Corrupted system files after installing Keyboard remapping software

Question

Corrupted system files after installing Keyboard remapping software

Hello

I'm running Mojave on mac pro 2009 @5,1 rx580

long story short:

Installed an old version of this app: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/

The app is intended for mac book pro's it seems.

As soon as the app was installed the computer restart and is stuck in a boot loop.

I'm still able to access the files on the OS since I have a clone of the disk - and can boot to the clone.

Unfortunately the clone is far too old. I really need to keep all the text messages intact (like the text message history etc.) because I'm running a business where text message threads are the primary mode of communication.

Is there a way for me to either:

1) copy all the text message information, format the drive, reinstall the OS and paste back all the text message information (including the actual threads ~ not just the raw data)

2) fix what ever system file is corrupted and save the drive altogether

3) any other possibilities?

thank you!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on May 23, 2023 3:25 PM

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Answer 1

May 23, 2023 3:52 PM in response to Skateparkpiracy

Restore your backup from prior to the app install, as you will clearly want to have backups of business-critical dats. This as backups are the only way to mark data as being valuable.

Options here for recovering some data without having a backup: copy the non-working storage elsewhere, create a bootable installer, then boot that and erase and install macOS, and migrate files and documents and not apps from the non-working storage device. This will also clean up most or all of the other potential or latent issues with the current macOS install—I’d suspect there’s more here than a Karabiner issue, given that doesn’t usually block bootstraps.

… Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

… Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

May 25, 2023 10:19 AM in response to Camelot

Glad you responded (apple wont let me double respond sometimes)

No you were right it was that file, I was just in the wrong systems library folder. There are like three different library folders. Once I found the other one (i think the general one, not a user specific one) and deleted it everything worked perfectly.

I was able to keep my messages thread on the proper account, however through this whole ordeal I moved the user follder of the secondary account and came put it back after fixing it - now the messages , thoguht not at all important like thye are for the main account, are no longer there. infact all the user settings had to be re done - it was like i had jsut made the account brand new. '

Out of curiosity, is it possible for me to get those fiels back some how by moving fiels or something>?

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Answer 3

Camelot

Level 9

58,299 points

May 23, 2023 3:33 PM in response to Skateparkpiracy

Karabiner is a pretty useful tool in some cases, and it's use isn't limited to just MacBook Pros, but in either case, if that's what's causing the problem, it should be resolvable.

Karabiner installs a couple of extensions in the system - removing them should restore your system to the pre-karabiner days and should boot (provided there isn't some other issue at play).

Since you can mount the boot drive, navigate to /System/Library/LaunchDaemons and delete the files that start with org.pqrs.karabiner

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Answer 4

May 23, 2023 4:06 PM in response to Camelot

Thank you. I don't see any of these files in that location or anywhere else on the computer. Are there any other options you can think of?

Btw I'm currently looking through the system files on both the working drive and the broken one and so far (going from bottom to top I've seen there are two folders that have differences in the space they take (they are different).

they are:

"prelinkedkernels"

and

"Cashes"

Im still looking for more, but do you think if I steal the onese from the working drive it'll possibly fix the issue?

Also please note I'm currently copying all the folders on the broken drive and putting them on a storage drive I have.

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Answer 5

Camelot

Level 9

58,299 points

May 25, 2023 10:14 AM in response to Skateparkpiracy

If there are no karabiner files on the broken system then it isn't likely to be karabiner that's causing the problem.

Deleting the caches directory isn't likely to cause (nor fix) a problem either. Caches are, by definition, disposable (they'll be recreated as needed). Can't hurt to delete them, but but a bad cache isn't likely to cause a boot failure.

prelinkedkernels is a different issue, though. I have no experience with this folder to know it's purpose, or risk of removal.

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Answer 6

May 23, 2023 4:07 PM in response to MrHoffman

I'm currently copying everything to another drive. I'll try this method if no one else can tell me how to fix the drive + once the copying is completed. thank you!

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Corrupted system files after installing Keyboard remapping software

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