I have somehow messed up my permissions, switched the computer off to see if it helped, now can't start it at all. The startup bar stops a quarter of the way along. I've tried doing it in Safe mode as well. I' on an iMac running Yosemite.

I have somehow messed up my permissions, switched the computer off to see if it helped, now can't start it at all. The startup bar stops a quarter of the way along. I've tried doing it in Safe mode as well. I' on an iMac running Yosemite. I can't get into it to give any more details. Can anyone help? There's a load of work on it due to be delivered to the printers on Monday 😮

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 20, 2016 10:01 AM

18 replies

Just me then Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 22, 2016 6:55 AM in response to Just me then

for 'shudders' read sudoers. Text correction caught me out.

Just me then Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 22, 2016 11:40 PM in response to a brody

Just to update you. I have now reinstalled Yosemite, which appeared to go very well, until at the very last stage the startup bar froze about half way across during the startup.

I then went back into single user mode and tried again with the commands you originally suggested.

The relevant thing it kept coming back to was 'Checking volume when it is mounted with write access', so it seems reinstalling hasn't overcome the permissions problem. I also tried the diskutil thing without success.

Any ideas?

Eric Root

Level 10

685,305 points

Aug 23, 2016 9:20 AM in response to Just me then

If you have a current backup, boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair Disk and Repair Permissions until you get no errors. Reformat the drive using Disk Utility/Erase Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click the Option button and select GUID. Then re-install the OS.

OS X Recovery

OS X Recovery (2)

When you reboot, use Setup Assistant to restore your data.

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