Can't Restart Computer After Software Update Download.

I have a PowerBook G4 which I had upgraded back in December to Leopard. After downloading software updates a couple of days ago, I tried to restart my computer and all I got was the Apple logo and the spinning gear. I brought my computer into the local Apple Store and the tech tried to archive and install from an external drive and the computer said there wasn't enough memory to install Leopard though the tech said I had enough RAM installed but that the computer wasn't reading the memory available correctly and that I needed a new memory board at a cost of $350.
I had a similar thing happen in December 2007 after I downloaded software updates. I brought my computer into the Apple Store. It seemed there was a "kernal panic." Everytime the tech deleted something it kept coming back "to life" and taking up too much "space" though this was different than not having enough RAM (I'm not terrifically computer saavy). I left the computer there for them to look at and a few days later due to whatever they did it was working again.
When dealing with the current problem a few days ago the tech said it was purely coincidental that the computer stopped working immediately after I downloaded software updates on two different occasions, but I found that very difficult to believe. I put in the installation disc that came with the computer and was able to get through the first steps of installing Tiger without actually beginning to install it, and I saw that the hard drive only had 49mb free and the tech said I needed 51mb to install Leopard. I called an Apple Care tech on the phone and asked if I could reinstall Tiger so that I could at least access the internet and retrieve my emails until I could get the Leopard issue resolved. He said doing so would delete Leopard and all of the documents I had done on it.
I mentioned I used to have my computer set up so I could access both OS9 and OSX on my computer and asked if that was now possible with Tiger and Leopard. He said I would need to go into the Apple Store and have them hook up my computer via firewire to another computer and boot up in target mode so that I could possibly delete some of the files taking up the memory and have enough room to install Leopard, or failing that could at least partition the hard drive and install Tiger until I could get the Leopard issue resolved.
I tried the safe boot someone suggested in a previous thread on this topic, but the computer would not boot up. Does anyone have any other ideas to solve this problem without taking the computer into the Apple Store? And how can I prevent this from happening during software updates in the future? I did not have the option with this last software update to choose only one download at a time. Software Update just started downloading what seemed to be one large update.
Thanks in advance for any help or illumination anyone can provide.

Kristin,
I'm having similar problem after upgrade on my imac. Hangs with white screen after logging out. Have to press/hold pwr button to shut off, then press to turn on.
I have a LaCie porsche ext hard drive attached by usb. Should I unplug this and try reinstalling mavericks? I didn't remove ext hd during the upgrade, was I supposed too?
Thanks,
chris

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Can't Boot Up After Software Update -- Advice Appreciated.

Hi all,
I've experienced what seems to be a relatively common problem -- after installing the latest Tiger software update, my machine can't boot up. If I try to log in, it just freezes on the blue background screen. Holding 'shift' to enter Safe Mode just makes the computer shut down. I've tried the advice from Apple listed here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417
I just got a variety of messages, all of which say effectively the same thing: 'Macintosh HD cannot be repaired.'
What can I do from here, bearing in mind I don't have an install disk. Is there anything I can do without it?
If I were to borrow a friend's Install Disk (they have Leopard), could I delete everything on my computer and re-install Leopard, and have it work? Or will the problems with my iMac carry over to a new installation?
(I suspected something was wrong the morning before my iMac was able to boot -- I was getting 'page in/page out' errors when I tried to extract .rar files, or move large files to an external HD, so thankfully I took the chance to make back-ups of everything).
Any hints or ideas would be unbelievably appreciated -- I'd hate to have to buy a new iMac (for the expense, not because I don't want a new one).

You can erase everything and start over, but you should Zero the Disk first, but also you need an Install Disc, you can buy Sno/10.6 online, for Leo/10.5 you have to call Apple, who may also supply you with a replacement disk for the original if you have your Serial# handy.
For other sources of Tiger/10.4, See Tom's, (Texas Mac Man), great info on where/how to find/get Tiger...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9755670&#9755670
You might try this a few times to see if you can fix your Disk...
Tough without a Tiger Disk, but try fsck...
To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
1. Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Hold CMD+s keys down at bootup. Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
2. At the command-line prompt, type /sbin/fsck -fy
(space between fsck and -fy important)
3. Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found: ** The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK  If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message: *** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***   Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Stuck in Restart Loop after Software Update

I recently ran the update to 10.5.3 a few days ago, and thankfully, it's been working great... until today, when I installed two seemingly innocuous updates via Software Update: one for the latest version of Quicktime and another for Apple Brother Print Drivers 1.1. After restarting, everything fell apart. Several of my start-up apps unexpectedly quit after login, and other apps either failed to launch when I tried opening them, or they simply got stuck in an endless loop of bouncing in the dock. I couldn't even force-quit them because they weren't responding at all. Thinking this strange behavior to be symptoms of some permissions issue, I popped in the Leopard installation CD and ran a permissions repair. It fixed several cryptic problems, one for something to do with Java and another for the cups folder, which I assume has some relation to the printer driver update. I then tried selecting my start-up disk and restarting, but the problem only got worse. Now my iMac is stuck in a restart loop. I tried booting in safe mode, but that hasn't worked. If worse comes to worst, I'll have to revert to a Time Machine backup, or else run an Archive & Install, but I'm trying to avoid that. Any suggestions? I'm also curious to know if these two updates had any relevance to these problems, and if so, what the cause may be. I'm thinking the printer driver is to blame, but then again that's only a stab in the dark. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried a Safe Boot again but unfortunately that didn't work, so I had to go ahead and do an Archive & Install. Now everything is up and running; however, I'm going to stay away from that print driver until I figure out exactly what went wrong. I did a little research and saw it listed on MacUpdate.com, where it was posted along with an interesting note: apparently, the update can only be applied if there is already a Brother print driver installed (in this case there was), and in addition to that, the printer must either be connected (and I assume on for the computer to know it's connected in the first place) or have an active print queue for the update to even be listed in Software Update. Strangely enough, neither of these conditions held true when I saw it in Software Update... so I think that might have been the cause, but I can't be sure. I was wondering if anyone else has installed this update successfully, and if so, what they did?
Thanks again for the suggestions.

Restart Fails after Software Update

For the past few weeks (I cannot tie down when this started), after carrying out any download that requires a restart through Software Update when I click on the Restart Button the menu bar disappears but the machine will not restart. If I leave it for a minute I get the message that restart has timed out as software update failed to quit. From here on in I cannot do a shutdown or restart from the Apple Menu, I have to do a hard shutdown by powering off. When I power back on the restart happens normally but no software is installed. After I logon I can then select restart from the Apple Menu and I then get the dialog box that gives me the option to install updates and restart or just restart. Selecting Install Updates and restart then works as normal. After restarting again logoff, shutdown and restart options from the Apple menu all work as normal, until I do a software update that requires a restart..... Anyone any ideas on how to fix this? It only happens on my MacBook Pro (migrated originally from Tiger), not on my relatively new iMac which was Leopard from new.

Exactly the same issue too on a iMac G5 upgraded from 10.4, started few weeks ago, very annoying. Makes the usually painless updates a lot more painful.

Restart problem after software update

Hi all, Im a Mac novice, my sons Macbook - he today ran the latest software update, and after asking to be restarted, it just keeps coming back with the grey screen, asking again to restart, but i cant get further than this page, any help appreciated.
Message was edited by: Host

Run the repair disk setting from the install disc. To use the Install Mac OS X disc, insert the disc, and restart your computer while holding down the C key as it starts up.
Select your language.
Once on the desktop, select Utility in the menu bar.
Select Disk Utility.
Select the disk or volume in the list of disks and volumes, and then click First Aid.
Click Repair Disk.
I have notified the Host to remove your email address. Never post your email address in a public forum to avoid getting spammed or worst.
Message was edited by: CMCSK
Message was edited by: Host

Restart corruption after Software Update

I was prompted to run a software update for Quicktime and Prokit today (not sure of the versions, but I update frequently so they are the most recent.)
Leopard (er "Kitty Cat" rather) attempted to restart after the update, but it was stuck on quitting the Finder. I waited several minutes before I just shut it down myself (probably the cause of the problem). When I restart now, it's stuck in a loop using the program "Setup Assistant" (asking my country, apple ID, etc. all of which I inputed about a month ago). When I hit "Done" at the end of the form, it goes back to the beginning. I cannot access the Desktop. I tried loading Software Update again, as well as System Preferences. Nothing loaded. No window, just the App name in the top left toolbar.
I restarted as a Firewire drive (Holding "T") and mounted it on my other computer. I used Disk Utility which said the drive "appeared to be ok" (I hit Verify, as well as Repair). Then I restarted again and still encountered the same problem with Setup Assistant.
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This might help:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306998

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2006-05-29 22:06:12 -0700: Installed "Keynote Update" (2.0.2)
2006-05-29 22:06:52 -0700: Installed "GarageBand Update" (2.0.2)
2006-05-29 22:07:42 -0700: Installed "iPhoto Update" (5.0.4)
2006-05-29 22:08:04 -0700: Installed "Java 1.3.1 and 1.4.2 Release 2" (2.0)
2006-05-29 22:09:01 -0700: Installed "QuickTime" (7.1)
2006-05-29 22:09:43 -0700: Installed "iTunes" (6.0.4)
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(3) in About This Mac click on the serial number and it should cycle through the Mac OS version, build, and serial number. Run Repair Disk Permissions then run Software update again. There might be other updates available. After each update run Repair Disk Permissions.

Can't get in after software update

I did a software update on my Ipad2 & now I have a picture of a cord & ITunes on my screen & I can't do anything. I tried updating on iTunes but it doesn't work

My wife's iPad Air has the exact same problem. She was plugged into iTunes with the USB cable and did the system update to 8.1.3 When the iPad restarted all it displays now is the screen that wants you to connect to iTunes just as Carol describes. Attempts to connect to iTunes does nothing.

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Any suggestions? Thanks
Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Here is how I do it. Once the update command has completed and is showing the history, I reselect the complete list and then from the manage menu I selece Restart. It brings up an option for users to save any changes or cancel the restart or users lose unsaved changes. At the bottom right is a restart button. Clicking that will send the command for the machine to restart.
15" MacBook Pro 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2GB RAM

Prohibitory Sign, Can't sign in to computer after software update

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I CANNOT lose my files.I have so many documents from my entire 4 years of college on there that I've spent countless hours working on and perfecting.
PLEASE Tell me this can be an easy fix?!?!
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Mac OS X- Gray screen or prohibitory sign appears during startup

Can't restart computer after Mavericks upgrade...

Hello.
Just upgraded one of my machines to Mavericks (Mac mini, mid-2011). Installed without issue, and everything is running without issue, but, whenever I try and restart the computer, it logs out as usual, but then hangs on the grey screen, right before it'd normally reboot. The mouse is still active, but I can't do anything else. I've let it sit for over 30 minutes and eventually have to do a hard restart.
I've been wresting with this all morning—tried permissions and disk repairs, creating a new admin user and tried restarting under them, re-installing Mavericks (even the installer wouldn't restart—got hung on the restart, hard restart kicked into the isntaller though), tried removing all my peripherals...even tried removing deeply-integrated apps like Parallels and Little Snitch (which I didn't think would do anything since restarting under a newly created admin user failed), and no go.
Short of doing a clean-install, which I'd really rather not do, not sure what else to try.
Anyone else have this issue?
Any suggestions on a fix?
Thanks!
Kristin.

Kristin,
I'm having similar problem after upgrade on my imac. Hangs with white screen after logging out. Have to press/hold pwr button to shut off, then press to turn on.
I have a LaCie porsche ext hard drive attached by usb. Should I unplug this and try reinstalling mavericks? I didn't remove ext hd during the upgrade, was I supposed too?
Thanks,
chris

Intel MacPro 10.5.8 can't restart it after iTunes update.

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To start up in Safe Mode, hold down the Shift key at Startup. It takes about five minutes to do a Disk Utility (Repair Disk) on the Boot Volume, then comes up with a Login Screen, even if you normally auto-login.

Application to restart computer when needed after software updates

We have a business requirement to not force a computer restart immediately after software updates have been installed. What possible solutions are there to detect if a restart is needed on the client and inform the user to restart, if nothing happens force
a restart within a few days.

Hi,
Windows Update itself have this configuration. You could push the corresponding group policy to achieve it:
Locate to the following path:
Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update
find No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations
entry.
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http://blogs.technet.com/b/mu/archive/2008/10/02/windows-update-and-automatic-reboots.aspx
Karen Hu
TechNet Community Support

HT4623 i was doing a software update downloading ios 6.1 and the phone froze half way through the download i tried to restart the phone by pressing the power button and the home button but its just a apple on the screen. what can i do to fix this??

i was doing a software update downloading ios 6.1 and the phone froze half way through the download i tried to restart the phone by pressing the power button and the home button but its just a apple on the screen. what can i do to fix this??

See Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808
You may need to try this More than Once...
Be sure to Follow ALL the Steps..
But... if the Device has been Modified... this will Not necessarily work.

Problem restarting after software update

Computer is fine, drive 40% full, no speed problems...
But it just won't restart after software update runs, nor will it restart or shut down from finder.
Problem solving so far: Safe boot, reset pram, ran disk utility, ran disk repair using install disk, ran fsck -y, ran disk warrior.
Is annoying. ANy ideas anyone? If not, what is the procedure for updating using sudate and terminal, as when I use software update, a force shut down will not install.
ANy ideas folks?

Some general advice on updating:
It is worth noting that it is an extreme rarity for updates to cause upsets to your system, as they have all been extensively beta-tested, but they may well reveal pre-existing ones, particularly those of which you may have been unaware. If you are actually aware of any glitches, make sure they are fixed before proceeding further.
So before you do anything else:
If you can, make a full backup first to an external hard disk. Ideally you should always have a bootable clone of your system that enables you to revert to the previous pre-update state.
Turn off sleep mode for both screen and hard disk.
Disconnect all peripherals except your keyboard and mouse.
1. Repair Permissions (in Disk Utility)
2. Verify the state of your hard disk using Disk Utility. If any faults are reported, restart from your install disk (holding down the C key), go to Disk Utility, and repair your startup disk. Restart again to get back to your startup disk.
At least you can now be reasonably certain that your system does not contain any obvious faults that might cause an update/upgrade to fail.
3. Download the correct version of the COMBO update from the Apple download site.
The Combo updater of Leopard 10.5.8 can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10_5_8_ComboUpdate
If you prefer to download updates via Software Update in the Apple menu (which would ensure that the correct version for your Mac was being downloaded), it is not recommended to allow SU to install major (or even minor) updates automatically. Set Software Update to just download the updater without immediately installing it. There is always the possibility that the combined download and install (which can be a lengthy process) might be interrupted by a power outage or your cat walking across the keyboard, and an interrupted install will almost certainly cause havoc. Once it is downloaded, you can install at a time that suits you. You should make a backup copy of the updater on a CD in case you ever need a reinstall.
Full details about the 10.5.8 update here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3606
More information on using Software Updater here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24901?viewlocale=en_US
Using the Combo updater ensures that all system files changed since the original 10.5.0 are included, and any that may have been missed out or subsequently damaged will be repaired. The Delta updater, although a temptingly smaller download, only takes you from the previous version to the new one, i.e. for example from 10.5.7 to 10.5.8. Software Update will generally download the Delta updater only. The preferable Combo updater needs to be downloaded from Apple's download site.
Now proceed as follows:
4. Close all applications and turn off energy saving and screensaver.
5. Unplug all peripherals except your keyboard and mouse.
6. Install the update/upgrade. Do not under any circumstances interrupt this procedure. Do not do anything else on your computer while it is installing. Be patient.
7. When it ask for a restart to complete the installation, click restart. This can take longer than normal, there are probably thousands of files to overwrite and place in the correct location. Do nothing while this is going on.
8. Once your Mac is awake, repair permissions again, and you should be good to go!
If your Mac seems slightly sluggish or ‘different’, perform a second restart. It can’t hurt and is sometimes efficacious!
9. Open a few of your most used applications and check that all is OK. In this connection please remember that not all manufacturers of third party applications and plug-ins, add-ons, haxies etc, will have had time to do any necessary rewrites to their software to make them compliant with the latest version of your operating system. Give them a weeks or two while you regularly check their websites for updates. This applies particularly to plug-ins for Safari 4.
N.B. Do not attempt to install two different updates at the same time as each may have different routines and requirements. Follow the above recommendations for each update in turn.
Lastly, Apple's own article on the subject of Software Update may also be useful reading:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106695
If you are updating Safari (or just have):
Input Managers from third parties can do as much harm as good. They use a security loophole to reach right into your applications' code and change that code as the application starts up. If you have installed an OS update and Safari is crashing, the very first thing to do is clear out your InputManagers folders (both in your own Library and in the top-level /Library), log out and log back in, and try again.
So, disable all third party add-ons before updating Safari, as they may not have been updated yet for the new version. Add them back one by one. If something goes awry, remove it again and check on the software manufacturer's website for news of an update to match your version of Safari.
Most errors reported here after an update are due to an unrepaired or undetected inherent fault in the system, and/or a third party add-on.
Additional tips on software installation here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106692
To reiterate, Input Managers reach right into an application and alter its code. This puts the behavior of the affected application outside the control and responsibility of its developers: a recipe for problems. That's not to say that issues absolutely will ensue as a result of Input Managers, but you, as a user, must decide. If the functionality of a specific Input Manager or set thereof is really important to you, you may well choose to assume the associated risk.
Again, the advice is to remove all Input Managers from the following directories:
• /Library/InputManagers
• ~/Library/InputManagers
especially prior to system updates (they can always be added back one-by-one later).

Can't Restart Computer After Software Update Download.

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