Startup disk full: computer crashed

Question

Level 1

8 points

Startup disk full: computer crashed

I started getting a message saying that my startup disk was full, so I thought I would trash Microsoft Office as I have just installed a later version. I then discovered that my Word files wouldn't open, even those I had created on the new version of Office. I then restarted the computer and it only got to the first stafe (grey apple logo). It now won't open up further than this.

AAHHH! I'm sure I've done the wrong thing by trashing the old Office, but if anyone has any ideas of what I can do now I would be very grateful. Have tried using the TechTools disk but this freezes as well.

Thanks.(I am on Tiger)

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Nov 23, 2006 3:57 AM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Nov 23, 2006 4:20 AM in response to Lizard19

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
What version of Techtool do you have? If you are using a version older than the operating system, having used it in the past could have seriously damaged the directory.
Is your data backed up?

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Answer 2

Gulliver

Level 7

25,740 points

Nov 23, 2006 4:21 AM in response to Lizard19

Hi Lizard19,

first of all: WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSIONS!

So you inserted the Tech Tool Pro disk and restarted while holding down the c-key and it crashed, right?

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Answer 3

Lizard19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2006 4:47 AM in response to Gulliver

Hi,

Thank you for answering.

Computer had crashed before I used the disk. When I restarted with the disk, holding down C, the disk loaded ok and checked all the systems. It found a fault on the last one, volume/systems or something! (sorry not a computer expert!). I then clicked repair, which it started doing, but it then froze whilst doing doing the repair.

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Answer 4

Gulliver

Level 7

25,740 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:13 AM in response to Lizard19

Lizard,

before we go into a lengthy repair procedure (which does not even guarantee success) you should do an Archive&Install:

1. Check for a minimum of 4 GB of free hard disk space on your hard disk
2. Unplug all peripherals
3. Insert the Install DVD and reboot while holding down the c-key
4. Once you are booted go to the menu and select disk utility
5. Repair the disk and Repair permissions!
6. Quit disk utility and proceed with the installation
7. Under "options" select "Archive&Install" and check the box "keep user and network data".
8. Install Tiger
9. Restart
10. Go to the folder Application/Utilities and run disk utility to repair permissions again.
11. Download (or open if you downloaded before) Mac OS X 10.4.8 Combo Update (PPC) and install it.
12. Restart and repair permissions
13. Go to the Apple menu and select "Software Update"
14. Install all missing updates and restart.
15. Repair permissions

Good luck!

If this answered your question please consider granting some stars: Why reward points?

P.S. In the future you can save appr. 500-800 MB of disk space by running Monolingual to remove all languages you do not need.

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Answer 5

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:24 AM in response to Gulliver

Gulliver an Archive and Install will NOT work if the machine is too full. The situation causing the hard drive to appear too full needs to be resolved first. They indicated at the start of the thread they got a disk too full error, so your suggestion won't work.

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Answer 6

Lizard19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:26 AM in response to Gulliver

Thank you v much for that - I don't have the install Tiger disk, only the original panther one. Can I revert to Panther or do I need Tiger if I am on Tiger now?

(will def give you stars!)

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Answer 7

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:26 AM in response to Lizard19

Lizard,
You can't backtrack from Tiger to Panther.
But that's not the issue right now. First off, is your data backed up?
Secondly, what version of Techtool are you using?

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Answer 8

Gulliver

Level 7

25,740 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:32 AM in response to a brody

a brody,

did you read point 1 of my last post and the P.S.?

Lizard19,

if you do not own a Tiger install DVD, how did you install it?

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Answer 9

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:31 AM in response to Gulliver

Yes, but the point is until they resolve whether or not they used the correct version of Techtool and whether or not they have backed up their data and it is safe to Archive and Install or use Techtool, going through the rest of your list is only going to serve to confuse. Let's solve the problem one step at a time.

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Answer 10

Lizard19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:38 AM in response to a brody

I used a version of Techtool that came with my friend's iMac (around a year old - my laptop is 3 years old) - I would look, but it now won't eject from the laptop. What a muppet!

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Answer 11

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Nov 23, 2006 5:46 AM in response to Lizard19

To eject the disk, use this method:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106752

If you are able to get the machine to boot, back up your data.

If you aren't able to get your machine to boot after that, and you aren't backed up, let us know, and we'll offer some suggestions.

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