Macbook pro 10.8.3 Safe boot hangs

Back up all data.

Boot into Recovery by holding down the key combination command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a gray screen with a spinning dial.

Note: You need an always-on Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to use Recovery. It won’t work with USB or PPPoE modems, or with proxy servers, or with networks that require a certificate for authentication.

When the OS X Utilities screen appears, follow the prompts to reinstall the OS. You don't need to erase the boot volume, and you won't need your backup unless something goes wrong. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.

You tried what? A Recovery HD startup and a Reinstall of OS X?

PhotoMau wrote:

Hello Linc,

Thank you for the response. I tried this, but it didn't help. Safeboot still hangs at exactly the same point.

So you had no trouble reinstalling OS X, but you still can't boot in safe mode. Disconnect all peripherals and try again.

Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested.

Back up all data on the internal drive(s) before you hand over your computer to anyone. If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.

Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair

*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

Try following Linc Davis advise. But instead do ERASE and delete your current partition. Installing OSX over the old install only updates the system-files or something like that. If that doesn't work, of course have a backup.

did you solve this? having the same issue here.

Now... This isn't the easy fix you're probably hoping for, but if it's only after the restore, don't restore the system but cherry pick the files you want.

Was just about the restore from backup. The information helps, much appreciated!

Having the same problem, with a 2014 MBP running Mavericks 10.9.5, no peripherals connected.

Took it to Genius Bar today, where they reinstalled the OS, and after taking the afternoon to get it up and running again, I'm again having the boot problem. It hangs at exactly the same place, right after the AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::checkStatus message. Only difference is that before today's visit it wouldn't boot into Recovery mode -- it'd only boot to Single-User -- and today it will. It won't boot into normal or Safe mode.

This is a nearly-brand-new MBP, so hardware failure (while certainly possible) seems a bit improbable. Other points against hardware failure:

• booting into diagnostics mode, the system reports all is OK
• fsck is not reporting any errors
• when I boot into Single-User mode I can still read files on my hard drive (e.g., system logs in /var/log, my user files)
• it fails to boot even with no peripherals connected

Can anybody point me to a detailed list of the events that should occur in a successful boot? Specifically, I want to know what should happen after the MultitouchDriver event mentioned above, since (one would think) that would narrow down the list of places to look and questions to ask. The standard procedural info ("just reinstall the OS") isn't reassuring.

Oh, and I tried to post this as a separate question -- after all, my version isn't 10.8.3 as this thread suggests -- but the browser in Recovery mode (Safari 7.0.6) won't let me post a new question. (On the main page for this community, the search box's "Submit my question to the community" does nothing when clicked, and often neither do any of the links that come up in search results.)