Boot process ends in Darwin console login

Running Work Group Manager? If so, see http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=ServerAdmin/10.4/en/c7um44.html for details.

Jochen

The first thing to do is to look at your logs, to see the cause of being unable to start up. But rather than point you some other threads, let's do it from scratch here. You may want to print this post out, preferably in a largish mono-spaced font.

Since you are able to log in at the prompt, this simplifies things. After logging in, let's look at the system log—type carefully, spaces and punctuation are important:

tail -100 /var/log/system.log | more

Note the '|' ('pipe' symbol) is normally above the '\' on Apple keyboards. This command combination looks at the last 100 lines, but the more recent stuff will be to do with the reboot. The information will be displayed one screenful at a time: a space moves to the next screen, a return moves down one line, a "b" moves back one screen in case you overshoot. "q" quits the more program.

Look especially for messages saying something like "login authorization failed", "exiting to console" or something similar. Copy the lines above that and post them here. If you don't see this specific message, post some of the lines immediately before the "shutdown" message.

We'll take it from there when I see your output.

Jochen

OK, we've seen this before. Standard post follows, let me know if you need any clarification. BTW, you can ignore the /usr/sbin/lookupd": exited abnormally: since that happens all the time.

Where the system log shows "AuthorizationRef doesn't have a username" followed by "exiting to console ", the NetInfo database is corrupt. so we will need to give you a new one. This will involve re-creating the user accounts (don't worry, this doesn't take too long) but the order in which they are created matters. I recommend you print this out in a largish mono-spaced font so you don't miss any spaces (or add extra ones). Note that case is important.

Start up in Single User Mode and type carefully:

/sbin/fsck -fy

Repeat the above until it says your disk is OK. Then:

/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /var/db/netinfo
mv local.nidb/ local.nidb.bad
ls -ln /Users

This last command will give you one line for each user, plus one for the "Shared" directory, which doesn't interest us. Each user will have a line like one of these: <pre>

drwxr-xr-x 29 501 501 986 Jan 17 18:38 michaelc
drwxr-xr-x 14 520 20 476 Sep 10 2004 jdoe

</pre>The second numeric field (501, 520) is the user ID (UID) and you need to list the uids against the shortname s given in the final column. Make sure you get the name right for UID 501! Then continue with

reboot

When you restart, you should get the Setup Assistant, just as if it was a new machine. You will be prompted for all of your user information. Be careful to use the same short name as previously for user 501.

If there are any further users, these can be added, in the order of their UIDs, i.e. 502, 503 …, using System Preferences > Accounts. Again, be careful to use the same shortname. If there are any gaps in the UID sequence 501, 502, … you will need to create dummy users to fill them. These can later be deleted.

Jochen

the fsck command did not really seem to do anything. It returned immediately without giving any output.

Well this means you weren't in Single User mode. This is not the mode you were in when you got a "login:" prompt. See Mac OS X: How to Start up in Single-User or Verbose Mode.

Once in Single User mode, you'll know this because it will say:

Singleuser boot -- fsck not done
Root device is mounted read-only
If you want to make modifications to files,
run '/sbin/fsck -y' first and then '/sbin/mount -uw /'

Then repeat all the instructions I gave before, including the fsck, but before the reboot, type this carefully:

rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

This should then get you into Startup Manager.

It may complain that local.nidb.bad already exists, so change that to local.nidb.bad2.

Jochen

The fsck did the repair

As a matter of interest, what repairs did it find necessary?

I would suggest a re-install, but you say you are unable to boot from the DVD? I didn't notice that before.

I think you have two options. One is to take the mini to an Authorized Apple Service Centre. But you could look at your logs again, using the method I posted before. ** this time do it from Single User Mode, since you don't seem to be getting to the login: prompt at the moment. You may still end up needing to take the mini in, but at least you'll have something to tell them 😟

Hi, I was wondering if some can help me I am having the same problem with Darwin on Startup screen.

The night before I was trying to adjust the Macintosh HD Settings (HD>Getinfo>Owner>OtherUsers) and shortly after the computer froze so I shutdown using the power button.

I managed to follow some instructions from previous post and here my results, which I hope sameone can help resolve the problem. Thank you in advance.

I started in Single user mode and typed
/sbin/fsck -fy and HD appears OK

So I typed tail -20 var/log/system.log and I got:

localhost kernal[0]: Matching service count = 20
localhost kernal[0]: SMU neo2PlatformProfile - entry
localhost kernal[0]: SMU neo2PlatformProfile -calling adjust
localhost kernal[0]:IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
localhost kernal[0]:UnINEnet: Ehternet address 00:14:51:2b:e8:ce
localhost kernal[0]:AirPortPCI_MM: Ehternet address 00:14:51:7b:b6:8b
localhost launced: Server 3133 in bootsrtap 1103 uld 0: "/usr/sbin/lookdup"[46]: exited abnormally: Hangup
localhost lookdup[67]: lookdup (version 369.2) Starting - Sat feb 17 15:23:16 2007
localhost diskarbitrationd[36]: disk0s3 hfe 6E5ECDBE-BD27-3D33-93DBE152A9511934 mACINTOSH hd /
localhost kernal[0]: jnl: replay_journal: from 7315968 to; 7349760 9joffset 0x264000)
localhost diskarbitrationd[36]: disk0s5 hfe 0FA8F218-891A-37C6-B4EB-669F696365C7 dATA DISK /Volumes/Data disk
localhost kernal[0]: [HCIController][setupHardware]AFH Is Supported
Az configd[34]: setting hostname to "Az.local"
Az kernal[0]: ATY,Aphrodite2_A: vram [98000000:08000000)
Az kernal[0]: ATY,Aphrodite2_B: vram [98000000:08000000)
Az mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
Az /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/NacOS/loginwindow: Login Window Application Started
Az loginwindow[123]: Login Window Started Security Agent
Az loginwindow[123]: AuthorizationRef dosen't have a username (<LoginAuthRefMgr: 0x339640>).\n
Az launchd: onoption repeating too quickly on port /dev/console, sleeping

I will be grateful for suggestions and advice.

G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Strongly suggest posting to the http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=161 forum since your configuration information indicates that you're running Panther. If that's incorrect, then please start a new thread. Responding to multiple posters really gets confusing.

sorry am new on this forum, and not quite sure how to start a new thread...

Just clarify am running tiger.

STARTED A NEW THREAD - http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=4097429#4097429

G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Great. Please don't type all caps (it's considered shouting and is viewed as being impolite). Also, update your configuration settings. They still show that you're running with 10.3.9. Good luck.