How to use Disk Utility - OS X 10.4

[Ric]

If you are having problems with your Mac, there are a couple of things to try in Disk Utility first.

Disk Utility has many uses, but for this thread we will concentrate on just two of it's features...

Repair Permissions & Repair Disk

First lets launch Disk Utility, you can find it in Applications-->Utilities

When you open it up it will look something like this...

As you can see on the left of the screen, my drive is called "Big Mac" (this is a 'volume') the number above is the Disk Description "ST9100823A".

The description text basically tells you what you need to know !

•To repair a disk or volume, select its icon in the list on the left and click Repair Disk.

•To repair disk permission problems on a disk or volume that has Mac OS X installed, select its icon and click Repair Disk Permissions.

•Click the Verify buttons to test the disk or permissions without changing anything.

•To repair your startup disk, start up from your Mac OS X Install disc (CD or DVD), then choose Utilities>Disk Utility...

Now what do each of these mean ?


Lets take the first one...

"To repair a disk or volume, select its icon in the list on the left and click Repair Disk."

Does exactly what it say's, it tries to 'repair the disk or volume'.


The next one...

•To repair disk permission problems on a disk or volume that has Mac OS X installed, select its icon and click Repair Disk Permissions.

What are Disk Permissions ?

Mac OS X assigns specific access privileges, known as permissions, to each of your programs, folders, and documents, which are all associated with a particular owner, a group, or groups. When an error in your permissions settings occurs, it may cause significant problems. For example, your applications may not launch or your system may respond slowley.

These problems are more likely to occur after you update your operating system or install new software.

Tip number 1
Always do a "Repair Disk Permissions" before installing any new software, especially any Apple updates. Then once the software has been installed and you have restarted do another "Repair Disk Permissions" and then restart.

When running "Repair Permissions" you should always run Disk Utility from your Hard Drive, not the install cd/dvd this will ensure that the proper 'permissions' are set.

This will keep your Mac running smoothly !

 

[louiseyes]

Hi Ric,
Went to Disk Utility, on left of screen was 37.3 GB Hitachi IC25NO (what is this?) and Mac HD. So clicked Mac HD but 'repair disk' was grey? So clicked 'repair disk permissions' which it seemed to do. Should I do this on the GB Hitachi too?
I did this as I wanted to download the widget you suggested 'what happened today'. Unfortunately when I tried to click on the item happing today nothing so went to world book and told 'cannot launch world book - a folder or file that world book nees to operate is missing. it may have been moved, damaged or deleted. uou will need to reinstall to restore missing resources (tried to use the screen grab but couldn't make it work)
So before putting in World Book 2003 edition version 7 which came with ibook wanted to check with you I was doing the right thing.
I also tried Jon Little's ABNavigator (always getting lost so thought a really good thing) but it only seemed to come up with north american address'?
Thanks

 

[Ric]

Hi there !

do you talk very fast ? ;-)

What's this ? Hitachi IC25NO

This is the disk drives 'real name' you only need to click on your "Mac HD"

You can not run "Disk Repair" on the 'Startup Volume' ie the hard disk that your computer is 'currently running from'....haven't got that far in the post above, yet ! You have to reboot with the install DVD or CD and run it from there...the post above will be finished tonight.

The widget runs fine on it's own, but just gives you the little snippet !

They have made this widget really for people who have World Book, then when you click the link it opens up the 'story' so that you can read it !

This version requires the latest version of World Book...

You possibly missed this bit, when the widget was installed...

Your version of world book does not work with this widget and would need updating, sorry. You could still install your copy of world book if you want, your copy of world book will still have a lot of information in it for you to read !

I also tried Jon Little's ABNavigator...

I haven't tried this myself, I'll have a look at it !

A lot of 'Widgets' are designed for the American market, and so may not work for other countries...

...fortunately, my car has a 'talking lady' built in that gives me directions, otherwise I too would get lost. Only the other day, we took a trip and my son must have took the 'talking lady's' remote into the house without us knowing,it can't be operated without that ! So my Wife and I had to navigate the old fashioned way, using road signs !

Needless to say, we ended up in a different City to the one, we had intended to go to ! Sometimes it's fun to get lost !

regards

Ric

 

[louiseyes]

Thanks Ric! Not particulary! possible before I think. I will wait for your post tonight. Would you be able to help with my mail too - i'm using the entourage but can't get it to tell me there is an email waiting and have to press send & receive. Not a big deal but the one thing I liked with aol was its signalling I had mail. Maybe its not worth having both? Is there a way to import all address from the address book and as in that get british address set up?
I know you suggested it was worth starting new threads but im not always sure where to place them. Maybe a heading for 'dummies' would be good!
Thanks Mary