Mac stuck on loading bar

When I press and Hold CMD-R while bottling up, I still get the logo and endless status bar. Is it because I have a desktop Mac with wireless keypad that isn’t connected to the Mac, as opposed to a laptop? Is there a way to be sure my keyboard is connected so the CMD R command is picked up?

The fact that you have a wireless keyboard should not be an issue. I also have a wireless keyboard. More likely, the problem is your timing. When you start (or restart) your Mac, listen for the chime sound indicating that the computer is about to start up. As soon as you hear the chime sound (but not before) immediately hold down the CMD and R keys. Once you see the status bar, you can let go of the keys. This status bar should lead to the loading of the Recovery Environment, and will not get stuck. Good luck.

I got the same problem two days ago and the above steps helped to resolve it. However, I got the same problem again today after restart. Of course, the same steps helped again. Anyway to eliminate this mbr_cache issue permanently?

Same thing happened to me after following the steps on this forum. Next day the problem returned. I ended up resetting the PRAM, whatever that is. I found how to do it on a site I think was called "OXIS.com", or something like that. I used the wife's computer to google for the fix. So far, its working well. Good luck.

You’re the first person I’m aware of who’s reported a relapse. I’d make certain that any available Mac OS updates have been installed. Someone else suggests resetting the PRAM. (Restart, hold down option-command-p-r, allowing the Mac to chime three to five times, then let go of the keys.)

https://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2017/06/14/how-when-why-to-reset-the-pram-smc-o n-your-mac/?amp=1

Sorry, but I don’t have a better idea at this time. Good luck!

Good deal! But just because a previous update created a problem does NOT mean that a future one will. Now that Apple is aware of the problem, they are likely to address it in future updates. I wouldn’t proceed being afraid to install updates. Good luck! Patrick

No I'll continue to do the updates as they become available. I expect Apple will address the situation with future fixes woven into the updates. My statement was just remarking of how it happened. I really appreciated finding your fix, it gave me hope that I could do the fix myself. I look upon 'puters as being somehow magical or something. I was raised with pencils and paper and stamps and such. Know what I mean?

Thank you, Patrick, for having the patience to help those of us who find ourselves in Mac **** from time to time.

I’ve recently had this problem and was on the phone to Apple Support twice, told to try reinstalling the MacOS which ended up taking over 3 hours. Nothing worked.

So in recovery mode I decided to try running “First Aid” on the internal Macintosh HD disk in the “Disk Utility” section and that seems like it’s worked for now. Really not impressed with it all tbh and this is the first major problem i’ve had with my MacBook Pro in 4 years.

Hi,

I have this same problem on start up the progress bar stays on 100%. I’ve tried a few things including launching in single user mode & typing fsck -fy but it didn’t help.

I’ve read the thread & think your post sounds the best however I’ve not used Terminal so I’m a little nervous of your warning. If I’m careful do you think I should try it?

Thanks

Jane

If you carefully follow the instructions, you should be rewarded. There are only a few steps. If you know someone who is technically adept, ask that person to look at this with you. Good luck! Patrick

Thanks Patrick,

I’m still trying to sort this out. I’ve tried a few more things in the mean time:

Verbose mode : ‘too many corpses being created’

ResetPRAM

Reset SMC (now have the chime at start up which I didn’t previously have)

BUT

When I do Cmd R I get disk utilities but I don’t understand:

‘If Firevault is on, mount the disk with Disk Utility & enter password’

Can you explain more please?

Hi

First if all thanks for shedding light and ficing such a precise step by step guide on resolving this. I seem to have a peculiar case with my start up in which I get my login requirements coming up immediately after restart (on the white/grey background): my user avatar (owl face) under which is shown my user name and the password bar. When I type it in it starts the load bar under the avatar, then the screen goes white, then we are at the apple logo with the frozen loading bar.

I followed your instructions in terminal after mounting the disk, and, after putting in the second command line with the “-old” extension it seemed to accept that. Thought I was finally fixed but then when I restarted I got the login requirement with my user avatar coming up immediately again, and then the loading bar was frozen at empty after I put my password in.

Not sure if I should be super patient and leave it for hours or whether something else is up, but it seems this extra element of the login requirement at restart *before* the apple logo is uncommon/scuppering me!

Thanks for all your help

Please, how do I get to terminal in the first place? I'm currently on the "Disk Utility" part. Before this, is the CMD-R which brought me to the options of Reinstalling, Time Machine Backup, etc... I'm now in the Disk Utility part. But there's nothing that says terminal?

Sorry for blowing up the comments section in regards to your suggestion, but it has successfully worked! Thank you so much Patrick, I have such relief you have no idea. I almost started crying going through this entire forum. But your suggestion is the only thing that worked! Thank you again.

For anyone else trying: after you have completed his steps as listed.... once restarted, the mac should turn back on and continue updating (45minutes- 1hr or so) but this time FULLY updating and bringing you back to user logins screen. Basically, you will now have OS x High Sierra. Don’t worry, all your data and everything will be there still.

For those traumatized from the High Sierra upgrade, I’m not sure that I would uninstall it just because of the heartache that went along with installing it in the first place. Not sure what more problems you may have by trying to downgrade back to the older OS’s like El Capitan or Yosemite. So, just keep the High Sierra.

Hey

After being stuck on an empty loading bar I admitted defeat and erased the disk. Everything is lost but at least I have a working laptop again now. In hindsight I think I should’ve left it longer to load or at least start loading though.