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Level 1

5 points

iMac suddenly starts up in OS X Utility! HELP!

Hello!

i'm using IMac OSX mountain lion 10.8.5 and when I started up my computer today it didnt enter my desktop like it should.

Instead it started up OSX Utilities with the option to use ''Time mascine backup, Reinstall OS X, Get help online and Disk Utility''.

All I have tried so far is to repair my main harddrive by entering disk utility, selecting Macintosh HD (1TB APPKE HDD) and then verify and repair disk. Both times I did this it said that the disk was fine.

I DID NOT repair the Mac OS X Base System (under disk1) though since i don't dare to touch it before i was sure. Should I try to repair it? might this be the problem?

(When selecting it the only option is to ''Verify Disk'').

I also tried to enter safe mode by holding down shift at startup, but for some reason it doesnt work. When holding shift after I hear the startup sound, after a while the apple logo turns into a stop sign and a question mark folder. It's flashing between these three logos as I hold shift down, like i'm not allowed to enter safe mode.

I tried holding it down but it seems kinda pointless since nothing happens, so I release it and the OS X utilities loads up again.

Please Help me!

/André

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 25, 2013 3:22 AM

28 replies

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 25, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Add3

Ok I looked up the problem about the output/input error when trying to copy to the USB using Disk utility and I had to reformat the USB. So in about 2 hours or so it will be done copying i hope it it's flawless.

Once all I need is backed up I can begin to fix the problem. To reinstall OS X Mountain Lion.

But lets say everything starts up fine and I solve the problem.

What version will Mountain Lion be? Can I go back to 10.8.5? Because atm i cannot ugrade to Mavericks because some programs I use don't support them atm.

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 25, 2013 12:28 PM in response to andyBall_uk

I gotta say once again, thanks so much for helping me Andy! and Paul if you are there:) Really appreciate it!

When all this is done i'm gonna send you a hug lol:)

Paul_31

Level 6

14,160 points

Nov 25, 2013 12:32 PM in response to Add3

I'm still here for a hug 🙂 but leaving it to Andy and his greater knowledge. Hope you get it sorted - do let us know.

Paul

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Nov 25, 2013 12:46 PM in response to Add3

>>What version will Mountain Lion be?

It should be 10.8.5, although Safari might not be the latest available, 6.1

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 26, 2013 12:40 AM in response to Paul_31

Ok, good morning people 😀

Continuing...

Yesterday after a long time I backed up the things I needed to the USB which created a dmg. file. Everything worked it looks like. One question. I use certain documents with a music program called Cubase, a cpr file, they wont be damaged or corrupt or anything when creating an image right? or any other document file like Photoshop files and so on? All files were there and I tried to play some audio files (some cubase files contain audio files) and they seemed to work so thats good!

And now that I got eveything, just to be sure...

I'm supposed to reinstall OS X mountail Lion (not erase and install, just reinstall)? This shouldt affect any files or programs that I have installed, so if the issue of mine is solved, i can just enter all applications and continue to work without any issues or do i have to reinstall applications?

And do I need the mountail Lion CD installer or can I just install via internet or something? And when I press the ''reinstall OS X'' button, whats are the steps i should take after that?

Thank you:)

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Nov 26, 2013 4:10 AM in response to Add3

>>they wont be damaged or corrupt or anything when creating an image right?.

Unless they were already damaged on the internal drive, no.

>>I'm supposed to reinstall OS X mountail Lion (not erase and install, just reinstall)?

If that works, it will get you right back without having to restore backups or 3rd party applications.

>>do I need the mountail Lion CD installer or can I just install via internet or something?

It will be downloaded from Apple, assuming a suitable internet connection.

>>when I press the ''reinstall OS X'' button, whats are the steps i should take after that?

There's more information at OS X: About OS X Recovery and OS X Mountain Lion: Reinstall OS X

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 26, 2013 4:13 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Ok perfect! Because I have lost my mountain Lion cd:)

Ok I will get right to it.

I will report back how it goes!

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Nov 26, 2013 4:31 AM in response to Add3

Presumably, it was a Snow Leopard dvd, or one that you had created from a Mountain Lion installer, since the last install dvd's from Apple were for 10.6.x

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 26, 2013 4:42 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Ye I had mountain lion backup up on a cd somewhere. But I just logged in to the itunes account I bought Mountain Lion with and it started to download so everything looks good atm:D

The download is complete so it's installing the OS now, 30 min remaining.

Will be so nice to get back to work again once it's fixed! 😉