Help: Macbook stuck in startup screen

Earlier today, my white Macbook started running low on disk space, and I kept getting those pop-up notifications telling me to quit some applications--so I ran some cleaning operations in iTool (daily script; weekly script; delete logs, browser data, DNS cache). While iTool was running, another "low disk space" message popped up, and the computer seemed to have frozen except for the steady, hypnotic revolutions of the spinning beach ball of death.
After a while, I pressed down on the power button until the machine shut down. Now when I try to start it up, all I see is the light blue start-up screen with the Apple logo, accompanied by the usual start-up sounds. I tried rebooting several times after that, but the computer will not leave the start-up screen.
Suggestions, anyone? Possible causes (is it script-related?)? Thanks in advance!

Good for you! You knew Terminal enough to do the job.
The advice you got is good advice for those who don't know what they're doing at the Command Line.
The reason being you can make permanent changes and fool with system elements you shouldn't be touching. What you did was harmless, in fact it was helpful.
You should look for about 15% of free space on your disk. You can eliminate everything in /Library/Printers but the one you use.
Also, if you installed languages you can use Monolingual
Also, you can delete all of your /Library/Printers/except the one(s) you use.
Try to remove as much of your data as you can if you can copy it somewhere. Or, ask them to do a backup and erase & install at the store.
AFA getting "ripped off" Apple is not out to rip off customers. That's not the way they've built such a loyal base. What you need to remember is that a hard drive is a mechanical device that can fail at any time and will. You may well need a new drive.
-mj
Message was edited by: macjack

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Message was edited by: burakbey

HI,
*"I have opened disk utility top repair disk, but when I click on disc image, repair / verify disk buttons are unavailable to click and S.M.A.R.T status is not supported."*
You need to select "MacintoshHD 10.5.8 not "disc image" in order to run Disk Utility and Verify and if necessary, Repair the disk.
That's why you are seeing this dialog.
*are unavailable to click and S.M.A.R.T status is not supported.*
Also, run the Apple Hardware Test.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=7011117
Carolyn

Macbook Pro stuck at startup screen.

I've ran Disk Utility, there were problems that were fixed, but it's fine now (I've ran it again to double check), and I've ran Apple HHardware Test and I received" no trouble found".
But everytime I try to start up it gets stuck on the grey startup screen with the apple and the oration under it. So I'm at a loss at this point.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

System files are missing or damaged so you need to reinstall OS X:
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
Do the following:
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Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
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Download and install the Combo Updater for the version you prefer from support.apple.com/downloads/.
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Sly Park Mark wrote:
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Help: Macbook stuck in startup screen

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