Can not book from DVD or Single user mode

Hello,
In a bit of a pickle here. I have an ibook g3, 10gb hard drive, 512mb ram, cd/dvd combo drive and an airport card.
When i book up the system I get the broken folder icon (the flashing ? mark) I have tried to get the system to boot from a DVD of Mac OS X Tiger. However no matter how long I hold the C button down it will never even try to boot from the DVD.
Also no matter how long I hold down Command + S it will never go into the single user mode. However I know that the keyboard is good because I have been able to reset the PRAM with CommandoptionP and R and I get the normal two chimes. No luck.
I have reset the PMU out of desperation. I have even installed a new keyboard from a working ibook.
I know it would be easier to just buy a new mac but this isnt an option for me due to money issues so I want to fix this system. Also I do not have a double ended firewire cable for target disk mode.
My question is what do you do when you cant get past the broken folder and when it does not even try to load the Mac DVD?
HELP ME PLEASE!

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode? If not, I suggest that you give it a try. This will take quite awhile longer than a normal startup because it does a file check and repair of the hard disk.
If this works you will see your normal desktop. Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally, and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click on the top hard drive icon in the left sidebar and note the S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom right of the pane. What does it say?
Select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless you've renamed it). What is the hard drive capacity and how much space remains available on it? Repair permissions on it.
See if you are able to do a little hard drive maintenance to help things out.

Similar Messages

Can't log in with valid password, can't boot from disk, can't access disk utility, in single user mode can't reset password as appears locked in caps mode with '?' for forward slash, can anyone help?

Can't log in with valid password, can't boot from disk, can't access disk utility, in single user mode can't reset password as appears locked in caps mode with '?' for forward slash, can anyone help?

Which keyboard layout you were using? German, French ... I suppose your layout is reset to the default: US and you are unable to find the "?" or "/" ...
Please have a look into the keyboard viewer, to see how the layout of your keyboard is actually.
marek

Can I run DW4 in Safe/Single User mode?

I have downloaded DiskWarrior 4, biut I am unable to create a boot disc from the .dmg file. Is it possible to run the DW4 application from Safe Boot/Single User mode?

Once you get the physical CD in the mail, that one should boot your computer. Until then, you'll have to boot from a different drive.
I keep a copy of OS X installed on my iPod for troubleshooting purposes. It's got DiskWarrior, the AppleCare TechTool, Intech Speed Tools, etc. installed on it.

How to eject DVD in single user mode

Hi All,
When starting my iMac, I get a white screen, the apple logo and the spinning wheel. After a while it goes away and I have just a white screen.
I've reset PRAM, to no avail (it did do something, the computer start up sound now occurs each restart).
I can't start-up on the Mac OS install DVD because I have a DVD in the computer already and I can't seem to eject it.
I can't get into Open Firmware mode to eject the disk there, I'm hoping someone can give me the command to eject the disc from Single-User mode.
Chris

Try the methods listed in this page:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10333570-263.html
The method for Terminal may also work in single-user mode.

Smf / sometimes does not configure network interfaces in single-user mode?

From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solarisx86/message/14785
When booting into single user mode, I often get a message
on the console
t_optmgmt: System error: Cannot assign requested addressand only the loopback interface is configured (lo0 inet, and lo0 inet6).
The system's dnet0 interface is not plumbed any more. Configuration
for the dnet0 network interface is via a static ip address; hostname
in /etc/hostname.dnet0, and and ip v4 address for that hostname in
/etc/hosts. This was a Solaris 10 x86 system, but the same problem
has also been observed on Solaris 10 sparc, and the hme0
interface.
svcs -x in single-user mode reports no problems.
Changing to multi-user mode by typing Ctrl-D still does not
configure the real network interface.
One thing that I've noticed is that smf's log file
/etc/svc/volatile/network-physical:default.log
is missing, when the nic interface was not configured.
It seems that the problem with unconfigured network interfaces
does not happen when I boot directly into multi-user mode.
Why isn't the physical interface plumbed and configured when
booting into single user mode on S10 b69?

Hi everyone,
I too have internet connection problem
I have installed Solaris 10 on my Compaq Presario M2000 series
Solaris Management Console Details:
Hostname: HOME
Host ID: 116c4141
Model: i86PC
no of CPUs: 1
CPU: 0
Type: Genuine Intel 6.13.8
Clock Speed: 1,500 MHz
Usage: 1%
Status: Online
Software SunOS 5.10
Physical Mem: 222 MB
Virtual Mem: 729 MB
Virt MEM used: 41 % (298/729) 413 MB available
IP address: 172.19.16.96
Network Connection rtls0: Sending & Receiving Packets
When running WinXP in my laptop before for same IP:
IP address: 172.19.16.96
Subnet mask: 255.255.240.0
Default Gateway: 172.19.31.254
while booting the OS said NFS+ version 4 was detected and the router IP is automatically configured or there is no specific individual router IP, says something like this
# ifconfig -a:
lo0: flag = 2001000849<UP,LOOPBACK, RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4,VIRTUAL>mtu 8232 index 1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
rtls0: flags = 1000843<UP, BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4>mtu 1500 index 2
inet 172.19.16.96 netmask ffff0000 BROADCAST 172.19.255.255
ether 0:c0:9f:8c:c9
lo0: flags=2002000849<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4,VIRTUAL>mtu 8252 index 1
inet 6 :: 1/128
rtls0: flags = 2000840<RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4>mtu 1500 index 2
inet fe80::2c0:9fff:fe9a:8cc 9/10
ether 0:c0:9f:9a:8c:c9
I have modified the files and checked them:
1. etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 local host
172.19.16.96 HOME loghost
2. etc/hostname.rtls0
HOME
3. etc/hostname6.rtls0
HOME
4. etc/netmasks
172.19.16.255 255.255.240.0
I don't know the network IP so i just write this, can anyone tell me how to find the network IP
5. etc/defaultrouter
172.19.31.254
I made this file and wrote the default gateway IP address, can anyone tell me how to find default router IP since the NFS+ version 4 auto detects or auto assigns router IP
6. etc/resolv.conf
domain myhost.com
nameserver: 172.19.16.12
nameserver: 172.19.16.13
still domain name has't been set, i just wrote this, can anyone tell me how to find the domain name or create one. also the name server is just a fake, but how to find one. If i will be connecting my laptop to various IP whereever i go, so do i need to configure network setting again and again ? isn't there any auto network configuration so that i can connect internet where ever i go and let the system auto configure network settings like in windows XP auto IP configuration detect.
7. etc/nsswitch.conf
in this i can't see "hosts: files" but i could see rest of the details. so I inserted "hosts: files dns" in the third line and saved.
I ran the following command in the terminal to find the details:
#ypmatch host-name hosts
ypmatch: the domainname hasn't been set on this machine
(how to set domain name can anyone tell me?)
#move/etc/netmasks: not found
#uname -n
HOME
#cat/etc/nsswitch.conf
cat/etc/nsswitch.conf: not found
#domain name
domain: not found
#ypwhich
ypwhich: the domainname has'nt been set to this machine
#nismatch nameserver-name hosts.org-dir
hosts.org-dir: Error in accessing NIS+ cold file.......is NIS+ installed?
actually during installation i selected DNS type for network giving a wrong nameserver and domain got skipped later
#getent ipnodes dns (no response)
so all these things i did and found by seeing the forum guidelines. I can see the network connection has receivinh and sent packets seems to be working but can't browse internet, also can't ping a website.
if anyone had the same problem but found the answer than kindly let me know. I am new to solaris but i am trying my best.
awaiting reply from gurus
bye for now.................

IBook Mac OS 10.3.9 not booting, even crashing in single-user mode

Yeah so about 2 weeks ago my iBook started crashing, then wouldn't properly re-boot. Gradually, it would start crashing after being on for less and less time until now it gets just past the apple symbol and then freezes on a blue screen.
I've been using the online help but now it's even freezing during single-user mode, meaning i can't even perform fcsk!! I can't even boot up on the Mac OS X CD to re-install the OS. Anyone got any idea what's wrong or what I can do? Thanks, Rob

What, exactly, is preventing you from starting up from the Mac OS X install disk?
Have you added any RAM yourself? You might try taking it out to see if that helps. You might also try to run the Apple Hardware Test. Depending on which bundle of install disks you got, it may be on the Mac OS X install disk or it may be a separate CD of it's own. It should be marked "AHT" and a version number on the disk. Put that disk in the drive, restart and hold down on the "option" key. This will give you a Startup Manager that should allow you to select the hardware test and continue (click the right arrow to continue). If you can't even get that far, then you probably have a hardware failure and you'll need to take your iBook in for service. What is your location?
-Doug

Unable to boot from cdrom in single user mode

I have lost the root password for solaris 9.So, I tried booting the system with solaris 8 CD in single user mode(i.e, at ok prompt, boot cdrom -s)
But I get the following error.
rebooting with command :boot cdrom -s
boot device :/pci@1e,600000/ide@d/cdrom@0,0:f file and args -s
boot:cannot open kernel/sparcv9/unix
Enter filename:[kernel/sparcv9/unix]:
Please let me know why is this error?.Is it becos the CD is corrupted?

Also, the particular Solaris 8 you've chosen could be a distribution that's too old for your particular computer's design.
For example, a Sunfire V440 would need Solaris 8 HW 7/03 or newer.
http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_pub/Systems/SunFireV440/Sun FireV440.html
Solaris 8 HW 2/02 would not work.
What model system, and what version Solaris are you trying to use?

I can not boot from DVD or USB to install

I have a 27 in iMac with i7 processor. For reasons I wont get into (lets just assume I have the right reason) I want to do a complete fresh install of Snow Leopard and start completely over.
When I use OPT to select the SL DVD to boot, all I get is the apple logo, no spinning wheel, i let it sit that way all night still didnt work. If I force boot the SL DVD using C, same thing. So I tried formatting an external USB hard drive as a GUID drive and had the install residing on there, when I use OPT when booting the USB is not an option, nor is is listed in startup disks either.
I can not do a fresh install, and i have followed loads of tutorials online, but my DVD never does boot.

You need the discs for your computer. No other discs will work.
The retail copy of 10.6.0 doesn't have the necessary drivers for your computer, nor does 10.5. Your computer should have shipped with 10.6.1.
I think the inability to boot from USB is due to an invalid operating system being installed on the drive.
~Lyssa

Data back up from Single User Mode

Hello,
I have a problem with my 700 MHz iBook, dual USB, with OS X 10.3.9.
Unfortunately the OS doesn't start up because of "overlapped extent allocation" problem...
I would like to re-install the complete OS but before doing it, I would like to back up some directories.
Is it possible to save some data, by connecting an Ipod or some sort of external peripheral, from the Single User mode?
If yes, how can I do it?
Thank you in advance from your kind support.

Before giving up the ghost check out these:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25770.
Manually fix Overlapped Extent Allocation Errors without Disk Warrior
Overlapped overlapped extent allocation errors can be the bane of any Mac user's existence. Often, these errors go unnoticed until the problem becomes visible: your Mac might refuse to boot, crash unexpected, or worse, critical data might disappear from the Finder. Disk Utility can detect, but not fix overlapped extent allocation errors, and certain third-party utilities, such as Alsoft Diskwarrior, can fix them, but generally without reporting the consequences.
Overlapped extent allocation error occur when the file system thinks that two files are occupying the same area on the hard disk, hence overlapping on the same "inode," which is the structure which holds the location of the data blocks the file occupies, and also file permissions and flags.
Clearing the "overlapped" or "overallocated" extent allocation essentially means that you'll have to lose some data, because the only way to remove the overlap is to delete the file that's occupying the inode. So, if you suspect, or find out, that the guilty file is a critical system file that resides in one of the hidden system directories such as /etc /var /usr/ or visible system directories such as /System or /Library, and you don't want to reinstall the whole OS (which might not fix the overlapped extent allocation anyway), it's good to have another disk available to copy the files back to your original disk if necessary: a second bootable hard drive or a firewire drive connected to your Mac when you remove the misbehaving file. Just make sure that when you copy the file back to your boot disk that the permissions are correct, so it's best to use the "ditto" command, so that all sticky bits, flags, and permissions are preserved.
In case you didn't know, you don't have to boot from an install CD in order to check for overlapped extent allocations. All you need to do is restart your Mac, while holding down command + S to boot in "single-user mode."
At the command prompt that appears, type:
$ fsck -fy
If you have an overlapped extent allocation, you'll see:
"Overlapped Extent Allocation" (File 123456d)
No matter how many times you run fsck -fy, you'll never be rid of the error.
So, simply issue the following command:
find / -inum 123456 -print
Note the "d" was dropped, or any extra letter that appears after the inode number.
The find will return a file name that matches with the inode number, and the path to that file. If you remove the file then the fsck will not return this error next time you run it.
However, before you can delete the file(s) in single-user mode, you'll need to mount the file system. Type:
$ mount -uw /
When done, issue the "sync" command, and that will flush the write cache so that all pending writes are written from memory to the disk. Also, since most OS X 10.3 Macs use the HFS+ Journaled file system, it might be a good idea to disable the journal before booting into single-user mode by typing:
$ sudo diskutil disableJournal /
then re-enable it when done fixing the overlapped extents and rebooting normally:
$ sudo diskutil enableJournal /
Chris Anderson is a long-time Linux propellerhead who just got his first Mac, an ibook G4, and can't keep his hands off of it. He currently works as a "The Architect" and general visionary for a maker of world-class collectibles.
If you own Disk Warrior then it should be able to repair a drive with overlapped extents.
There are two backup utilities included in Unix - psync and rsync. You will find them in the /usr/bin/ directory. For documentation simply enter: man psync or man rsync. In order to write data while in single-user mode you need to issue the command: /sbin/mount/ -uw / (Note: there is a "space" between the "uw" and the "/".) To mount an external drive you will need to provide the mountpoint for it in place of the "/", e.g., "/Volumes/volname") without the quotes.

Can't exit single user mode

I frequently start in single user mode to run fsck -fy on my startup disk
and after running fsck -fy, I exit single user mode typing exit or logout.
Now after running fsck -fy, typing exit or logout the single user mode remains
and returns a line: -sh-2.05b#. I’m not adept enough to use single user mode
other than for running fsck -fy so I am stuck on how to end the single user mode. TIA
Eric

Some stories have happy endings and this is one of them.
After a little head scratching I dig out the Tiger install DVD
and repaired the permissions on the problem HD partition.
Reboot to the problem disk, enter correct network settings, and
now we even have a web to surf. Also we can exit single user mode OK.
Eric

I made changes in the single user mode - now my MacBook Pro does not boot anymore.

Hello apple support community,
I made changes in the single user mode and my MacBook Pro does now not boot anymore. It displays a grey bar and the "work in progress" wheel. My intention was to change my admin password following these steps:
http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/03/how-to-reset-your-mac-os-x-password-withou t-an-installer-disc/
however, I have to admit that there was a typo sneaking in - oops!
Any idea how I can undo changes made in the single user mode?
Thanks in advance for your support - I hope I don't sound to nooby
Till

Hello, Till1234.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
Here is a troubleshooting article that I would recommend going through when experiencing this issue.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
Cheers,
Jason H.

Can't 'reboot' out of single-user mode.

Went into single-user mode earlier to run fsck. After everything had finished, and a couple of minor things repaired, typed in 'reboot' and... nothing happened. There didn't seem to be a prompt anymore to accept an input. I eventually just used the master switch. This was the first time I'd tried this since updating to Tiger. Is this a Tiger thing?

reboot is not what you type at single user mode. That is not a Unix command. In single user mode you type:
/sbin/mount -uw /
followed by
exit
or
logout
to leave it. You may be confusing it with open firmware, which you type:
mac-boot
to exit.

Resetting the Admin password in single user mode

Ok, my friend bought an old Imac from someone she went to school with with OS 10.4.2 on it. It works fine except that she can not install any programs because there is an admin password that she does not know. She asked the person she bought it from, he says he doesn't even remember setting a password. Normaly with this issue id just pop in the install disk and reset it from there, except neither of them have the install disk, and my install disk is to current for the machine. Does anyone know how I can reset the admin acount using single user mode commands? I can do it on my Mac Book pro but it doesn't seem to work the same way on 10.4. Please help!
EDIT: It is a Power PC G3 if that helps.
Message was edited by: CartooNxHerO

CartooNxHerO wrote:
Ok, so I used the advice from the third link you gave me but i'm still in single user mode trying to figure out how to delete the users home folders.
Message was edited by: CartooNxHerO
You do not need to delete "the users home folders". Nor do you need to delete the netinfo database. Here are two proceedures:
Change Password
Mac OS X:
Changing or resetting an account password via GUI:
Resetting a user's password
Resetting the original administrator account password
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106156
You do not have a CD/DVD
Changing password from single user mode:
You can also change the administrator's password from single user mode or create a new administrator account.
You need to get into single use mode for steps one and two that are listed below.
This page will tell you how to get into single user mode.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492
Basically, you hold down the command-s key then powering on your machine. The command key has a little apple symbol on the lower left. It is between the alt/option key and the space bar. On a PC keyboard, it will be the windows key, I think.
1) You can change the password on an account. ( Do you know Unix. You are in a Unix single user console. ) The setup commands you need should be listed on the screen. For Mac OS 10.4.11, the commands are:
# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
# Start up some utility processes that are needed.
sh /etc/rc
# You will probably need to press the return key once the system stops typing.
# To find out the users on the system type, use the list command. The l is a lower case L:
ls /Users
# One of these accounts will be the administrator.
# Pick one of the users which I'll call a-user-name and type it in this command:
passwd a-user-name
# and enter the new user password. You need six characters.
# You will need to enter your password twice. Your typing will not show up on the screen just
# press enter when you complete the typing.
# For cryptic information on these commands try:
man ls
man passwd
The root account isn't enabled by default. I am not sure if changing the password on root will enable it.
2) Get the Mac to set up an additional administrative account. You can then change the password on your old account.
Start with your computer power off. Hold down command-s. Power on your computer.
Type in the following:
The first two commands will depend on your release of Mac OS X. Look at what is typed out in the console to determine the exact format.
# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write. Press return after each command.
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /var/db
pwd
#List all files. The l is a lower case L.
ls -a
#The move command acts as a rename command in this format.
mv -i .applesetupdone .applesetupdone.old
reboot
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
Limnos adds detailed explainations:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8441597#8441597
The above the idea came from a post by JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/howdo_i_reset_my_mac_os_x_admin_rootpassword.html
You will need to scroll down to see this post. Search for applesetupdone
Or see:
http://superpixel.ch/articles/running-setup-assistant-again/
Once you have a new administrative account, you can change the password of your old administrative account
blue apple > System Preferences > Accounts

I'm having kernal panics even in single user mode

My new Mac Pro has been having kernal panics left and right. I've done everything suggested here plus everything the Apple people have been telling me to do both on the phone and at the local Apple store. Nothing helps and the last call I made the Apple tech suggested I install a new hard drive which he is sending me. I also have his extension number so I can call him when the install is done. In the meantime while I'm waiting for the new hard drive I manage to reinstall the system after a couple of tries and just for grins boot into single user mode and let the computer sit for awhile. When I get back I find the computer has once again crashed and this one line stands out "simple lock deadlock detection". What this means I have no clue but I'm beginning to suspect what I have is a real lemon. If anyone has some insight they'ld like to share on this I'm open to suggestions.
P.S. And just to let you know I've done the following:
1. I've booted into safe boot mode and it crashes
2. I've booted off the install DVD and let it stand and it crashes
3. I've disconected everything but the mouse and keyboard and it crashes
4. I've reinstalled the system numerous times and it still crashes
5. I've taken it to the local Apple store where they replaced the memory and it still crashes
6. I've called the Apple help line and followed their suggestions which included unplugging the computer for 15 seconds to clear the SMU and it crashes even worse.
7. I've zapped the pram and reset the nvram and it still crashes
8. Even when I left it at the local Apple Store where they used their monitor, mouse, keyboard, and power cord it still crashes
9. It crashes on startup from time to time
10. And last but not least it crashes in single user mode even though I've done fsck -fy and then let it just sit
11. Oh yes and one more thing, the crashes are completely random and unpredictable.
Mac Pro duel core intel xeon 2.66mhz Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Well I finally resolved my issue, hopefully. Upon installing the new hard drive I had no problems for a week or so and decided to add a second drive and put my old system on it and see what would happen when I booted from the second drive. All went well for a week and then boom the crashes began again. I then switched back to the new drive with the fresh system and all went well for a little over a week when boom the panics returned. I called Apple and they made an appointment for me at the local Apple store. After looking at my files which included about 7 phone calls and several visits to the Apple store the best solution was a brand new Mac Pro. All this has been covered under warranty which is awesome. The only crashing I've had to date had to do with something called "mdimportserver" whatever that is. I also can only use one ethernet connector which is strange. I figured it might have to do with the new hard drive so I booted over to the old drive and everything is working fine except for the ethernet port which I haven't tried yet. I figure for now it's best to let that sleeping dog alone since everything else is working so good. When I'm sure this new Mac is working ok I'll wipe the new drive and use Super Duper to clone this system over rather than use Apple's migration assistant which evidently didn't do such a good job of migrating my system over. I'll let you all know how it goes several weeks from now hopefully.

Failure to boot in single user mode

Hi,
I have an iBook G3 900MHz G3 running 10.4.6. 384MB RAM, ~25GB free disk space.
it's running slow so I want to boot in single user mode and run applejack.
the trouble is, it won't boot in single user mode. when I hold command-s or command-v it just boots right to the GUI.
i've tried both command keys thinking that one might be broken.. no luck. I also have no trouble getting to single user mode on my G4 laptop.
I have not taken steps to disable single user mode.
any ideas?
thanks a lot

I think it would be worth a try to repair permissions and then boot from the Install disk to run Repair Disk in Disk Utilities. If you still cannot boot into single user mode after that, perhaps obtaining and running Disk Warrior can resolve the problem.
Bob N.
Mac Mini 1.5 GHz; iBook 900 mHz; iPod 20 GB Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Can not book from DVD or Single user mode

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