disk utility wont start

hey all
ive been having a problem with disk utility for quite some time now, basically what happens is when i try to run disk utility it wont start, it'll show up on the dock for about 1.5 seconds then disappear. Also the icon is different its the black page with the ruler (this isn't my screen but it is the icon i have)
http://i34.tinypic.com/qnr1o7.png

i can get into disk utility via osx install disk and have repaired the disk and permissions with no problems. i have searched all over the internet and haven't found a solution, how ever i did stumble across the board and thought i take a shot and see if anybody here can help me. my next step will be to install pacifist and see if i can re install it? (im not sure if its possible)

if you guys have any solutions please let me know
thanks in advance

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Any chance your hard drive is within 15% of capacity possibly preventing search of drive contents? Also have a look at this link:-

Apple - Support - Discussions - cannot access disk utility ...

Also running Apple Hardware Test from the original install DVD may do the trick.

thanks for the fast response harry my hard drive was at 86% capacity, and i was in the process of changing my hard drive, when i attempted to clone my hard drive i had trouble initializing the drive. also i don't have the grey disk that came with the mac unfortunately it was lost in a move, i just have an osx 10.5 disk. is there any other way to preform a hard ware test?

You do not give model details which makes it a bit hard to guess. Lately, two/three years, Apple has only released Apple Hardware Test on disc one of the system install discs.

Earlier model G4's and PowerBooks it was possible to download AHT from here:-

Applelinks.com Apple Posts Hardware Test Images and Information For Free Download

Otherwise you may be up for a format and clean install alas.

sorry i have a 2.4 ghz macbook pro thats just over 2 years old. but problem has been fixed. i used pacifist and explored the osx install disk to find disk utility and reinstalled it. now everything is working.
thanks for your help

Our pleasure. Hang around great place these forums.