Help! My mac turns grey and i cannot sign in. It said "your start up disc is full".

My child incidently put her itumes to my macbook air. It seems it the macbook is very full. When we turn it on, it stated " your start up disc is full". We cannot delete files / programs to make more spaces because i cannot even sign in. The monitor turns grey and freeze after I click "sign in". Help me, please.... Thank you very much for your kind attention and help.

Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.
b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
c. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
d. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.

Similar Messages

Mac book pro start up disc is full

my mac book pro came up with a box sayin - your start up disc is full- then went to a blue screen, I am unable to do anything at all - any suggestions ?

OSX disks need space to work. Some say 10-15% free, others lock the number at 30GB minimum (because disks vary in size). I would stick to 30 GB if I were you.
But ... immmediate problem ...
Your system does not like to operate because you likely have about 500 MB free of several 10s or 100s of GBs.
If this system is pre-Lion, you have install disks. You can buy an external drive (make it self-powered, from the wall), and install OSX on that drive using the C key at boot to re-direct to the install disks in the optical drive.
If you system is Lion ... I do not know Lion well enough to install "cold" on a blank disk.
When that system is installed, your internal drive is now "just a disk" and the amount of free space means less. You can start moving files from the internal drive to the external drive until you have enough free space for it to operate as an OSX system disk.
There are other longer-term strategies you need to address, such as "do I need a bigger system disk?", but first get your system running.

I am using mac book pro and I cannot see the video of my chatmate using skype or fb.please help

i am using mac book pro and I cannot see the video of my chatmate using skype or fb.please help

Is your version of Skype known to work with your operating system version?

In "purchases" while in my App Store, Mountain Lion says, "an error has occurred" and the green 'download' button is grey and I cannot re-start the download. I was abroad when I purchased this app and during download, my internet connection was lost.

In "purchases" while in my App Store, Mountain Lion says, "an error has occurred" and the green 'download' button is grey and I cannot re-start the download. I was abroad when I purchased this app and during download, my internet connection was lost. At the time, Apple was still offering the e-chat, so I did that and the man was very helpful and it was a quick fix, so my download button turned green again, and I was able to begin the download. BUT during the download, I was kicked offline once again, and I decided to wait until I was back in the USA. I will go in to an Apple store and ask assistance, but if there is something I am missing, I'd like to try that first. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Welcome to the support forums.
Please ask this question in the Mac App Store forum where they can better assist you.

Update 10.1 to 10.4X and screen turned grey and enlarged?

Help. I update to OS10.4.3 from 10.1 and the screen turned grey and unclear and all icons are much larger. Tried system preferences but display only gives me the option of 640X480 and no other options. Went to universal acess and set to black on white, no grey, zoom off. In universal acess the screen is too large so I don't know if there is a button on the bottom I can't get to. I also tried a different monitor but the picture is the same. Turned off extensions on restart and reloaded OS again but no change.
I'd appreciate any help at all!
G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 512 memory

Hi Dr.P,
unfortunately Tiger does not support a direct upgrade from 10.1.x to 10.4.x. Although there are one or two anecdotical reports of successfull upgrades the vaste majority of users who tried this reported major problems.
There are 2 possibilities to get from 10.1.x to 10.4.x:
1. Perform and Erase&Install: Make sure you have a complete backup since the Erase&Install will completely wipe your hard disk!
2. Get a cheap copy of 10.2.x or 10.3.x, upgrade to this and then upgrade to 10.4.x
Personally I would choose option 1.
In case you choose the second option I suggest you follow this procedure for the upgrade to 10.4.x: 10.4 Tiger Upgrade: Decision tree+Checklist.
In any case, make sure you have the retail full instaall version of Tiger. You cannot use hardwware specific disks that shipped with another computer!

I have some days ago started updating of Firefox for Mac OS 10.6.8 under Help but it is paused and the upgrading don´t continue when i start again

I have some days ago started updating of Firefox for Mac OS 10.6.8 under Help but it is paused and the upgrading don´t continue when i start again

Hi Ryan,
I managed to find this reference specifically for restoring on Snow Leopard:
If you are using Mac OS X Snow Leopard, start your computer from the installation disc. Then use the "Restore From Time Machine Backup" utility.
Now that was copied from this more comprehensive reference:
Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac
You may also find this article helpful:
http://pondini.org/TM/14.html
Finally, I cannot see why Time Machine would leave out your playlists and ratings? Think about it. Why would Time Machine specifically copy everything BUT your playlists and ratings? Ryan, what are your options? I would have to ask you this: Are you certain that you properly did the sync? That is another/different forum altogether: Using iPhone /see subsection on Syncing.
Either way...
Best Regards,
mm
EDIT: For whatever reason I tried three times to edit out one of the redundent adjectives... either different or another which preceeds the word forum, but the advanced editor would (apparently NOT allow me to do so). I hope that it doesn't render without any adjective before the word forum.

My Creative Cloud icon is suddenly turned grey and I can not open it, what shall I do?

My Creative Cloud icon is suddenly turned grey and I can not open it, what shall I do? Shall I uninstall and reinstall Creative Cloud?
I have a stationary Mac (a bit old).
Thank you in advance.

Hello, it is a stationary Mac OS X, version 10.7.5
Adelheid
Fra: Jeff A Wright <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Svar til: "[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Dato: Monday, February 2, 2015 8:08 PM
Til: Adelheid Ottesen <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Emne: My Creative Cloud icon is suddenly turned grey and I can not open it, what shall I do?
My Creative Cloud icon is suddenly turned grey and I can not open it, what shall I do?
created by Jeff A Wright<https://forums.adobe.com/people/JeffAWright> in Creative Cloud Download & Install - View the full discussion<https://forums.adobe.com/message/7154587#7154587>

Mail Folder turned grey and emails have disappeared!

I’ve got a problem with a folder in mail 2.1.3 whereby the folder (which contained a number of subfolders, each in turn containing a fair few emails) has turned grey and the emails seem to have disappeared.
All I did was to try and rename the main folder, but got a message saying the folder could not be renamed, and instead a new folder was created. This was when the original folder turned grey?? The dub folder structure remained intact but all the messages from all the folders have disappeared.
I’ve looked at what should be the folder contents in user/username/library/mail/mailboxes/THEFOLDER and can see that the subfolders and the messages are there but they simply dont show up in mail.
Can anyone tell me how to reinstate the messages in the folders, and maybe why this has happened?
Thanks in advance.
Phil

Perhaps we just lost the custom icon for that folder, you can navigate to it in the Finder, do a Get info on it and change the icon if you wish.
What is the best way to see if there is a potential problem with the disk?
We secretly did one wth the Safe Boot already, 1st thing it does is check & try to repair the disk.
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
I consider DiskWarrior from Alsoft the best tool for disks, get the CD/DVD...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/

I downloaded some ringtones and music but when i go to add them to i tunes they just turn grey and dont sync? any ideas

Hey, I downloaded some music but when i go to add it to my phone , instead of syncing they turn grey and it wont do it... any ideas? this is the same with ringtones

What is the format of the song files?
What is the bitrate of each file?
Do some have DRM protection?
Any error messages?
Do you have all these songs checked in itunes?
There is a setting to sync only checked songs, on the main tab of your ipod

I am visually impared and use the voice over feature. Somehow the screen curtain" has been turned ON and I cannot find out how to disable it withouut turning voice over OFF. I'm really in the dark now.

I am visually impared and use the voice over feature. Somehow the screen curtain" has been turned ON and I cannot find out how to disable it withouut turning voice over OFF. I'm really in the dark now.
Thanks in advance for any helpposted.

How to reset iPod
iPod Troubleshooting Assistant
Finding the "Five Rs" of iPod troubleshooting
iPod troubleshooting basics and service FAQ

I moved several folders from my Mac to iCloud and I cannot easily find them. Is there an easier way to find them instead of searching in Spotlight?

I moved several folders from my Mac to iCloud and I cannot easily find them. Is there an easier way to find them instead of searching in Spotlight?

If you have facing pages, you have to set up the document with facing pages that is what is it for. If you have a spreadwide design as above, keep the spreads together. There is not even one reason not to do so.
Only for wire-O-bindings might a different workflow useful, but also with facing pages documents and only when the left page and the right page have not a spread wide design:
//// I did one mistake, I created a doument with a right binding, but it would work the same way with left binding.)
1. Create a document with Facing Pages.
2. Select the Spread in the Page Panel (Window > Page Panel) and in the panel’s flyout menu deselect "Allow Selected Spread to Shuffle". The spread’s page number will appear in brackets.
3. Select a single page of the spread and drag it to the side until a vertical bar appears.
4. Now you have the result.
Left and right pages have their own spread and will have a bleed around each page without taking information from the other page.

I am using iPhone 4s with no sim card. My WiFi turned grey and isn't working. I've tried many methods like freezing and Resetting the network settings, still not working. Now what should I do? (iOS 7.1.2)

I am using iPhone 4s with no sim card. My WiFi turned grey and isn't working. I've tried many methods like freezing and Resetting the network settings, still not working. Now what should I do? (iOS 7.1.2)

Put in a micro SIM (SIM need not be active) and
Restore from backup
Restore as new
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252

I've lost a book I was writing, using pages. my mac air could not autosave it because my start up disc was full. the computer froze, i turned it off, then back on, and it was working fine but the file was gone.

ow do I recover a Pages file lost because Mac Air start up disc was full and couldn't autosave?

Unless you've done anything to change it, Google keeps every email that ever passes through their server in your All Mail folder/mailbox/label. Even if you delete stuff, they hold onto it, there. You have to go out of your way to actually delete anything permanently.

Am getting message from MacPro that my start up disc is full - but I can't find it and can't figure out what to do to help situation. I've been making a number of imovies, which generates junk files. help?

I am getting message from MacPro that my start up disc is full - but I can't find this "start up disc" and can't figure out what to do to help situation. I've been making a number of imovies, which generates junk files and material that I should toss in the trash, but it is not clear to me what items I can toss and which items I can't toss. Can you help? Using the imovie "help" support the system showed me under the menu item "go" where the "start up disc" should be - but that wasn't actually available on my menu! Thanks for your help!

Disk Utility
Get Info on the icon on Desktop
Try to move this to the MacBook Pro forum
Your boot drive should be 30% free to really perform properly. 10% minimum
Backup, clone, use TimeMachine, use another drive for your projects and movies, replace and upgrade the internal drive even.

When i try to activate facetime and imessage on my ipad it says cannot sign in. Check your network connection and try again. However everything else that needs internet works. What do i need to do?

When i try to activate facetime and imessage on my ipad it says cannot sign in. Check your network connection and try again. However everything else that needs internet works. What do i need to do?

1. Make sure software is up to date
2. Make sure FaceTime is enabled; Settings>FaceTime
3. Make sure Date and Time is correctly set; Settings>General>Date and Time>Set Automatically>On
4. Make sure Push Notification is enabled
5. Make sure phone number or email address is correct
6. Hold the Sleep and Home button down (together) until you see the Apple Logo

Help! My mac turns grey and i cannot sign in. It said "your start up disc is full".

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for