Q: cannot do safe mode or recovery on macbook
Can you please help me on starting my macbook in safe mode? I have tried many times to hold the shift key after startup sound and soon after entering safe mode the macbook does auto restart. It doesn´t continue in safe mode.
I have serious problem since trying to upgrade from Yosemite to El Capitan and the computer freezes on trying to backup from time machine or says harddisk doesn´t have enough memory if I try to continue reinstalling OS X.
(1) I thought getting into safe mode would be the first thing I should do.
(2) Also I cannot do restore either as command+r seems to have no effect whatsoever.
Will appreciate very much some help. Thanks in advance.
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)
Posted on May 8, 2016 4:44 PM
You have some major issue with the system you upgraded. i suggest you do the following:
Install Yosemite or El Capitan from Scratch
Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
- Backup your files and data.
- Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
- When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the side list.
- Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
- Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
- Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
- Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
- Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.
Posted on May 8, 2016 4:53 PM