Adminstator password fails, can't start up from the Disk, etc.

I can not update any software or even make use of disk utilities. My password isn't accepted, even after starting in the safe mode and changing the password. My Administrator name doesn't appear as well. There is no start up ping. This all happened 5 days ago when I went to update the operating system. I have only been able to reboot from the startup disk once. The computer won't let me start up this way again.
Any ideas would be helpful.
I have removed all documents that must be saved onto an external hard drive. But, I can't even load a new system. I have tried various versions with no luck.

Thank you for your assistance.
I have tried this except for the last two steps. I left the start up disk stay in the computer and let it start up without holding down the "c" key. Ever since then I don't get the start up ping.
My son things there might be something wrong with the BIOS, but that is just more computer words to me.
I'm wondering if buying a new hard drive and loading the system in might be the easier and less frustrating way to go. I've also thought about loading the operating system on an external hard drive and start up with that hard drive to see what takes place.
Again, thanks for your assistance.

Similar Messages

HT1338 If I have OS 7.5 installed on an external drive, can I start up from the external drive in that OS when my macbook pro is 10.7?

If I have OS 10.6 installed on an external drive, can I start up from the external drive if I have 10.7 installed on my macbook pro?

Provided that the MBP supports booting from that version of 10.6, and the install was from a retail disk (not a different Mac model), then yes. If it's a newer Pro that came with Lion, it may not boot to 10.6.
Matt

Can't start up from Install disk

I'm using a MacBook purchased 3/07. System 10.4.11
I can't start up from the Install Disk for Leopard. I only get a screen with the apple logo and the spinning thing. I wait 10 minutes. Nothing happens. I've tried both using the Disk for the start up and clicking on Install icons but when it shuts down to restart....nothing.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks. Lois

Hi Josef,
I left it on for over an hour and nothing happened. Finally called Apple and after an hour and a half of all kinds of testing, restarts, zapping and I don't know what else, the nice man there talked to his supervisor and then had me test the hardware (hold down D when starting). Turns out there is a problem with my ram so now I have to take it to a local technician and if he can't fix it, it'll have to go back to Apple for repairs. Ho hum. I just hope it finally gets working to make all this worthwhile.
Thanks again for your interest and help.
Berengaria

Firefox won't insall into my applications folder. Says can't install because libsmime3.dylib is in use. I am running Mac Os 10.6.7 on a Macbook Pro. I can run firefox okay from the disk image but just won't install into the apps folder.

My system is a Macbook Pro running Mac Os 10.6.7 with a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 duo processor with 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 ram. The upgrade downloads fine, but when I try to drag the firefox image onto my appication folder, I get a dialogue box that says...Cannot install application because "libsmime3.dylib" is in use. I can run Firefox fine from the disk image.

Nope---didn't work. I've owned Macs for about 12 years so although I am brain dead on some things, I do have a working knowledge on most things. I only say that to say this--I did try holding down the mouse and choosing empty trash. It asks if I want to permanently delete what's in there. I say yes--and then I get the same identical message again-----'The operation can't be completed because the item "Firefox 8.0.1.dmg" is in use I can then click stop, or continue.' So apparently that complains the same way it does if I click it up on the menu :)))
As for item owned by---that's not an issue and isn't coming up. User is not a problem either as I am the only user on this system. There is only ONE file in my trash at the moment at that is this dmg file. Nothing Mac. Nothing owned by anyone other than Firefox. The problem seems to be that the dmg file and the original 4.0 FF file are working in tandem with each other--even though I have already drug the new 8.0 globe into the Apps folder and it updated the FF app with the new stuff. If I could force the dmg file to go away, I would do so, but at every turn the system is telling me it can't be done because it seems to think that dmg file is in use---even though everything is shut down and/or ejected. Hey--I'm getting ready to head out and won't be back till evening. I'll check back in this evening. Thank you again for your help.

Can't Start Up From Hard Disk

I just purchased a 256 GB Fantom Hard Disk (Firewire) and it seems to work fine except that I can't boot from it. Should I be able to use an external hard disk for startup with my "vintage" computer? Thanks much for your comments!

Sierra Guy...
From what I gather your FantomHD should be bootable, so I would contact their website below and touch base with their Technical Support Department. It is unfortunate so much information is missing here to be of any help. (Model, bridge information, and so on)
http://www.fantomdrives.com/index.htm
BTW... SMART - status (outside link) is a built in HD diagnostic tool. At this point I do not think that applies here or has anything to do with your issues with bootability.
+++
taxicab6109...
You lost me on your usage of that word / term - "smart". Care to expand on your definition?
...Ron

[Solved] Can't start GParted from XFCE menu

Hi,
I have polkit installed but I can't start GParted from the XFCE menu. Do I need to edit any configuration files to make this work? The wiki isn't very clear about what to do after installing polkit. Thanks.
Last edited by kaixi (2012-11-02 15:09:12)

In my Xfce4 installation, it's /usr/share/applications/GParted, which I copied over to ~/.local/share/applications/, as kaixi suggested, and it appeared there as gparted.desktop. Right-click for Properties > Launcher > Command, and in that field (not wanting to install gksu) I put sudo gparted, which works, thanks.

Can't start up from disk

when I hold down the c key with a system disk in the drive, the computer starts up, but offers to install a new system... How do I just get it to start up from the disk (so I can run disk utility on my hd)?
This is on my eMac, 1.25 GHz, 1.25 GB RAM, running 10.4.11
Thanks

It should first ask you to select your language. After you choose your language, click the "Utilities" menu to find Disk Utility.

How to Start Skype from the background from command line?

Hello.
My window manager is Evilwm and I am running Skype. If I close the Skype window (the one w/ my buddies listed) the window closes but Skype is still running in memory. On another window manager like Openbox a small Skype icon sits in the taskbar as long as it is running. If I want to start Skype to see who is online I simply click the icon in the taskbar.
Now, the question is...How can I start skype from the command line while it is running in the background?
Evilwm doesn't have any taskbar or tray thingie...
Any ideas?
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks!
nedson :?:

Thats what I thought...
What I wanted to do was call Skype from memory. Under Evilwm I can close a window with ctrl-alt-x (using a hacked version of EvilWm) . After cloasing the window with this method, skype is still running in memory (I can see it when running ps aux). How can I call it out of memory? I don't want to stop the program, start it back up and re login. I just simply want to call it from the background...
Any ideas?
nedson

"Policytool" can not be invoked from the command line

Hello Everyone. I tried to use Policytool to generate a java policy file, however I can not start it from the command line. Could somebody here let me know it there is any trick there? Thanks in advance!
Kuilian

try this
java -Djava.security.policy=<"your policy file"> <your file to run>
srikanth.n

Can't start up from optical drive

I can't get my MacBook to start up from the optical dis drive, It does not get recognised either when I start up and hold 'C' or when I select it under Start Up Disk in the System Preferences. Any suggestions? Thanx.

are u using the Efi password protection utility? youll have to bypass/disable/turn off that first. Its got a feature that will disable the startup keys

've Password job a year ago to Mobil iPhone 4, and now lost and I can not wipe data from the device or transferred to the new device .. What do I do?

've Password job a year ago to Mobil iPhone 4, and now lost and I can not wipe data from the device or transferred to the new device .. What do I do?

iPhones require a SIM for activation.
Put the device in DFU mode (google it) and restore via iTunes.

HT4865 I just bought this ipad and cannot log out from icloud because i dont have the password.how can i log out from icloud?need help

I just bought this ipad and cannot log out from icloud because i dont have the password.how can i log out from icloud?need help

You need to return it to the seller and get your money back. You cannot reset or use the device with another AppleID installed unless you know the password for that ID.
If the device has been jailbroken, no one on here can give you any further help...the Terms of Use prohibit us from doing so.

HT1918 i want to delete my credit card info from my apple account my 3 year old has mastered purchasing apps and he knwos my password how can i remove it from mylaptop, ipad and iphone so this doesnt happen and i can enter my credit card info manually?

i want to delete my credit card info from my apple account my 3 year old has mastered purchasing apps and he knwos my password how can i remove it from mylaptop, ipad and iphone so this doesnt happen and i can enter my credit card info manually?

Hi..
May not be just the security code > iTunes Store: My credit card's security code or zip code does not match my bank's records

Shortly after starting up, a dark 'film' slowly comes down over the screen and I get a message saying I have to shut down the computer. I've tried to start from the disk, and before I can even run a repair off utilities, it happens again. What's up?

When I started my iMac today, it started beeping like an alarm horn. I shut it down, and held the startup button a little longer to get it to start. Shortly after starting up, a dark 'film' slowly comes down over the screen and I get a message saying I have to shut down the computer. I've tried to start from the disk, and before I can even run a repair off utilities, it happens again. What's up? Am I screwed? HELP!!

What you are seeing is a kernel panic, often but not always connected with a hardware or peripheral issue, so, unplug everything except mouse and keyboard, reboot and hold the shift key as soon as your hear the chime, continue holding it until you see the Apple Icon and spinning progress indicator, then post back.
It will take noticeably longer than normal to start.

Can't start up from 10.5 Install Disk, but can from MB Pro Install Disk?

Many thanks in advance for your attention.
1. I was going to Verify (and then maybe Repair) HD by starting up my computer from the OS 10.5 install disk, but my laptop just blacked out (froze) each time I tried to start up from the 10.5 install disk. I tried starting up holding down the "c" key, the "option" key, and the "shift" key.
Each time my laptop just blacked out and froze. Odd as the 10.5 install disk has very rarely ben used and has no visible scratches, etc. I think I haven't used it since the original install.
2. So I tried instead the original Install Disk 1 that came factory specific with the MacBook Pro (which also has 10.5 and iLife, etc. on it). Held down the "c" key and I was able to boot from the Disk (and do a Verify Disk, etc.). No problems at all.
Anyone know what could be up with my OS 10.5 Install Disk? Is there a way to test if the Disk itself is somehow damaged?
Thank you.

Thanks again for your response.
I am all for these forums in helping people out. I know some questions/ answers can't be all black and white.
But - in the interests of clarity for others out there -
1. Again, I was not trying to INSTALL from the 10.5 Install Disk.
2. I was merely trying to insert it and use it to VERIFY my HD.
3. I know one cannot do an "update" INSTALL from (for example) a 10.4 Disk if one already has 10.5 installed.
4. But - through the incarnations of 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 - I had always been able to use the OS X retail install disk (no matter how old) to check out my HD, even if my HD had (for example) 10.3.5 on it and my Install Disk was just 10.3.
According to the link William posted, this may be different (I would guess on rare occasions), starting with Leopard.
5. But, given my history through all the incarnations of OS X, I was puzzled when it seemed my laptop could not read my very unused, mint 10.5 OS Install Disk. A mystery. But when I washed a seemingly flawless disk, it worked afterwards. So something must have been on it I couldn't see.

Adminstator password fails, can't start up from the Disk, etc.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for