Installed 10.5.3 update and bye bye

Question

I have never had one issue with my mac ever. I installed Leopard and everything was fine, I got my first OSX update and installed it. As soon as it was done I started having problems just about any program I was in online or offline would run for a bit but slowly, then I would move the mouse or click something and there was the spinning ball of death, and then the program would crash. So then it would pop up the would u like to report box and I would say yes, and typing it would pop up another box but when I would fill out the problem and push send it would say (and I can't remember exactly) but could not send and another 2 or 3 box's would pop up. After about 4 times filling them out and sending and it saying not sent. I just hit ignore or no. Still all my programs dyeing on me I thought maybe I should reboot. So I did and my computer has been gone ever since I only get the apple and spinner but before that the world in a box followed by the finder file ? file. I have taken to the genius bar they did a bunch of stuff, to no outcome, and I bought a 500GB external hard drive and tried to boot off macbook save everything then erase and reinstall and transfer back. done every trick everyone has said to do run every fix program I have been given or have and they all say everything is fine and all my hardware is running perfectly, it just seems to be saying that there is no Osx installed to boot from and wont boot off other mac either. What has happend. And is apple gonna step up and help. Because from what I have read online this has happend to a bunch of people? HELP!

Answer 1

Thanks MacJack, u were close let me clarify. I went to apples genius bar twice we started with the basics like option start to boot no go, he tried a couple other things, like a control option shift delete thing that ran a test I passed. Eventualy he broke out his own personal external HD with every os on it and booted from there sorta it showd his HD and A secondary one (mine) he checked and all my stuff was still there. But he found nothing to fix he commented on how clean my computer and system was, but long line not a lot of time. With his HD disconnected nothing had changed we ran the tech tool pro test which checks every piece of harware in your computer and I passed all. We ran the test at the option start mode that is offered and it offers two test basic and extended we ran extended now this is an apple test and says right under extended if you pass you have no hardware issues and that u should call apple and ask them if they are having any issues with any of your software. Passed. So guy says I think what we should do is just leave it here I'll boot up from my HD back up all your stuff. Then erase and reinstall everything up to the software upgrade, then plug my HD back in and put all your stuff back. But he said 8 days and 150$ so I said I'll sleep ok it. He then gives me a number to a local shop here in town thats been keeping mac users going here for 23 years I think 25 something like that he says they'll do it cheaper same day. So I go there same routine and outcome but he says 65$ but no back up to external HD he says hes going to remove my HD replace with brand new install everything, then sled my old HD boot it off the now new HD and put back, this includes extra labor charges he does not know how much and the cost of whatever new HD I choose. So I say what's the 65$ for minnimum just to touch it. I ask why a new HD when every test says it's fine. He want's to guarantee his work. I decline a few days later thinking about how dumb I am for not have backing up my HD along time ago, I think I need a external HD anyway why not go buy one install mac osx 10.4 & 10.5. And then boot my own computer off my own external HD and back up, erase reinstall and transfer back. Then I have a back up of my own I should have already had. Back at the apple store talk to guy about it he says ya great Idea helps me pick out a HD and I'm off untill I get home and can't figure out how he and the other dude had there install software installed on there external HDs so I call the HD company, they say don't do that. Why? Blahh blahh blahh. What do u suggest. He says do u have another mac with osx on it ? Yes. Connect them together USB, FireWire however u want your computer will boot up from that drive connect your external HD to the other computer and back up all your stuff disconnect everything reconnect your computer erase reinstall plug in HD transfer your Gold. Whooooo hooooo! I'm elated except two days of trying and it will not boot off of anything. (except dudes) HD which HD guy says is bad news danger! And yes I have never had a single problem nor heard of a mac that just stops running, untill now I have found hundreds of people that had the same thing happen no solutions (for the ore intell macs) anyway. Just yesterday I found a blog were a whole High school who all had iMac G4s round base just like mine installed the Leopard update and bye bye for all there network. Apples gotta know if our machines are in great shape as far as hardware then installing a software update that eats your computers brain, is something they should step up and fix. At there cost.