Mac wont boot - no entry sign?

Have you tried using Disk Utility to repair your startup disk (hard drive) as shown in Dr.Smokes Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption?

Here's Apple doc.#106464 on troubleshooting startup issues.

Cheers!
DALE

I'm having the exact same problem with my Mac Mini. I've done all the things I know plus called Apple. We tried what this guy suggested about repairing via Disk Utility and there were errors with that. The guy with Apple thinks it's a software issue. I tried using the Tech Tool Deluxe that came with Apple Care and that didn't work. Apple suggested I buy another third-party disk utility. Beyond that it's erase and install! And I need my data! (PS: I can't get Target Disk mode to bring up the Mac Mini Macintosh HD on my iBook!)

Anyone solve this issue without erasing data?

Please help!

Landon,

If disk utility shows errors it typically means you do need to perform a Erase & Install.

However you may want to try starting up in Safe Boot.

Target Disk Mode is your best bet though..

Mac Mini 1.25Ghz/512Mb RAM/40Gb HD/Combo Mac OS X (10.4.6) External MiniMate 80Gb HD & Memorex DVD Burner

vmitchell,

I know that it could come to that, but I wanted to try to keep my data first. Alas, I don't have what I need backed up. Of course, after now, I'll back it up like crazy, but I really need the data I have on there. So, I want to avoid an erase and install. Also, I tried Target Disk mode but it won't bring up the hard drive I need. So that hasn't worked. Any thing else i can do without erasing?

Hi Landon,
If you could tell us what the errors Disk Utility (DU) mentioned it would help us advise you. Run it again and write them down. Sometimes repairing with DU several times will fix minor issues.

Other wise it's DiskWarrior, the best at directory repairs. Make sure you get a CD of it so you can bootup on it.You could also try the free demo of DataRescuell .
If the demo "sees" your stuff, you can purchase the full version to rescue the bigger files. Either way it'll cost some money. I would try DW first as that is a utility you could use every month to keep your directory in shape.

Cheers!
DALE

Dale,
Thanks for the help. I think I'll try that. Is Disk Warrior that much better than Tech Tool Deluxe or Apple Disk Utility?

Ok, yesterday when I ran everything, I was able to do it on "Macintosh HD" under the "74.5 GB ST9808210A". Now, the Macintosh HD is lighter in color and won't let me repair permissions. I think maybe this is why when I tried Target Disk mode today I couldn't get the HD to come up. A few days ago I could, but whenever I tried to transfer data, I could only get about 1 MB before everything kind of "froze" and no more data would come.

The error I get is:
"Invalid B-tree node size"
"Volume check failed"

"Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit"
"1HFS volume checked
1 volume could not be repaired because of error"

Can you help? Thanks!

Hi Landon;

The short answer is yes. Actually DiskWarrior only does one job but it does that one job extremely well. What is does is to rebuild directories on disks. At this one task is is the very best.

Allan

By the way, I do have 10.4.6. The 10.4.2 under my last post is incorrect. When that grey screen comes up that won't let me do anything, the fans blow like crazy and the computer is HOT just like some others have mentioned in some other posts.

Thanks

Can someone please help with the "invalid b-tree node size"?

If I purchase disk warrior electronically, can i use my iBook to use it to repair my Mac Mini?

Thanks.

According to Alsoft from the very page you are reading about if you are considering a purchase:

"In order to use the download copy of DiskWarrior, you will need to start up from another Mac OS X 10.2.1 through 10.4.x disk. You will then need to run a copy of DiskWarrior from a disk that is not the disk you are repairing."

So, if you can use target disk mode then yes it will work. If you cannot, then it won't.

Frankly, I would buy the CD and be done with all that hassle. You should be able to get one from most catalog resellers in about 2 days or less if you are willing to pay for shipping. The download version you are purchasing will not ever be able to be converted to a bootable CD so why waste the time and money on it.

Again from Alsoft:

"(The DiskWarrior download does not include the Apple System files necessary to create a startup CD.)"