foundobject

Q: Re: iMac Install Disk & Single User Mode

Hi

 

I've read through many of the posts here and find similar issues, but not the same. (Apologies if I've missed one)

 

I have a four year old iMac that came with system 10.5. It started to become very slow and freeze on the desktop, so I ran disk utility and upgraded to 10.6.8. It's got to the point where it can't startup – gets to screen with apple only.

 

I've read through and tried some of the apple docs that relate such as:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2000?viewlocale=en_US

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1892?viewlocale=en_US (came up with this once and with the broken folder once as well?)

 

I can't start in safe mode, or from the install DVD's. If I hold down 'c' it eventually ejects the disk.(after approx. four minutes before apple logo comes up)

 

I disconnected all usb devices, tried most of the suggestions listed in 'http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533'.

With the 'alt/option', I get the hard disc and mac install discs come on screen to choose – I select the MacosX install disc icon hit return (and clicked on arrow underneath after a while), but nothing happens (left it going for approx. 10 mins - should it be longer?)

 

I can get into single user mode. to run '/sbin/fsck -fy'. I did this and it came back with 'file system was modified'. I ran it again straight after and it said it was 'ok'

When I went to reboot, it didn't work. I've since tried '/sbin/fsck -fy' again with no luck.

 

I have my work backed-up and am happy to erase the iMac for a fresh install if required.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for when I'm in single user mode (I don't know enough about single user mode to try anything else, but at least it seems to work), that might force it to run the install DVD, or another option to try that may force it to skip the fault it has at startup please?

 

Thanks in advance.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 27, 2012 3:58 AM

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Q: Re: iMac Install Disk & Single User Mode

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  • by foundobject,

    foundobject foundobject Jan 27, 2012 8:30 PM in response to foundobject
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 8:30 PM in response to foundobject

    Just an update – I took it to an Apple Genius Centre and they managed to use the option key at start up to use an external hard drive. (I could see the HD and install disk when I did it, but couldn't do anything after). When we tried to use disk utility it was taking a long time to load, so I didn't get to erase/fresh install. They feel it's a hard drive on the way out, but aren't 100% sure due to the booting issue and being able to see the drive, and single user mode not finding faults etc?

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Jan 27, 2012 9:02 PM in response to foundobject
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 9:02 PM in response to foundobject

    I tend to agree with the apple store. Safe boot is still trying to boot from the internal drive. If you are using the 10.5 disk to boot and have 10.6.8 installed that could keep you from booting with it.  If the 10.6.8 disk is a full install disk it should be bootable.  Not being able to get to disk utilities is also a hard drive problem. It can't read the disk. If apple was able to boot to a screen with the external drive,that can mean your internal drive is bad. or you have bad cables to the drive. If you can use an external dvd drive to boot your 10.6.8 install disk, you might be able to check the internal drive . I say this just in case your internal media drive is having a problem.

  • by foundobject,

    foundobject foundobject Jan 27, 2012 9:34 PM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2012 9:34 PM in response to my ginger

    Thanks for that.

  • by Pokharel,

    Pokharel Pokharel Jan 28, 2012 8:38 AM in response to foundobject
    Level 1 (19 points)
    iPad
    Jan 28, 2012 8:38 AM in response to foundobject

    Seems like the HD has some cluster allocation tables partially damaged/irresponsive as a result either there is installation error of various types or once read and wrote, the stored data are not readable the way they should be. In this sceniario Try installing OS to the external HD if (you have one spared) and see if the issue is over. Once you make sure you accomplished it, it's time to change the HD.

  • by foundobject,

    foundobject foundobject Jan 28, 2012 6:28 PM in response to Pokharel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2012 6:28 PM in response to Pokharel

    Thanks for replying Pokharel and My Ginger. I don't have an external I can use as yet, but will get one to try out your suggestions.

  • by foundobject,

    foundobject foundobject Jan 28, 2012 9:36 PM in response to Pokharel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2012 9:36 PM in response to Pokharel

    Just an update – I've had some luck and managed to get the Install disks loaded and ran Disk Utility.

    I ran both Repair Disk and Verify Disk, and both came up with the HD being OK.

     

    I then tried Verify Disk Permissions and it came back with 8 errors showing and "Error: Permissions verify or repair failed"

    All of them were like the following with the last part being the same on each  – "should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ." I had to type these, so apologies if slightly incorrect, but hopefully they give an idea of the fault?

     

    Permissions differ on

    "System/Library/CoreServices/Main Extras/RemoteDesktop.menu/Contents/Support/LockScreen.app/Contents/Resources/zh _CN.lproj/RemoteDestopMenu.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Support/Lock Screen.app/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/UIAgent.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/Sup port/LockScreenLeopard386.app/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/MainMenu.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/Sup port/LockScreen.app/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/MainMenu.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/RemoteDesktop.menu/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/RemoteDesktopMenu.nib" , should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Support/Rem ote Message Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/UIAgent.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/Su pport/LockScreen.app/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/MainMenu.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

    "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/Su pport/LockScreenLeopard386.app/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/MainMenu.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x ."

     

     

    I'm not sure if another program would have success fixing these or if it's still not good news for the HD?

     

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Jan 29, 2012 4:18 PM in response to foundobject
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Jan 29, 2012 4:18 PM in response to foundobject

    Apple says that if you have a problem like that to use you install dvd and reset your password. Disk permission repair only repairs apple software, so if any third party software is out of wack you'll have to eather update it or reinstall it. Resetting the password is supose to reset the permissions for the home user.

  • by foundobject,

    foundobject foundobject Jan 29, 2012 4:53 PM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2012 4:53 PM in response to my ginger

    Thanks for the info my ginger and I'll try that too.

     

    I've since managed to restart in safe mode as well. When I was trying to fix the permissions with DU, it seemed to be able to repair the above, but at the end it mentioned an error and permissions couldn't be fixed (didn't mention what error though). I ran it three times and at the end of the third time it showed permission issues that all related to 'airport' (approx 30 permission issues which I hadn't seen before - group permissions as well). I don't use airport, but found that was in the login items (even though it wasn't checked), but I got rid of it from there anyway. I shut down and it restarted perfectly!

     

    I don't know if this was the main issue, or if I just got lucky for now and I'll still have trouble? I haven't run DU since, but will try your suggestion above before doing that.

     

    I'm still thinking of erasing the disk and a clean install.

     

    Thanks again for your help!