Crash!

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Crash!

Hi

I;ve got a problem with my old Mac Mini (10.2 machine, 10.4.11 OSX).

Today I tried to install the polish language plugin on my OS and in the middle of 5-th package, the installator stopped for an hour. I was unable to shut it down or manually restart the computer, so I did it by pushing the power button on the Mac.

After this, when I turned my coputer back on, the startup desktop showed up but there was no upper command menu and from the bottom menu I could pick up and click on every single icon, but none of them was working.

Now I can do nothing, even I can't shut down the computer normally.

My question is: is there anything that I can do?

If no, how can I format my disk and reinstall the OS? I must add that I put the OS installation disc into the machine but nothing happened and what's more I can't take it back now :/.

Please help!
Best regards

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jan 5, 2014 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 5, 2014 7:50 AM in response to piszu

Insert the Install Disk if you have it.

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Answer 2

piszu Author

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Jan 5, 2014 8:31 AM in response to piszu

Yes I Have the install disk for 10.4 but when I insert it, nothing happens.
I also try some keybord shortcuts when initialising the OS but this also doesn't start the boot from disc.

How should I initialise the new OS installation?

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

238,973 points

Jan 5, 2014 9:02 AM in response to piszu

Holding alt or option key doesn't show noot choices?

Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...

/sbin/fsck -fy

Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.

(Space between fsck AND -fy imoprtant).

Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

238,973 points

Jan 5, 2014 9:19 AM in response to piszu

Oh, hold mouse button down while powering on to eject the Disc.

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Answer 5

Jan 5, 2014 12:38 PM in response to piszu

To boot from a CD or DVD hold the C key while booting.

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Answer 6

piszu Author

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Jan 5, 2014 1:11 PM in response to piszu

Hi, thanks for your answers.

So far I managed to eject the disc (just normally, by pressing F12- eject on the keyboard while system was on).

Unfortunaltely I tried with the C key but nothing happens with the CD/DVD boot 😟 Same thing with Alt/Option 😟
I also managed to enter the user menu, but despite the option of turning the computer off/restart, there is not much more I can do :/

I will try some more things with C/ALT keys. Should I keep them pressed or hit it repeatedly?

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Answer 7

Jan 5, 2014 1:28 PM in response to piszu

Keep keys pressed from chime until desired result obtained.

You may have a keyboard or USB port problem.

Try a different keyboard and/or port.

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Answer 8

piszu Author

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Jan 5, 2014 1:28 PM in response to piszu

One more thing:

it seems that when computer is on the only things that are working (or try to) are ejecting of the CD and widgets. I can add and remove the widgets. Nevertheless the widgets themselves are not working.
I detached the ethernet cable also, but it didn't change anything... :/

The most annoying thing is that there is no option to boot from installation disc :/
Aren't there any options to do the hard format? Or force the boot from external source?

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Answer 9

piszu Author

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Jan 5, 2014 1:53 PM in response to Neville Hillyer

I don't know if it is still the problem during the startup, but the keyboard works correctly when the crashed system is opened. It has been working fine until today morning...

Every time I keep it pressed from the chime, it still flashes the startup loading bar of OS X and brings me to the desktop.

Is it important that I have a disc with 10.4.2 and the 10.4.11 is installed on the machine?

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Answer 10

Jan 5, 2014 2:57 PM in response to piszu

Try to reset PRAM

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Answer 11

BDAqua

Level 10

238,973 points

Jan 5, 2014 3:32 PM in response to piszu

10.4.11 never came on an Install DDisc, only via updating once an earlier 10.4.x was installed, so it is OK yes.

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Answer 12

piszu Author

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Jan 5, 2014 3:41 PM in response to Neville Hillyer

Neville, what does it mean to reset PRAM and how to do this?

BDAqua - yes, I updated 10.4.2 to 10.4.11 by internet

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Answer 13

Jan 5, 2014 3:42 PM in response to piszu

Try Google

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Answer 14

piszu Author

Level 1

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Jan 6, 2014 2:09 AM in response to Neville Hillyer

Yes I did it, I also tried to reset PRAM, but just like before, nothing happened, like none of the shortcuts works.

I also found by google that many people had the problems with not working boot KB shortcuts. Unfortunalety from the topics on 3 forums, there was no answer for this problem.

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Answer 15

Jan 6, 2014 2:22 AM in response to piszu

Try to reset the PMU:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2183

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