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Question

Having trouble copying files from iMac HD to external HD usi

Apr 14, 2015 5:30AM PDT

I've got the lovely "Invalid Node Structure" message. (Currently, it takes nearly 20 minutes to reach the desktop, and everything is too sluggish to do anything with.) Before I reformat my iMac, I'm trying to use Terminal to move files from the Mac HD to an external harddrive using the "ditto" command. However, it's saying that it can't get a "real path for the source." What I want to do is copy everything in my Pictures folder (the folder already designated by OS X - *not* a custom folder) to my external hard drive (no particular folder; just on bare directory itself). The volume of my iMac HD is "Macintosh HD", and the volume of my external HD is "My Book." Can someone PLEASE help with the correct command line? I've tried to follow as close as possible the command lines from certain tech forum pages, but it seems like I'm doing something wrong.

I know there are other methods of doing this using cp and/or mv commands, but I didn't have much luck with those either. I have very limited time to do this, so I'm hoping someone may be able to help out. Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
So no backup? No time?
Apr 14, 2015 6:07AM PDT

Pull that HDD out and pop in a new one, install the OS and later you can copy over the files you forgot. Quick fixes with no time are almost always disasters.
Bob

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Answer
Have you tried Diskwarrior?
Apr 16, 2015 4:20AM PDT

If you have time you could get a copy of DiskWarrior it fixes Invalid Node Structure. Its a little expensive,but it has saved me many hours of stress.