IMac G4 in 10.3.8 (I believe) won't reboot after software update

Three or four weeks ago, my Mac came up with available Software Upgrades (I believe one was a new version of iTunes, and there was something else). I just told it to download and went about my business; when it wanted to reboot, I told it to go ahead.
I haven't seen it since.
I've zapped the PRAM. I've tried rebooting in Safe Mode. It just goes back to the gray apple screen. I've tried opening the CD tray to see if I could boot from a startup CD, and the keyboard responds correctly to the command-option-P-R and shift keys, but not to the CD tray button, and I don't see another way into that tray. (I'm also not finding my 10.3 disks, but that's my problem, not yours.)
This is obviously not my primary computer, since I haven't needed it in several weeks; I'm not 100% sure it's in 10.3.8, but I think that's what I saw on the About screen last time I looked. I hope that machine's not dead and buried, but if it is, so be it; I just have some data I need to get from it, and I can't get it to boot so I can pull the files.
Ideas?
Thanks for your time!

I am not sure this will work as you can't boot properly, but try restarting it holding down the mouse to open the CD tray.
If you have found your install CD's and it is possible to insert it in the now open CD, run Repair Permissions and Repair Disk from the Disk Utility from the CD.
Without the CD, perhaps you can get some benefit from this article.
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck.
I would concentrate on the fsck section.

Similar Messages

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    First off, I'd like to say that this is not my computer, rather a friend's; therefore I don't know a lot of what happened before the install.
    So, my friend said that he opened iTunes and got an update message. I asked him if he had ever updated his Mac since he got it (August 2010) and he said no. By the way he explained it, it sounds like when he pressed yes to update, it opened up "software update" and also updated some other things. He was asked if the computer can restart and he said yes.
    When the computer restarted, it showed the usual Apple logo and spinning indicator. But, it also showed a loading progress bar. Now, I am not sure how far it went, he said about 50%, but it then shut itself off. When he tried turning it on again, it did the same thing.
    Finally I showed up and after seeing that happening over and over, I called Apple. The employee told me to safe boot, PRAM, etc and nothing worked. Then I tried verifying and repairing the hard drive using the install disk but the computer got an error saying something like this: "cannot repair disk, try backing up and reinstalling..." The Apple employee told that the computer cannot be fixed and it either had to be "erased and reinstalled" or to try and get the data saved which would cost "hundreds or even thousands."
    Is there any way to fix this? I'd really like to help him save all his pictures, documents, etc. Thank you!
    PS: His computer is a 21.5" iMac (mid 2010 model). I believe it was running 10.6.

    That's because the volume is too damaged to mount. Depending on how valuable the data is, you should either remove the drive and send it to a recovery service, which will be very expensive as you've been advised, or try one of the software packages that purport to be able to recover data from an unmountable partition. I have no experience with those products because I make backups. Maybe someone else here can make a specific recommendation.

  • IMac G3 won't boot after software update

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    Hello HaxMonkey, and a warm welcome to the forums!
    You really need to get yourself a copy of the Tiger Discs.
    See Tom's, (Texas Mac Man), great info on where/how to find/get Tiger...
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9755670&#9755670
    Or Ali Brown's great info on where/how to find/get Tiger...
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10381710#10381710
    What may help is is DiskWarrior, you need the CD though.
    http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
    But others that may work…
    Drive Genius 2…
    http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php
    TechTool Pro 4…
    http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=83

  • Have reformatted my Imac using original discs (installed leopard (10.5)) tried to do the software update but it cant download the itunes update and when it gets to the configure update screen after restart for main update, it just gets stuck. HELP!

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  • I have a late 2006 iMac that has just started giving me a message to reboot after a black screen comes down slowly from the top top of the screen to the bottom.  I reloaded software and restored from Time Machine, it now happens frequently.  Any insight?

    I have a late 2006 iMac that has just started giving me a message to reboot after a black screen comes down slowly from the top top of the screen to the bottom.  I reloaded software and restored from Time Machine, but it keeps happening, now several tomes a day.  Any insight as to the issue or a proposed solution?

    Unplug any peripherals you have except your keyboard, reboot, and check activity monitor for apps.  Keep running apps to a minimum to find the App causing the issue.

  • IMac 10.10.3 crashed completely after Software Update - Wouldn't boot

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    System Software Overview:
          System Version: OS X 10.10.3 (14D131)
          Kernel Version: Darwin 14.3.0
          Boot Volume: Macintosh HD
          Boot Mode: Safe
          Computer Name: X2
          User Name: System Administrator (root)
          Secure Virtual Memory: Enabled
          Time since boot: 11 minutes
    Diagnostic Report:
    X2:DiagnosticReports root# cat Kernel_2015-04-13-183008_X2.panic
    Anonymous UUID: 
    ED5DFD2E-7807-4352-1413-690BEDB208AA
    Mon Apr 13 18:29:58 2015
    *** Panic Report ***
    panic(cpu 6 caller 0xffffff80007bfe45): "Process 1 exec of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 2"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2782.1.97/bsd/kern/kern_exec.c:4060
    Backtrace (CPU 6), Frame : Return Address
    0xffffff83a4b43df0 : 0xffffff800033a811
    0xffffff83a4b43e70 : 0xffffff80007bfe45
    0xffffff83a4b43ef0 : 0xffffff8000799368
    0xffffff83a4b43f10 : 0xffffff80007dc2b1
    0xffffff83a4b43f50 : 0xffffff8000336e46
    0xffffff83a4b43f80 : 0xffffff800041eeae
    0xffffff83a4b43fa0 : 0xffffff800043a40f
    BSD process name corresponding to current thread: init
    Boot args: -x
    Mac OS version:
    Not yet set
    Kernel version:
    Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Sep 19 00:26:44 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2782.1.97~2/RELEASE_X86_64
    Kernel UUID: 89E10306-BC78-3A3B-955C-7C4922577E61
    __HIB  text base: 0xffffff8000100000
    System model name: iMac12,2 (Mac-942B59F58194171B)
    System uptime in nanoseconds: 1563758911
    last loaded kext at 1443586415: com.apple.driver.AppleIRController    327.5 (addr 0xffffff7f81dbc000, size 28672)
    loaded kexts:
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    com.apple.BootCache    35
    com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib    1.0.0d1
    com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver    3.0.1
    com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless    1.0.0d1
    com.apple.driver.XsanFilter    404
    com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage    2.6.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub    705.4.1
    com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet    10.1.2b3
    com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros40    700.74.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI    5.5.2
    com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort    3.0.7
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI    705.4.14
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI    656.4.1
    com.apple.driver.AppleRTC    2.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons    3.1
    com.apple.driver.AppleHPET    1.8
    com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS    2.1
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC    3.1
    com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.7
    com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient    218.0.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementDriver    218.0.0
    com.apple.security.quarantine    3
    com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet    8
    com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall    161
    com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement    218.0.0
    com.apple.kext.MojoKDP    1.0.4
    com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver    705.4.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub    705.4.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite    705.4.9
    com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPOutAdapter    4.0.6
    com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter    4.0.6
    com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily    4.0.6
    com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter    2.0.2
    com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI    3.1.7
    com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily    4.2.1
    com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController    1.0.3b3
    com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient    1.0.1b8
    com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family    700.52
    com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily    3.2
    com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily    4.5.6
    com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily    2.7.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily    705.4.14
    com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM    2.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime    2.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily    2.0.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily    1.1
    com.apple.security.sandbox    300.0
    com.apple.kext.AppleMatch    1.0.0d1
    com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore    2
    com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity    1.0.5
    com.apple.driver.DiskImages    389.1
    com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily    2.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily    4.3.0f10
    com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore    28.30
    com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily    31
    com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager    1.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform    3.1
    com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.9
    com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily    1.4
    com.apple.kec.pthread    1
    com.apple.kec.corecrypto    1.0

    Thank you for the quick response with the link. Unfortunately, it does not have the exact fix for the process launchd:
    panic(cpu 6 caller 0xffffff80007bfe45): "Process 1 exec of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 2"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2782.1.97/bsd/kern/kern_panic(cpu 6 caller 0xffffff80007bfe45): "Process 1 exec of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 2"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2782.1.97/bsd/kern/kern_exec.c:4060exec.c:4060,
    I had installed ManyCam long time ago but this was removed from the command line after the first crash this morning. Removing ManyCam, didn't fix the problem.

  • Slow / Sluggish iMac after Software Update

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