Computers (G5Towers & G5 Imacs) booting up to Spotlight Icon only

We have been having an issue lately where the computers seem to boot up normally until after the login screen. Then, all we get is the spotlight icon. We can then safe boot the machine and everything will come up normally. We have been runnig YASU on the affected machines when it happens and that seems to correct the problem for a day or so. Then it does it again. It doesn't do it on all our machines (we have a mixture of G5 towers and G5 Imacs). Is this a cache problem and if so, is there a way to set the OS to purge the offending cache before it causes the problem? Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to provide.

Hi, mraftis. Welcome to the Discussions.
If the Macs in question startup normally in Safe Mode, but not otherwise, this implies a problematic Startup or Login Item. See my "Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items" FAQ for steps that might help you with this problem.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Similar Messages

  • PC networking to iMac booted in Vista, and in vista emulation-Small office

    Re: Wireless and Wired Network: probably using a dlink 825 dual n band wireless router.
    1. How is a typical Dell/ vistax64 networked to an imac booted in vista x64?
    2. How is a typical Dell/ vistax64 networked to an imac running vista x64 in emulation?
    *3. how are they configured to simultaneously synch business files and digital images, that will originate from the dell, in situation 1 & 2 above?
    I (might be) stuck getting a Dell/vista 64 to acquire digital dental x-rays in the treatment room, bec the sensor mfg'er says the drivers won't work(!) on a Mac booted in Vista, either way. But since the PC imaging app and PC practice management software works fine either way, the iMac will rule the Front Desk. I'm still not convinced about the driver PC only spec! ..... Please help me get the sync'ed networking configured. Thanks!

    Hi there,
    Could you provide the community with a little more information to help narrow troubleshooting? Specifically what is the model number for the printer? If you have difficulty locating the model number please use one of these guides to get it:
    Deskjets
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?tmp_renderType=findModel&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c01105883&...
    Envy Series
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?tmp_renderType=findModel&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c01105892&...
    LaserJets
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?tmp_renderType=findModel&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c01230412&...
    Officejets
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?tmp_renderType=findModel&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=buu04090&l...
    Photosmarts
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?tmp_renderType=findModel&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c01105892&...
    PSC
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?tmp_renderType=findModel&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=buu04090&l...
    You can say thanks by clicking the Kudos Star in my post. If my post resolves your problem, please mark it as Accepted Solution so others can benefit too.

  • I removed my Windows 7 in boot camp...then i restart the imac the mac HD is gone only recovery hd left...what do I need to do to recover the mac hd?

    I removed my Windows 7 in boot camp...then i restart the imac the mac HD is gone only recovery hd left...what do I need to do to recover the mac hd?

    Hi I just got out of this situation after two weeks of forums and have tried any kind of different solutions.
    If you have no response using start-up keys and you can't choose your start-up disk when pressing "Option" here is what to do.
    The problem in this situation is common to users that install Boot Camp and at one stage the installation fail, may be a bug in BootCamp or just our mistakes, it doesn't really matter here is the solution.....
    If you can start Windows, or Start the installation dvd of Windows do it, when In windows you will need to install BootCamp windows Driver, if you try to use the Apple downloaded file, it will not work.
    You need to find the zip file in internet I found it with Google.
    When you have the file run a "cmd" window with Administrator privileges.
    Navigate in the folder that you have decompressed and open the folder Drivers/Apple/ you will see the file BootCamp.msi or BootCamp64.msi, of course choose the one that correspond to your Windows System .... type the file name and hit enter .... the drivers will install .... but what we really want to be install is that little icon on the system tray (right bottom).
    After we will restart windows that little icon will give you the chance to restart the computer in OS X.
    If something during the BootCamp and Windows installation had corrupted your OS X installation, you will have to reinstall, but at least you will be able to do it now. ;-) It took me two weeks and lot of researches, it's an hour job. Have fun.

  • My iMac boots up and I login and then I get a white screen. How do I fix this?

    My iMac boots up ok. I get to the login screen where I can select which user to login as, however once I've selected a user account (it doesn't appear to matter which one) I then get a white screen. 
    I don't know where to look to identify my exact operating system as I cannot get to the Apple icon to check About This Mac.
    I have booted up in safe mode, recovery mode and done fsck -fy , it all suggests my iMac is ok but I still get the white screen.  Does anyone know what I should try next?

    Does it boot okay in the Safe Mode and can you access the  menu there to see what OS you are running? While in the Recovery Mode, did you try running Disk Utility Repair Disk and Repair Permissions?
    Startup - Gray, Blue or White screen at boot, w/spinner/progress bar
    Startup Issues - Resolve
    Startup Issues - Resolve (2)

  • My iMac boots up and the mouse curser will move but nothing responds to the click. I was in the Apple store today and they reset the permissions, but still same problem. Help!!!

    My iMac boots up fine and the mouse appears to be working fine however nothing responds to the mouse click. I took it to the Apple store today and they checked and repaired the permissions. I brought it home and still have the same problem. Does anyone have any ideas?

    Hi, thanks for trying to help!
    I just blew out the dust and turned it on again to the same problem.
    So I tried holding the shift key which did something but then on reboot I got the same problem but this time worse, see here...
    So I tried the alt key but that just gave me two startup disk options, both of which didn't work (they led to the same problem).
    Then I tried CMD+s and followed your instructions, see below...
    I just held the power button down and turned it on again and the same problem happened again.
    Any further thoughts?
    Thanks!
    Alex

  • I need to make a list of 700  dvds that can be updated alphabetically as I attain new ones. I'm new at computers, bought an iMac (with Lion). What application or software will do this for me the easiest?

    I need to make list of 700+ dvds that can be updated alphabetically as I attain more. I'm new at computers, lbought an iMac (with Lion). What application or software will do this for me the easiest?

    Yes, the ColorPicker would be great, except as far as I can tell there's no way to assign names to the colors in my custom data provider. The user needs to know the name of the color (eg. P01 - Wisteria), but the ColorPicker only shows the hex values. Unless there's a way to change that?
    Repasting the two code chunks from above, which didn't display properly:
    Works, but doesn't show swatches:
    TileList.addEventListener(Event.CHANGE, changeColor);
    var colorBox:ColorTransform = new ColorTransform();
    function changeColor(e:Event):void{  
       colorBox.color = tileList.selectedItem.data;
       box_mc.transform.colorTransform = colorBox; }
    Shows swatches, but doesn't work:
    var aBoxes:Array = new Array(); var i:uint = 0;
    var printColorHex:Array = new Array(0xfac9c2, 0xFF0000, 0x0000CC, 0x00CC00, 0xFFFF00);
    var printColorNames:Array = new Array("R-01 Pale Coral", "Cranberry", "Sky", "Forest", "July");
    var dpPrintColors:DataProvider = new DataProvider();
    for(i=0; i < printColorHex.length; i++) {
         aBoxes[i] = new MovieClip();
         drawBox(aBoxes[i], printColorHex[i]);    // draw box w next color in array
         dpPrintColors.addItem( {label:printColorNames[i], source:aBoxes[i]} );
    aTl.dataProvider = dpPrintColors;
    function drawBox(box:MovieClip,color:uint):void {
                 box.graphics.beginFill(color, 1.0);
                 box.graphics.drawRect(0, 0, 140, 60);
                 box.graphics.endFill();       

  • Imac boots up into user account

    At start up my imac boots into my wifes account evem though it has a password How can i get it to boot up into the users screen

    You have to disable automatic login. Open System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Options, and choose "Off" next to "Automatic login". After doing this, you will have to choose which user you want to log in with every time you start up your Mac.
    You may have to press the padlock at the bottom left corner of the window first

  • Why won't my Intel iMac boot up, either from the internal hard drive or the DVD drive? It just displays a light grey screen, without any other icons, etc. The fact that it won't boot from the original system DVD is what baffles me the most. Any ideas?

    Why won't my Intel iMac boot up, either from the internal hard drive or the DVD drive? It just displays a light grey screen, without any other icons, etc. The fact that it won't boot from the original system DVD is what baffles me the most. Any ideas? It uses the latest version of Mavericks. Thanks!

    If the C key for Install Disc or R Command for OS X Recovery startup commands are not working, try holding the Option key for the Startup Manager.
    see > Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume
    If that does not work and you using a wireless keyboard, it may have become unpaired and you need to dig up a USB keyboard to invoke the startup commands.
    For more on gray screen, see > Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

  • Imac boot-up issue

    My imac boot up with chime then apple log then circle under the logo then freeze for sometime and go gray forever.  I tried the Resetting the NVRAM, I tried to boot on a option but it won't take my CD or recovery disc (it's doing the same thing)  I tried booting with Shift S and do all the commands but still no luck.  Now i'm stuck and don't know what to do
    Please help!!!

    Speedster1972,
    It's extremely difficult to assist when there is no user profile completed. That information is vital so those trying to assist you can tell what version of OS X is installed and which iMac you have. I could provide some instructions but without knowledge of those two basics i'd still be guessing. Please complete your profile, however for this thread it will not show. On your next post please indicate what they  are. 

  • Imac booting into terminal window

    Ever since updating to Mountain Lion my imac boots up showing the boot up script, sometimes it stops and I have to type exit or boot to get it going...I've spoken to Apple 'support' 6 times now and including a re-install they have talked me through a miriad of processes...none of them have worked.

    Have you done this?
    Install or Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion from Scratch
    Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
    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.
    Erase the hard drive:
      1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
      2. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the left side list. Click on
         the Erase tab in the DU main window.
      3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on the Security button and set the Zero
           Data option to one-pass. Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
      4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
    Reinstall Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

  • IMac Boot Sound Volume

    Hi,
    Why does my iMac boot chime change it's volume from time to time?. Some times it's really loud, and annoying. How do I tame it down a bit?
    Thanks
    Tristram

    Tristram,
    Like many in these posts will tell you, the boot sound is a good thing because it is a diagnostic signl that announces everything is ok with the system.
    But I agree it does get pretty loud. If you want, you can press the mute button on the keyboard before shutting down or restarting to mute the start up sound as well.There is no other way to actually control the volume except to mute it.
    To actually control the volume level of the chime, there are some hacks like StartupSound.prefPane available that do the job.
    Hope this helps...

  • IMac boots to a black screen and shows blinking square cursor on top left

    iMac boots to black screen and then shows flashing white square in the top left of the screen. After a few seconds an error message - i assume appears.
    disc0s2 oxe0030005 undefined appears.
    Does anyone know what this is?
    Can view HDD using firewire
    Can load diagnostic disc and run diagnostics with no errors

    The disc0s2 should be your OS X boot volume. Have you tried starting from the Install DVD1? Start from the DVD and when you get to the OS X installer go to Disk Utility in the Utilities menu and select First Aid. Choose the top drive in the left hand column and repair. Repair as many times as necessary until no more repairs are reported. Quit Disk Utility. Then go to Startup Disk in the Utilities menu and choose the OS x volume on your Mac and restart.
    Let us know what happens.

  • How do I prevent the Window Office applications from launching when my iMAC boots or recovers from sleep? I've tried System Preferences however the Office programs are not listed?

    How do I prevent the Window Office applications from launching when my iMAC boots or recovers from sleep? I've tried System Preferences however the Office programs are not listed?

    lunagirl wrote:
    The first 3 apps listed are not installed because I have not run the activation assistant for the Office trial that came with the T61.  Add/Remove programs has only these pre-installed apps:
    Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components
    Microsoft Office 2007 Primary Interop Assemblies
    Microsoft Office Small Business Connectivity Components
    MS SQL Server 2005
    MS SQL Server Native Client
    MS SQL Server Setup Support Files
    MS SQL Server VSS Writer
    Is the activation assistant one of them?
    No, AFAIK should be listed as Microsoft Office Suite Activation Assistant
    Rgds,
    Ahti

  • HT3669 HP ENVY 4500 e-All-in-One Version 3.2.1 does not work on iMac 20-inch, Mid 2007. Only recognizes scanner not USB printer.

    HP ENVY 4500 e-All-in-One Version 3.2.1 does not work on iMac 20-inch, Mid 2007. Only recognizes scanner not USB printer.
    I would like to print via the USB connection instead of wireless (the wireless does work, and the scanner works via USB).
    I tried connecting the printer directly (via USB) to my MacBook Pro laptop and it worked just fine.
    How can I make this printer work on my iMac?
    I spent 4 hours on the phone with HP and we did every combination of installation of drivers ad nausum and their bottom line is that it is a Mac problem.
    Any help would be appreciated. Will be sending this printer back to Amazon if I can't make it work on the USB.
    I am open to questions or suggestions
    Thanks,
    Chet

    After 4 hours on the phone with HP and another hour with Apple (Mavericks support) no real solution other than check everything (removed everything from Login Items, removed all HP software anywhere in the system reboot, reinstall printer) then when nothing worked for the 4500, did an OS Reinstall (boot with CMD+R).
    The Mavericks support group did open an incident (# 542875311) and I will update it when I figure out how to find it on the system.
    My feel is that the base problem is that somewhere between the HP-Inkjet-SW-OSX-Mavericks_v12.34.49-2 package and the Apple HP Printer software in the Library (version 2.16.1) the app for printing via the USP Port just does not get installed for the mid 2007 20 inch iMac. The scanner is recognized on the USB Port and the Printer works fine on Wi-Fi. I have too many devices to burden my home network with anothe device. Also, every time I put any HP Printer on Wi-Fi, my router (Netgear N600 WNDR3400 running 12 to 20 devices depending on who is home) gets wonky (but that's anothe story...).
    Additionally, when I attach the HP Envy 4500 to my MacBook Pro (2010) it works perfect - print and scan via the USB prot and both functions show in the System Preferences - Printers and Scanners just as expected and just as the 3050 does.
    Chet

  • I have three Imacs running Final Cut X but only able to update to 10.0.7 on one of them. Everytime I try to update it ask for my apple ID which I submit...then get the same replay to enter my Apple Id have only been able to update one of them to latest

    I have three Imacs running Final Cut X but only able to update to 10.0.7 on one of them. Everytime I try to update it ask for my apple ID which I submit...then I get the same message to enter my Apple ID...Any suggestions?

    Easiest thing to do is put the app on the non updated computers in the trash and then copy the new app on to a flash drive and copy into the app folders on the other two computters.

Maybe you are looking for

  • What happened to Notes in OS X Mavericks?

    I was perfectly fine with using Notes under Mail when using my Desktop Mac.  But now Notes are no longer accessible using Mail.  But when I bring up Notes app directly on my Mac, my iCloud Notes are missing.  I can still access them on my iPhone.  I

  • Bug or what ?

    Hi, I've followed the Tutorial 'Generating a Struts-based JSP Application for an Application Module'( Jdev 9.0.3 Prod Release), where I'm working with only one table. After all files are generated, I run the main.html, and this is what I did : 1). cl

  • IPhone 4s contacts dissappear and email address on contacts change to numeric

    Hey guys i kept on getting some of my contacts dissappearing and the email address on some of my contacts change to a numeric number. My iphone was running on OS 5.1.1 before i updated to OS 6. My contatcs are synchronising to my email, i cloud and y

  • Grouping and expanding objects

    This question was posted in response to the following article: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/illustrator/cs/using/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-62c7a .html

  • Self registration of the java engine in central sld

    hi all, iam installing solution manager on windows2003, with maxdb.. i have two options one is .1) register in existing sld and the other is 2) configure local sld so i chose the 1st one. need to know how to register it like sld host name, sld port a