Just me then

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 stops a quarter of the way along. I've tried doing it in Safe mode as well. I' on an iMac running Yosemite.

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 stops a quarter of the way along. I've tried doing it in Safe mode as well. I' on an iMac running Yosemite. I can't get into it to give any more details. Can anyone help? There's a load of work on it due to be delivered to the printers on Monday


iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 20, 2016 10:01 AM

Close

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

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2
  • by Just me then,

    Just me then Just me then Aug 22, 2016 6:49 AM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 22, 2016 6:49 AM in response to a brody

    Ok thanks. I tried it and got this:

     

    diskutil repairPermissions/

    Unable to run because unable to use the DiskManagement framework.

    Common reasons include, but are not limited to, the DiskArbitration framework being unavailable due to being booted in single-user mode

    sudo diskutil repairPermissions/

    sudo: unable to stat /etc/sudoers: Permission denied

    sudo no valid shudders sources found, quitting

    bash-3.2#

     

    What I think I originally did was to set my permissions in the "everyone" section to 'read only', because I didn't understand what I was doing. At some point along the line, since being unable to start up, I managed to get the disk utility up and checked the disk, which it said was ok, but 'repair permissions' was greyed out, and I also saw a summary list of information that  said something like "Permissions Repairable: No".


    If I can't get back into the computer in the ordinary way I would like to know whether I can salvage my data, given that the disk is OK, and the data hasn't been disturbed while this is going on. If I get back in recovery mode and do 'Restore Mac OSX', would that leave my existing saved files untouched? Or would the permissions problem prevent that, too?


    Once again, thank you so much, you've been brilliant

  • by Just me then,

    Just me then Just me then Aug 22, 2016 6:55 AM in response to Just me then
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 22, 2016 6:55 AM in response to Just me then

    for 'shudders' read sudoers. Text correction caught me out.

  • by Just me then,

    Just me then Just me then Aug 22, 2016 11:40 PM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 22, 2016 11:40 PM in response to a brody

    Just to update you. I have now reinstalled Yosemite, which appeared to go very well, until at the very last stage the startup bar froze about half way across during the startup.

    I then went back into single user mode and tried again with the commands you originally suggested.

    The relevant thing it kept coming back to was 'Checking volume when it is mounted with write access', so it seems reinstalling hasn't overcome the permissions problem. I also tried the diskutil  thing without success.

    Any ideas?

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 23, 2016 9:20 AM in response to Just me then
    Level 9 (69,956 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 23, 2016 9:20 AM in response to Just me then

    If you have a current backup, boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair Disk and Repair Permissions until you get no errors.  Reformat the drive using Disk Utility/Erase Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click the Option button and select GUID. Then re-install the OS.

     

    OS X Recovery

     

    OS X Recovery (2)


     

    When you reboot, use Setup Assistant to restore your data.

Previous Page 2