Spinning wheel spins but Mac Book Pro won't boot - got stuck there!

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Level 1

59 points

Spinning wheel spins but Mac Book Pro won't boot - got stuck there!

I have been using my MacBook Pro since last summer ans installed Snow Leopard a coiuple of months ago or so. No problem whatsoever. However, an hour ago, the computer crashed whan I was viewing a web site. I waited and waited. I then tried to Force Quit, but nothing happened. So at lats I was obliged to shut down using the power button (holding it till shut down)

When I tried to reboot, the grey screen with the apple appeared as well as the spinning wheel. The latter kept on spinning and spinning but to no avail. I tried safe booting, same result. I booted holding cmd option P R, nothing. I tried single user, and no result.

Shall I boot from the Snow Leaopard DVD installation disk?

iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 17, 2009 3:26 PM

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Answer 1

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Dec 17, 2009 4:05 PM in response to hani7up

Shall I boot from the Snow Leaopard DVD installation disk?

Yes - then use Disk Utility/Disk First Aid from there and check your HD to see if it needs repairs. If any are found, approve and wait for that to complete...if still no joy, you may want to walk it into the nearest Apple Store.

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Answer 2

Dec 17, 2009 4:06 PM in response to hani7up

hani7up wrote:
Shall I boot from the Snow Leaopard DVD installation disk?

Yes, and first try to repair disk and check the SMART status of your disk. Assuming the SMART status is verified and the disk repair does not work, then I would do a repair install of Sno by installing Sno over Sno 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. I would do so using the [10.6.2 combo updater|http://support.apple.com/kb/DL959].

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Answer 3

Dec 17, 2009 10:09 PM in response to hani7up

I have exactly the same problem, and am furious that I've gone from a perfectly functioning system to a complete disaster with one (obligatory) reboot.

I am always careful not to interrupt any apple updates etc, so am puzzled as to what on earth could have happened here.

hai7up - did you fix your problem with disk utility or did you have to reinstall?

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Answer 4

hani7up Author

Level 1

59 points

Dec 17, 2009 11:19 PM in response to MrMarmite

Thanks KT and Donv, I appreciate your help.

I fixed it perfectly with the Snow Leopard installation disk, rebooting from it. The system detected it and I could log in perfectly with it. I then went to Disk Utility, checked and repaired opermissions and checked the disk. Everything seems to be fine now, but I am going to heed the advice given and do the Combo Upgrade on both of my MACs.

*Mr. Marmite:* Good luck and take it easy. Just use the SL install disc and you'll be there in no time

Message was edited by: hani7up

Message was edited by: hani7up

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