Can't start in single user mode, trying to fix blue screen startup

Are you using a wireless, or third party, keyboard by any chance, David?

Cheers

Rod

Sorry, David, I should have made it clearer. I was including the bluetooth keyboard as "wireless".

At least up to and including OSX 10.4.2 it was not possible to go beyond starting up in single user mode with a bluetooth keyboard (even the apple one). see http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86651#faq6

If your blue screen is caused by a failed installation of 10.4.3 then it is likely that your computer still won't be able to operate in single user mode with the bluetooth keyboard. (10.4.3 introduced the ability to use this keyboard in SU mode, but a failed install would probably prevent this from having been avtivated)

The simplest answer is to use a wired Apple keyboard if you have one.

Cheers

Rod

Same text and everything. Next?

When you say it "locks up", what are you trying to enter in response to the prompt?

Cheers

Rod

OK, David.

Given that we are working at a somewhat dangerous level of your system here, I've put out a call for one of the Unix / Single User Mode gurus to pop their head in and take over on this one.

I'm presuming that you were trying to work your way through the steps outlined in http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464 ?

Cheers

Rod

While we await the arrival of said guru(s) AND I AM NOT ONE OF THEM, how about trying the verbose option on the single user boot ('v' instead of 's' at power up). You might get more detail at the point where it hangs which may be helpful in the analysis.

Hi David.

Sorry we haven't received any response yet. getting used to the new forum is occupying a lot of peoples time at present I fear. I've yelled a bit louder this time!

In the mean time, have you already tried starting up in SAFE mode, rather than SU? http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393 and following the other processes identified in http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464

If you have access to another firewire equipt Mac then you could also use Target disk mode (connect the two together with a firewire cable, then start up your own computer while holding down the t key. ) Your own HD would then appear on the desktop of the other computer as another HD, and you can then proceed to remove or shift the same .plist files (on your own HD) identified in point 4 or 5 of http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464


Cheers

Rod

A couple of clarifications needed, david.

when I take out the Network startup up file from my startup items folder, the computer starts,

How did you manage to remove the Network Startup file without starting up! If you can actually startup the computer to a point where you can remove files you don't NEED to use SU mode to deal with the relevant plist files.

It never gets to the prompt. That's what I mean. It ends with that last line I wrote in the original post

That IS the prompt, David. The fact that it is not letting you enter anything after you've got there makes me suspect its possibly a keyboard issue preventing you from using SU mode (don't use the bluetooth keyboard, use a genuine Apple wired one, if you wish to continue trying to use SU mode). THis doesn't really matter if you have other means of starting up to a point where the finder is operational though.

Before you got to the prompt ( localhost:\ root# ) did the following message appear?:

Singleuser boot -- fsck not done
Root device is mounted read-only
If you want to make modifications to files:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
If you wish to boot the system, but stay in single user mode:
sh /etc/rc

Have you already tried simply booting up from your OSX / iMac DVD and running Disk Utility from it to "repair disk" and "repair permissions" ?

When undertaking any of the above troubleshooting , disconnect EVERYTHING that isn't essential (ALL peripherals - including your router - except for the keyboard and mouse)

Cheers

Rod