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Deleted some LaunchDaemons files and now Mac doesn't start

Hi all,

i really hope someone can help.

I accidentally deleted the LaunchDaemons folder on my little brother's mac and now on startup cannot get passed the grey screen with the apple logo.

I've tried booting in Safe Mode but didn't work, then tried resetting the NVRAM/PRAM, and also tried a starting the laptop in single-user mode to reach the command line to use the /sbin/fsck -fy command line (as adviced in http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417), but nothing of all this worked.

Is there a way to put the .plist files i deleted back on the HD without having to re-install the whole system?

I'd very much appreciate some help as i don't know what to do anymore ;(

thank you

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 24, 2013 2:03 PM

21 replies

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2013 12:25 PM in response to ella_m

That can only happen if you erased the drive because reinstalling OS X does not erase the drive unless you specifically do it first.

I assume you can reinstall your third-party software from the installer DVDs and/or downloads.

ella_m Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2013 12:36 PM in response to Kappy

I did not delete the drive, i performed a disk utility check, repaired permission, and then carried on with the installer, which did not give me any option regarding deleting anything. I'm upset because i'm away to study and don't have the dvd programs with me.

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2013 12:47 PM in response to ella_m

I'm sorry, but I don't know how to help you if all those files are missing since reinstalling would not have erased the drive. I don't suppose you keep backups?

ella_m Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2013 12:52 PM in response to Kappy

That's ok, nobody's fault. I don't understand how it could have happened either. I've always upgraded to new OS w/o anything like this ever happening. No, unfortunately don't have any backups either.

Thanks anyway for your help.

Oct 30, 2013 8:18 AM in response to Kappy

Kappy

We have the same problem with my sons Macbook Pro, he deleted all the LaunchDaemon files on his Mac now all we get is the white screen with the grey apple logo with the spinning wheel. We have tried to boot from our Snow Leopard disc by holding down 'C', we can then hear the Mac trying to load the disc but eventually fails and ejects the disc and the white screen with grey logo reappears.

The Mac books original OS was 10.4.8 Tiger but we don't have the Discs.

Should the Mac load from the snow leopard disc? As it doesn't does that mean that there is a greater issue? Would the Mac boot from the original tiger discs? If we transferred the contents of the disc on to a USB device from another Mac would this be something we can boot from easier?

Your help would be greatly appreciated

Mar 20, 2014 8:57 AM in response to ella_m

I think the advice above should include one other thing

-first get another macbook, launch the problem one in target disk mode (hold T down and power on), then you can see it as a hard drive.

Back evrythinng up onto another external drive. At least you have all files. Time Machine obviously a better way to go here using frequently.

Secondly, try powering pon in Verbose mode (apple-v and power on)

you'll now see the problems - launch agents and daemons are skipped etc

This is actually where I'm at now. I have no optical drive working on the problem mac - how can I repair the problem one? (I deleted launch daemons and copied them back across)

I feel the problem might be fixable with repair permission (eg ls -l in terminal and chmod to change permissions)

or else a re-install method (from disk image or something?)

any ideas?

Deleted some LaunchDaemons files and now Mac doesn't start