Mac Boot Problem- need help with FSCK in Single user mode

Hey All!

applogies if this is a reaccuring post, I went through alot of the other posts regarding rebooting problems, and couldn't find a match.

I tried all the shortcuts (safe mode etc), and the only one that worked was Command S - (single user mode)
I ran:
/sbin/fsck -fy

The first time got :

** The volume mac was repaired successfully.
***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****
I ran it once more and got:
** The volume Mac appears to be OK
I than hit the # reboot -- No go.

Every time I run the FSCK I get errors, after running it a second time it says everything is fine- no modifications, than if I reboot and try again it repeats the same erorrs again:
-incorrect block count for file libSystem.B.dylib
(it should be 5784 instead of 3856)
-Invalid volume file count
(it should be 725867 instead of 725868)
-Invalid directory count
(it should be 158886 instead of 158885)

I also tried fsck -fy on the root (no sbin)- same ****.

any help, advice and comments are greatly appreciated- thanks !!

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Boot from your system install disc, go into Utilities in the Menu bar, Disk Utility and run Repair Disk from there.

Thanks so much for the reply but...

harryb2448 said:

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Boot from your system install disc, go into Utilities in the Menu bar, Disk Utility and run Repair Disk from there.

Click to expand...

I can't boot from the CD for two reasons:

- The CD_ROM is ruined- can't put anything into the computer.
- I don't have it or a way to get a hold of it (I'm out of the country)

a quick update: The computer now skips past the Grey apple + spinning gears screen- but halt's on a blue screen (the mouse cursor even moves) but nothing happens. it's been on for hours now.

Would appreciate any further input- Thanks !

Boot with CMD+V. What is the error it stops on?

Disk0s2: I/O error.

AppleAHCIDiskQueueManager::setPowerState(0x3d33a00,2 -> 1) timed out after 100358 ms disk0s2: I/O error

disk0s2: I/O error

That's a flaky drive... back up, and either wipe and reload the drive or replace it. Personally, if I was seeing constant errors and having boot failures, with the cost of HDs as low as they are, I'd just replace the drive and keep on trucking.

how do I wipe it out ?

Thanks much for the advice

luckily there is nothing of consequence on the drive.
how do I wipe it out ?

through single user mode ?

Thanks !

If your optical drive is not working and you don't have your original install DVD with you, there's not a whole lot you can do. And even if you do somehow wipe the drive, how are you going to reinstall OS X?

I don't know where you are right now so this suggestion may not be viable. Buy an external optical drive and a copy of Snow Leopard. Use that combo to wipe the hard drive and reinstall. Keep in mind that your hard drive is on its way south and can fail at any time.