VeBrown
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How can I delete a System folder when my mac won't start up?

Hi.

Please could someone help me.

My Mac has got 2 System Folders on it and a Previous System Folder and so it won't start up (I guess it is confused).

How can I delete one or both of the system folders?

There is information on the hard drive that I would like to keep so I'd prefer not to have to erase the whole drive.

I would be very grateful if someone could help me.

Otherwise I guess I will have to take it to a Mac engineer to sort it.

Many thanks

Ve

Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Feb 13, 2013 8:41 AM

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VeBrown

Q: How can I delete a System folder when my mac won't start up?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Feb 13, 2013 9:10 AM in response to VeBrown
    Level 8 (48,831 points)
    Feb 13, 2013 9:10 AM in response to VeBrown

    You can safely delete the previous system folder - presumably from an archive and install?

     

    Then repair permissions and restart.

  • by VeBrown,

    VeBrown VeBrown Feb 13, 2013 9:48 AM in response to Klaus1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 13, 2013 9:48 AM in response to Klaus1

    Thank you for replying.

    I cannot get to see my hard drive at all to delete anything.

    Have you any idea how I can get to see my hard drive even if it won't start up?

    Fingers crossed

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Feb 13, 2013 2:29 PM in response to VeBrown
    Level 8 (48,831 points)
    Feb 13, 2013 2:29 PM in response to VeBrown

    Can you please confirm what you were doing to get it into that state?

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Feb 13, 2013 3:23 PM in response to VeBrown
    Level 6 (8,496 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Feb 13, 2013 3:23 PM in response to VeBrown

    My Mac has got 2 System Folders on it

    That's impossible.  Two folders cannot have the same name.  Hence, you do not have 2 System Folders. You may have a folder with a different name but similar, but computers will not be confused.

     

    Anyway, this isn't the reason your computer will not boot.

     

    Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your hd. Click on right arrow key.  See if you can get this to work.

     

      Shutdown your machine.  Hold down the shift key.  Poweron.  Wait awhile Wait awhile while you harddrive

    is being checked.

        http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

     

     

    I suspect disk corruptions.

     

    verify & repair your startup drive

    To verify & repair you file system on the startup drive, you will need to run disk utility from you installation DVD.

     

    This article  will tell you how to get to disk utility.  Once in a disk utility, you can go and attempt to recover the disk.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417


    To repair your startup drive, you will need to run disk utility from your startup DVD.
    Mac OS X 10.4: About the utilities available on the Mac OS X 10.4 Install DVD

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2055

     

    How to run disk utility from your startup DVD.

    1. Insert your  startup DVD  into your reader.  Power down your machine.  Hold down to the c key.  Power on your machine.  This will bootup your startup DVD.
    2. This will bring you to a panel asking you for your language.  Pick your language.

      3.          http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4307180601_32c2a49b32.jpg
    3. You you come to the Install Mac OS panel.  Do not install.
    4. Click on Utilities menu item.  This will give you a pulldown list of utilities. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4307180743_16e069ea8e.jpg
    5. Click on the disk utility.
    6. You are now in disk utility.  Pick your disk.  Click on repair it should be on the lower right of the panel. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4307921456_2064c6612c.jpg
    7. Once the repair completes successfully, you should update your permissions.