Corrupted HD

Operating iMac, late 2009 1TB HD, 12GB Ram, OSX Maverick (up-to-date). I was verifying HD i(through Disk Utility) ntegrity due to seemingly slower performance, I received "Invalid directory item count" and "Volume Macintosh HD was found corrupt and needs to be repaired." Instructed to repair using Recovery HD. Instructed to restart computer while holding down keys C and R until i see Apple logo. Further instructed to choose Disk Utility when 0OSX Utilities widow appears. This window did not appear. Help please.

Chances are that the drive is failing or has failed. Reboot and hold the OPTION key as soon as you see the Apple logo. After perhaps 10 seconds, you should get a list of available volumes to boot from. Do you see "Macintosh HD" and "Recovery HD" when you do? If not, what do you see?

First, are you sure you actually booted into the Recovery partition? Normally you do that by holding down the Option key not C and R. If Your normal desktop pattern was appearing the Mac did not boot from the recovery partition. See this example

I see that you were verifying the disk nightly due to some performance issues. Were you getting directory errors nightly as well? If so that drive is probably failing. If you are able to get it functional back up your data immediately.

@LB Beat me to the punch again. I really have to type faster. lol

To: lifeisabeach and Slydude,
Well done and THANK YOU! The problem is solved and I am running clean thanks to your easy-to-read instructions. Happy Holiday - hesper

lifeisabeach and Slydude - Thanks to both of you! As a result of your easy-to-understand suggestions I am running clean and quick.

"Thank You thread" merged with original thread.

Thread also move to better sub-forum. Not a "Switcher Hangout" topic.

- Nick

hesper said:

lifeisabeach and Slydude - Thanks to both of you! As a result of your easy-to-understand suggestions I am running clean and quick.

Click to expand...

You're Welcome. Glad to help.

Just out of curiosity, what seems to have been the problem?