Q: Re: iMac Install Disk & Single User Mode
Hi
I've read through many of the posts here and find similar issues, but not the same. (Apologies if I've missed one)
I have a four year old iMac that came with system 10.5. It started to become very slow and freeze on the desktop, so I ran disk utility and upgraded to 10.6.8. It's got to the point where it can't startup – gets to screen with apple only.
I've read through and tried some of the apple docs that relate such as:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2000?viewlocale=en_US
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1892?viewlocale=en_US (came up with this once and with the broken folder once as well?)
I can't start in safe mode, or from the install DVD's. If I hold down 'c' it eventually ejects the disk.(after approx. four minutes before apple logo comes up)
I disconnected all usb devices, tried most of the suggestions listed in 'http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533'.
With the 'alt/option', I get the hard disc and mac install discs come on screen to choose – I select the MacosX install disc icon hit return (and clicked on arrow underneath after a while), but nothing happens (left it going for approx. 10 mins - should it be longer?)
I can get into single user mode. to run '/sbin/fsck -fy'. I did this and it came back with 'file system was modified'. I ran it again straight after and it said it was 'ok'
When I went to reboot, it didn't work. I've since tried '/sbin/fsck -fy' again with no luck.
I have my work backed-up and am happy to erase the iMac for a fresh install if required.
Does anyone have any suggestions for when I'm in single user mode (I don't know enough about single user mode to try anything else, but at least it seems to work), that might force it to run the install DVD, or another option to try that may force it to skip the fault it has at startup please?
Thanks in advance.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 3:58 AM