iMac has gray screen with spinning wheel, but cannot login
After power failure last night, iMac has gray screen with spinning wheel when turned on, but does not go to login screen.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)
After power failure last night, iMac has gray screen with spinning wheel when turned on, but does not go to login screen.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)
See if you can boot from Install DVD by inserting & boot while holding C.
Then Utilities > Disk Utility > Disk Repair + Permissions Repair.
See if you can boot from Install DVD by inserting & boot while holding C.
Then Utilities > Disk Utility > Disk Repair + Permissions Repair.
Thanks for your assistance. I was able to bring up the Install DVD and run disk utility. Unfortunately it told me that it cannot repair the disk. It tells me to back up as many files as possible, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get to them to back-up. I do have an external hard drive, but I haven't backed up in a few months. Is there a way to get to my files from the Install DVD?
What exactly is it sayng. Take a picture if you have to.
Uh oh.
I would suggest installing OSX over the top of your current installation, to retain as much as possible.
If it let's you.
When I select the Hard Disk to reinstall OSX it tells me "The contents of this disk can't be changed."
Ok, I'll just finish what I'm doing & I'll restart & see if I can find a way to transfer your important files in Single User Mode, or from the Install DVD.
My only suggestion, is that you install OSX onto an external HDD & boot from that to recover what you need, if you don't have another computer to plug the HDD into.
It doesn't sound like it's fully recoverable. It looks like your going to have to format it, but just check it doesn't have any error's on it before you start storing important stuff on there.
Having the same problem myself. iMac locked up and I had to hold the power button to turn it off. Ended up with the apple logo screen and spinning wheel. I tried the disk repair and got the same message as yourself, in that it couldn't repair it.
I linked up an external hard drive and installed OSX on it and booted from it. I was able to recover some files, but most I couldn't. I'm currently giving it a one pass erase in the hope (long shot) that a complete pass through the hard drive will show up any faults. Has anyone had this problem and been able to continue using the same hard drive? I really don't relish the thought of having to send it off to be replaced :-/
Assuming that the erase goes well I plan to put OSX back onto it and then run disk utility from directly on the drive and see if any faults show up. I'm kicking myself for not taking advantage of TimeMachine, but we live and learn.
HDD's fail eventually. I wouldn't risk more than 2 years before I replace it.
Definately take advantage of Time Machine...!!!!!
iMac has gray screen with spinning wheel, but cannot login