Blue Screen on Tiger 10.4

Question

Level 1

4 points

Blue Screen on Tiger 10.4

My college student's Macbook Pro--not even two years old--isn't working again. It boots up with a blue screen and pointer.

I tried booting up in safe mode. It allowed me to log in after about a five minute wait--then went to the gray Apple screen with spinning dial, but then back to the blue screen with the pointer.

I tried to boot up in single user mode, got there, but had no idea what to look for.

Here's the big one--the CD drive quit working about three months ago.

I have an eMac. Is there any way I can use mine to get hers working? I'm not a total computer Geek, but I can follow directions.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.10), purchased May 2007

Posted on Oct 18, 2008 6:22 AM

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Answer 1

TopoTone

Level 4

1,331 points

Oct 18, 2008 9:17 AM in response to Susan Nolan

Sounds like there's some system conflict preventing normal boot up.
Hopefully, someone has been doing back ups of important data on that MBP, because, occasionally, issues like this need an erase and install of the OS, to begin fresh again.
Since the CD drive is out of order, you're gonna have to try and access it thru your Mac in Target Disc mode: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
This will allow you to gain access to the MBP's hard drive and run Disk Utility/Disk First Aid on it. If possible, I would work on a plan to completely erase it and reinstall the OS.

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Answer 2

Susan Nolan Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2008 4:26 PM in response to TopoTone

I actually got the CD drive to work and did a hardware test. It was fine. I did the extended test and it was fine, also.

I booted up to Disk First Aid and repaired it. Still showing no problems.

Now what?

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Answer 3

TopoTone

Level 4

1,331 points

Oct 18, 2008 5:37 PM in response to Susan Nolan

Hi again...try the recommended procedure on this page: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh2235.html

It suggests that there's a start up item causing the problem. Post back with your results. Good Luck.

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Answer 4

Susan Nolan Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 19, 2008 8:22 AM in response to TopoTone

I cannot get past the gray screen with the apple and progress indicator. It goes straight back to the blue screen. I did a reinstall last night and it's up and running.

Two things stood out. One, her Safari was corrupt and wouldn't open. Two, a friend of hers had used the trial version of Office 2004 (which had expired) to type a paper. I'm not sure why she didn't use the working Office which was right there on the desktop. When I tried to open the document she created, it froze the computer.

The CD drive that worked with the reinstall software will not accept her Mac Office CDs, so I have to figure out how to reinstall that. I'm thinking about an external optical drive since hers is out of warranty and I don't want to pay $500 for Apple to do it. She's a photography major and needs to burn photos to CDs.

Thanks for your help!

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