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Help: Disk Utility "Invalid Node Structure" error

Mr.Bullitt

Mr.Bullitt

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 15, 2009
173
2
Hi guys!


The other morning 2009 July MPB failed to boot. When I pressed the power button, I got the usual "chime" and grey Apple screen with the spinning wheel and a progress bar.
Then, it turned itself off.

Then I ran the disk utility from the Snow leopard install disk and with "disk Check" and "Disk repair" I get the Invalid Node Structure" error and the message that it can not be repaired :(.

The MBP was all time on the desk and never dropped or anything.

So big question now is - can it be fixed? it is just a file issue or is it a hardware issue??

The HD is a 500GB 7200rpm Seagate drive that the MBP came with.

I do not have any Windows partitions or other OS running on it.
 
Paulywauly

Paulywauly

macrumors 6502a
Sep 26, 2009
766
0
Durham, UK
I had this a few weeks back on an external drive, turns out the enclosure was broken meaning data couldn't be written to it properly. if its your internal drive it might be an issue with the sata connector on your logic board (possibly) or the hard drive itself.

I'd advise backing up as much data as you can and taking it for repair (if its under applecare)
 
E

Elbert C

macrumors 6502a
Mar 23, 2008
528
127
AK, USA
Mr.Bullitt said:
Hi guys!


The other morning 2009 July MPB failed to boot. When I pressed the power button, I got the usual "chime" and grey Apple screen with the spinning wheel and a progress bar.
Then, it turned itself off.

Then I ran the disk utility from the Snow leopard install disk and with "disk Check" and "Disk repair" I get the Invalid Node Structure" error and the message that it can not be repaired :(.

The MBP was all time on the desk and never dropped or anything.

So big question now is - can it be fixed? it is just a file issue or is it a hardware issue??

The HD is a 500GB 7200rpm Seagate drive that the MBP came with.

I do not have any Windows partitions or other OS running on it.
Click to expand...

If you have DiskWarrior, use it. If not, order it.
 
Mr.Bullitt

Mr.Bullitt

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 15, 2009
173
2
Hi guys.

Thanks for replying so fast, I am getting nervous about this situation as I have about 35GB of holiday memories on the desktop for processing in Lightroom :)


I have for some time been thinking of getting a bigger internal HD for my MBP.

So, would this be good technique for recovering my files?:

Replace internal disk
mount old internal disk in a 2.5" external USB 2.0 case
Copy files to new drive - or external drive.

- Do I at all have access to my files this way? I did not use filevault.

----------
Elbert C said:
If you have DiskWarrior, use it. If not, order it.
Click to expand...

How do I get to use this, when I do not have a working Mac? I just have my work windows laptop to help me prepare recovery tools, burn disc etc.
 
Mr.Bullitt

Mr.Bullitt

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 15, 2009
173
2
Is there any alternative to Diskwarrior??? It is quite pricy and the apple store here shows shipping "2-3 weeks" :(
 
E

Elbert C

macrumors 6502a
Mar 23, 2008
528
127
AK, USA
Mr.Bullitt

Mr.Bullitt

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 15, 2009
173
2
Elbert C said:
You'll need another Mac or an alternate startup disk.




It may seem pricey but what's your data worth to you?
Click to expand...


heey... I was up all night fixing my problems. And I made it!!!

1. Dug out an old WD Passport 250GB USB drive from a drawer.
2. Formattet it with Disk Utils and installed Snow Leopard on it from the Upgrade DVD.
3. Booted from this external disk and ran Diskwarrior from there.
4. DiskWarrior fixed everything!!!!!!!

Thank you very much all you guys! :-D
 
TyWahn

TyWahn

macrumors 6502
Oct 25, 2003
402
40
I am glad you got it fixed, but this is most certainly a sign of bad things to come. You really should replace your drive. I had this exact problem last month. My situation didn't end happily.
 
Mr.Bullitt

Mr.Bullitt

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 15, 2009
173
2
is there any known issues with the Seagate 500GB 7200rpm drives that shipped in the summer of 2009????? :eek::eek::eek:
 
E

Elbert C

macrumors 6502a
Mar 23, 2008
528
127
AK, USA
Mr.Bullitt said:
is there any known issues with the Seagate 500GB 7200rpm drives that shipped in the summer of 2009????? :eek::eek::eek:
Click to expand...

IDK. You'd probably find something online if you googled your seagate's model number. All hard drives will eventually fail. I wouldn't worry too much about your startup disk as long as you monitor the S.M.A.R.T status AND keep a regular backup of your data using Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!
 
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