Disk posts

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, Software Update

Time Capsule disk corruption issues? Base station firmware may fix it

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Mar 20th, 2009

If you've been having issues with corrupted Time Machine images either inside the Time Capsule or connected externally to your base station, the 7.4.1 firmware update (for all base stations from 2007 to today) plus the 10.5.6 update might help, according to TidBITS.

Apple says this update will fix problems that lead up to corruption issues, but TidBITS recommends you essentially start fresh just to make sure -- after using the Archive feature in Disk Utility to copy your previous Time Machine disk to an external drive. Don't have enough drives to do the data shuffle? You can always take your chances that you either don't have a corrupt Time Machine backup (which is pretty likely, honestly) or do a little soul/data-searching for anything you might want to preserve for posterity.

I don't use Time Machine as a sort of universal undo, but I understand some might. In either case: update your system and firmware as recommended by the manufacturer.

Tags: backup, disk, disk utility, DiskUtility, firmware, time capsule, time machine, TimeCapsule, TimeMachine, update

Filed under: OS, Terminal Tips, TUAW Tips

Terminal Tip: Stop disk image verification

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Aug 18th, 2008

Sure, we've all wanted to stop the pesky "Disk Image Verification" process that starts when you want to open that .iso, .dmg, or other disk image. While this process is a precaution against possibly installing/using corrupt files, sometimes it is completely unnecessary. To stop disk image verification forever, just open Terminal and type:


defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify TRUE

If you want verification enabled again, type the same command, replacing the "TRUE" with "FALSE." While verification is off, we recommend only using disk images from trusted sources.

Tags: disable, disk, image, Terminal, verification

Filed under: TUAW Tips

TUAW Tip: What to do when a disk goes bad

by Robert Palmer (RSS feed) on Jun 25th, 2008

We've all been there. The external disk you bought three or four years ago, which has been working great so far, starts to click. And it's not a good click ... it's the kind of click that gives you the spinning beach ball of death.

Poopie.

Sounds like it's time to get the data off that disk, and toot sweet, if you pardon my French. You buy a new disk, and you start copying. But then what happens? The Finder throws up an error saying it can't copy a certain file or folder, and it's 20 folders deep in an old archive of client data. The Finder stops the copy, and you have to figure out where the problem is buried, fix it, and try copying again. Meanwhile, seasons pass, civilizations rise and fall, and your fingernails start to grow into your keyboard.

Double poopie.

So what do you do? Believe it or not, the Terminal can be your friend to quickly copy damaged data, and power through disk errors. The data may still be damaged, but heck if it won't try to copy it somewhere safe.

After the jump, find out how to recover your data, and fast.

Continue reading “TUAW Tip: What to do when a disk goes bad”

Tags: data, disk, hdd, recovery

Filed under: Hardware, Airport

Ars Technica reviews the new AirPort Extreme Base Station

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Feb 23rd, 2007

Clint Ecker at Ars Technica has produced a four-page review of Apple's new AirPort Extreme Base Station, digging into every nook and cranny of what's new in both the software and hardware. Ultimately, Clint really likes the revamped base station, giving Apple strong marks for a broad, powerful feature set and a slick new admin utility. A couple of major dings, however, come in the form of cost (lesser-featured 802.11n routers can of course be had for cheaper) and having to reboot the station after even some of the most minor configuration changes.

Still, it seems like Clint is joining others in welcoming Apple's refreshed base station to the market. After just picking one up myself a day ago, I'm offering two thumbs up as well, though I haven't even touched half of the features I'm planning to - yet. For me, the most exciting feature is AirPort Disk, as I plan on setting up automatic wireless backups for both mine and my wife's MacBooks.

Tags: airport, airport disk, airport extreme, AirportDisk, AirportExtreme, ars technica, ArsTechnica, disk, review

Filed under: Software, Internet Tools

Microsoft announces "Live Drive" 2GB iDisk-like storage

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Aug 30th, 2006

Continuing their new Live platform push, Microsoft has announced an iDisk-like service dubbed Live Drive. This bagillionth addition to the Live product family will boast 2GB of online storage, accessibly via any computer with a web browser (read: IE or possibly Firefox - if enough people bug them for it), which can also live on a Windows Vista computer as a virtual drive.

MacNN, where we found this, didn't have many more details as to whether Live Drive will mimic any other .Mac functionality, such as application and data syncing, and we can't seem to get in with Firefox or Safari so that's all you get for now. Ultimately, with services like Live Drive and AOL's upcoming 5GB of free online storage via Xdrive, the virtual storage market is definitely heating up. Let's just hope it hasn't gotten too hot in the kitchen for .Mac.

Tags: disk, drive, live, live drive, LiveDrive, microsoft, online, service, services, space, storage, virtual, windows

Filed under: Software, Productivity, Tips and tricks, Internet Tools

Safari AppleScript to enable Private Browsing, mount temporary download disk image

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Aug 8th, 2006

Now that we know how to enable the AppleScript menubar item, it's time to give Safari some AppleScript-enabled privacy features.

For all those times when you need to enable Private Browsing and 'private downloading' in Safari, a macosxhints reader has posted an AppleScript with setup instructions that can enable Private Browsing and mount a disk image and temporarily changing Safari's download folder to said disk image for the ultimate in browsing privacy (macosxhints uses 'online banking' as a usage scenario; I guess that works).

The script requires a little bit of setup and customization however, so check out the post for instructions. When you're finished you'll have a simple, handy AppleScript that prompts you to enable or disable Private Browsing in Safari, and then it will mount your encrypted (password-prompted) disk image for safe, secure and private downloading as well. Enjoy.

Tags: applescript, browsing, disk, encrypt, encrypted, image, private, safari, script

View a graphical chart of file and folder sizes with Disk Inventory X

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jul 19th, 2006

Disk Inventory X takes a unique approach to helping you analyze your disk space usage by visualizing it as a graphical chart. You can see a breakdown of which types of files are hogging the most space, and clicking on a graphical portion will display the file's location in your Mac's system. Let's hear it for the use of color, shapes and sizes in helping Mac users clean up their hard drives; those Britney Spears MP3 duplicates and abandoned BitTorrent downloads aren't going to trash themselves.

Disk Inventory X is donationware and available from derlien.com.

Tags: disk, disk inventory x, DiskInventoryX, file, optimization, optimize, report, size, space, usage, utility

Filed under: OS, Software

AppleScripts to set startup disk between Windows and Mac OS X

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jun 19th, 2006

If you're living in a Boot Camp world and have a need for changing your startup disk from time to time, enterprising TUAW reader David B. has written a couple of AppleScript apps with your name on them. Boot (Camp) Sargent beta 0.1 is actually two scripts: the first to set your startup disk to Windows (*shudder*), while the other resets to Mac OS X. In this fast-paced, multiple OS world we live in, little apps that save a few clicks can make all the difference.

Boot (Camp) Sargent is available at the first Google Pages site that I've ever seen used to promote or offer anything like this. Extra points for the tag line, "because holding down the Option key during startup is too hard", since I've actually heard people say that on the job in the past.

Tags: applescript, boot, camp, disk, sargent, script, scripts, startup

Filed under: Software, Internet Tools

Mount a Box.net account on a Mac

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jun 6th, 2006

Box.net is an iDisk-like service that allows you to mount an 'internet hard drive' on your desktop (they offer both free and paid accounts). Great for easily and securely backing up, syncing and sharing files between computers. Previously, they apparently only offered a client for PCs, but UNEASYsilence has published a simple tip for logging in and mounting your Box.net account on your Mac OS X desktop - no extra software necessary. Using the simple power of the Go > Connect to Server menu from the Finder, you too can have your very own WebDAV online hard drive. 1 GB is free, while 5 GB is $4.99/month, and 15 go for $9.99/month. Enjoy.

Tags: back up, backup, box.net, disk, hard drive, HardDrive, iDisk, online, storage, sync, syncing

Filed under: Productivity, Odds and ends, Troubleshooting

Apple's 'Quick Assist' support document edited, drops permissions repair and 'restart just because' tips

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on May 31st, 2006

Remember that 'Mac Maintenance Quick Assist' Apple Support document we found that seemed to be aimed at those new to Macs and computers in general? You know, the one that recommended fundamentals like dusting your computer and using file names that actually mean something? Well, John Gruber today fortunately pointed out that the document has been slightly edited, as it no longer recommends questionable voodoo repair permissions tactics, nor disk defragmenting (Mac OS X automatically does most of that work itself automatically) or "restarting your Mac every few days just for kicks". Three cheers for sensibility.

Tags: Apple, defrag, defragmenting, disk, doc, document, maintenance, permissions, quick assist, QuickAssist, Support, voodoo

Filed under: OS, Software, Troubleshooting

TUAW Tip: Mac OS X can verify itself now

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on May 31st, 2006

Disk Utility is a great maintenance and troubleshooting tool for those times when your Mac starts acting up. Repairing permissions can sometimes be handy (even though its true validity is in question as of late), but using the Verify and Repair Disk operations is often a more useful tactic. However, until Mac OS X 10.4.3, you had use Disk Utility to verify or repair your Mac's drive from some sort of an external source. You either had to plug into another Mac in Target Disk mode, or reboot and use the install disks that came with your Mac - not the most friendly process to your workflow. But now, With 10.4.3 and later, you can start up Disk Utility right from within Mac OS X and chose the verify option to make sure system level elements like your file catalog are all in order. One warning though: it is completely normal for your Mac to temporarily freeze or 'seize up' at the beginning of running this operation (you should get the infamous beachball), as this Apple support document explains. After a little while, depending on your Mac's speed and all that jazz, it will come out of its daze and you can continue working/chatting/surfing while it finishes the disk verification process.

This is a really handy tool, perhaps even more valuable than checking permissions, and should be a welcome addition to any Mac maintenance arsenal.

Tags: catalog, disk, disk utility, DiskUtility, file system, FileSystem, maintenance, repair, troubleshoot, troubleshooting, verify

Filed under: OS, Software, Cool tools, Internet Tools

JungleDisk offers a far cheaper, cross-platform, encrypted iDisk

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on May 19th, 2006

JungleDisk is quite possibly the first serious, easy to set up alternative I've seen to Apple's .Mac iDisk. Using the power of WebDAV, JungleDisk allows you to mount an online, syncing hard drive (with various size options available) on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux, and save and access data to and from it as if you were working with files in a local folder on your desktop. This is all run through Amazon's S3 online storage web service, which is "based on the idea that quality Internet-based storage should be taken for granted". As an extra kick-in-the-pants to .Mac's iDisk, data sent to and from your JungleDisk is encrypted. A software package is available for each OS to make installation and setup a snap.

Pricing is spectacularly low, though I'm slightly confused as to how billing works. They truly mean: "pay only for what you use" - there isn't a flat monthly or yearly fee for your storage and bandwidth. Instead, on their pricing page, they state that you are charged $0.15 USD per gigabyte of storage per month, and $0.20 USD per gigabyte of data transfer. They offer a convenient pricing chart on their main page to compare with other services.

I'm already a .Mac customer right now, as I like the integration of all their other services. But JungleDrive sounds like a great alternative for those who only want the ease of use of an iDisk. If you have already used this service or will try it out soon (bonus points for more than one platform), please feel free to comment on your experience.

[via ~stevenf]

Tags: Disk, encrypt, Jungle, JungleDisk, online, storage, sync, webdav

Filed under: iPod Family, Troubleshooting

Interactive display of iPod commands

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Apr 2nd, 2006

Command-Tab has put together a really handy interactive display of button sequences for the 5 major generations of iPod models. The available sequences are Hard Reset, Diagnostic Mode and Disk Mode, so if you've ever wondered how to partake in some of those iPod troubleshooting tutorials or you're just curious as to what your little while music player can do, head over to Command-Tab for the only button resource you need for getting under your iPod's hood.

Tags: buttons, diagnostic, Disk, iPod, Mode

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