boots up, starts spinning color wheel with any operation

Question

Level 1

11 points

boots up, starts spinning color wheel with any operation

macbook pro boots up, appears to be fine, but then whatever app i choose next, it just freezes up, cursor color wheel spins ... i have to press power on-off to shut down...

was operating fine the day before
any tips welcome

15.5 inch macbook pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 6, 2010 9:43 AM

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Answer 1

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Aug 6, 2010 4:01 PM in response to swood7

First thing to try is Boot from your install DVD (hold c) then run Disc Utility from the top menu bar and Repair Permissions.

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Answer 2

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Aug 6, 2010 6:10 PM in response to swood7

In addition to iVmichael's recommendation, here a couple of other suggestions:

1.) Start up the computer in safe mode. ( http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455)
2.) Try making a new user in safe mode, restart normally and try to login as that new user

Was a software update recently installed? Was anything recently deleted from the computer?

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Answer 3

Sep 7, 2010 1:23 PM in response to JasonFear

I have a very similar problem. I created a new user account and am not experiencing the great ball of death.

What would my troubleshooting be so that I can go to my old user? thnx

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Answer 4

joeuu

Level 5

5,089 points

Sep 7, 2010 1:34 PM in response to Fisherman

You really should start your own thread for your specific issue.

Having said that, what you have done is to pretty much rule out anything on the computer/hardware side of the equation and put the onus on software, drivers, plug-ins, etc., things specific to that user. Look at your start up items first.

Joe

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