Ernest Long

Q: Cannot Do A Safe Boot In Mavericks

Everytime I try to boot my iMac into Safe Boot mode after installing Mavericks, this is what happens:

 

- It starts with the progress bar on the bottom (at which time I let go of the Shift key),

- The progress bar gets to about 1/3 the distance then disappears,

- The screen goes blank and then my iMac restarts itself and ends up as a normal boot.

 

I have tried with and without any external peripherals connected.

 

Also, iMac sometimes hangs on shutdown and I have to press the power button to turn it off.

 

Anyone else experiencing similar problems? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 3TB Fusion Drive, 32GB, 3.4 GHz i7

Posted on Oct 25, 2013 6:58 PM

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Q: Cannot Do A Safe Boot In Mavericks

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  • by Jay Kappmeier,

    Jay Kappmeier Jay Kappmeier Oct 31, 2013 1:22 PM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 2 (206 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 1:22 PM in response to Ernest Long

    I have the same problem with my 27" Late 2012 iMac with a 3TB Fusion drive.  The difference is I have not yet upgraded it to Mavericks.  I am still in Mountain Lion.  I do no think this issue is a Mavericks issue or at least not limited to Mavericks machines. 

     

    Jay

  • by Ernest Long,

    Ernest Long Ernest Long Oct 31, 2013 2:15 PM in response to Jay Kappmeier
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 2:15 PM in response to Jay Kappmeier

    I had no problem doing a Safe Boot with my iMac running under Mountain Lion, only under Mavericks. Interesting!

  • by Gary Robinson,

    Gary Robinson Gary Robinson Nov 11, 2013 8:00 AM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Nov 11, 2013 8:00 AM in response to Ernest Long

    - It starts with the progress bar on the bottom (at which time I let go of the Shift key),

    - The progress bar gets to about 1/3 the distance then disappears,

    - The screen goes blank and then my iMac restarts itself and ends up as a normal boot.

     

     

     

    I'm experiencing EXACTLY the same problem. Macbook Pro with Retina Display, Mid 2012.

  • by ViShVa,

    ViShVa ViShVa Nov 11, 2013 9:53 AM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 2 (272 points)
    Nov 11, 2013 9:53 AM in response to Ernest Long

    Linc Davis has stated in a number of his posts that:

     

    Linc Davis

    ...
    Note: If FileVault is enabled on some models, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. [i.e. Boot into Safe Mode] Ask for further instructions.
    ...

    Could that be the issue here?

  • by julian KAYE,

    julian KAYE julian KAYE Nov 19, 2013 4:41 PM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 1 (20 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 19, 2013 4:41 PM in response to Ernest Long

    same problem here, new iMac with Fusion drive and mavericks, I tried zapping pram, disconnection all peripherals, erased hard drive and installed virgin Mavericks, still cannot boot into safe mode.
    I can when I boot off an external drive with Mavericks.
    I have contacted support and done the feedback. Support will get back to me.

  • by julian KAYE,

    julian KAYE julian KAYE Nov 19, 2013 4:42 PM in response to ViShVa
    Level 1 (20 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 19, 2013 4:42 PM in response to ViShVa

    no filevault or firmware password.

  • by julian KAYE,

    julian KAYE julian KAYE Nov 19, 2013 4:45 PM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 1 (20 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 19, 2013 4:45 PM in response to Ernest Long

    not sure about the OS, I will try erasing and installing lion

  • by SBeattie2,

    SBeattie2 SBeattie2 Nov 19, 2013 10:51 PM in response to Bill3
    Level 2 (172 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Nov 19, 2013 10:51 PM in response to Bill3

    I have this same problem with my late 2012 27" iMac with 3TB fusion drive.  Reinstalled Mountain Lion - and safe boot works.  Did a clean install of Mavericks - and it will not safe boot.  I brought it in to the Apple store tonight - and they did not have a solution.  They happened to have a brand new 2013 27" iMac with 3TB fusion drive - and it would not safe boot either.  However, a 2013 27" iMac with 1TB fusion drive - did in-fact safeboot.  The apple store has escalated this issue with Apple.  I am sure they will come up with a resolution soon.  I will post back when I hear something.

  • by julian KAYE,

    julian KAYE julian KAYE Nov 20, 2013 6:48 AM in response to SBeattie2
    Level 1 (20 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 20, 2013 6:48 AM in response to SBeattie2

    So last night I erased my fusion drive and installed Mt. Lion and lo and behold it was able to boot into safe mode, reinstalled Mavericks and again was unable to safe boot. I will speak to Apple Support today, stay tuned...

  • by Topher Kessler,

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler Nov 20, 2013 6:51 AM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 6:51 AM in response to Ernest Long

    This may be from a faulty drive formatting issue, that can result in a hang or reboot of the system when loading in Safe Mode: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57573680-263/what-to-do-when-a-mac-wont-boo t-to-safe-mode/

     

    ----------------------------------------

    CNET may receive some form of financial compensation, and I otherwise, from the mentioned link(s)

  • by San Lewy,

    San Lewy San Lewy Nov 20, 2013 9:05 AM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 9:05 AM in response to Ernest Long

    My iMac (late 2012) with 1TB Fusion drive will not boot into Safe Mode under either Mountain Lion or Mavericks.  I tried the Terminal commands referenced above to setup a Safe Boot, and that turned into a bigger problem.  It would start a Safe Boot but couldn't complete it, and then just started the cycle again - an endless loop.  The 'back-it-out' instruction had to be modified to reboot normally.

     

    Executive Summary:

    Some iMac models can not Safe Boot

  • by julian KAYE,

    julian KAYE julian KAYE Nov 20, 2013 10:04 AM in response to San Lewy
    Level 1 (20 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 20, 2013 10:04 AM in response to San Lewy

    I found that in order to see the message that I had booted in safe mode I had to turn automatic login off, it was at the login screen that the red "safe boot" appeared in the upper right hand corner.


    This is as an aside, I am still only able to safe boot to mountain lion and not to mavericks.

    ..

  • by REPG,

    REPG REPG Nov 20, 2013 7:09 PM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 7:09 PM in response to Ernest Long

    I am having the same issue. I have an iMac 27" with a 3TB Fusion Drive from early 2013,

  • by lagstrom,

    lagstrom lagstrom Nov 23, 2013 1:29 AM in response to REPG
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2013 1:29 AM in response to REPG

    Exactly the same problem here.

    imac 27"

    1tb fusiondrive

    mavericks

     

    cannot boot into safe mode, it just reboots 1/4 through the progress bar when trying to safe boot

  • by user9to7,

    user9to7 user9to7 Nov 25, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Ernest Long
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 25, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Ernest Long

    Exat the same here to:

    A gray progressbar, then a restart into normal mode:

     

    iMac:

         27" late 2012

         3,4 ghz i7

         8gb ram

         1tb fusion drive

         mavericks

     

    my macbook also shows the progressbar, but it enters safe mode after the completion.

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