Broken File Icon

jc1965

Hi all!
I've got a big problem with my wife's imac. I have OS X installed but she's been running 9.2.2 because she likes it better. Lately when we would start it up a message would come up that said there were numbers out of sequence on the startup disk and mac first aid could not fix it. We would click the ok button and everything would run fine. The other day I decided to switch over to OS X and when I did I got a grey screen with an icon that looks like a folder cracked in half. The computer will not boot up and restarting does nothing to resolve the issue. I tried booting up from the restore software CD but I only get the smiling mac face for a second before the broken file icon pops up. Is it all over for that computer or is there something I can do to fix it?

gordguide

" ... We would click the ok button and everything would run fine. ..."

By that I guess you mean that you dismissed the dialog while booted into OS9. You probably should have opened Disk Utility in OSX, and ran it a number of times. But, you didn't, so moving right along ...

The broken folder icon you see when trying to start up from the install CD is probably because you're releasing the C key too soon (or maybe you're trying an OS9 install CD. Use the OSX one).

" ... Try using Disk Utility, which is on the software install and restore disc that came with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart your computer holding down the C key. Continue to hold down the C key until the Apple logo appears. After the Installer window appears on the desktop, choose Installer > Disk Utility from the menu bar at the top of the screen. When Disk Utility opens, follow the instructions in the First Aid pane to see if the utility can repair your disk. ..."
-Apple Help

If you have problems getting the CD into or out of the drive, start up with the mouse button held down. Keep holding it down until the CD tray opens, and insert the right disk. Press the C key (as above) and close the drive door.

Run Disk Utility's repair programs a number of times; it is a very safe program and won't try to fix things if there's a risk of damage to your data. Because of that, sometimes repairs work if you take it in steps (each repair may allow it to continue fixing the next error without risk to your data, until eventually it gets them all). When it says it cannot repair the disk, it really means it can't repair it completely in just one step. Keep trying; I would say run it 10 times but it's up to you, and won't hurt if you do it more times if you're so inclined.

DO NOT install or restore at this point. Quit the installer instead and shut down properly.

If you ever get the "repair disk" dialog again, don't simply ignore it and keep going. Eventually the disk will fail, and your data is at risk when that happens. Run the repair utility as above.

Is your wife booting directly into OS9 or running in Classic mode with OSX? She should probably be using Classic; while in OS9 she can view, move or delete files that are normally invisible in OSX or Classic. If she accidentally did so, it can kill your OSX installation.

You have directory damage and the Mac can't find an OS to boot from. Generally this happens when the computer crashes and requires a hard reboot, usually taking a number of such problems to really get bad.

Is anyone in the habit of not using the "Shut Down" command, and instead just hitting the power button till the computer powers off, or is your power connection at the wall, your power bar, or AC cables flaky? Fix those habits or hardware.

Try the above fix, and post back. With a bit of luck, you'll be OK this time. Something is not right, however (probably not with the hardware), and those issues should be addressed or it's going to happen again.

__________________
"Being an artist doesn't take much, just everything you got. Which means, of course, that as the process is giving you life, it is also bringing you closer to death. But it's no big deal. They are one and the same and cannot be avoided or denied. So when I totally embrace this process, this life/death, and abandon myself to it, I transcend all this gibberish and hang out with the gods. It seems to me that that is worth the price of admission." —Hubert Selby, Jr.

jc1965

Thanks for responding Gordguide,
I have tried booting up from the CD with the restore software. When I do this the CD spins around and the computer comes on with just a blank grey screen. After a few seconds the happy computer icon pops up and a half of a second later the broken folder icon pops up in its place. All this happens while I'm holding down the C key. After the broken folder icon appears the CD stops moving and that's it. I can't do anything to get the software to load. I even tried to reload the OS software but the same thing happens. So what do you think about that? If you have anymore suggestions I'd love to hear them.
Thanks again,
Joe