Internal HD on mac mini not well... need to boot in Single User Mode

Internal HD on mac mini not well... need to boot in Single User Mode.
I only have a Bluetooth Keyboard and Bluetooth Mouse so when I try to boot in Single User Mode (to do the /sbin/fsck hard drive fix thing) it doesn't see the Bluetooth Keyboard. What's the solution?
I also used SuperDuper to use as a boot drive but it won't unmount my internal HD. arghh..
Help

I have a corrupt drive and was unable to repair all the errors after booting from OS X installer disk and choosing Disk Utility...
I followed the "boot into single user mode" instructions hoping to complete my repair with fsck, however once I got to the localhost:/ root# prompt, my keyboard seemed to be unrecognized!
I tried 3 different USB keyboards - original Apple USB keyboard, Kensington Mac USB keyboard and an old SGI USB windows keyboard. All were able to enter the apple-S key to get into single user mode but NONE of them were able to type any commands whatsoever.....
I'm thinking my only option is to boot the mini as a target drive off my laptop and try to backup my 30GB of music and photos before wiping the drive...
2nd option might be to try Disk Warrior for $79??
Anyone else have ideas for me?

Similar Messages

Mac mini i5 mid 2011 always boot in single user mode...how to get out of this?

my mac mini always boot into single user mode
how can i revert back to normal boot screen?
i tried formatting the hard disk and clean install of mac os x 10.9.2 but nothing change..
pls help
mac mini ...core i5 @2.3 ghz mid 2011 model
thanks in advance

Restart the computer with the Option, Command, P, and R keys held down. Release them upon the second startup chime.
(110762)

Unable to boot normally - Always need to boot with Single User Mode

Hi Community,
Since last few days, I am unable to boot my Macbook Pro normally, running latest version of OS X Yosemite. When I boot, it goes to grey screen with Apple logo and progress bar, once the progress completes to 100% (after 5-10 minutes which is very longer than usual), it asks me to 'Select language' which seems like fresh installation of OS X. In that case, when I click next and it doesn't detect my SSD (blank list of select installation disk/drive).
After reading some threads, I found work-around and always need to boot into Single user mode (by pressing Command+S during power on) and then need to run following commands...
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
"device is write protected" numerous times
reboot
and then only it loads OS X and displays login screen. This happens all the times and I need to follow above steps always to get login screen.
How can I fix this?

Please help me out here. I tried booting it off a USB flash drive with ATV flash but that gave me some errors and prompted me to login with username [email protected] with password frontrow
But I am not sure how to get to login using a suitable input. I tried to telnet it using my PC over network but I dont think it has initialized anything (like wifi or network) at the prompt. Would it take USB keyboard input? All I can do is remove the power and restart it with the usb flash out and get into then get into the recovery loop. I am not sure replacing the hard-drive would help. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sinu

Need to figure out how to remove an unknown admin password on a mac. used the install disc with not luck. tried some commands in single user mode, no luck.

need to figure out how to remove an unknown admin password on a mac.
used the install disc with not luck. tried some commands in single user mode, no luck.

need to figure out how to remove an unknown admin password on a mac.
used the install disc with not luck. tried some commands in single user mode, no luck.

Booting in single user mode to trouble shoot grey screen the boot stops at "CODE SIGNING .... clearing CS_VALID" will not command c past - stuck

booting in single user mode to trouble shoot grey screen the boot stops at "CODE SIGNING .......... clearing CS_VALID" - cannot command C past - just stuck

Hi opjml0,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
If your Macbook is starting up to the gray screen, I suggest the steps in the following article.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
I hope this helps,
-Joe

Command Line Expert Needed: Deleted hostconfig (+ others) - boots to single user mode only !

Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.11
Deleted folders/files when logged in as root user. (don't ask!)
On restart , wont boot up , get grey screen with white apple logo the black screen with command line: localhost:/ root#
Started up from install cd - repaired permissions (ran twice) & verified hard drive . All okay.
Restarted but still goes back into command line with same localhost:/ root prompt
Tried a bunch of different things as per advice on these boards - discovered that there is no hostconfig file.
Restarted into verbose mode.
Here are the lines that i think may reveal exactly what I messed up - and hopefully someone out there has an idea how I can try to fix without having to do an archive/install.
BSM auditing present
disabled
rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: (here a very long string of numbers and letters looks like a password)
Then a long line about
"got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC2PE ........."
Then, the following
"BSD root: disk0s3, major 14, minor 2"
"CSRHIDTransitionDriver::stop"
"IOBluetoothHCIController::start Idle Time Stopped"
(AND HERE'S THE BIGGIE:)
/etc/rc: line 93: /etc/hostconfig: No such file or directory
Apr 1. 06:01:44 launched: /bin/sh on /etc/rc terminated abnormally, going into single user mode
localhost:/ root#
I'm pretty sure I messed thing up pretty well - was mainly network/server folders and files - definitely samba, which I think I deleted, and under "network" in the finder, I also might have deleted my computer from the server list
As an aside in case this provides any insight, when I go to the terminal app when starting up from install cd, the prompt reads :
"bash-2.05b"
I'm also able to see the contents of my hard drive when using disk utility from install cd and and trying to "mount image" ---
Everything looks intact in terms of folders/files in my user account, but in the /root folder, there's only /library - which is empty.
Any help, insight, troubleshooting and even scolding - will be welcome! I need this thing booted
Cheers

I do not have a backup. Should I back up before I try doing a reinstall of the os x?
That's also known as shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.
It can't hurt, but it's not going to help much.
Camelot: when you say "apps and user content should stay intact" - doesn't sound very definitive. Are there any variables that come into play?
No.. generally it's pretty reliable, but yours is an odd situation. I wouldn't expect to lose any user data, just CYA
I do have a start up disk along with some apps that I created in retrospect many years ago ....(I think it's os x 10.2.8) Can I use this to boot up and then just navigate to my user files so I can get some things done that I need to?
Unlikely. For one have you even tried restoring from your Retrospect backup? (it's not the most reliable system).
Secondly, you can't boot from your Retrospect backup, so you'll need to restore that system to boot from it. Have you got a second disk to restore to (you do NOT want to restore 10.2.x over your 10.4.x system).
in terms of "random deleted files" : not entirely random
Ok, maybe not entire random, but it's also somewhat unknown. You need to have some idea of what files you're trying to restore, but if you haven't got them in a backup where are you going to get them from?
You cannot just take old copies from your 10.2.x system and hope they'll work (in case that's what you're thinking).
The BEST solution is to boot from the 10.4.x installer disk and let it do its thing.
And for what its worth, Unauthorized access attempts, in and of themselves, are not a cause for concern since they were clearly caught by the OS. It's the access attempts that succeed (and are not logged) which are more of an issue.

Restore DB from backup with move - need to set to single user mode first and then reset to multiuser?

Im going to restore a recent backup from a production server DB to a test server DB and I want to do it through tsql. The DB already exists on the test server, I just want to overwrite it with a fresh copy. There may or may not be some activity
on the test server that is connected to the database, but its not important and can be abandoned/discarded.
This is what Im getting ready to do
First, get an idea of what the file paths are specified in the backup file
RESTORE FILELISTONLY FROM DISK = 'file_back_to_backup here .back .dat etc'
Then, set the DB to singleuser mode, and discard any connections/transactions currently started
ALTER DATABASE MyDBName
SET SINGLE_USER WITH
ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE
Then, do the restore, specifying the paths to the mdf/ldf files that already exist.
RESTORE DATABASE MyDBName
FROM DISK
WITH MOVE 'db logical name' TO 'new data path .mdf', MOVE 'log logical name' TO 'new log path.ldf';
Questions:
(1) If I specify the data and log file paths as ones that already exist, will they be overwritten? This is what I want, as I just want to copy the prod db over to the test server.
(2) Do I need to explicitly reset the DB back to multiuser mode, or does this happen after the restore?
(3) Anything missing from the above script(s) ? Suggestions?

Questions:
(1) If I specify the data and log file paths as ones that already exist, will they be overwritten? This is what I want, as I just want to copy the prod db over to the test server.
(2) Do I need to explicitly reset the DB back to multiuser mode, or does this happen after the restore?
(3) Anything missing from the above script(s) ? Suggestions?
1.Just restore the backup with REPLACE command and it will overwrite the current database.
2.No , database will be automatically put to Multi user mode if you are restoring with recovery
3. Single user script is fine .Change restore script like no need to use with move option
restore database db_name from disk='location' with replace
Please mark this reply as the answer or vote as helpful, as appropriate, to make it useful for other readers
I think I will still need WITH MOVE, as the files in the backup are using a different path than where they are located on the test server, correct?
RESTORE DATABASE MyDBName
FROM DISK
WITH MOVE 'db logical name' TO 'new data path .mdf', MOVE 'log logical name' TO 'new log path.ldf' WITH
REPLACE;

Mac won't start past blue screen, tried booting in single user mode said HD was ok, tried changing start up permission still no desktop

Followed this:
http://macs.about.com/od/MacTroubleshootingTips/qt/Troubleshooting-Mac-Startup-P roblems-Stuck-At-The-Blue-Screen.htm
And this:
http://macs.about.com/od/faq1/f/emergencystart.htm
Still no luck, I have an external ready to transfer to free up disk space, can I use command prompt to transfer to external or is there easier way ?
Thanks

Since not one else is jumping in, I’ll give some suggestions.
Try
Mac OS X 10.6: If you see a blue screen at startup - Support - Apple
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH7212
OS X Mountain Lion: If you see a blue screen at startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11043
Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/startupitems.html
You can always seek free help at an Apple store of for a fee at an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Genius reservation http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ .
or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider https://locate.apple.com/country

Mac Mini - Flashing Folder Icon / No boot / Loud fans

I recently got my Mac Mini back after 8 months of it being 'elsewhere' (someone had it, tried to gain access, failed because I have filevault).
When I first got it back yesterday I turned it on, booted and then logged in, noticed no sound, and system was saying there was no sound card. The computer wasn't lagging or freezing whatsoever, so I reset it and still no sound.
I open it up and what do you know, someones opened it (I assume to get to the HDD) and had unclipped the sound card ribbon. Reseated that and put it back together, turn it on and finally a chime, but then nothing, White screen, and fans turn on full blast. I reset it, same thing. Reset it about 10 times, only thing I noticed was half the time my mouse cursor would show and let me move the cursor around.
So I take it apart again, check all connections, restart, same symptoms.
Pull it apart again and try installing 1 RAM chip at a time, same symptoms.
I tried booting it with resetting PRAM, NVRAM, I tried starting holding option, pressing c, everything, and nothing happens! Same symptoms. I tried holding down power for 10 seconds, hear a long beep, then chime, same symptoms!
So I take it apart again, take out hard drive, check connections (all ok), put it back in, same symptoms.
Anyway I got angry so i turned it on and left it doing it's White screen business. Come back 45 minutes later, flashing folder icon with '?'
I reboot, wait 15 again, same folder icon, loud fan, nothing else.
This doesn't make sense, HDD was fine 5 minutes before, no noises at all, no lag, no errors. I didn't touch the hard drive previously to the problem, and now nothing is helping. I've had the hard drive replaced 2 years ago due to near failure, but saved all data by cloning the disk, the HDD isn't old!
I just bought an external HDD enclosure, should arrive soon, and a new HDD, issue is this disk is filevaulted, I'm scared my data is going to be lost for good.
What can I do? I've lost my OS X disc, but judging by the computer being unresponsive to other commands at boot I doubt it would boot a CD anyway.
Please help.
Thanks

Whew, what a bad ride.
Does it also have Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.
Force Removing Password Protection
1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.
2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).
http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php
Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...
/sbin/fsck -fy
Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.
(Space between fsck AND -fy important).
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Why can't I enter single user mode on my Mac Mini for an admin password reset?

Hi,
I recently created a new user account for my mac and deleted the old one, not realising that this was the only account with admin priveleges. As such, I no longer have access to administrator priveleges, and cannot grant them to my new user account.
I have tried to boot in single user mode and recovery mode but neither command results in any reaction on the part of my computer.
This thread follows on from a previous, unrelated disscussion:
BDAqua: If you hold alt key at bootup do you see a lock in the middle?
Yenots: No...what does this mean?
BDAqua: If it did, it would mean Firmware Password Protection was enabled, which prevents booting in other modes, so that's not the problem, are you using a wired Mac KB, or Windows KB?
Yenots: I'm using an 'Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad' [ http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MB110B/B/apple-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-br itish ]
If you find me here BDAqua, hit me with your knowledge!
Any other contributions are welcome and, now we're under the right heading, will hopefully help other users who have encountered this problem.
Thanks, Cristo

Hi,
Thanks for the link to MacPilot, and the sexy screenshot. I found an archived version for 10.4 on the koingosw website. That solves getting into single user/safe mode. Though I'd be interested to see whether sudo nvram boot-args="-s" will result in single user boot.
As for creating administrator priveleges for my new user account, I've found a method which looks good:
     \single user mode\
     cmd-s
     \mount drive\
     mount -uw
     \open 'directory access'\
     lauchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectory.plist
     \list users\
     ls /Users
     \change password\
     dscl . passwd /Users/<username> <password>
I think that this method intends that if I change the root users password I'll be changing the administrator password (as root is the only user with administrator priveleges), and subsequently be able to change my new user accounts priveleges using 'netinfomanager'. But I'm not 100%. Could you give me your opinion on this?
Furthermore, three keys 'L' 'O' and '(' aren't working on my keyboard, which means I can't try this until I find an intact keyboard to borrow. I was thinking maybe a mod version of the above instructions would work in terminal using sudo, so I could use the keyboard viewer to type the missing characters. If you have any ideas on constructing such a mod I would be interested to hear them.
Otherwise, Thank You for your help BDAqua! And enjoy your summer wherever you are.

Single-User Mode Copying Files/System Does not Boot Past Apple Logo Screen

I have a Macbook 2.0GHZ, 2GB RAM, that recently tried to download a secuirty and keynot update. Following the download the system will no longer boot past the Apple Logo Screen with the spinning wheel. I do not have access to a OS disk yet or to a firewire cable either. I've have seen posts from others that describe how to use traget disk mode to reinstall the secuirty update manually and then they can boot their computer. Safe mode will not work. I did boot into single-user mode and run the disk utility there and it says my HD is OK. Since I do not have a firewire or an OS Disk, I am wondering if there is a way to copy those files i need to a USB pen stick then install them onto the computer via single-user mode, considering this is the only way I can boot and manipulate the machine at this time. If this is not possible please let me know so I can find a way to scrounge up a firewire cable or disk. Thank you in advance for any assistance.
Ted K

Thanks to Limnos and BDAqua I know you guys have helped others with these kind of problems from the other posts I read. I just want to list what I did exactly in case anyone wants to try to do this with a usb drive or does not have access to a boot disk or firewire cable.
1: Install security update on a pen drive
2: Boot in single user mode, CMD-S on startup
3: /sbin/mount -uw /
4: mkdir /Volumes/usb (usb can be any name, name of usb drive or anything you want)
5: ls /dev (you need to get the drive listing for the usb drive to mount it appropriately, it should be disk#s# but this is close to what the HD and Cd drives are listed as so you may need to list once before you put the usb stick in and once ater. I had issues inserting the usb drive in single-user mode and it would freeze up the root drive)
6: /sbin/mount_msdos /dev/disk1s1 /Volumes/usb (this mounts the usb drive, i had to use msdos because of how my usb drive was formatted, you may need to check your usb drive format, hfs is the apple format for usb drives but it did not work for me)
7: cp /Volumes/usb/SecUpd2009-001Intel.dmg (this copies the files from the usb drive to the root drivel, at this point you no longer need the usb drive)
8: hdiutil mount /SecUpd2009-001Intel.dmg (this mounts the disk image)
9: cd /Volumes/"Security Update 2009-001" (after i mounted the image this is how it appeared in the Volumes directory, you might need to do ls /Volumes to get the name, the quotes are important to get the whole file directory changed)
10: installer -pkg SecUpd2009-001Intel.pkg -target / (this installs the acutal update, i used the SecUpd2009-001Intel.pkg and it worked though I think you might be able to use "Security Update 2009-001" with quotes as well.)
11: reboot
i hope this helps anyone looking to do this. Thanks again to those who helpes and all the other posts that had information that helped me identify and then fix my issue! I still love my mac.

I changed my wheel group properties to no access at top disk level. I messed up, how can I change back in single user mode "command s" as I am now in Thailand and not able to access startup disks?

I messed up, I changed my "Wheel group" properties to No Access ( or something other than the default) at the top level of my startup disk "Macintosh HD".   Now my computer won't start up, I just get the spinning wheel of death.    I also am in Thailand right now, so I cannot go to a Genius at an apple store, nor do I have startup disks available.
So I was hoping there was a way to change back the properties of my disk (Volume) in single user mode (via Command +s) during startup, i.e. can I do a chmod command on the Macintosh HD listing under the Volume Directory.    Or where do i fix this?   Is it fixable without startup disks, etc...
THANKS FOR ANY HELP!!!!
If you could also please let me know you have an answer, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!
thanks so much
mark
<Edited by Host>

Thomas,
Thanks for the info on command-R, didn't know about that!!!
Yes I changed the sharing "Wheel Group" permissions on my hard drive via Get Info.    But that's all I did.    And then most of the apps wouldn't respond with anything.    So not knowing I did something stupid, I decided to re-boot, and then nothing but the Wheel of Death at startup.
I was trying to limit access to my computer on this network, changed my public folder settings, and then I thought why not the whole hard drive, but at that time I had no idea what the "Wheel Group" was... so I shouldn't have touched it, BUT IT DID ...... argggggg....
I managed to go to an internet cafe & research the problem yesterday.    I used the command +s single mode to get in, and then did the necessary steps to mount the drive so I could make changes.   I basically did this:
Boot into single-user mode (boot while holding down CMD-S)
Follow the on-screen instructions to mount the file system as read-write (a fsck command followed by a mount command)
Type the following: "chmod o+r /" followed by "chmod o+x /"
Type "exit" to leave single user mode and complete the boot sequence.
I found it at this link http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=416180
It worked... thank God!!!   Well so far so good.
I was going to try my own fix by chmod on the Hard drive listed under Volumes directory, but that doesn't seem to match the info under Get Info Window.    So I just used the fix above.    I probably should now go and do "Disk Utility - repair permissions", however I am a little gun shy right now, so I will probably wait until I am back in the States so I can go to an Apple store if it messes up.   Right now I'm following the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" MOTTO...
So Thomas I just wanted to say THANKS for replying so quickly, and I really appreciate your help!!!
(yes I know I shouldn't have used my email addresses, but I WAS DESPERATE, but that's still no excuse)
Hopefully maybe this thread will help someone else out in the future....
Okay, thanks again!
Mark

Smf / sometimes does not configure network interfaces in single-user mode?

From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solarisx86/message/14785
When booting into single user mode, I often get a message
on the console
t_optmgmt: System error: Cannot assign requested addressand only the loopback interface is configured (lo0 inet, and lo0 inet6).
The system's dnet0 interface is not plumbed any more. Configuration
for the dnet0 network interface is via a static ip address; hostname
in /etc/hostname.dnet0, and and ip v4 address for that hostname in
/etc/hosts. This was a Solaris 10 x86 system, but the same problem
has also been observed on Solaris 10 sparc, and the hme0
interface.
svcs -x in single-user mode reports no problems.
Changing to multi-user mode by typing Ctrl-D still does not
configure the real network interface.
One thing that I've noticed is that smf's log file
/etc/svc/volatile/network-physical:default.log
is missing, when the nic interface was not configured.
It seems that the problem with unconfigured network interfaces
does not happen when I boot directly into multi-user mode.
Why isn't the physical interface plumbed and configured when
booting into single user mode on S10 b69?

Hi everyone,
I too have internet connection problem
I have installed Solaris 10 on my Compaq Presario M2000 series
Solaris Management Console Details:
Hostname: HOME
Host ID: 116c4141
Model: i86PC
no of CPUs: 1
CPU: 0
Type: Genuine Intel 6.13.8
Clock Speed: 1,500 MHz
Usage: 1%
Status: Online
Software SunOS 5.10
Physical Mem: 222 MB
Virtual Mem: 729 MB
Virt MEM used: 41 % (298/729) 413 MB available
IP address: 172.19.16.96
Network Connection rtls0: Sending & Receiving Packets
When running WinXP in my laptop before for same IP:
IP address: 172.19.16.96
Subnet mask: 255.255.240.0
Default Gateway: 172.19.31.254
while booting the OS said NFS+ version 4 was detected and the router IP is automatically configured or there is no specific individual router IP, says something like this
# ifconfig -a:
lo0: flag = 2001000849<UP,LOOPBACK, RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4,VIRTUAL>mtu 8232 index 1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
rtls0: flags = 1000843<UP, BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4>mtu 1500 index 2
inet 172.19.16.96 netmask ffff0000 BROADCAST 172.19.255.255
ether 0:c0:9f:8c:c9
lo0: flags=2002000849<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4,VIRTUAL>mtu 8252 index 1
inet 6 :: 1/128
rtls0: flags = 2000840<RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4>mtu 1500 index 2
inet fe80::2c0:9fff:fe9a:8cc 9/10
ether 0:c0:9f:9a:8c:c9
I have modified the files and checked them:
1. etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 local host
172.19.16.96 HOME loghost
2. etc/hostname.rtls0
HOME
3. etc/hostname6.rtls0
HOME
4. etc/netmasks
172.19.16.255 255.255.240.0
I don't know the network IP so i just write this, can anyone tell me how to find the network IP
5. etc/defaultrouter
172.19.31.254
I made this file and wrote the default gateway IP address, can anyone tell me how to find default router IP since the NFS+ version 4 auto detects or auto assigns router IP
6. etc/resolv.conf
domain myhost.com
nameserver: 172.19.16.12
nameserver: 172.19.16.13
still domain name has't been set, i just wrote this, can anyone tell me how to find the domain name or create one. also the name server is just a fake, but how to find one. If i will be connecting my laptop to various IP whereever i go, so do i need to configure network setting again and again ? isn't there any auto network configuration so that i can connect internet where ever i go and let the system auto configure network settings like in windows XP auto IP configuration detect.
7. etc/nsswitch.conf
in this i can't see "hosts: files" but i could see rest of the details. so I inserted "hosts: files dns" in the third line and saved.
I ran the following command in the terminal to find the details:
#ypmatch host-name hosts
ypmatch: the domainname hasn't been set on this machine
(how to set domain name can anyone tell me?)
#move/etc/netmasks: not found
#uname -n
HOME
#cat/etc/nsswitch.conf
cat/etc/nsswitch.conf: not found
#domain name
domain: not found
#ypwhich
ypwhich: the domainname has'nt been set to this machine
#nismatch nameserver-name hosts.org-dir
hosts.org-dir: Error in accessing NIS+ cold file.......is NIS+ installed?
actually during installation i selected DNS type for network giving a wrong nameserver and domain got skipped later
#getent ipnodes dns (no response)
so all these things i did and found by seeing the forum guidelines. I can see the network connection has receivinh and sent packets seems to be working but can't browse internet, also can't ping a website.
if anyone had the same problem but found the answer than kindly let me know. I am new to solaris but i am trying my best.
awaiting reply from gurus
bye for now.................

Help needed: Lion boots only in single user mode after a kasperksy unsuccefull installation

Hello everyboby,
I used to be a Sun Solaris sysadmin with root privileges, but I can't fix the Macbook of my girlfriend...
WHAT I WISHED:
I wished I could restore the boot INI/config files of a MacBook (the old one, made of white plastic, not the pro, made of "steel"), so that Lion started at boot, like it used to do, before a "fatal" kasperky installation.
WHAT HAPPENS:
the macbook plays the chord, shows the Apple logo, seems to load the OS (Lion) and then switches to graphic mode, BUT the desktop (is "desktop" the name of the screen of the operating system, once it's fully started, like on a PC?) doesn't appear, only a grey screen, then nothing happens.
I guess that probably Lion is fully running under the grey screen, but without the screen/video been correctly setup, I cannot interact with the notebook.
I CAN boot in single user mode, mount the file system in writing mode and read and write the disk.
WHAT HAPPENED:
my girlfriend upgraded to Lion from Snow Leopard and used the notebook for a while (one month?), then she decided to upgrade kaspersky, but the installation failed somehow and now the notebook is stuck.
WHAT I TRIED TO DO:
- I read this: http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystem Startup/Chapters/CustomLogin.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000172i-SW10-BAJCGEGG
- and that: http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/ man5/launchd.conf.5.html#//apple_ref/doc/man/5/launchd.conf
- and removed from the disk all the folders and files dealing with startup items AND kaspersky, but nothing changed: at boot the grey screen appears and Lion's interface is not loaded (or if it is, it's not shown).
- then I looked for some logs, found the kernel's one and found something that looks like an error message dealing with video inizialization... So, it really seems something is not working at video level.
WHAT I AM ASKING YOU:
some help, please... : is there anybody that can give me some specific advice on how the boot is done on a macbook with Lion? Are there some INI files I can copy into the macbook, so that it starts in grphic mode?
whatever...
thank you in advance!
Dario

Linc Davis wrote:
I used to be a Sun Solaris sysadmin...
Then you backed up
I didn't: it's my girlfriend's notebook and she not using a timemachine external disk. She did all by herself

Single user mode . using tail -f (command not found)

Have an empty computer with no systems disk as the installation CD start up will not go past the grey screen with the rotating logo before the panic crash page comes up and tells me to restart the computer.
Trying to boot into single user mode and then use the command tail -f to see contents of some of the logs... BUT I get the reply tail command not found ????

If the hard drive is empty, then you can only boot from the CD. Regardless of whether or not it has "tail," it won't do you any good. There are no logs.

Internal HD on mac mini not well... need to boot in Single User Mode

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