IMac Won't Boot - Won't Repair - Even after Erase and Install

One day my iMac acts weird. Apps bounce but don't open. I restart. I get greyscreen and spinning gear for 1.5 hours. Uh-oh.
Disk Utility run from OS X disk: cannot repair - "Invalid Node Structure" and "Invalid Key Length" - multiple instances.
So I erase volume and install. All goes fine. Install Tiger. Use upgrade to Leopard disk. Leopard boots and apps work (I try Safari and web connects) so I do software update thinking it's fixed.
Huge software update to 10.5.7 plus sundry others. After update reports "Could not install updates" - then it lists a load of updates (keynote, iwork etc) that it cant install.
Say's it'll restart. You guessed it: grey screen and spinning gear for 1.5 hours. Won't boot after forced restart either.
Run disk utility from OS X disk again: same errors, "node"; "key length" etc.
What now? Is 10.5.7 the problem? I have apple care so no major sweat but I need to get this thing operating baby.
PS - my boot camp partition that I have had for months and months still boots. So the HD isn't totally dead. At least can rule that out.

Suggest you do the following:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives.
4. Select the OS X volume (sub-entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
See if this fixes the problem. If it doesn't then there is some corruption in the directory block that reformatting or zeroing is just not able to fix. In such a case the resolution would be to repartition the drive from scratch. However, this will result in the loss of the Boot Camp partition as well.
Unless your Leopard disc is an upgrade-only disc, then you can install Leopard directly - no need to install Tiger first.

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Startup problems, even after erase and install

Hi, i have a polycarbonate black macbook (I think its of the last black ones that were sold), I used to have leopard 10.5.8, and windows xp on it with refit as the boot menu, recently I removed refit, and updated to snow leopard, around that time i started having problems at boot time, either i got stuck at the grey apple screen, or got a prohibitory sign, or most commonly, a kernel panic, that leaves no log by the way. About 1 in 5 tries actually boots up, so I thought I should go the windows way and erase and install. And the problem is still there, I ran a memtest from single user mode, and all ram ended ok.
I have since reinstalled rEFIt, and the problem at least changed, when I turn on the mac, at least the rEFIt logo comes up, sometimes it does load fine, and after that if i choose mac os its exactly as before, if I choose legacy os I get the no boot disk found error (which is what i expect since the computer only has mac os x)
As an aditional note, when the computer does boot, everything works completely normal, the only problems are at boot up time.
EDIT: Just to add that I cant seem to run Apple hardware test, it just doesnt boot holding the D key from either install disk, not before having installed refit, nor after
Hope someone can find some insight in this, im really worried that this could be some logic board failing, I really cant afford such an expense. Thanks, and sorry for the long post, I wanted to detail it as much as possible
Message was edited by: carlosjoan91

If your hardware test boot device was on the hard drive rather than the installer disc, then installing rEFIt may destroy the boot loader originally used causing the loss of an ability to boot into the test. You would likely need an old version of the installer disc that had the hardware test on the disc rather than on the hard drive.
At this point the best thing for you to do is the following:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Reinstall OS X and use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows volume instead of using rEFIt. You'll have fewer problems.

Missing HD Space even after Erase and Install

Ok, so I own a 2.4GHz MBP, 200GB HD 7,200RPM, 4GB of memory... Penryn model that my brother purchased for the each of us back in about August of last year (2008). So recently my brother upgraded to the Unibody and gave me his MBP so that I can give it to my wife. So now, I have 2 of the same exact MBP's.
So the problem that I'm having is that when I did a Erase and Install on the MBP that was given to me, it didn't have the same amount of HD space as the one I originally had. I only know this, because I recently did an Erase and Install on my original MBP and because I wanted a fresh MBP. When I did the Erase and Install on my original MBP, I noticed that it had about 174GB of HD space left.
Now with the MBP that I just received, I did the same exact Erase and Install to my new MBP and it only has 171.71GB of HD space.
Also, I notice after doing the Erase and Install again on the new MBP. I noticed that when I did the Customize portion it stated that I am going to be need 9.2GB of available space and that I have 185GB of available space. So after I did the Erase and Install, shouldn't it have about 174GB of space like my original MBP. And that's why I know my new MBP is missing HD space.
So my question is that, why am I missing HD space on my new MBP after Erase and Install and what can I do to get it right. Why wouldn't have the two computers have the same specs after Erase and Install has been done exactly the same way? (The only reason I did the Erase and Install on the new MBP is so that I can configure it for my wife with her login and info.)
Sorry for the long read... but here are the cliff notes.
1. I have 2 MBP that are exactly the same.
2. I did an Erase and Install on both MBP.
3. After Erase and Install, one of them has about 3GB less HD space.
If anyone can help me, please let me know. I will post replies here as well.
Otherwise, I will be taking it back to Apple since it's still under warranty.
Thanks

But my problem is right after the same exact Erase and Install on both, they have different free space.
How could you possibly know this without using the drives? IOW, how & when are you checking the drives' capacity & the used & available space of each?
Again, I've noticed that the HD space specifies that it has 185.99GB of available space after the OS, but once you add certain things, it specifies that it will be using 9.2GB of the available 185.99GB.
What do you mean by "185.99GB of available space after the OS"? What are the "certain things" & what is the "it" that specifies 9.2GB will be used?
If you really mean each drive is showing a *total capacity* of 185.99 GB (before or after installing anything), this is right for a "200 GB" drive. That is because the drive capacity specification is given in decimal based gigabytes but the computer reports capacity in binary based ones. (See paragraph 3 in my post at http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9389432&#9389432 or search this forum for the word "gibibyte" for more about that.) This number should not change when something is installed -- it is the total capacity of the drive.
If the "certain thing" that says 9.2 GB (or whatever) is the installer application, be advised that it is telling you +the free space needed for the installation+, which is not that same thing as +the space used by the installed files+ once the process is complete. This is because the installer requires temporary file space to assemble the files it will install, hold the results of pre- & post- installation checks, & so on. This temporary space is eventually freed up once the files are in place. In part because of this, the reported space needed is only an estimate, & is always more than the space used by the installed files. (IOW, if it says 9.2 GB are needed for the installation, you should always see less than this used by the sum of all the files installed.)
Thus, as I have already explained as best as I know how, you need to look not just at the free space of each drive but at the total capacity, the number of files & folders used on each volume, & the partition map if you want to make a meaningful comparison of the two drives. I have already explained how to do this using Disk Utility. If you are not willing to do that but instead rely on what appear to be flawed inferences from other things, I can't help you any more than I already have.

Kernal panic occurs, even AFTER erase and install

Help! Just erased hard drive on my iBook G4 and I'm still getting a kernal panic!
I used the OS 10.4.3 install disk that came with the computer. After restarting I went to Software Update and got the "gray screen of death."
I don't think this is a hardware issue since the kernal panics started on one of my other Macs (an old eMac) at about the same time. Too much of a coincidence for it to be hardware-related.

Can you post some of your crash logs? Might be a clue. See Mac OS X: How to log a kernel panic http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2546
Kernel panics are usually caused by a hardware problem – frequently RAM, a USB device or a Firewire device. What external devices do you have connected? When trying to troubleshoot problems, disconnect all external devices. Do you experience the same problems?
To eliminate RAM being the problem, Look at this link: *Testing RAM* @ http://guides.macrumors.com/Testing_RAM Then download & use Memtest & Ramber.
May be a solution on one of these links.
Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ
Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ
Resolving Kernel Panics
Avoiding and eliminating Kernel panics
12-Step Program to Isolate Freezes and/or Kernel Panics
 Cheers, Tom

My 2006 iMac running Snow Leopard won't boot even after erasing and re-installing Snow Leopard (via my MacBookPro), either from the HD or DVD drive. Can't get it to run Hardware Test. Disk Utility says disk OK - files are there. What can I do?

My 2006 iMac running Snow Leopard won't boot even after erasing and re-installing Snow Leopard. I erased and re-installed by putting the iMac in Target Disk mode and usin my MacBookPro as the host. But after numerous attempts I still can't get it to boot either from the HD or DVD drive. I just get the white screen after the wheel stops spinning. I can't get it to run Hardware Test - just get the white screen. If I use Disk Utility via my MBP it says the disk appears OK. All the Snow Leopad files appear to have been installed. What can I do?

Hi-NRG Bwoy wrote:
I erased and re-installed by putting the iMac in Target Disk mode and using my MacBookPro as the host.
Reet the SMC and the PRAM
 Cheat sheet to help diagnose and fix your Mac
Perhaps you installed the wrong version OS X onto the iMac, you can't use the disk from another Mac.
clean the disk.
If it's not working then use this method to create a bootable 10.6 USB from the iMac machine specific 10.6 disk or the 10.6.3 retail disk on your other Mac, use it to boot the iMac with.
http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6

Firefox preferences won't save even after a re-install ...

This is the second time I've had this problem, the first time in November last year ... and I tried SO MANY things last time that I don't know which step(s) actually did the trick. I'm running Win 7 Pro SP 1 on a Dell Inspiron 580, with F-Secure as my internet shield.
I recently had a minor update to FF, following which I can no longer set my preferences, in fact FF keeps opening up 2 tabs - the 'First run' page and 'Firefox Start' page. Also, up until today, it would also ask me to set FF as my default browser (& Thunderbird as my default email client).
I have:
Re-started my machine (numerous times);
Regular F-Secure full system scans;
Run TDSSKILLER and Anti-Malwarebytes over my system, with no significant results (- a lot of utorrent menu bar stuff that was removed, and a couple of other miscellaneous bits an pieces);
Uninstalled FF using Revo Uninstaller with a full forced scan. Interestingly, you would expect (I think) that this would remove ALL traces of FF from my system, but as soon as I re-installed FF (after a re-start) ALL of my bookmarks/history/etc were magically in place!?
FF keeps creating new prefs.js files when I try to change options, but each of the subsequent files (prefs-xx.js) shows as 0 KB.
I'm REALLY comfortable with FF and don't want to move to another browser (Chrome?), but not being able to change ANY settings is getting REALLY frustrating ...
Any help you can offer would be gratefully accepted.
flashfletch

This link is mostly useful.
The last instruction offered: (To permanently resolve this issue, after reactivating CS6, update the Adobe Application Manager by launching it. It is advised that you install any available updates for your CS6 applications as well.)
How do I update applications via Adobe App Mngr? The 'Help' window in Adobe App Mngr does not offer an 'Update' option. My Adobe App Mngr says my purchased apps are not registered (app status is
"Try"). What are my next steps?
Using OS = Win 7, 64 bit on a laptop. I have uploaded screen shots of Adobe App Mngr window for further clarification.
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After erase and install my photo library won't load - please, please help

I hope you can help. I backed up my mac then installed snow leopard - I had many issues with this and decided to erase and install normal leopard. I copied the iphoto library from my ext. HD to my pictures folder and thought once I opened iphoto that they would load but they haven't. I looked in my pictures folder and there were two iphoto libraries: the one I just copied and another much smaller one with (original) by the side of it. I did the whole hold down 'apple + control' on starting iphoto and 17 photos imported, I presumed these came from the (original) library and so I moved that library out of the pictures folder. I started iphoto again holding 'apple + control) and again the same 17 photos. I know my photos are here somewhere and they are so precious to me. I would so grateful if someone could help.

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
To choose a Library is simply hold the +option (or alt)+ key on launch.
Regards
TD

B110a colour cartridges not working even after buying and installing new ones!!!!

i have just got the B110a and have a persistent problem with the colour cartridges not aligning. Despite numerous head cleanings and putting brand new cartridges in i still don't get any colour...........so far to try and resolve the problem i have done the following
With the 'set-up' colour inks
switched off and unplugged printer and laptop, powered everything up and tried again
done numerous printhead cleans
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With brand new set of colour cartridges
switched off and unplugged printer and laptop, powered everything up and tried again
done numerous printhead cleans
tried numerous alignments
I'm at a loss, and pretty fed up wish my trusty old Dell printer worked with the new laptop.......

A new phone has a warranty. So take it to an Apple store. If they can't fix it, they will replace the phone. Or do you mean: it stopped working after 9 days, but then you waited until the warranty ran out and then ask us?

Pages, Numbers, Keynote won't launch even after reinstall

After a new OS (10.5.8) install none of my iLife (09) or iWork (09) apps worked. I reinstalled iLife successfully. But, my iWork apps won't launch even after a reinstall from the original DVD and updating to 4.0.4
My trouble shooting steps so far have been a reinstall from DVD, software update, permissions repair.
Dyld Error Message:
Library not loaded: /Library/Application Support/iWork '09/Frameworks/Inventor.framework/Versions/C/Inventor
Referenced from: /Applications/iWork '09/Pages.app/Contents/MacOS/Pages
Reason: image not found

First deinstall iWork. You can download Yvans script from _https://public.me.com/koenigyvan_ named
uninstall iWork '09.zip. Then restart the computer. Install iWork from the DVD and update it. Try the apps inWork again.
Come back and tell us about the result.

I want to turn my macbook air off. the shut down button already appeared but the mouse/cursor just hang and won't work. even after pressing the enter button to shut my mac off won't work. what will i do?

i want to turn my macbook air off. the shut down button already appeared but the mouse/cursor just hang and won't work. even after pressing the enter button to shut my mac off won't work. what will i do?

This is not a reply. I just want to elaborate on this problem.
My computer freezes occasionally when it is used after being sleep for a while. The spinning ball appears and everything is totally disabled. Nothing on the keyboard works.
The mouse moves, but does not work.
The only solution is to turn the power off and on (losing all data in open applications.)
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Firefox 18.4%
Activity Monitor 0.9%
Firefox Plugin 0.2%
This is all the information I have. By the way, I am using iMac with OS 10.6.

I downloaded ios7 and now some apps won't open even after resetting them. Don't won't to lose my info by deleting them and starting over. What to do?

I downloaded ios7 and now some apps won't open even after resetting don't won't to lose my info by deleting and starting over.. What to do?

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My itunes won't launch even after reinstalling. Looked in itunes folder and somehow lost itunes library? HELP!

My itunes won't launch even after reinstalling. Looked in itunes folder and somehow lost itunes library? HELP!

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Bugie: Perform a Thorough & Complete Uninstall and Reinstall of iTunes/QuickTime.
Hope this helps.

I had original iPhoto app from 2007, but in the last year it stopped working seemingly out of nowhere. Now I just installed iPhoto 9.5.1 but it won't open even after downloading the iPhoto Library Updater. My pictures are lost in the abyss.

I had original iPhoto app from 2007 or 2008, but in the last year it stopped working seemingly out of nowhere. Now I just installed iPhoto 9.5.1 but it won't open even after downloading the iPhoto Library Updater. My pictures are lost in the abyss.
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I just installed iPhoto 9.5.1 but it won't open even after downloading the iPhoto Library Updater
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HT1338 I'm Trying to upgrade from Mac OS X 10.5 to Mac OS X 10.6, but my imac won't let me... and yes it's intel based

I'm Trying to upgrade from Mac OS X 10.5 to Mac OS X 10.6, but my imac won't let me... and yes it's intel based

Hello, what exactly happens when you try?
Os it a Retail Install Disc, or did it come with a different Mac?
Fo you have enough RAM & Free space?
Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...
General requirements
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    * Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
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Acrobat pro won't launch even after trying deactivate

Having problems with CS6 running on 10.8.5
Acrobat Pro won't launch even after trying the"deactivate" solution
Also, indesign have has a few glitches...can only save file once...no resave or save as
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Hi Jtiger74,
Please update all of your CS6 applications via the Adobe Application Manager. The updates contain a patch to prevent this issue from happening again.
Refer the KB : CS6 applications in Creative Cloud unexpectedly revert to trial mode
Regards,
Rave

IMac Won't Boot - Won't Repair - Even after Erase and Install

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