Snow Leopard only boots in Safe Mode

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Snow Leopard only boots in Safe Mode

I've been battling this problem for a while now and have changed my main drive and reinstalled the snow leopard, cleared all my start up directories and still have the problem.

If I shut down then power on I'll get the gray apple screen then a circle with a line through it and no boot.

If i boot in safe mode it will boot fine...well except that I'm in safe mode. If I restart from safe mode, it restarts fine and all is good. If i restart from there it's fine as well, but if i shut down I get the same problem again and have to boot in safe mode to get back to normal again.

Does this sound like a hardware or software issue?

I've scoured the interwebs and have done most of the "sane" suggestions that seemed to help others but I still have the problem.

Help is GREATLY appreciated!

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2), very tired and frustrated macbook pro owner

Posted on Dec 14, 2009 7:26 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 14, 2009 7:31 PM in response to dujara

[This read is likely to help you|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570]. It applies to you except that you can't do an archive and install under Snow. Instead, you can do do a repair install of Snow by installing Snow over Snow as in an upgrade install. Such an install, while usually very safe, still is an install so be appropriated backed up if you proceed. You will need to reinstall 10.6.1 and 10.6.2 after the repair install.

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Answer 2

Dec 14, 2009 7:33 PM in response to dujara

Hi dujara;

When you boot in safe mode the primary difference is that only the operating system starts. All of your extra programs are deactivated. Hence is it starts in safe but not in a normal boot that means that something you have install in addition to the operating system is either incompatible or broken. The first step would be deactivate all startup items and see if that helps. If it does then test each startup item individually.

Allan

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Answer 3

Ross D

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Jan 3, 2010 8:47 PM in response to dujara

I'm currently experiencing the exact same problem. Let me know if you get the issue resolved... Rossimac at gmail dot com

< Edited by Host >

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Answer 4

Dec 30, 2009 4:31 PM in response to dujara

dujara wrote:

If i boot in safe mode it will boot fine...well except that I'm in safe mode. If I restart from safe mode, it restarts fine and all is good. If i restart from there it's fine as well, but if i shut down I get the same problem again and have to boot in safe mode to get back to normal again.

When you shut down also disconnect the power supply. See if this helps.

If it works in Safe Mode but not in normal mode...

1) Remove Login Items.
2) Check your Fonts
3) Check Contextual Menu Items: Go to ~(yourHome)/Library/Contextual Menu Items and move whatever is there to the desktop. Then do the same with /Library/Contextual Menu Items.
4) Make sure all applications are Snow Leopard ready. Some antivirus software is incompatitble and can do some strange things.

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Answer 5

koon74

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Jan 2, 2010 7:28 PM in response to dianeoforegon

Hi dianeoforegon,

I have the same issue and I'm suspecting it is due to the Symantec Norton Anti-virus that is causing the problem. I was not able to install the AV successfully & my boot-up issue occurred after un-installing the AV.

Is there anyway to resolve this AV issue?

Thanks.

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Answer 6

Jan 3, 2010 7:56 PM in response to koon74

koon74 wrote:
Hi dianeoforegon,

I have the same issue and I'm suspecting it is due to the Symantec Norton Anti-virus that is causing the problem.

Are you saying you can only boot using Safe mode? If not, you should start your own thread. A thread will get confusing when there are similar problems being discussed.

Uninstalling Norton AntiVirus 10.0.x for Macintosh

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/num.nsf/docid/2005051716291611

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Answer 7

Ross D

Level 1

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Feb 16, 2010 2:59 PM in response to dujara

Yes...I was having the same problem. Snow Leopard wouldn't boot except after restarting from safe mode. In my case, I had incorrrectly uninstalled Norton Antivirus 11. I reinstalled the program and successfully uninstalled the right way. Now my computer boots normally. I will never be instally Symantec malware again.

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