Frozen MacBook

Here is an apple support article on what you are experiencing:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1782

It says in part:

Issues may occur if you try to verify or repair unmountable disks

Disk Utility may stop responding without displaying an error message, or stall your computer for several seconds, when trying to verify or repair some non-startup volumes that can't be unmounted.

If you try to verify a volume that is not your startup disk but for some reason Disk Utility can't unmount the volume (for example, the disk may have open files), the verification will appear to start but then stop without displaying any alert message. If you look in the Console (/Applications/Utilities/), you will see an entry like this:

Verifying volume “Storage”
The disk “Storage” could not be unmounted
Could not unmount disk for verification, attempting live verify

If you try to repair a disk that cannot be unmounted, the repair will appear to start, but then stop as Disk Utility displays this message: "Repairing disk failed with error. Could not unmount disk."

If you look in the Console (/Applications/Utilities/), you will see an entry like this:

Verify and Repair disk “Storage”
The disk “Storage” could not be unmounted
Could not unmount disk for verification
Repairing disk failed with error. Could not unmount disk

In some rare situations, your computer might not respond for several seconds.

If you cannot determine which files are open on the disk that you want to verify or repair, restart your computer and then mount the disk again, or start up from your Mac OS X Install DVD or CD to repair.

So in your case - completely power down your mac with the dics and all still in the computer - dont eject it -

then power it up and hold the "C" key down again to startup to the disc - once the install options come up again - then you can either try to repair the hard drive disk again - or before trying that - you can try to select from the same utilities drop down menu to select start up disk - then select your hard drive and see if it will reboot successfully to your hard drive.

please let me know how things go - at least we are seeing some progress so far.

You do not want to install or begin installation - when that window shows up - you look up at the top of the screen at the bar at the top and select utilities - watch this youtube video and you can follow what he does:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFv3h7MVX4A

form that utilities menu there is an option also for start up disk - you can choose that option and then pick your hard drive to restart the computer from and it hoefully will work -

please get back to me and let me know how it goes

take care

Im sorry - but I am all out of ideas at this point. It sounds like the hard drive is failing - if posible do not turn it on anymore - as doing so makes the hard drive run and the more it runs the more chances of data loss are possible - if you can get it by an apple store or repair shop if there is anything on the disk you cannot live without and see if they can possibly bring it back to life for you at least long enough to get your data off of it. I bet if you put a new hard drive in there and instal the OS on it it would operate as it should - since you can start up form your disc at least we know nothing is wrong with the mac itsself - which is good :-) - please let me know what you end up doing and how things go - I am sorry I cannot offer anything further

I have had the same problem twice with my macbook (purchased July 2009). Both times I had to get the HD replaced and wasn't able to retrive anything (luckily I had backed it up). I hope that wasn't so in your case. I was wondering what year you bought yours? Maybe there was a bad 'batch' of macbooks or something...I've never had this much trouble with a mac before. I hope you are able to get yours fixed without any hassle. Good luck!

If your interested in selling the laptop let me know- ifixit.com has great tutorials on how to replace the hard drive - its about a 5 min job - once the new hard drive is in you can load your OS disc and install the operating system on it and youd be done asap - then you can recoup some of the money for buying the iPad - if not please dont let it go to waste - the battery and hard drive are 2 of the most eaiset parts to replace and you can find good deals on both on ebay. then you can sell locally on Craigslist - I hope you didnt loose data that you cannot get back - but am glad you got the iPad - you will love it :-)