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User profile for user: jenveitch
jenveitch Author
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iMac crashed after full startup disk problem, now won't start Mac OS X

I had a message on my iMac that my startup disk was full and then it wouldn't run any applications so I decided to restart the machine. It switches on OK but won't start up Mac OS X - I get the blue screen and the panel with 'Mac OS X' and the message 'Starting Mac OS X' but it won't actually start it up. I've tried starting up in safe mode and I just get the grey screen with the spinning disc for ages. I've also tried resetting the PRAM but that doesn't seem to work either.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Even if I can get it started once that would be enough as I just want to be able to back up some files to my iDisk!

Thanks in advance :o)

Jen

iMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Oct 1, 2008 10:37 AM

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User profile for user: spudnuty
spudnuty
User level: Level 5
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Posted on Oct 1, 2008 11:05 AM

Hi jenveitch and Welcome to Apple Discussions,
I had a message on my iMac that my startup disk was full and then it wouldn't run any applications so I decided to restart the machine.

First try starting it in target mode:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583
If it will go into target mode you can save your stuff via FireWire to another Mac as per that site.
When everything is saved "get info" about that hard drive and see if it really is full. If not the OS might be corrupted. If it is full try dumping as much as you can and try restarting. If it won't restart and in either case it might require a reinstall of the OS.
Richard

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User profile for user: spudnuty
spudnuty
User level: Level 5
7,116 points

Oct 1, 2008 11:05 AM in response to jenveitch

Hi jenveitch and Welcome to Apple Discussions,
I had a message on my iMac that my startup disk was full and then it wouldn't run any applications so I decided to restart the machine.

First try starting it in target mode:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583
If it will go into target mode you can save your stuff via FireWire to another Mac as per that site.
When everything is saved "get info" about that hard drive and see if it really is full. If not the OS might be corrupted. If it is full try dumping as much as you can and try restarting. If it won't restart and in either case it might require a reinstall of the OS.
Richard

Message was edited by: spudnuty
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User profile for user: jenveitch
jenveitch Author
User level: Level 1
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Oct 1, 2008 12:30 PM in response to spudnuty

Thanks for that Richard. The machine does indeed start up in Target disk mode and I get the firewire icon though I've just realised that I don't have a firewire cable (must have given it away with my old first generation iPod!).

I'll get a cable ordered from Apple and hopefully that will enable me to connect it to my MacBook and sort the problem out - I can't see any other way of fixing it!

Jen
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iMac crashed after full startup disk problem, now won't start Mac OS X

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