Macbook Pro Wont Boot After Mobile Broadband Software Instsll

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Level 1

46 points

Macbook Pro Wont Boot After Mobile Broadband Software Instsll

hi forum,

i installed EEs Mobile Broadband on Thursday [uk 4G Mobile Broadband Company] by plugging in the dongle and letting it self install the Web App. What happened next is a bit strange. Firstly it didnt work and didnt allow me to connect to Mobile Broadband but it barred me from seeing my Applications folder.

i restarted and editted the permissions on the folder, so the web app install must have changed the permissions some how. Change permissions back and restarted. Deleted the Web App from EE, restarted and computer wont start.

its sticks and the blue grey boot up screen. spinning wheel appears but that stops and it goes no further. Any ideas?

ive recently boted into recovery and had a look round, never having used this before and tried to fix disc permissions but it said nothing wrong, fixed anyway and it says all is fine there.

any ideas where to go? can i somehow make sure this Web App from EE is uninstalled by using dafe mode? or will i have to reinstall OS10.8? i was right up to date on software. from what i read i can reinstall but does this install over what i have on my laptop or is it a clean install? ive no too overly concerned of my data as its backed up but its time. I kno some of you will write back and say if it takes time, it takes time, but id rather know my options and try the reinstall over ym data first if that could work.

MBP type listed in my data which should show on this post

thoughts?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo

Posted on Oct 19, 2013 4:58 AM

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Answer 1

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Oct 19, 2013 5:03 AM in response to mumbles2701

Try a Safe Mode boot, hold down the Shift key while starting. If it starts in Safe Mode see if there are any other files left over from the failed software install.

You can also try a SMC reset.

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

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Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Oct 19, 2013 5:08 AM in response to mumbles2701

I suggest that you contact the vendors technical support staff.

Ciao.

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Answer 3

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 19, 2013 6:23 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Vendors are no hope. Forums seem unmanned and posts unanswered and tech support is 'turn off and on' and dont know much about macs...

ive booted into Safe Mode but oddly it does one of 2 things; either it makes it to Safe mode then freezes as it goes into desktop, or spinning wheel feezes on booting.

tried SMC reset and didnt seem to change anything...

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Answer 4

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Oct 19, 2013 6:27 AM in response to mumbles2701

Then it looks like youm only have one option. And that is to erase the drive and restore your system from a Time Machine backup made prior to installing that mobile BB software.

If no TM backup then your are faced with reinstalling everthing clean.

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:02 AM in response to mumbles2701

Have you considered of returning to the establishment where you purchased your modem? Are you certain that your Mac is compatible with is modem?

Who is the service provider? They should have a technical support staff. Id not, I suggest that you return the modem and consider an alternative.

http://shop.ee.co.uk/mobile-broadband-group/

Ciao.

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Answer 6

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 19, 2013 11:36 AM in response to LowLuster

What about the recovery drive? I'm looking into that at present but don't know too much about it...

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Answer 7

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 19, 2013 11:38 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

And I will be returning the dongle as soon as possible but that doesn't solve my immediate problem of a non working mac.

Their technical staff unfortunately have little mac experience.

This recovery drive option. Anyone any experience of using it?

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Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Oct 19, 2013 11:51 AM in response to mumbles2701

Use these directions:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

Ciao.

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Answer 9

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Oct 19, 2013 11:59 AM in response to mumbles2701

Yes there is a the recovery HD but that is for testing and fixing drive, physical disk, and permissions problems and for a complete reinstall of OS X. It is not really for repairing the OS. Although you could try a reinstall over the top of the current install but if that software installed something that is causing the system to hang then, didn't modify a OS X system files just added files that are causing the hangs, a reinstall over the top won't help.

mumbles2701 wrote:

What about the recovery drive? I'm looking into that at present but don't know too much about it...

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Answer 10

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 19, 2013 1:13 PM in response to LowLuster

Thanks LowLuster

So you think if I reinstall os over the top, it's possible that whatever installed to make my os hang could still be there?

In the same way is it possible that whatever i installed, could have changed a system file, so the reinstall could possibly fix it? Worth a try?

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Answer 11

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Oct 19, 2013 4:58 PM in response to mumbles2701

Yes it is very possible that after an over the top reinstall your problem might still be present. Only way to tell is to do that reinstall.

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Answer 12

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 21, 2013 11:21 PM in response to LowLuster

...and so i have tried everything and no joy 😟

what would be the best way of reinstallig a fresh OS10.8? i dont have the discs for 10.8 as i dowbnloaded it from the app store so guessing wiping disc wont do any good, i wont be able to get to the app store??

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Answer 13

mumbles2701 Author

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46 points

Oct 25, 2013 4:30 AM in response to mumbles2701

oh dear....

full reinstall from Bootable USB made from my Mini at home.... and same thing happens. When booting it simply freezes./ sometimes it makes it into the Desktop but freezes after a few seconds.

Hardware error? anyone?

Ive reseated my ram... still freezes..

next stop is the Hardware test from my Original CDs so will try that when home but my Superdrive doesnt work too well. How do i run the test if the drive wont read my Original OS discs with the Hardware test on it?

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Answer 14

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 25, 2013 6:14 AM in response to mumbles2701

update:

after reseating the memory last night and restarting MBP and it not working, i then tried another clean install on the MBP with reseated memory....

... and so far SUCCESS. I'll need to give it the weekend with time and Hardware check but its still working 3 hours after install.

Is that a feasable reason? The install with dodgy seated memory could have affected the install?

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Answer 15

mumbles2701 Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 25, 2013 7:50 AM in response to mumbles2701

Another update:

i thought id test putting in the Broadband Dongle into the Fixed MBP before i restored all my files... and the Dongle installs the Web App, which seems to be the App it uses to connect itself to the net... And it again Freezes my MBP?!!?!?

It must be doing something? Could it be a faulty Dongle?

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