System Requirements
DiskWarrior 4 supports any locally connected Mac OS Standard (HFS) or Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus) disk including RAID volumes, journaled disks, case-sensitive disks, FileVaults, Time Machine backups and iPods.
Startup Requirements
DiskWarrior now ships on DVD instead of CD. Starting up from the DiskWarrior DVD requires a PowerPC G4 867 MHz Mac or better (such as a PowerPC G5 or Intel Mac) with built-in DVD drive and a minimum 512 MB RAM. The computer must also have the latest firmware updates installed. Click here to learn how to repair the directory of a disk in a Mac model that cannot be started from the DiskWarrior DVD.
Note: Some newer iMacs with wireless keyboards have timing issues when starting up from any DVD. Instead of pressing the "C" key immediately upon start up, wait for the startup chime and then press the "Option" key. This will bring up the Startup Manager which will allow you to choose the DVD as a startup disk. If your wireless mouse is not working in the Startup Manager, use the arrow keys to choose the DVD, then press the "Return" key to continue starting up.
Installation Requirements
To install, you must be started from Mac OS X 10.3.9 through 10.7 with at least 512 MB RAM. DiskWarrior 4 version 4.4 is completely compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. Alsoft recommends that you don't run DiskWarrior 4 version 4.0 while started from Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.6 Snow Leopard or 10.7 Lion. Alsoft also recommends that you don't run DiskWarrior 4 version 4.1 while started from 10.6 Snow Leopard or 10.7 Lion. Instead, you should download the free DiskWarrior 4 version 4.4 Disc Update. This free updater allows you to create a new startup disc containing DiskWarrior 4 version 4.4.
Additional Requirements
If you plan to rebuild the directory on your startup disk, you need to start up from another disk capable of starting up in Mac OS X 10.3.9 through 10.7, such as the DiskWarrior DVD. DiskWarrior cannot be run while started up from the Apple Mac OS X install DVD.
If you plan to rebuild a disk that is encrypted with FileVault 2, you'll need to run DiskWarrior while started from Mac OS X 10.7. Alternatively, you can decrypt the disk then run DiskWarrior.
If you want or need to run DiskWarrior 4 version 4.4 from Mac OS X 10.4 or earlier, there are two features of DiskWarrior that are not available for a Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.7 startup disk. First, you cannot repair the permissions of a Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.7 startup disk. Second, you cannot rebuild a FileVault that was created under Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.7. You will be able to rebuild a FileVault that was created on a Mac OS X 10.4 startup disk that was later upgraded to Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.7. Your DiskWarrior DVD may start up in Mac OS X 10.4 and would therefore have these features disabled for a Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.7 startup disk. See the DiskWarrior manual for additional procedures to rebuild the startup disk.
If you want or need to run DiskWarrior from Mac OS X 10.6 through 10.7, there is a feature of DiskWarrior that is not available for a Mac OS X 10.5 or earlier startup disk. Specifically, you cannot repair the permissions of a Mac OS X 10.5 or earlier startup disk. Your DiskWarrior disc may start up in Mac OS X 10.6 and would therefore have this feature disabled for a Mac OS X 10.5 or earlier startup disk. See the DiskWarrior manual for additional procedures to rebuild the startup disk.
While started from the DiskWarrior DVD, you cannot repair the permissions of a Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.7 startup disk.
If you wish to enable DiskWarrior's automatic hardware monitoring, you will need to install the DiskWarrior application on your Mac OS computer. To install the DiskWarrior application see the install requirements above. Installing DiskWarrior is not required to run the application from the DiskWarrior DVD to rebuild a disk directory.
Requirements for Older Macs
If you have older PowerPC-based Macs that are not capable of running Mac OS X, DiskWarrior 2.1 is still available for purchase directly from Alsoft. Please contact our Technical Support Department to order.
DiskWarrior 4 version 4.4 is available, by request, on CD for old Macs that do not have DVD drives. However, these CDs cannot start up any currently shipping Macs models and can only be obtained by first contacting our Technical Support Department.
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION:
10.7 Lion Support (New!)
Winner Macworld 23rd Annual Editors' Choice Award
In the past decade, no other utility has come close to challenging its prowess at repairing disk-directory problems.
Macworld Magazine
Throughout many years, this program has showed its value as a data and bacon saver. This may be one of the few programs that every Mac user should own.
John Gruber, Daring Fireball
Thanks to DiskWarrior, I lost nothing. If you don’t own DiskWarrior, buy it immediately.
IT-Enquirer Editor's Choice
I’ve had at least 2 disks over the years that I managed to bring back to life using DiskWarrior, where other tools failed.
Bob "Dr. Mac" Levitus (Houston Chronicle)
Alsoft’s DiskWarrior 4 just saved my bacon again. When I restarted, my Mac was back to normal.
