AppleJack is a user friendly troubleshooting assistant for Mac OS X. With AppleJack you can troubleshoot a computer even if you can't load the GUI, or don't have a startup CD handy. AppleJack runs in Single User Mode and is menu-based for ease of use.
Using AppleJack, you can repair your disk, repair permissions, validate the system's preference files, and get rid of possibly corrupted cache files. In most cases, these operations can help get your machine back on track. The important thing is that you don't need another startup disk with you. All you need to do is restart in Single
What's New
Version 1.6:
Snow Leopard compatibility [feature 2845796] (Thanks again to Steve Anthony)
Improved limits on output from syslog to STDOUT
Simplified startup of services on Leopard and Snow Leopard
Fixed bug in creation of user account lists in Snow Leopard where system accounts would show up
S.M.A.R.T. status verification is now being done in the expert mode. I still want to implement this using smartmontools, but for now diskutil will do.
Blessing of Mac OS X System folders on attached volumes is now possible. This is a primitive bless, ie, it does not create boot files, but simply blesses the chosen System folder and (optionally) sets it to be used for startup on next launch
Version 1.6:
Snow Leopard compatibility [feature 2845796] (Thanks again to Steve Anthony)
Improved limits on output from syslog to STDOUT
Simplified startup of services on Leopard and Snow Leopard
Fixed bug in creation of user account lists in Snow Leopard where system accounts would show up
S.M.A.R.T. status verification is now being done in the expert more...
I did some further testing of AppleJack with Lion, and while permissions repair does not work, using the program in "auto" or "AUTO" mode is OK, as the failure does not cause a halt to the script. It simply notes the failure and continues on to the next task, no harm done.
I also used the included "memtest" application to test newly installed RAM, and that also worked the same as before.
So, people should feel free to go ahead and use AppleJack the same way as they did under Snow Leopard. The only thing that's broken is permissions repair. Everything else works OK, including memtest and auto/AUTO mode.
One last tip, when booted into OS X normally, if you want a quicker way to repair permissions without having to start disk utility, you can do it at the command line in Terminal like this:
diskutil repairPermissions devicename
Use the "df" command to find the device name for your drive, so that the final command looks like this:
diskutil repairPermissions /dev/disk0s2
I made a simple shell script called "repairperms" containing that command, and I now use that instead of firing up disk utility when I want to repair permissions.
Once again, this only works when booted into OS X normally, not in single-user mode.
It's very ignorant of people to slam the developer for not releasing an update as fast as they think it should be released. The developer provides an excellent FREE tool, but because he doesn't get it updated as fast as you want you bad mouth him? Extremely ignorant!!!! For the people slamming Apotek, why don't you try to develop a free tool that is as good as Applejack in your spare time???
So how long do you think we should wait? My point is that I am perfectly willing to donate and I have donated and will donate again when 1.7 comes out. One can understand weeks but months is just too frustrating.
Apotek is becoming apothetic unfortunately. It really is just to negligent of the developer not to fix such an important tool for OS X Lion. If he cant or wont do it - hand it to someone who will. Quite irresponsible!
Simply want to add my praise for AJ! While rarely needed, sometimes it's the only useful tool. Really glad to hear it works on Lion, except for perms (a minor issue, see below), but I, too, plead with the developer to never, never, never abandon the project.
The only criticism I have is that the developer is just so slow to update for new OS's. This is such an important tool that the developer should be reminded PLEASE - you are providing such an essential tool that you have a duty to kep it up to date. Every time there;s a revision I donate more and I am sure that more people would have the same mindset if the developer came to the party. PLEASE lets have an early Christmas Present
I took the plunge and tested AppleJack with Lion. Everything works except for permissions repair, and because of that the auto mode also doesn't work.
The most important thing is that it is safe to use with Lion in manual mode, without any updates.
While the ability to use disk utility in recovery mode somewhat eliminates the need for disk repair and permissions repair at the command line, AppleJack simply can't be replaced for the thoroughness of it's ability to remove caches, not only for the general system, but individual user accounts. There is no substitute for being able to wipe those out when the full system isn't running. It actually does a better job than GUI cache cleaning tools that you run normally.
I was having a problem cloning my drive because the dyld cache would just not update and after using the excellent Onyx to fix the dyld issue, the problem would not go away. It was only Applejack that resolved this issue for me. Lion's Recovery Repair Partition just wasn't an option in getting this resolved quickly, or even at all. Even when on my Lion operating system, which Applejack has not been updated for, it remains truly indispensable.
The more people ask the developer to update Applejack to support Lion, the greater the chances we will get it. Applejack is one of the best tools out there. We rely on it for our road warriors, so I support the developer (send whatever you can, every bit helps - I'm off to send a second donation).
Great back-end utility for Mac. Thank you for this tool! Simple quick install and simple to utilize. This hidden gem is tucked away in the under core of the OS and runs several diagnostic and repair functions to keep you Mac churning along.
Developer has kept it up to date except for Lion support. Other than that great utility to have.
So.... I ran applejack, and now every thing on my startup disk is gone....gone gone gone.... years of pictures and documents. Did I backup? of course I did....however, something is now corrupted on that disk and I can't access by backupd files....gone, gone gone
Since I upgraded to 10.5.6, Applejack does not work. When I restart and hold command+s, I get only an opportunity to run fsck. The former script does not run.
Any help appreciated.
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version: 1.20f4
ya None of those work. I had this problem when I installed 10.5.3. I was hoping it is fixed with 10.5.4 but didn't. I guess I'll have to reinstall I guess as you suggest. Something must have gone wrong when patching I think. Is there a way to fix in in the terminal? I'm in the middle of many projects and reinstalling will be a real time waste now.
Hi, I used it. but it failed to start. I guess it is a problem with my Leopard. It said that the "restart" command is not found, which is explains why my mac won't start. Any ideas on how to get it identify the "restart" command..
thanks
Is applejack compatible with version 10.5.2? I tried to use it, and it said something like "this user cannot authorize applejack." I am the only user, and I used in SUM.
i love applejack; it's rescued my intel iMac many, many times. however, i won't be able to use it anymore because it doesn't work after updating my OS to 10.4.11 :`( could you please do something so that it is compatible with Tiger OS 10.4.11? i'd hate to lose applejack on my mac. carrie b
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time moving folders and cleaning-up.
AppleJack is a user friendly troubleshooting assistant for Mac OS X. With AppleJack you can troubleshoot a computer even if you can't load the GUI, or don't have a startup CD handy. AppleJack runs in Single User Mode and is menu-based for ease of use.
Using AppleJack, you can repair your disk, repair permissions, validate the system's preference files, and get rid of possibly corrupted cache files. In most cases, these operations can help get your machine back on track. The important thing is that you don't need another startup disk with you. All you need to do is restart in Single User Mode (SUM), by holding down the command and s keys at startup, and then typing applejack, or applejack auto (which will run through all the tasks automatically), or applejack auto restart (which will also restart the computer automatically at the end of the process).
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+480
I also used the included "memtest" application to test newly installed RAM, and that also worked the same as before.
So, people should feel free to go ahead and use AppleJack the same way as they did under Snow Leopard. The only thing that's broken is permissions repair. Everything else works OK, including memtest and auto/AUTO mode.
One last tip, when booted into OS X normally, if you want a quicker way to repair permissions without having to start disk utility, you can do it at the command line in Terminal like this:
diskutil repairPermissions devicename
Use the "df" command to find the device name for your drive, so that the final command looks like this:
diskutil repairPermissions /dev/disk0s2
I made a simple shell script called "repairperms" containing that command, and I now use that instead of firing up disk utility when I want to repair permissions.
Once again, this only works when booted into OS X normally, not in single-user mode.
+1
+10
diskutil repairPermissions /
+11
+10
Scottlep reviewed on 07 Dec 2011
+19
+11
-10
+11
Foulger reviewed on 26 Nov 2011
+3
+16
gbdoc reviewed on 02 Nov 2011
-3
+11
Foulger reviewed on 25 Oct 2011
+11
+3
+480
The most important thing is that it is safe to use with Lion in manual mode, without any updates.
While the ability to use disk utility in recovery mode somewhat eliminates the need for disk repair and permissions repair at the command line, AppleJack simply can't be replaced for the thoroughness of it's ability to remove caches, not only for the general system, but individual user accounts. There is no substitute for being able to wipe those out when the full system isn't running. It actually does a better job than GUI cache cleaning tools that you run normally.
+2
+221
+19
+2
+221
Bigboysdad reviewed on 16 Oct 2011
+1
+56
Don Montalvo
+35
+35
-1
+56
http://sourceforge.net/projects/applejack/
Don
+2
-4
Jm4 reviewed on 09 Sep 2011
Developer has kept it up to date except for Lion support. Other than that great utility to have.
-14
Shk747 reviewed on 07 Sep 2011
hi apotek,
please update to lion soon, as tinkertool system has such a liontool included ..
"it's tts after starting with cmd s
-3
-3
Great software......with Tiger 10.4.11
+1
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+40
Any help appreciated.
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version: 1.20f4
-1
-8
I tried
applejack AUTO restart
applejack auto restart
applejack AUTO shutdown
applejack auto shutdown
it always said the shutdown, restart commands were unknown..
thanks
-1
applejack auto or AUTO
and at the end type in r and return to restart?
-1
-8
+17
-1
-8
+17
-1
-8
-1
-8
thanks
+40
applejack AUTO restart
-8
applejack AUTO restart
applejack auto restart
applejack AUTO shutdown
applejack auto shutdown
it always said the shutdown, restart commands were unknown..
thanks
-1
-5
Unfortunately it does NOT work on my MacBook (1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, 10.5.4) :-(
It just won't start. "Command S" doesn't bring up Apple Jack like it used to in the past. Hope it gets fixed soon.
+1
+224
Holding down command-s at boot time should work regardless of whether Applejack is installed or not. It's how you get into single user mode.
If command-s isn't working then you need to try another keyboard or reset the PRAM. Or contact your administrator.
Applejack works on my machines just fine.
+322
-1
Many thaaaaanx...
+322
In response to an email I sent to the developer today, the developer states that he has plans to update AppleJack but no time to do so:
"Plans, yes. Time? No, unfortunately. I don't know when I'll be able to get to it. My apologies."
+322
MacBloke rated on 10 Sep 2011
+4
mam28 rated on 24 Jul 2011
+3
Kana01 rated on 13 Jul 2011
+55
Dokter_mac rated on 24 Jun 2011
jugaor rated on 14 Mar 2011
Veljko rated on 07 Mar 2011
Not_ed rated on 21 Jan 2011
-1
Ezmac rated on 01 Jan 2011
+9
Rsimpso1 rated on 04 Dec 2010