External Hard Drive won't mount in finder but shows up in Disk Utility.

[HRGRiff]

Ok,

I've read a few posts and tried the solutions suggested but still can't get access to this external. Running Mac OS X 10.7.4 on a Mid-2009 MacBook Pro 13 with a HENGE Dock. My IOMEGA 320 GB Hard Drive holding the bulk of my iTunes library will show up in Disk Utility (and Disk Manager on a Windows 7 computer, but it won't mount. I verified the SAMSUNG hard drive as follows:

"Verifying partition map for “SAMSUNG HM320JX Media”
Checking prerequisites
Checking the partition list
Checking for an EFI system partition
Checking the EFI system partition’s size
Checking the EFI system partition’s file system
Checking all HFS data partition loader spaces
Checking Core Storage Physical Volume partitions
The partition map appears to be OK

Verifying and repairing partition map for “SAMSUNG HM320JX Media”
Checking prerequisites
Checking the partition list
Checking for an EFI system partition
Checking the EFI system partition’s size
Checking the EFI system partition’s file system
Checking all HFS data partition loader spaces
Reviewing boot support loaders
Checking Core Storage Physical Volume partitions
Updating Windows boot.ini files as required
The partition map appears to be OK"

So that all sounded good. But when I do the same on the iTunes and Media partition it comes up with:

Verifying volume “iTunes and Media”
Checking file systemChecking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Invalid key length
Invalid record count
Catalog file entry not found for extent
The volume could not be verified completely.
Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.

Verify and Repair volume “iTunes and Media”
Checking file systemChecking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Invalid key length
Invalid record count
Catalog file entry not found for extent
The volume could not be verified completely.
Volume repair complete.
Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.
Error: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.

Is there anything out there that will help me mount this drive so I can back up or recover as many of these files as I can?

HRG

 

[BrianBaughn]

First, it's possible that the drive has some bad blocks on it and is about to die. Could be that nothing will get it back to normal. Since it's external you can't check the SMART status.

Rebuilding the partition's directory with Diskwarrior is the first thing I'd try. If your stuff isn't backed up it might be worth the $100 bet. DW is very good at fixing (rebuilding) the directory errors that Disk Utility can't. Hopefully DW can see the partition since DU is able to.

If you do get it to mount, recover your files ASAP.

 

[HRGRiff]

Thanks

I'll give DiskWarrior a try. Looks like a handy program to have around in any case. Thanks

 

[ch2010]

same problem, different hardware

mid-2007 MacBook Pro, two external drives - one 3 TB Western Digital USB, the other a 2 TB Seagate FireWire. Same problem since upgrading to Lion - I could have written your Disk Utility messages for you. Most frequently with the FireWire drive but now also with the USB drive. Sometimes Disk Utility can repair, sometimes I have to use DiskWarrior. Always after a system restart but sometimes after system sleep. I have multiple remote backups so I'm not worried about losing data but I'm getting tired of repairing drives. I was waiting to go to Mountain Lion until I stabilized the drive situation but now I think I should either go ahead and upgrade or go back to Snow Leopard.

No advice to offer, just more data.