Locked out of my mac. Please help

Question

Hi
I was experiencing something strange on my mac that meant every time I clicked a link from a google search it was always adding the link to my Reading
List but never opening the link.
After trying many things I also found that siem of my key functions had changed IE: (.) was now (>)
Eventually following something I read on a forum I rebooted my computer
When the computer restarted I was asked to log-in with my password. Text saying 'safe boot' in red  also shows beneath Mac OS X
The PROBLEM is;
I know my password but it contains a (&) and with the strange keyboard configuration I have no idea how to execute this symbol?
I hope someone can help, maybe by replicating this strange keyboard set-up?
Thanks

Answer 1

See this:
What to do if your Mac won’t boot up
First, try resetting your SMC.
Resetting the SMC of an Intel-based portable Mac with a battery you should not remove on your own
Note: This will not delete any data.
The SMC is responsible for controlling various system functions. None of your data will be deleted by resetting the SMC.
Shut down the computer by going to Apple () > Shut Down…
Select Shut Down or allow the computer to shut down automatically.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter into a power source and then connect it to your Mac if you have not already done so.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift (⇧), Control (⌃), and Option (⌥) keys and the Power Button at the same time.
Release the (left side) Shift (⇧), Control (⌃), and Option (⌥) keys and the Power Button at the same time.
Then, try resetting your PRAM.
Resetting the NVRAM/PRAM
Note: This will not delete any data.
The NVRAM/PRAM stores information such as speaker volume, screen resolution, startup disk selection, and recent kernel panic information (if any). You should reset the NVRAM/PRAM if you experience issues relating to these functions.
Shut down the computer by going to Apple () > Shut Down…
Select Shut Down or allow the computer to shut down automatically.
Turn on the computer by pressing the Power Button.
On the built-in keyboard, press and hold the Command (⌘), Option (⌥), P, and R keys before the gray screen appears.
Continue to hold down the keys until the computer restarts and you hear the startup chime for the second time.
Release the keys on the built-in keyboard.
Then, try repairing the disk permissions using Disk Utility.
Repairing a disk’s permissions using Disk Utility on the Recovery HD.
Note: This should not delete any information or files from the disk.
Repairing a disk's permissions can help solve various file-related issues.
To begin, make sure your external disk that you are repairing is connected to the computer. If you are repairing an internal disk, skip this step.
Make sure the computer is powered off before continuing.
Press the Power Button to turn on the computer.
Press and hold both the R and Command (⌘) keys on the keyboard until the Recovery partition loads. If this does not work, shut down the computer, press the Power Button to turn on the computer, and then hold in the Alt (⌥) button immediately after you press the power button. Then, select the Recovery HD partition to boot up in the Recovery HD partition.
Select Disk Utility.
Once you are in the Disk Utility app, select the external drive from the sidebar on the left.
Then, choose the Repair Disk Permissions button on the right.
If this does not solve your issues, you may have no choice but to reformat the drive using Disk Utility.
If that does not work, try reinstalling OS X but not erasing.
Reinstall OS X
Note: This will not erase any data on the disk. However, it is highly recommended that you create a backup before continuing.
Reinstalling OS X can solve various problems such as corrupt system files.
Shut down the computer by going to Apple () > Shut Down…
Select Shut Down or allow the computer to shut down automatically.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter into a power source and then connect it to your Mac if you have not already done so.
Press the Power Button to turn on the computer.
Press and hold both the R and Command (⌘) keys on the keyboard until the Recovery partition loads.
Select Reinstall OS X and then choose Continue.
Follow the instructions.
Then, try erasing and reinstalling OS X.
Erase and Reinstall OS X
Note: This will delete all data on the disk. Back up important files before continuing.
Erasing and then reinstalling OS X can give you a fresh start, making your computer exactly as it was whenever you received it from Apple. This can solve various problems such as corrupt system files.
Shut down the computer by going to Apple () > Shut Down…
Select Shut Down or allow the computer to shut down automatically.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter into a power source and then connect it to your Mac if you have not already done so.
Press the Power Button to turn on the computer.
Press and hold both the R and Command (⌘) keys on the keyboard until the Recovery partition loads. If this does not work, shut down the computer, press the Power Button to turn on the computer, and then hold in the Alt (⌥) button immediately after you press the power button. Then, select the Recovery HD partition to boot up in the Recovery HD partition.
Select Disk Utility and then choose Continue.
Select your startup disk (Macintosh HD by default) from the left.
Select the Erase tab.
Choose the Format pop-up menu and choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled), enter a name for your disk, and then click Erase.
After the disk is erased, choose Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
Select Reinstall OS X and then choose Continue.
Follow the instructions.
If your computer still does not boot up
If your computer still does not boot up, it may be due to a hardware problem.
Make an appointment with an authorized Apple service center or by making an appointment at the Genius Bar by going to this link:
http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
I hope I helped.
Austin