[mZex]

Though usually sound advice - re-formating is an issue as the drive isn't there!

Last time that happened to me I personally abused warenty privilages and got a new H/D, a new screen and they even cleaned my MBP for me - how nice :p

Your case ... weird - but not a virus - probably just a hard disk with no place to call home :apple:

[AlexisV]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/mloffa/0mac2.jpg

Click on the Hitachi and erase it. 'Macintosh HD' is the name of the partition - you can call it that again if you wish, once it has been erased.

Your hard drive has just become corrupt due to physical damage or a failure.

[IChing]

Mine had almost the same messages after trying almost everything in this thread.

I replaced it and it wasn't as hard as I thought. Plenty of videos on doing it and I went from a 350gig to a 750 gig at a cost of $70,

[mloffa]

So I don't have the time or patience to do this anymore.
I think I'm just going to sell this computer and put in the rest to buy a new Macbook Pro or another iMac.

How much do you think I could get for a mac with a crashed hard drive?

20in Screen
2.4 GHz Intel Core Duo
4 GB DDR2 RAM
250 GB (Busted) Hard Drive


Thanks for everyones help.

[mrsir2009]

On Trade Me New Zealand uiMacs sold for 2000 to 1500 dollars. I'd expect you'd get $1000 to $1500 NZD for it...

[Sun Baked]

To think the $99 US desktop Hard Drive is always an option for an iMac out of warranty.

[arjen92]

So I don't have the time or patience to do this anymore.
I think I'm just going to sell this computer and put in the rest to buy a new Macbook Pro or another iMac.

How much do you think I could get for a mac with a crashed hard drive?

20in Screen
2.4 GHz Intel Core Duo
4 GB DDR2 RAM
250 GB (Busted) Hard Drive


Thanks for everyones help.
:eek:What, you're selling your entire imac just because the drive wont start:confused:

I would understand it if it were an old imac. But me thinks it would be a lot less hassle to just replace the hard drive with a bigger one (or an ssd, would increase performance).

I saw nowhere in the thread (point me to it if I'm wrong) that you partitioned or erased the drive from disc utilities, when you booted from the install DVD. (so not the normal disc utilities on your mac, but the one on the install DVD). Did you try it? Cause if you didn't it would be daft to sell and buy a hole new mac, if just a "reset" of the hard drive would have done it.

But ofcourse it's your call, do what ever you want. This is just how I think about it.

[mloffa]

:eek:What, you're selling your entire imac just because the drive wont start:confused:

I would understand it if it were an old imac. But me thinks it would be a lot less hassle to just replace the hard drive with a bigger one (or an ssd, would increase performance).

I saw nowhere in the thread (point me to it if I'm wrong) that you partitioned or erased the drive from disc utilities, when you booted from the install DVD. (so not the normal disc utilities on your mac, but the one on the install DVD). Did you try it? Cause if you didn't it would be daft to sell and buy a hole new mac, if just a "reset" of the hard drive would have done it.

But ofcourse it's your call, do what ever you want. This is just how I think about it.

Thanks for the advice, and I WOULD "reset" my hard drive but it can't locate my hard drive. There is no MacintoshHD (look on first page) and I can't do anything to this Hitachi thing that comes up.

If someone can write me up some clear directions it would be helpful but as of right now I kind of give up.

[littlelarry33]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/mloffa/0mac2.jpg

Click on the Hitachi and erase it. 'Macintosh HD' is the name of the partition - you can call it that again if you wish, once it has been erased.

Your hard drive has just become corrupt due to physical damage or a failure.

You know you can push {Shift} {Apple} {4} and then select an area to take a screen shot, it's quite neat

[jzuena]

Thanks for the advice, and I WOULD "reset" my hard drive but it can't locate my hard drive. There is no MacintoshHD (look on first page) and I can't do anything to this Hitachi thing that comes up.

If someone can write me up some clear directions it would be helpful but as of right now I kind of give up.

You have no OS X partition but your picture clearly shows that you have a 230GB Hitachi drive. Try:
go into disk utility (when booting from the DVD)
select that Hitachi drive then go to the Partition tab and select Volume Scheme: 1 partition
set the name to Macintosh HD and the format to Mac OS Extended (journaled)
if the Partition Map Scheme at the bottom of the window doesn't say GUID Partition Scheme then also click the Options... button and select GUID from that window as well.
Apply these settings and then see if you can install OS X.

[mloffa]

You know you can push {Shift} {Apple} {4} and then select an area to take a screen shot, it's quite neat

That feature doesn't work when you're booted from a disk...thanks.

[apfhex]

Apply these settings and then see if you can install OS X.
Seriously, do this before you go and sell you iMac. It's a simple procedure, then you can install OS X (which doesn't take long) and all should be well as long as there's no hardware problem.

[Mike Macintosh]

You have no OS X partition but your picture clearly shows that you have a 230GB Hitachi drive. Try:
go into disk utility (when booting from the DVD)
select that Hitachi drive then go to the Partition tab and select Volume Scheme: 1 partition
set the name to Macintosh HD and the format to Mac OS Extended (journaled)
if the Partition Map Scheme at the bottom of the window doesn't say GUID Partition Scheme then also click the Options... button and select GUID from that window as well.
Apply these settings and then see if you can install OS X.I agree with this person, give it a try, it may work.

[mloffa]

I tried what was suggested and I get an error that says that the Partition failed because the resource was busy.

What should I do?

[AlexisV]

Have you tried clicking on the Hitachi and then erase?

http://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/erase-disk-mac-os-x.png

[mloffa]

Have you tried clicking on the Hitachi and then erase?


I have tried and I get the same "Resource Busy" error

[mloffa]

Seems like everyone here, including me, gave up.
I don't know what to do now.

[Darth.Titan]

Your hard drive is dead. Buy a new one.

[Cave Man]

Seems like everyone here, including me, gave up.
I don't know what to do now.

You're going to have to buy a new drive to find out. My advice is to get one and a FW800 (or 400) enclosure and install onto that drive. Boot from it and then see if you can repair your internal drive with Disk Utility. If you can't fix it, then either replace the internal drive or just keep using the external as your boot drive. Not as fast, but fast enough for most purposes.

[supinternet]

There are very few viruses that could get onto your OSX.
Pretty much all of those viruses are known and you can't be the only one to get one.

Now, since no one has ever heard of anything like that happening on anyone else's OSX, I would definitely say that it isn't a virus.
HOWEVER.

You should definitely call Apple and ask them about it.
OR
Try asking a friend for a copy of Leopard or Snow Leopard to try to reinstall it.
If this still doesn't work.. I'd recommend going to the Apple Store and getting a new HDD.
That will definitely fix your problem.

[mrsir2009]

There are very few viruses that could get onto your OSX.
Pretty much all of those viruses are known and you can't be the only one to get one.

Now, since no one has ever heard of anything like that happening on anyone else's OSX, I would definitely say that it isn't a virus.
HOWEVER.

You should definitely call Apple and ask them about it.
OR
Try asking a friend for a copy of Leopard or Snow Leopard to try to reinstall it.
If this still doesn't work.. I'd recommend going to the Apple Store and getting a new HDD.
That will definitely fix your problem.

I think its a bit out of the question that the iMac has or had a virus.

[american me]

Yeah, it sounds like your hard drive is dead. Get a new drive and go from there. It's not worth replacing the computer unless you want to waste money for what is a relatively easy fix.