Mac stuck at startup screen after snow leopard install went bad

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Level 1

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Mac stuck at startup screen after snow leopard install went bad

I have an iMac running on 10.4. I have all the requirements to install 10.6.

i bought the $30 cd to install it, put in the cd and chose install. It went to screen with the black/purple space background and a window that had me choose where to install it to. I think I booted from the install CD.

Chose english, it prepared installation, clicked continue on the install mac os x window. Then i had to choose where to install it. There was only one option (the hard disk) but when i clicked on it, it said i couldn't install it. So I clicked back but I couldn't quit the installation.

When I restarted the computer, it just kept going to the installation and I kept ending up in a dead end. So, I browsed for my available options to restart my computer running on my old OS. I clicked utilities > startup disk > then clicked the hard disk. I thought this would just restart the iMac normally.

The computer restarted, but now its stuck on the start up screen. I turn it on, stays on the apple logo, then it shuts itself off within 2-5 minutes.

Am I screwed? Did I lose all my files that were on the computer? I know I'm an idiot for not backing up all my files on an external hard drive.

How do I get out of this and just use my computer?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Jan 1, 2012 11:08 PM

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Answer 1

azrielfster Author

Level 1

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Jan 1, 2012 11:37 PM in response to azrielfster

ACTUALLY, I didn't go to utilities > startup disk...

What i did was choose "mac os x installer" > "quit" > startup disk > then "mac os x, 10.4.11 on macintosh HD"

now, its stuck on the startup screen

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Answer 2

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Jan 2, 2012 7:39 AM in response to azrielfster

Which specific model of iMac do you have? If the installer refused to install, then there must be a reason, such as lack of hard disk space, RAM, etc.

Did you eject the DVD, or is it still in the optical drive? If it's still in the drive, you should try booting from it by turning on the iMac and holding down the 'C' key until you see the spinning radian and see if it will boot from the DVD.

Post back with more info and results.

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Answer 3

azrielfster Author

Level 1

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Jan 2, 2012 10:03 AM in response to kurt188

i believe it had all the requirements: intel core 2 duo, 1 gb of memory, and about 160 gb of free space

the dvd is still in the optical drive. i already started it up holding c 3 times and i still get stuck at the same window

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Answer 4

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Jan 2, 2012 10:19 AM in response to azrielfster

Try restarting the Mac and hold down the mouse button; the DVD should be ejected. Then it should continue with the boot process from the startup disk. If not, then there may be a problem with your optical drive. If so, having a bootable backup of your system before you tried to install Snow Leopard would be very useful.

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