Disk will engage but wont boot

I restarted my Macbook Pro I bought back in 2007. When it goes to reboot the disk engage but no start up chime. It sits there idle. It gets hot and then i had to shut it down holding the power button. Any suggestions for an at home fix?

That may indicate that eventually your display stays black after boot.
Try following:
Boot up normally, wait a few minutes.
Beam with a torch thru the Apple logo at the lid.
If you see the desktop then (a fraction as wide as the torchlight) the system works, but the display backlight is dead.
If you see nothing, eventually your GPU may not work.
In both cases call Apple or visit a Apple Center.
Lupunus

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Hard Disk verifies OK but wont boot. Can't re-install or erase.

I have a problem with my Powerbook (Tibook) G4 667.
It won’t boot. After the initial grey screen, it gets as far as a completely blue screen and eventually resorts to the Darwin console (?).
I'm running OS X 10.4.? (sorry - can’t remember when I last updated this machine). The 40 Gb internal drive is partitioned: HDA (start-up disk) 35 GB; HDB 2.5 Gb; HDC 2.5Gb.
This is the ‘family’ computer and is shared by five users for internet and general use.
I don’t use this machine often as I also have a 17” G4 1.5 (Alubook) running 10.4.7.
When I was told that it was behaving oddly I managed to save the ‘Users’ folder onto an external FW drive.
I can access the drive from my Alubook connected to the sick Tibook in FW target mode, although the Tibook HDA (the start-up partition) takes ages to show up on the Alubook desktop.
I have run Disk Utility from both the Tiger installation DVD and via FW from the Alubook and each time all partitions verify OK. I’ve run repair as well and this also gives an OK verdict.
As I now have copies of the data on the drive I have tried reinstalling the system from the Tiger DVD but the drive does not appear as a destination for installation (it doesn’t appaear at all, just the DVD and Network options are visible). I have tried to erase the drive but I get an ‘I/O error’ message when attempting to erase from the DVD disk utility and a ‘Can’t unmount disk’ error when attempting via FW from the Alubook.
I’ve tried everything along the lines of ‘fsck’ etc. as advised by Apple at the link below
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Everything checks out ‘OK’ though I did get a line mentioning I/O error on one ‘fsck’ cycle but it still reported everything as being OK.
It may well be that the drive is dead, but all the tests keep telling me it is alive.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks very much.
Phil

Hi Phil,
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
It sounds like while booted from the Tiger install disc, DU can see the HD to run Repair Disk (which returns an "ok" message), but the installer cannot see the HD to do an installation? As arnie has said, it could be the HD, but could also be other hardware such as the logic board, RAM, or a cable.
Any chance the external FW HD you mention is a 2.5"/portable? If so, I would install it in the PB, boot from the Tiger install disc, and see if the installer will recognize it as an installation destination (make sure you don't go beyond that step or you will be installing the OS over the data you have saved on the HD). If it is recognized, looks like time to purchase a new HD. If not, time to start looking at other components.

I reinstalled osx 10.8.2 from recovery disk, now verify disk says my hard drive is there but wont boot into it regardless which partition i select to boot into , everytime it boots me into the recovery, i need help!

Mb pro running like garbage with 10.8.2 tried a reinstall of osx from recovery utility now the utility says my hard drive is ok but wont boot into it keeps booting me back into recovery tried restart option to select disk tried using the select startup disk from recovery, gives a message asking if i really want to boot to it and in that message is the only rime it shows a question mark on the drive dont know what to do cant find similar issue

Your rushing and not making much sense.
Your machine was running like garbage, so you tried to reinstall 10.8---did you do this or not?
Disk Utility says your drive is ok, that's good.
But when you boot it keeps booting Recovery HD, so perhaps the firmware has made a mistake, it can forget.
You held the option key down to boot into Startup Manager, why didn't you select OS X for the boot volume?
When you get into OS X you change the Startup Disk in System Preferences, that should take care of the Flashing Question mark issue.
attemtping to ireinstall osx from recovery partition bar is full on install screen, but im now at -6hours remaining
So now your reinstalling OS X like you set out to do before, it does take some time as it has to download from Apple's servers.
If your Internet connection is slow and/or Wifi is slow then it will take awhile.
So you should have the Flashing Question Mark and Reinstall Only OS X covered.
You should be able to boot the machine, but your performance issues may be something else and still remain.
Why is my computer slow?
Step by Step to fix your Mac
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents#/?p er_page=50

HI my Ipad Upgrade to Ios7 but wont boot up

HI
my Ipad Upgrade to Ios7 but wont boot up , and when connected to the itunes 11 show IOS7, HI my Ipad Upgrade to Ios7 but wont boot up , and when connected to the itunes 11 show IOS7 but hanged in apple logo
I wait for 7hours but it cant loaded.

If the reset doesn't work, force the iPad into Recovery Mode
1. Disconnect the USB cable from the device, but leave the other end of the cable connected to your computer's USB port.
2. Turn off the device: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red slider appears, then slide the slider. Wait for the device to turn off.
If you cannot turn off the device using the slider, press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. When the device turns off, release the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons.
3. While pressing and holding the Home button, reconnect the USB cable to the device. The device should turn on.
4. Continue holding the Home button until you see the "Connect to iTunes" screen. When this screen appears, release the Home button.
5. iTunes should alert you that it has detected a device in recovery mode. Click OK, and then click Restore to restore the device.
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HT1948 USB drive with install image is showing in Startup Manager on a Mac Pro, but wont boot. Showing circle with cross strip, and shut down automatically. USB device are made and work on two different MacBook Pro, but used on Mac Pro. Any help?

USB drive with install image is showing in Startup Manager on a Mac Pro, but wont boot. Showing circle with cross strip, and shut down automatically. USB device are made and work on two different MacBook Pro, but used on Mac Pro. Any help?

OS X installers have always been fairly specific, hardware-wise. I haven't read anything reflecting that situation with the Recovery HD, so it may be that the Recovery HD created for the MacBook Pro does not have the necessary drivers for the Mac Pro. Obviously, nothing definitive here, but a possibility.

Officejet 8500 a909g will scan but wont even try to pirnt (wirelessly)

I have an Officejet 8500 Pro a909g, downloaded latest software package from hp for windows 7. Will scan but wont print, immediatleyl displays error when I try to send test print. Disabled my Norton anti-virus and Norton firewall but stil wont print. Wants to run printer troubleshooter which says there is nothing wrong.

Try restarting the printer, router and PC. If that does not do it, download and run this utility: http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Nav?h_pagetype=s-926&h_lang=en&h_client=s-h-e17-1&h_keyword=dg-NDU&ju...
Say thanks by clicking "Kudos" "thumbs up" in the post that helped you.
I am employed by HP

My new labtop with windows 7 will print but wont let me scan with my wireless officejet 6500

my new labtop with windows 7 will print but wont let me scan with my wireless officejet 6500.
i can print and scan with my pc with xp

willie521,
If you are having trouble scanning with windows 7 you can run this print and scan doctor. It will help diagnose and resolve many printing and scanning issues. Let us know if this helps !
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03275041&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&lc=en&product=379...
If I helped you at all it would be great if you clicked the blue kudos star!
If I solved your post please mark it as solved to help others.
I'm a printer tech with HP.

MacBook Pro hard disk noise, froze and wont boot

I was using my MacBook Pro and it froze at the same time I could hear the hard drive cracking. The following are guesses because of the sounds I was hearing: While the hard disk made cracking noises, it would stop spining. Then it started to spin again and another crack would stop the spining.
I held down the power button to shut down and now it wont boot. I can hear the same type of noises I described before.
Thanks for the help

Based on your comments, your HDD is dead. Get a new one, larger and faster if can afford it and swap in your MBP. You will have to reinstall your OS and I hope you have a back up of your data.
Caio.

Have a late 2006 iMac with new Ram installed in late 2011 . I am currently running Mountain lion. Did/ hit something while half asleep and was asked for my recovery password didn't know it.Not sure what i did after that but wont boot just searches,

I have a late 2006 iMac with new Ram installed in late 2011or early2012 . I am currently running lion. Did/ hit something while half asleep and was asked for my recovery password, I didn't know it & not sure what I did after that but it wont boot up just searches with a light grey whit -ish screen. Cant get it to clear. Any advice?
Charlies Secret Angel-

Try to boot in Safe mode, see if you are able: Hold down shift and then power on. For wireless keyboards, hold down shift after the chime.
Safe Boot
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk

HT4519 email will receive but wont send

Hi all just purchased the IPhone 4s have tried to put my e-mail account on and its letting me receive emails but wont let me send them. My Hotmail e-mail works fine. The IT guy puts the same detail on his phone and it works but on mine - no joy...Any ideas?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3899

Iphoto will open but wont load

My iphoto on my macbook will open but the gear circle just keeps turning and turning ... nothing happens, the pictures will not load, will not recognize iphone. I tried deleting the app and re-installing it but same thing happened. Help. thanks

Try the following to see if you possibly have a corrupted iPhoto library -
Launch iPhoto while holding down the option key on your keyboard.
Select Create New... from the dialog that appears.
See if it opens normally with a blank library. If it does, the problem is with the old iPhoto library.
If that is the case, first thing to do is make a copy of your old iPhoto library, so you will have a backup if anything further goes wrong. Then relaunch iPhoto again holding down the option key and selecting the old library. You will get the gear circle again. Force quit and then follow the steps in this Apple article for rebuilding the iPhoto library.
Best of luck.

Tiger 4.6 won't install - keeps restarting but wont boot from the dvd

hello,
I purchased a brand new Tiger 4.6 retail directly from apple.com to install on my second computer, which is an imac that meets the system requirements. I am having exactly the same issue - i load the dvd, and the window opens and i double click on the installer. This prompts me to restart by clicking the button in the window, which I did. Then the computer restarts but the installer does not run. When i click on the installer it gives me the same restart window. I have tried holding the C button during reboot, and i have tried changing the boot drive through system preferences as well, but this does not work either.
Can someone PLEASE offer information that will help me to install this OS?
thanks
[email protected]

I went back to look because I wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy and was clear on what I saw before, and why it was unclear and ambiguous.This is the page with the complete sys requirements(the photos wont display here, but there is a photo of my model of imac, under the "imac" category):
http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/requirements.html
Make sure your hardware can run Mac OS X Version 10.4 Tiger
Mac OS X Version 10.4 requires a Macintosh with:
* PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor
* Built-in FireWire
* At least 256MB of physical RAM
* A built-in display or a display connected to an Apple-supplied video card supported by your computer
* At least 3.0 GB of available space on your hard drive; 4GB of disk space if you install XCode 2 developer tools
* DVD drive for installation (get CD media for $9.95)
Note: Mac OS X does not support processor upgrade cards. The amount of disk space required depends on your computer and the way you are installing Mac OS X. (this would have been the place to include the text about not supporting the imac 350)
Verify your hardware is supported from the list below.
Power Mac
PowerBook
(photos)
Mac mini & iMac
(photos)
eMac
(photos)
iBook
Power Mac G5
Power Mac G5 PowerBook G4 (12,15, 17-inch aluminum series)
PowerBook G4
(12, 15, 17-inch aluminum series) Mac mini
Mac mini eMac (ATI graphics)
eMac (ATI graphics) iBook (12.1" & 14.1")
iBook (12.1" & 14.1")
G4 Dual Processor
Power Mac G4
(Dual Processor)
PowerBook G4 (DVI Video)
PowerBook G4
(DVI Video)
iMac G5
iMac G5
eMac
eMac
iBook, SE (FireWire)
iBook (FireWire)
iBook SE (FireWire)
G4 Quicksilver
Power Mac G4
(Quicksilver)
PowerBook G4 (550,667)
PowerBook G4 (400,500,550,667)
iMac G4 flat panel
iMac (flat panel)
Cube
Power Mac G4 Cube
PowerBook G3 (Firewire)
PowerBook G3 (FireWire)
iMac (slot loading)
iMac (slot loading)
(photo looking just like my imac)
G4
Power Mac G4
Power Mac G3
Power Mac G3
dell dimension 8200 Windows XP imac 350 power pc G3 Mac OS X (10.3.9), ipod 2nd gen nano

1st alarm-now disk in startup mgr. wont boot?

no HHD appears- but the install CD does though will not boot-I'm afraid I trashed some java files (Exec)?
do I need a 10.3.9 install cd? I'm using the disk that came with this out of box- also Safe mode wont come up
I did the reset all in firmware
thank you

[Repairing disk error, this might take over an hour to complete.]
After some time has passed, the following error message comes up:
[Automatic repair couldn’t repair your PC. Press “advanced options’” to try other options to repair your PC or “shut down” to turn off your PC.
Log file c:\windows\system32\logfiles\srt\srttraill.txt]
Tried refreshing, then disabled automatic repair on the boot options in advanced options.
Now its your pc ran into a problem and needs to restart, We are just collecting some error info and then you can restart (0% complete) Been stuck on 0% for a while. Also, below it states if you'd like to know more you can search online later for this
error: process1_initialization_failed
I am not sure if you have a recovery partition, usb stick or its a dvd
boot your recovery and select refresh and be prepared to install applications over
http://hardcore-games.azurewebsites.net/wp/win/it/refresh-windows.php
Corsair Carbide 300R with TX850V2
Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 CFX/SLI
AMD Phenom II 965 C3 Black Edition @ 4.0 GHz
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-2133 8 GB
EVGA GTX 660 Ti FTW Signature 2 (GK104 Kepler)
Asus PA238QR IPS LED HDMI DP 1080p
ST2000DM001 & Windows 8.1 Professional x64
Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 & Wacom Bamboo CHT470M
Place your rig specifics into your signature like I have, makes it 100x easier to understand!
Hardcore Games Legendary is the Only Way to Play!

I've tried PRAM reset, repair disk and permissions but cannot boot up after recent install of OSX 8.4. Please help

After having to do a forced shut down (holding down power button) due to freezing I cannot again progress past the grey screen with the apple logo. The spinning cog comes on at first then disappears leaving just the apple logo (in case that is sognificant).
I have tried to find a solution through the support pages but have unfortunately been unsuccessful in my endeavours so do apologise I have overlooked the obvious and would really appreciate some help. I've just started the second year of my Uni and the timing couldn't be worse.
I have tried the following:
1) held down option and started in "recovery 10.8.4" from which I used disk utility to "repair disk", which at first needed some repairs and then I ran it again for the second time to confirm it had a clean bill of health.
2) I then ran "repair disk permissions" and repeated a second time to confirm it was all working well (however one error remained "warning: SUID file "system/library/CoreS... has been modified and will not be repaired" but have read that this should not be a big problem) After which I tried to start up again and it hung with the apple logo on the grey screen.
3) tried resetting the PRAM by holding down cmd+option+P+R before powering up, but it only chimes once and then restarts the mac, then chimes once and repeats the process again in and endless cycle.
4) I then tried 1 and 2 again and then tried to reinstall OSX 10.8.4 from the recovery mode, but this came up with the message "an error occured while preparing the installation. Try running this application again" to which I followed but to no avail.
5) I tried starting up in safe mode by holding down shift after the chime at startup but safe mode did not start after 3 hours. During which point I was drowning my frustration in the pub.
6) I tried starting in verbose mode with cmd+V but after running the script it reverts back to the grey screen.
I have not tried booting from an install disk as im a few hours from home on a uni campus with no apple store in sught and all day lectures so no hope to visit far away stores. I hope I have explained it in enough detail and appreciate any direction or thoughts as to it being salvageable. Failing which it might be time go go back to the pub and remember the importance of regular backups!
Many thanks
Stephen

I have one more development to add. In step "4" above I suspected that it could be something to with the Ethernet settings as I hadn't had the option of typing in the colleges wifi credentials. So I tried the "get help online" option to test it, managed to sign in and tried the step 4 again.
This time I received a different error message "could not find installation information for this machine".
Thanks

Help a partion shows up (Bootable) but wont boot to it!!! PLEASE URGENT

I noticed that it had zero space left, when I boot to another partition, I can copy files and even open files...but when I boot to the Snow Leo partition, it says to copy then backup, then refomat as soon as possible.
I would try Snow Leo install again with migration, will that work, the most important is Logic, I do not want to reinstall all my software for logic again.
Here is the error code from disk util.
After trying and failing to repair, it says restore and back up your files.
Invalid sibling link
What if I used Carbon Copy...is this a HD problem or OS problem.
I just want to either CC it (LEOPARD) or use SNOW INSTALL and migration assistant (although there have been times when it asks for some of the serials again, not all, but some, but the music program and my website are the most important.
What would you do? I don't like SL due to watching TV online, many of the players still do not work with SL, Lost, Numb3rs, NCIS...
Will CC work?
Thanks all!!! This is my living and I need it fixed. Must get a backup and time machine going
Tiger10.11
Leopard 10.5.8
SL 10.1
SL 10.2 Clean
Those are my partitions on two EXTERNAL HD and I need the LEOPARD TO WORK, LOGIC and it's plug ins.
Thanks - can I just drag the plug ins folder? No, that won't work - why dont we have a migration asst. that lets you pick individual programs - that would make the most sense.
Ok. Thanks again Geniuses.

Sure it is a 2.4 MBP The last before it went with the swipe twist and has express slot.
Early 2008.
The hard drive had zero space on it at one time and DW said it had no where to write the new rebuild, but I was unable to delete anything from it, I could however copy and move files from it but not delete. It now has free space as I was able to delete at one point during this process.
The other important thing is, the one time I was able to boot from it, mail kept quiting and logic just froze the system, so am hoping maybe OYNX could help too with DW? I also use this for my web site using rapid weaver.
As well, many of the software plug ins are huge and would take a long time to reinstall, just FYI.
The HD is WD. It is Leopard 10.5.8 (also the one tied to my iPhone).
It is showing on the desktop now. If I do a disk util, it is grayed out. But after the rebuild it said it was fine and I was able to delete some files. The OS I boot to is 10.5.7, all the time the repair permissions have been grayed out. I am basically back to where I was last night before using DISK WARRIOR and wondered if I should have tried CC it to another HD and see what happened, but did not.
So what else can I tell you? The partition I need is 10.5.8, would upgrading this 5.7 to 5.8 make a difference? Surely there must be a way to get this to work. The HD is a little over a year old, never moves. Neither does the MBP for that matter. It used to move a bit but not that much anymore.
I did not install all my logic and things on snow as the open GL was slower than leopard, plus it had trouble playing back movies online, ABC, NBC.
Basically I want to be able to boot to this HD but when I try, the Mac just shuts down and as mentioned before DW says it is locked.
Two External HD's
Old one 500GB
Partition 1 (the one that seems to be failing) has four partitions on it.
Leopard 10.5.8 (what I need)
Clean Snow install
Partition 4 is a copy of my SL so if I wanted to reinstall I would not have to look for it.
The new HD 1 Terabyte
Snow Leopard with migrations assistant
Free Space
And what I am using now, 10.5.7.
Then of course, on the mac itself is 10.4, Tiger, which I never use any more but does have important info on it.
I also have a USB HD that I could use for Time Machine, but think it's only 150GB or so,
The partion I need to boot, 10.5.8 is 167GB on older external 1 year and has 5,5 GB free now.
I thought maybe snow leopard with migration assitant but is only 250 GB, or I could wipe it, do a new install and migration asst into it as a last resort, What say you.
Thanks
Free Space.
Message was edited by: avidfcp

Disk will engage but wont boot

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