Disk Utility "repair" = erase applications/data etc?

[misteron]

Question:
If I use repair from the OSX installation disk, will it wipe my applications?
Will it erase any data or preferences?
Can someone explain a little about how it works / what exactly it does?

Background info:
I wiped my XP partition for a reinstall but while creating the partition for XP, bootcamp gave the following error:
..."Verification failed. This disk could not be partitioned.
Use Disk Utility to repair this disk."...

I did Verify "Disk Permissions" and "Repair Disk Permissions" as I was nervous about Repair - but it didn't help.

I am very new to Mac and have a gig with my laptop in a week.
The only backups I have at this point are Time Machine backups so I want to be very cautious.

Thanks

 

[Makosuke]

I'm guessing you're thinking that running Disk Utility's "repair" from the OSX installer disc is similar to running the "repair windows" feature from a Windows install disc.

They aren't the same thing; the OSX installer just has a copy of Disk Utility on it (it's accessed from the menu), and doing a "repair" from that just repairs the directory of the disk in question. Unless there's something drastically wrong with the drive, it should have absolutely no effect on data.

The reason you're running it from the OS install disc isn't because it's installing the OS, it's just an easy way to boot from something other than the disk you're trying to repair, which may make it possible to fix things that can't be fixed while booted from that disk/partition.

As for what's up with your root problem, did you partition the drive using Disk Utility before trying to run Boot Camp? If so, Boot Camp generally can't partition the disk; it needs a single unpartitioned drive to start with. You can use Disk Utility to remove and combine partitions back to a single one, though, from which point you can run Boot Camp and have it make a Windows partition--I did this once or twice when I unknowingly "pre-partitioned" a drive before Boot Camping.

 

[misteron]

the OSX installer just has a copy of Disk Utility on it (it's accessed from the menu)

I can't seem to find DU, or boot from OSX install disc (Leopard).

There are two discs and I get the same results with each.

If i insert it into my MBP it opens a window showing the disc contents.
If i then close the window and restart the MBP it just starts up and shows me the same window.
How do I boot from the disc?
None of the disc contents seem to suggest Disk Utility.

Mac OS X Install Disc 1 Contents:
Install Bundled Software Only
Install Mac OS X and Bundled Software
Instructions
-Apple HArdware Test Read Me
-Install & Setup Guide
-Read Before You Install
-Welcome to Leopard
Optional Installs
-DVD or CD Sharing Setup
-Optional Installs.mpkg

Mac OS X Install Disc 2 Contents:
About Xcode Toold.pdf
Xcode Tools.mpkg
Dashcode.pkg
Packages
Web Objects.mpkg

 

[Makosuke]

You're just mounting the install disc, not booting from it.

You can do either of these things:

1) Put Install Disc 1 into the computer. Restart it, but hold down the "c" key until you see the spinning thing under the grey Apple; it should then proceed to boot into the installer.

2) Put Install Disc 1 into the computer. Go to the Apple menu -> System Preferences, select Startup Disk, and select the install disc from the list that appears there. Then restart.

I recommend 1, personally. Once you get to the installer screen, go up to the menus; one of them has "Disk Utility" listed under it (forget which). Select that, do what you need to, then quit, and quit once more (do not continue with the install process; it should ask you if you want to restart without installing).

If you did 1, it will just boot normally. If you did 2, you'll need to select startup disk and reselect your hard drive first (it's under the same menu as Disk Utility, I think). Again, 1 is easier.

 

[misteron]

Just got around to trying it now.
Thanks.
Option 1 worked great.