keys out of order error

[Robert Nuzum]

I receive the "keys out of order" error when I run disk utility. Disk 
utility cannot  fix it  and reinstalling the operating system and using 
disk warrior don't work also. Disk warrior almost completes its cycle 
after several hours then freezes at the last part of step 6. Then I 
must reinstall the os. 
Mac os 9.2.2 works fine and is apparently not touched by the error. 
I have a new eMac with 640 mb of ram and running 10.2.6 with all 
current upgrades. 
Help appreciated, Bob