HT201276: Force an app to close on your Mac

Learn about Force an app to close on your Mac
breesir
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: The information *****. I'm trying to force quit because my cursor is missing and frozen. I can't just get the machine to close because I have to click on options: 'restart cancel sleep shut down'. So I've tried force quitting and nada. Nothing happens.

Aaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!

 

I was typing along and then all of the sudden my cursor disappeared! I can't find it. I've tried shutting down my Mac, but I can't do that because the box pops up when I hit the on/off button asking if I want to restart, sleep, cancel or shut down. I've tried hitting return. Nothing.

 

I've tried to force quit. Nothing.

 

I called Apple - it's a holiday.

 

I only bougth this Mac in late July. It took a while to download the new operating system. My track pad hasn't been working, I haven't been able to drag my fingers over it and scroll down. I'm pretty stupid, but the woman who normally handles my tech problems couldn't figure the track pad problem out either. There is a local guy who fixes Macs, but I've owned this for less than 90 days so it should be covered and I shouldn't have to pay for seeing this guy.

 

But now I'm losing at least a day's work. HELP! Thanks.

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), iOS 6

Posted on Oct 8, 2012 8:43 AM

by WZZZ,Solvedanswer
WZZZ WZZZ
Level 6 (13,087 points)
Mac OS X
A:

See if you can shut down using Ctrl-Option-Cmd-Eject. If that works, then boot in Safe Boot by holding down the Shift key at the startup chime. Give it much longer to boot than usual and leave it in Safe Boot a few minutes without opening anything. Then try starting up normally.

 

If the keyboard shortcut won't work, then you'll have to do a hard shutdown by pressing and holding in the power button until it shuts down. This may take a few seconds. After that, open Disk Utility in Utilities and run Verify Disk for Macintosh HD (or whatever you might have renamed it.)

Posted on Oct 8, 2012 9:12 AM

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Q: The information *****. I'm trying to force quit because my cursor is missing and frozen. I can't just get the machine to close bec ... more

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  • Helpful answers

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Oct 8, 2012 9:11 AM in response to breesir
    Level 6 (15,053 points)
    Peripherals
    Oct 8, 2012 9:11 AM in response to breesir

    Your purchase is under warranty.   Take it back to the Apple store you bought it from if you can, otherwise take it to your nearest Apple store, preferably have your receipt handy.   You should not have to pay for the service or repair.   You should also consider buying Apple Care to support the warranty; it is the cheapest form of insurance you can get.

     

    Apple - Support - Mac Pro - Service FAQ

  • by WZZZ,Solvedanswer

    WZZZ WZZZ Oct 8, 2012 9:12 AM in response to breesir
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2012 9:12 AM in response to breesir

    See if you can shut down using Ctrl-Option-Cmd-Eject. If that works, then boot in Safe Boot by holding down the Shift key at the startup chime. Give it much longer to boot than usual and leave it in Safe Boot a few minutes without opening anything. Then try starting up normally.

     

    If the keyboard shortcut won't work, then you'll have to do a hard shutdown by pressing and holding in the power button until it shuts down. This may take a few seconds. After that, open Disk Utility in Utilities and run Verify Disk for Macintosh HD (or whatever you might have renamed it.)

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Oct 8, 2012 9:25 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2012 9:25 AM in response to WZZZ

    Maybe some feedback about the results please? This may help someone else with the same issue.

  • by breesir,

    breesir breesir Oct 8, 2012 9:26 AM in response to breesir
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 9:26 AM in response to breesir

    Thanks guys (I'm using guys in a non-sexist way in case one or both of you are differently equipped).

     

    My problem 71 is that I live 125 kms from the nearest Mac Store. And it's a holiday so I'm losing a day's work. The local guys who does repair Macs is great. But since I couldn't contact Apple I would feel obliged to pay him for his services.

     

    I realize I am under the 90-day service period and I do plan to buy Apple Care, as I get close to the end of the 90s days. But the failing, it seems to me, in Apple Support is they it is built around you having access to your machine or the web. And if, like today, I couldn't access them then the service is moot.

     

    I'm lucky in that I still have my old MacBook pro stuck in a closet in reserve.

     

    I do appreciate you and WZZZ taking the time to help me out.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Oct 8, 2012 9:52 AM in response to breesir
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2012 9:52 AM in response to breesir

    The 90 days applies to specific work done usually out of warranty, for which you may have paid out of pocket, or on an Apple repair program  for some single known issue. You should have a full year's warranty on the initial purchase of the computer and the option to get Applecare before the end of that year. But I don't think Applecare is availabe on the 90 day warranty for any specific repair.

     

    You marked my post solved, but what were the results? Have things returned to normal?

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Oct 8, 2012 10:26 AM in response to breesir
    Level 6 (15,053 points)
    Peripherals
    Oct 8, 2012 10:26 AM in response to breesir

    Can see your point.  Indeed, the question of Apple Care changes if you have no reasonable access but don't forget, a major repair can be done by carrier.   As Wzzz says, it would be interesting to see what corrected the issue.

  • by breesir,

    breesir breesir Oct 8, 2012 11:45 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 11:45 AM in response to WZZZ

    Hi,

     

    Sorry, this was my first time here and I didn't appreciate the etiquette. I was a tad frustrated and annoyed.

     

    I didn't realize that holding down the button to turn on and off the Mac made a difference. (Did I mention what a technophobe I am?) The Mac shut down, then I got to turn it back and everything is as it should be. And, nothing was lost! All the open files were recovered.

     

    Your solution was really useful. I did try the four items for the force quit, but that didn't work.

     

    So, thanks again. I've been busy playing catch up.

  • by breesir,

    breesir breesir Oct 8, 2012 11:48 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 11:48 AM in response to seventy one

    Hi,

     

    Thanks. By a carrier, I assume you mean a courier service. My life and eight year's worth of work is on my harddrive. I can't afford to be without it any period of time. I have a car and it's faster if I drove to where help is located, no matter how far (I live in Canada), so a courier/carrier would be at least three days. I fear damage to the maching, plus that's three days without contact to friends and clients. So it's not an option.