Invalid node structure.. PLEASE HELP

Disk Utility is limited in what it can repair, and it seems like that is the case here. Time to call in the big guns... Get a copy of Disk Warrior and use it to repair the directory with its invalid nodes. However, the latest Macs cannot be booted from the latest Disk Warrior boot DVD so you need to use an external HD with a system installed on it or, if you have access to another Mac with firewire, you can use target disk mode to mount the damaged disk as if it was an external HD on the other Mac and then run DW on it. Target disk mode is initiated by holding down the T key of the target Mac at boot and then connecting it by firewall cable to another Mac. Disconnecting it is the same as for an external disk, drag the icon to the trash to eject it and then pull the cable. Then turn off the affected machine with the power button.
You might try the target disk mode to see if you can rescue your data before running DW, but if the nodes are messed up I doubt it would work.

 

disk warrior can repair invalid nodes you say? i've gotta give that a shot. I have this same problem with my external drive.

 

i recently had this problem with my macbook pro and took it to the genius bar. they also told me to use disk warrior or something of the sort to repair the disk. however, i had a new hard drive i was going to install, so i booted into bootcamp, copied my important files to an external drive, and then wiped the drive with the "invalid node structure." i then replaced my hard drive and everything worked well again. that could be another course of action if you are looking to upgrade your hard drive anyways.

 

USB 2 works fine, just make sure you have the proper cable, at least 1 meter for ease of use. Firewire 800 is faster but those cases are more expensive (see the OWC site for examples). USB cases can be found for 1-20 US$. If you buy an external HD, it may be set up for use with Windows, in which case you will have to format it with Disk Utility and use the Mac GUID option and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) to create 1 partition.
If the data retrieval doesn't work using target disk mode, try DW and see if that works (replaces the directory with a fixed and optimized directory). I suspect it will. DW

 

Don't try Disk Utility. Go straight to DiskWarrior.

 

yeah, invalid node structures usually mean that your HDD is failing, disk utility cannot pick this up

 

I am having this same problem on my G5, pre-Intel.
I erased the disk and reinstalled Leopord.
Reinstalled all of my files to that disk from my Time Machine backup.
(Time Machine is a great way to security through this automatic backup found in the OS.)
Same problem.

I just installed this drive around a year ago, a 500GB Seagate from Transinternational. I wonder if their drives are prone to problems? I have used their drives and RAM for years without problems.

Does anyone have suggestions for other sources?

Happy New Year.

dd