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HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 03 Dec 2013, 18:08
by DStall
I know that file directory for Mac HFS partition was damaged because I received an error message on my screen. I unmounted the drive but may have unplugged it too quickly after turning off and it hadn't completely disconnected before being unplugged.

I've run Testdisk per Testdisk Step By Step page and receive the following for a Mac HFS partition -
"Support for this filesystem hasn't been enable during compilation"

Does that mean that I won't be able to repair directory? or that I've not installed Testdisk correctly?

After unarchiving Mac download for Testdisk, I moved Testdisk folder to my Applications folder, and double clicked on the Testdisk file to open Testdisk in Terminal.

Is that the correct method for running Testdisk or should I do something else to compile Testdisk for HFS filesystems?

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 06 Dec 2013, 15:19
by regnaDkciN
DStall wrote:I know that file directory for Mac HFS partition was damaged because I received an error message on my screen. I unmounted the drive but may have unplugged it too quickly after turning off and it hadn't completely disconnected before being unplugged.

I've run Testdisk per Testdisk Step By Step page and receive the following for a Mac HFS partition -
"Support for this filesystem hasn't been enable during compilation"

Does that mean that I won't be able to repair directory? or that I've not installed Testdisk correctly?

After unarchiving Mac download for Testdisk, I moved Testdisk folder to my Applications folder, and double clicked on the Testdisk file to open Testdisk in Terminal.

Is that the correct method for running Testdisk or should I do something else to compile Testdisk for HFS filesystems?
I'm in exactly the same boat. This is a tough puzzle because there are so many software makers who make claims but the real "fix" hasn't been invented that i know of. TestDisk looks promising but it's hard to make decisions about what to do first and what the results mean.

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 08 Dec 2013, 05:45
by Lito
There is a list of the kind of work that TestDisk can help you with. Which of the items in that list, does not match your expectations?
As far as i can see, this wonderful software is provided free of charge and without any kind of guarantee or overinflated claim. You choose to use it at your own risk, but you do not have to.

The real fix, has been known to people using computers for a very long time. It is call a backup. Having said that, it is always possible that important and recent work or data, has not been included . Besides not two problems are identical and people choose when and how they do their work, in different ways.
Did you try running another version of TestDisk? Did you try running the software from a Linux CD, such as Knoppix or Parted Magic?
Have you cloned your HDD as per advise on how to recover data?
Have you searched this forum for the "mistery" text string?

Best of luck

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 08 Dec 2013, 14:51
by DStall
Consult a dictionary. There is no such English word as "mistery". I searched for "mystery text string" and there is nothing in this forum.
If you don't know any helpful information, please refrain from commenting.

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 08 Dec 2013, 23:55
by Lito
I am very sorry that you did not like my spelling. Dictionarys are very heavy things to carry about in the middle of the night. For a quick word to answer some whingeing about "real fixes" and software support, they are not needed.
This forum is public and internacional so not everyone is educated in Oxford or Harvard. People do make mistakes. It is pretty obvious. My mother tongue is not English, but if i wrote in Spanish it would be even less helpful.

Anyhow, my search for the "mystery" text string, throws seven results:

http://forum.cgsecurity.org/phpBB3/sear ... mit=Search

In any case, you did not provide any logs or screen shots of any steps taken. Neither have you answer any of my questions. Do not fret and have a very nice day. Christmas would be here soon!

Best of luck

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 09 Dec 2013, 00:02
by DStall
Yes, and three of those 7 are for this thread.

Someone with some actual information to impart, does not need screenshots in order to answer whether correct installation for TestDisk on Mac is simply to drag the folder to the applications folder.

There are such things as online dictionaries which are only "heavy" to those who dislike using them.

PS - I'm not an Oxford or Harvard graduate. Few others are either.

Regarding your questions, they are irrelevant. It does me no good if TestDisk works on another system. I'm trying to find out how to install it on Mac, and whether it works on Mac to recover a damaged file directory or not.

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 09 Dec 2013, 00:08
by DStall
And BTW, three of the other threads for link you posted are irrelevant because they are discussing Windows OS, not Mac.

There is only one thread that is relevant that I found before posting here which is why I posted. It seems to indicate that if the filesystem directory is corrupted no files can be recovered except by using data recovery software. I have data recovery software but it can't recover files if the directory is too badly damaged.

All I'm asking is if a directory can be rebuilt if it's been damaged severely. Undoubtedly it can't.
From other thread -

Looks like your file system is damaged!
EFI-GPT (needed ony for Intel Mac) is a system partition and has nothing to do with your data partition.
That's why you didn't find your data on this partition.
Your data-partition might be this one here;
2 P Mac HFS 409640 3906762711 3906353072
If your file system is corrupted, it might be possible that your not able to list any files.
In case and a safe solution might be datarecovery software.
You could try PhotoRec insread of or if you need directories and file names recovered also, you'd need commercial datarecovery software.
If you have photos etc.. you can test PhotoRec, included in your testdisk folder.
Some information;
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
And a step by step guide here;
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
Please don't change, write, modify anything to your affected disk/partition.
As a destination for recovered files you must use another healthy disk or partition.

Fiona

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 09 Dec 2013, 00:46
by Lito
Sorry pal. Checking dictionaries online after i have logged in the forum, is not my idea of security. I do have some real dictionaries, but like i said, they a bit cumbersome to use in semi darkness.
I do not know about Macs, but in Windows TestDisk does not need to be installed. You unzip it and run it from any device except from the disk you are trying to recover. Running TestDisk from a Linux CD would do the job just as well, but it is your machine and your choice.
Reading throught the forum you might notice that, the support team almost always ask you to post your log or to provide some screenshots. Might be in your case that is not needed. If it does the job, you are right, it might be not relevant.

Answering your comment about the relevance of the links found, you are right again, they refer to Windows flilesystems.
I do not control what the results of the search talk about. Simply did a search for the phrase in hand.

If like you point out the filesystem is corrupted, trying to Rebuild the Boot sector or to Repair it, would not be any good for your system. You probably need a different approach.

Somebody, also with a problem with a Mac system, posted in this forum, this sort of tutorial page:

http://linuxexpresso.wordpress.com/2010 ... in-ubuntu/

You might or might not find it relevant, but it is worth a shot.

You could achieve the same with TestDisk if it does show you information about Superblocks and how to repair them.


Best of luck

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 09 Dec 2013, 00:53
by DStall
The problem isn't a block, it's a corrupted directory. Maybe it's just my English, but I find your comments mostly to ramble on unintelligibly. I'm logged into this forurm and all I have to do is Command T and a tab opens in my brewers where I can surf to dictionary.reference.com

Re: HFS Filesystem repair

Posted: 09 Dec 2013, 00:55
by DStall
After consulting online dictionary, make that "browser" not "brewers". After reading your comments, I could really use a "brew".