Getting 'blue screen of death' and Darwin/bsd screen

Question

Getting 'blue screen of death' and Darwin/bsd screen

I would be much appreciated if someone would willing to give their almighty wisdom and experience to help a amateur mac user like me with this problem.

The laptop had been working well until I booted it up couple days ago and it wouldn't get past the blue screen and it would be stuck on there if left alone.

Searching myself online I have tried the 'command + option + P + R' waiting there start-up chimes, then holding shift key, etc. ASWELL as just holding shift key when starting up.

Both got me to a black screen with white text that said 'Darwin/bsd' and login and password.

I entered in my usual login and password and it says login failed and it blue screens a minute until it comes back to that Darwin/bsd screen again.

The laptop was bought under my father's account for my college classes, so I tried his account names and passwords and got no where, asked him and he racked his brain and couldn't figure out other names and solutions...

I cannot get to safe mode, those methods get me to the Darwin/bsd

In short I either need to get past the Darwin/bsd screen... Is there a way to bypass that login? or extract my files from my laptop somehow while it's in this state (I have other macs, an OSX 10.9.5, and OS something, and an external hard drive).

I'm not sure how to do this with these resources. Like I said I'm an amateur and a lot of other sites I found I got lost and when they start talking about 'taking apart' and 'wires' and 'codes', it makes me nervous. I know the macs have ability to transfer files to one another but with this old laptop down is that possible? HELP! Irony was I was about to back up my laptop the day this started, cause I started shopping for a new computer and knew this one was getting too old. Maybe my laptop heard me and is revolting...

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.0.x), not sure on operating, got it in 04

Posted on Jun 9, 2015 2:42 AM

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Answer 1

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,972 points

Jun 9, 2015 12:04 PM in response to enque_obscura

The computer included install-restore DVDs for the system, software, and a hardware test.

You can start up an older Mac from its install-restore DVD or CD, if it is willing & able.

With original DVD or full-retail install, say Leopard 10.5, in the optical drive, you should be

able to get a rise out of the computer. However, if it is stuck in single-user mode, you may

have to learn how to access it in a similar manner. I seldom use or have tried that, and do

try to avoid the Terminal as I don't have time to devote to understanding its complexity.

mac os single user mode commands - search result:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=mac+os+single+user+mode+commands

mac os exit command line without password - covers other topics worth a look:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Mac+OS+exit+command+line+without+admin+pass word

The internal hard disk drive may have failed, or some other hardware issue may be

at fault with the unit, and usually the boot into a 'single-user mode' or a unix command

line access (such as Terminal) rarely happens by accident. That it occurred, may be a

sign of other troubles that could need technical diagnostic and professional repair. It

could be a replacement hard disk drive may be needed; plus use of install-restore DVD.

If the command line is requesting an admin password, and if the computer had a

file vault secure or compressed content section on the hard drive, that is a problem.

However, I'm in a time crunch with offline responsibilities. There are a few related Support

articles and other measures to troubleshoot that involve the use of these methods.

In any event...

Good luck in this matter! 🙂

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Answer 2

Jun 14, 2015 7:05 PM in response to K Shaffer

Thanks for the response. Sorry I didn't reply back sooner. I also have very little time to work on my computer. I did manage to try some things today.

I discovered 'command+s' goes to the single user mode, that does not require a password. When I do this...

• I tried the 'fsck - fy' command but the end result was 'the volume macintosh hd could not be repaired'.

• I tried the '/sbin/mount -uw /' command and and followed through a couple steps till I got stuck on the 'launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist' and failed to find the location.

• When I try to go to safe mode (command+c) it looks like single user mode, but has that Darwin/bsd and asks for my user name and password.

I managed to findmy installations discs and was able to reset my password, but when I try that Darwin/bsd and enter in my username and password it still say its incorrect.

Since I found the installation discs (theres 2 of them) I tried the utilities and first aid, and did repair. It repaired 1 item. Now the installation disc is stuck and I can't get it out and my laptop still is broke. So now how do I get the disc out and is there any way to use the installation discs to restore the computer but keep my old files? Getting the data off is the most important thing. I'm ready to get another computer but its all the files thats on this laptop thats important to me. I'm a graphic designer who was in the middle of updating my portfolio. I have stuff on an external hard drive but not the recent stuff I did in the past months which I got a lot further on.

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Answer 3

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,972 points

Jun 14, 2015 10:42 PM in response to enque_obscura

You may have to get a replacement hard disk drive, and install a new system into it;

and put the old computer HDD into an external enclosure, and see if you can access

or reclaim your saved works from your old account at a later time. If you try & reinstall

a new system on the old hard disk drive with the problems evident there in, you may

find as a result, all the content that had a chance of being accessed by you, erased.

The bootable system may have damage, or the hard disk drive may have damage;

in either case, to have a running computer, you may be best advised to get a new

hard disk drive. For older Mac PowerPC, your G4 would use an ATA/IDE, not SATA.

With the problems involved, such as the stuck DVD install disc, that may be another

issue and may also involve a hardware failure of the optical drive. There are only so

many standard things you can try to eject a disc from the optical drive. You can hold

the portable computer so the optical drive opening is down, and attempt to get the

mechanism to eject, hoping that Gravity can help it drop out. You can try a USB mouse

and restart with the mouse held down; there is a terminal command to eject the DVD.

Some enterprising persons have tried methods that could damage the install disc,

such as sticky tape on a thin stick, which is not advised; as the Install disc is valuable.

http://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-how-to-force-eject-a-stuck-dis c--mac-31662

http://www.macyourself.com/2009/05/01/the-ultimate-guide-to-ejecting-a-stuck-dis c-from-mac-superdrive/

External enclosures that can use an ATA/IDE drive, are harder to find, as are new

replacement quality internal hard disk drives for portable computers, & others.

Depending on where you are, you may be able to find a local source; if not then

there are a few reputable sources online. And there are iFixit repair guides online

but these can be tedious and troublesome to remove and replace. And data recovery

is also problematic. If only the startup section of the OS X is damaged, you may be

able to still copy your own work files off the drive (if seen as a hard drive, not startup)

by use of Target Disk Mode and a FireWire cable, plus use a suitable Mac that has

FireWire ports or can try to use an adapter cable and much later Mac.

How to use & troubleshoot with FireWire Target Disk Mode (FW- TDM) - Apple Support:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1661

Not sure if any of this may be helpful, & as I've been out of town for a few days, the first

in several months, I'm just happening across your post now, at nearly 10PM local time.

You may need to locate an Apple Authorized service provider who still can handle older

Mac issues and resolve problems, to help get the computer running; but do not try or

re-install over the old hard drive, because that will erase the content you want to save.

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 4

Jun 16, 2015 1:15 AM in response to K Shaffer

Thank you so much for your help, knowing re-installing will erase the content is what I needed to know. I'm a little more wiser about my mac now then I was before thanks to you. More wise enough to realize I should go to a professional now then try to fix it myself at this point!

I'm going to try the disc removal technics, but for my hard drive probably safest is to bring it to someone else. I have been looking at the Apple Consultants Network and other repair places, but I want to try to swing by the Apple Store too, just to see if there are any viable options there. I may be overlooking something simple too. But again, thank you for your help and happy travels!

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Answer 5

Jun 19, 2015 1:01 AM in response to enque_obscura

Just an update to the disc issue... The holding down mouse on start-up WORKED!!! One problem solved!

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Answer 6

Jun 20, 2015 5:40 PM in response to K Shaffer

The issue has been resolved thanks to the Geniuses at the Genius Bar. One of the employees worked with Mac for over 20 years actually was familiar with my powerbook (lucky me cause all the other employees wasn't even sure if they could do a diagnostic). He figured out it was actually the video chip (drive?) that was giving me problems. He showed me how to hook up the firewire to my powerbook and another Mac (I'm sure I saw that solution online but was not aware how easy it was or if it was related to my problem or not, however when I see it done in person and was able to ask questions I was able to understand it better). I was able to reach the files from my working Mac and then hook up my external hard drive to that and download my files from my powerbook just fine.

I was freaking out because what I read online looked hard drive related. But even if it wasn't the info you gave help me explain what I did and my problem to them. So thank you Mac Geniuses, and thank you K Shaffer! You guys saved me a lot of trouble and worry (and a no cost!!!).

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