Q: I have somehow messed up my permissions, switched the computer off to see if it helped, now can't start it at all. The startup bar ... more
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Aug 20, 2016 10:06 AMby a brody,sudo diskutil repairPermissions /
will repair permissions if you are booted with command-S at startup.
Switching off the computer is generally not recommended midstream without using the shut down dialog, that can also damage the directory, necessitating the repair of the directory, whose directions come up with the /sbin/fsck -fy at startup followed by /sbin/mount -uw /
You need to repeat the fsck command until it finds nothing wrong.
If that doesn't work, you may need to use a data recovery tool if you have no backup:
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Aug 20, 2016 1:29 PMby a brody,HelpfulThe original installation disc may be too old to repair permissions. If you repair permissions from the single user mode (command-S boot with
sudo diskutil repairPermissions /
) as I suggested earlier, it should be able to tap on the source packages from the restore partition. Older Macs can have their restore partition easier accessed through a firmware update. But without knowing the exact age of your Mac, I don't know if yours is among them.
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Aug 20, 2016 1:48 PMby Just me then,TThank you again. sorry to be thick, but could you spell out exactly what I have to do there. So far I've been unable to boot my computer from anything other tha installation disk (snow leopard). I Used the disk utility to repair the disk, which it said was okay. Repair permissions was greyed out and I couldn't use it. The disk utility said disk permissions could not be repaired. I tried changing the startup disk before logging out so I could get access my files and copy them onto a stick or something, but the only options were the installation disk I had used to start up, and another icon with a question mark that I couldn't select anyway. So there is no option available yo start up except with a CD/DVD and I haven't got a more up to date one. I had previously tried all the start up key combinations that I had found online for this sort the situation, but nothing worked except a disk.
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Aug 21, 2016 3:52 PMby Just me then,Thanks again Eric, my computer is an iMac 10,1, late 2009, originally equipped with OS10.6.3, Snow leopard, now running (or not!) on Yosemite.
I have been concentrating today on getting another computer so I can get my work off to the printer tomorrow, but I'd dearly love to get back into the original if possible.
So if I get in in Single User mode, and wait for all the code to scroll out, I then type or paste diskutil repairPermissions / and hit return, is that right? (or does it need 'sudo' in there as well)
What will happen then, if it works? Will that fix it?
Once again, I do apologise for my ignorance
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Aug 22, 2016 5:53 AMby a brody,It should fix it. That is what I have been trying to get you to do. And without the Snow Leopard disc.
If it complains, add sudo to the command in the beginning like this
sudo diskutil repairPermissions /
It will ask for the password you use to login the computer under any admin account.
