Can't start the computer

i shut down the computer last night in a normal way. didn't notice any problem, except my computer run a bit slow when i am surfing in internet. the color wheel appeared from time to time, and i couldn't do anything for a minute.
this morning i wanted to start up the computer, but it stopped at the grey screen with the apple logo and the turning wheel. and that's all. then nothing happened. can anyone give me some advice how to tackle this problem? i checked with the disk utility tool (by starting up with the system DVD and hold pressed C), and the tool said that the harddisk seems to be totally alright.

i've tried the safe mode. first i saw the apple icon and the spinning gear, and then the apple icon changed to a forbidden sign. seems like hopeless. would like very much to know whether there is any chance to get files out of the harddisk. though i backed up with time machine all the time, i've got some problem with the external harddisk so i disconnected it for a few days and get it repaired. didn't back up the documents for the last 5 days. any hope?

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Installed 10.4.8 updater, now I can't start the computer

I just ran the 10.4.8 updater through the auto software updater control panel. After the install/restart I shut down for the night. When I came back later to restart I got as far as the loading screen and it just stalled with the multicolor spinning wheel. I let it go for at least 5 mintues but nothing happened. So I restarted again then got a an empty black box in the middle of the screen. I don't seem to be able to get a successful startup now. How can I get out of this? Can I somehow get back to 10.4.7? I would really prefer to not have to reinstall all the software leading up to 10.4.7...
I am using a G4 1Ghz 17" Laptop.

You can select the main folder that contains all the other data folders then press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. In Ownership and Permissions section set the desired privileges then click on the "Apply to enclosed items" button. This will change all the files and folders within the main folder to the desired privileges.
You can avoid problems like these in the future by practicing some basic housekeeping.
Kappy's Personal Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
For disk repairs use Disk Utility. For situations DU cannot handle the best third-party utilities are: Disk Warrior; DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.0 is now Intel Mac compatible. TechTool Pro provides additional repair options including file repair and recovery, system diagnostics, and disk defragmentation. TechTool Pro 4.5.2 is Intel Mac compatible; Drive Genius is similar to TechTool Pro in terms of the various repair services provided. The current version, 1.5.1, is Intel Mac compatible.
OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep.
OS X automatically defrags files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems.
I would also recommend downloading the shareware utility TinkerTool System that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old logfiles and archives, clearing caches, etc.
For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack. If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the commandline.
When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand. I also recommend booting into safe mode before doing system software updates.
Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is significant):
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. Carbon Copy Cloner (Freeware - not universal binary.)
6. LaCie SilverKeeper (Freeware - not universal binary)
7. PsynchX 2.1.1 and RsyncX 2.1 (Freeware)
The following utilities can also be used for backup, but cannot create bootable clones:
1. Backup (requires a .Mac account with Apple both to get the software and to use it.)
2. Toast
3. Impression
Apple's Backup is a full backup tool capable of also backing up across multiple media such as CD/DVD. However, it cannot create bootable backups. It is primarily an "archiving" utility as are the other two.
Impression and Toast are disk image based backups, only. Particularly useful if you need to backup to CD/DVD across multiple media.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
Additional suggestions will be found in Mac Maintenance Quick Assist.
Referenced software can be found at www.versiontracker.com and www.macupdate.com.
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Members may reward you with 5 points if they deem that your reply is helpful and 10 points if you post a solution to their issue. Likewise, when you mark a reply as Helpful or Solved in your own created topic, you will be awarding the respondent with the same point values.

I can't start the computer after idle state

after idle state or sleep time i can`t start any programm

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Safari 4.0 upgrade crashed my iBook - can't start the computer anymore!

Hello!
After the latest Safari 4.0 upgrade my iBook doesn't start anymore.
I've tried holding down the option key while restarting to be able to select the hard drive and then boot, but that didn't work. Also a safe boot didn't do anything. I finally connected the iBook to my iMac via Firewire and used Disk Utilities to try to repair the iBook's HD. Unfortunately it got a 'repair failed' message. Then I got the spinning wheel, Disk Utilities stopped responding and I couldn't close it.
The last thing I tried was the 'fsck' command on the apple website and tried it. This is what I got:
localhost:/ root# /sbin/fsck -fy
** /dev/rdisk0s3
** Root file system
** Checking HFS Plus volume.
** Checking Extents Overflow file.
** Checking Catalog file.
disk0s3: I/0 error.
Invalid sibling link
(4, 253)
** Volume check failed.
Does anybody know how I can fix my iBook?
Thanks,
Julia

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I had hoped the discs would work since I can't find mine.
I connected the iBook to my iMac via Firewire and used Disk Utilities to try to repair the iBook's HD. Unfortunately it got a 'repair failed' message. Then I got the spinning wheel, Disk Utilities stopped responding and I couldn't do anything on the iMac. When I tried again I couldn't eject and had to shut down the power again. Not good.
The technician at the local MacHouse thinks that the iBook already had a problem and the upgrade brought it out. Does that sound plausible to you? I never noticed any problem, it worked just fine. I am hesitant to upgrade anything now on my iMac.
I am going to try to find the right discs and will try an install and archive or install and erase.
Is there anything else I can try in FireWire mode?

Safari upgrade crashed my iBook - can't start the computer anymore!

After the latest Safari upgrade, all I get is a blue screen when I start my iBook.
I've tried holding down the option key while restarting to be able to select the hard drive and then boot, but that didn't work. All I get is a blue screen or a grey one with the Apple in the middle.
The upgrade worked just fine on my new iMac, so it is not a network problem.
Any ideas?

Sorry not to get back to you sooner. I was out all day.
I noticed in your original post that you mentioned an iMac. Do you have a Firewire cable? (I think it is a 6 pin to 6 pin that you need). If yes, make sure the iBook is turned off. Attach the firewire to both machines and start up the iBook holding down the 'T' key. This should put you into Target Disc Mode, and your HD will appear on the iMac's Desktop. You can then open Disk Utility on the iMac, select the iBook's HD, and try to repair it this way. Disk Utility is located in the Applications Folder, under Utilities. THe next thing I can think of trying, if the above does not work, is to reset the PMU. It may not help, but it shouldn't hurt, either. For instructions on how to do this go here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431?viewlocale=en_US
Hope some of this helps.
Susan.
Message was edited by: Susan M

I'm getting the grey screen during start up and can't boot the computer. I did a cmnd R but worried it would automatically wipe my hard drive and reinstall OS. Is there a risk at cmnd R will result in wiped HD without me actively making that choice?

I'm getting the grey screen during start up and can't boot the computer - MacBook Pro with lion.
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Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions - Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
Reinstall Mountain Lion or Mavericks
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is
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I start the computer the screen has blue vertical stripes and says that the Adobe Air application can not be found. Some of my programs don't run and say: You: Error access violation at 0x0055F525

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This happens the same whenever I try to install.
To my untrained eye the application is not being recognised as an application and I cannot work out how to get it to do that.
My plugin is still showing as out of date.
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How can i get a recovery or boot disk for a hp compaq nx5000. when i try to start the computer, it

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Hi:
You can try to call HP at this number 1-800-334-5144, to see if they have any recovery disks left for that model.
If not, you can order a set from this other vendor for $27 + shipping.
http://www.computersurgeons.com/productdetails.aspx?ID=15126
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With Windows Explorer, navigate to your C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support folder.
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Good Luck

I start the computer, there will be a progress bar in the walk, to go on automatic shutdown. What is the reason? How can I do?

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iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues

Can't start the computer

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