Level 1

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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 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! 😉

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 26, 2013 5:36 AM in response to Add3

Problem fixed!!!!

I am so grateful!

I reinstalled OS X Mountain Lion and now everything works and everything is still there!

Thank you sooooooo much Andy and Paul!

I'm sending the hug right now:D

Keep up the good work!

/Daniel!

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

Paul_31

Level 6

14,172 points

Nov 25, 2013 5:37 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Thank you Andy - I'll do some reading up 🙂. Hopefully it'll get Add3 out of his predicament as well.

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Nov 25, 2013 5:38 AM in response to andyBall_uk

It's not necessary to backup the entire disk if all you want is user files - the home folder should contain all those.

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Nov 25, 2013 12:17 PM in response to Add3

You can't drag/drop in Disk Utility, unfortunately. Yes, try erasing the usb & choosing mac os x extended (journaled). I do wonder if the internal drive is any good, but hope so.

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

14,172 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

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

Paul_31

Level 6

14,172 points

Nov 26, 2013 5:44 AM in response to Add3

That's great news, but Andy deserves the biggest hug 😁. Glad you're back in business.

Add3 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 26, 2013 5:51 AM in response to Paul_31

You deserve a big hug too lol:D

If Andy doesnt see this thread, tell him its fixed and that I thank him very much!

Have a good day mate! 😉

/Daniel

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Nov 26, 2013 10:53 AM in response to Add3

🙂 Splendid. Paul had you set from the start, I'm happy to have filled in regarding the backup.

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iMac suddenly starts up in OS X Utility! HELP!