Mac OS X won't boot--tried everything

I did the Quicktime update that came out a few days ago... When I restarted, everything went okay until the "Mac OS X" screen. It went about a half a centimeter on the progress bar in the "Mac OS X" window and then the window disappeared and I was faced by a blue screen. I tried restarting repeatedly. Same thing every time. The "Mac Os X" window disappears. The screen changes to a lighter shade of blue after a few seconds. Every few seconds, a progress wheel like the one under the apple when you first start up the computer appears, makes half a revolution, and vanishes. I have run Techtool Deluxe, Disk Utility off of the install disk (a volume had to be repaired, but as far as I can tell repairing it didn't help at all), Mac OS X Boot Utility, reset the Pram, and booted in Safe Mode as well. Mac OS X Boot Utility said that I had a memory error--the error code was "post/0/2048". Is there anything else I can do? I don't want to have to send my laptop in to Apple.
Someone said something about a "Setup Assistant" in a reply to my earlier post, what is that? Would it help?

Hello,
this is a known issue for some who installed the QT 7.4.1 update.
Here are two suggested fixes:
(1) The first thing to try in this case (if you are in the Setup Assistant loop) is to simply choose "Shutdown" from within Setup Assistant. This may cause the QuickTime installer to resume or re-apply and a normal restart to occur.
(2)The next recommended procedure is to simply boot in Safe Mode -- accomplished by holding down the Shift key while your Mac is starting up. After the safe boot, restart normally. A number of maintenance tasks are performed during the safe boot, and you might not need to perform any additional troubleshooting. You might receive a message indicating that the update has finished installing after performing the safe boot.
Sounds like #2 of 2 should be the first thing you try.

Similar Messages

Won't Boot - Tried Everything I Know

My B & W iMac with CD slot won't boot up. I get chime and then blinking ? alternating with folder icon and spinning sound.
I've tried:
holding shift down
booting from 8.6 bootable CD holding C down
zapping PRAM (after this I got the chime back)
unplugging everything including keyboard & mouse
unplugging rom power
holding down X
booting from OS X CD holding C down
I gave up for a while so the iMac has not been hooked to power for a couple months (bought laptop PC) but now I need old tax files. I don't have original install CD but I've updated to 9.2.1 I think. But the CDs I have may not be appropriate (copied from friends to try).
I don't think I was doing anything risky when it froze originally. I am not too experienced in solving any problems so please answer with beginner language.
Please help!!
iMac G3 Slot Mac OS 9.2.x

Hi Texas Mac Man!
I did not update firmware when I originally looked into upgrading to OS X because there was some incompatibility problem I read about when reading about firmware so I decided against upgrading. My daughter has a newer iMac with OS X so I tried a copy of her disks to see if I could get it to boot up. So I don't believe the OS X is on the iMac but I'm not positive.
Looks like it will take me a little while to read through the tutorial and find which battery and get it but I won't mark this answered just yet.
I am very happy to have heard from a local Mac person!! I didn't know where to go for help. Are you a service person or just a helpful person? If I can't get it working, I will need to go to someone who can fix it.
Thanks!!
iMac G3 Slot Mac OS 9.2.x

Mac LC 580 won't boot

My Mac LC 580 won't boot. I have tried the following in a attempt to get it to work:
Reset the logic board. Replaced the hard drive. Cleaned the logic board's end connector with contact cleaner. Cleaned the RAM modules with contact cleaner. The only thing I know for sure is that Apple's service manual for the LC 580 keeps pointing towards a bad logic board or analog board or both as the cause of death. I'm not even getting a bong from the Mac. The only thing I hear when I turn it on is the sound of the Mac running. Maybe the hard drive too. No video appears on screen either. The original hard drive was a Apple OEM Connor 800 MB OEM drive. Personally I've heard far too many horror stories about Connor hard drives from the PC world online to trust it as being reliable. It even said right on the drive that it was made in Malaysia of all places. Not a good sign if you ask me. I have managed to locate a replacement logic board on eBay if that turns out to be the cause of the Mac's death. What's the next step in getting this old Mac up & running?

Update: I have more info on what's been going on with the LC 580. I finally figured out that the 33MHz Motorola 68040 processor I installed may be defective. After switching the the original Motorola 33MHz 68LC040 & removing the RAM the Mac booted but I got a Quizzical Floppy on screen indicating the Mac couldn't find a valid System Folder. After that I figured out that the Apple SCSI 4X CD-ROM drive was defective. I replaced it with a known good Apple 8X SCSI CD-ROM drive. I then attempted to boot from a Mac OS 7.6.1 CD-ROM. I got a error type 41 & restarted with extensions off like the error told me to. I then attempted to boot from a Mac OS 8.1 CD-ROM but I got a Sad Mac error code. The error code looked like this:
0000000F
00000001. Just now I tried to boot from the Mac OS 7.6.1 CD-ROM. Again I got a error type 41. After that I booted with extensions off from the Mac OS 7.6.1 CD-ROM. I still got a error type 41 too. I then restarted & got the following Sad Mac error code:
0000000F
00000033. I also have a Mac OS 8.0 CD-ROM that I haven't tried to boot from yet. What does all of this mean & what should my next move be?

Startup Manager displays Mac HD but won't boot to it

I have a 2008 MacPro (2x2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon) that has been successfully running Bootcamp for a couple years with a Windows XP partition and a Mac 10.5~ partition (actually I can't remember if it was 10.6 or 10.5). We recently made a new partition for Windows 7. (This is in a classroom full of identicle MacPros, but noteably, the problem machine is the teacher's station).
As of today, the MacPro no longer boots into the Mac OS partition. It boots, by default, into Windows XP every time. Holding down option on start up brings up the Startup Manager, and the Mac HD is visible, and you can click on it or tab to select it, but then nothing happens. We tried a bootable external hard drive, but had the same problem with the Startup Manager and an inability to select anything (the keyboard and mouse both seem to work) but nothing happens when you click on your selection.
Once booted into XP, you can see the "Mac HD" option in the Boot Camp Control Panel. You can select it, but then the computer boots back into XP.
I did get the computer to start up off a Mac OS Snow Leopard install CD by holding "C" on start up. I ran "Repair Disk" using Disk Utility and found no problems. I tried repairing the disk permissions, and although they seemed fine.
I tried zapping the PRAM but there was no effect (booted into XP).
I unplugged the computer for a few minutes to reset the "NVRAM". No effect.
I tried different key combinations to attempt to boo in Safe Mode, Single User Mode, Verbose Mode, and none of those things worked, the computer booted straight into Windows XP every time.
I tried holding "d" for a hardware test, but nothing happened. Do you need to be on the internet for this? Because, I also tried, based on some suggestions I saw online, unplugging all peripherals (like our bootable firewire drive) and ethernet cables and not using a third party mouse. No effect.
Finally, I let the Snow Leopar install CD install, and although it seemed successful this had absouletly no effect. It still boots straight into Windows XP. Granted, I did not delete everything for a clean install, as I'm not sure the files are backed up anywhere.

""To update anyone watching this, we tried putting the hard drive in a different machine and still had the same boot issues,""
Are you saying that the questionable HD was put in another computer and THAT computer had the same issue as the Professors?
If so I would just backup and erase the hard drive, reformat and reinstall everything as something buggered up the Boot Manager and your going to take more time figuring it out as to redo everything.
I don't think the HD is going out but you MAY have some bad sectors on the Mac partition, if that's the problem then the bad sector might be in the bootable part and thats why it can't boot. If you want to save the HD have a disk utility do a Surface Scan to make sure.
As far as not being able to boot into Safe mode, etc, if it had a bad sector it won't be able to read the boot part which is why you can still boot into the Install DVD.
You know, looking back at your original post if you can't boot into safe mode while pressing the Shift Key after the bong, can't boot from an external HD or any of the other ways, then I would say it's a hardware problem.
Like I mentioned before, if you can put in another Dual boot HD from another machine into the Professors machine and it still won't boot into both OS's then you have confirmed it's a hardware problem.
Good luck...

Mac Pro 2008 won't boot from install disc - black screen

Hello,
I recently purchased a new hard drive to replace the original that came with my Mac Pro 2008. I was able to format the new drive using Disk Utility. I am now at the point where I need to install OS X onto the new drive, but the computer refuses to boot from the disc. The disc is recognized by the computer (I can access the disc and am able to use the BootCamp applications, etc.) but I just get a black screen when trying to boot directly from the disc. The computer boots fine otherwise.
I have tried the following:
I have tried using both the gray install disc that came with the computer and the Snow Leopard Install DVD disc.
I have tried booting using the "C" key and the "option" key but still receive a black screen following the chime (I've held these down for several minutes).
I have tried restarting from either install disc using the Bootcamp Assistant.
I have tried running the installation software to get it to restart from the disc.
I have tried a combination of the drives, i.e. trying to boot from the discs with just the new drive installed, just the original drive installed, and with both in bay1 and 2.
Everything results in the computer starting up, hearing the chime, and then nothing..just black screen. I have the original drive partitioned with BootCamp with OSX Snow Leopard and Windows 7 installed (I don't know that that matters).
I am at a loss as to what to try next. It doesn't seem like the superdrive because it is recognizing the disc, it just won't boot from it.
Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Clone should be a must and easy to do and learn (learn by doing! 2)
6800 would 'qualify' as 5x70 series flashed etc and same rule: 10.6.5
In the past there was 10.4.6, 10.5.6, but not 10.6.6 - even though strong need for such a DVD.
10.6.8 DVD would be excellent
Lion or ML - buy, download, make an installer flash card would be what I would do at this point.
Then keep both - dual boot as you learn and test and see what ML does and waht you had that required Rosetta to support PowerPC. See www.roaringapps.com about that.
With Carbon Coyp Cloner - was share, now commercial, great utility been around since 10.2.2 at least - this time 2003. 10 yrs.
You can clone the system folders, you can even selectively choose. You can skip copy of most of your home account and do that separately to another drive if you want.
Clone Windows with Paragon or WinClone and use Windows 7 or 8 DVD to do a system repair (automatic) or to edit the BCD file. It can and should - and all you do is boot Windows 7 DVD w/ only the one drive present and go at it. Piece of cake. But yes, Windows gets fussy if you change or remove or move. BCD to the rescue. A proper program for cloning like Paragon's "Clone OS" meant for going from disk drives to SSDs, knows that and how to do it.
Back to how to clone etc:
Clone
Disk utility has RESTORE which will also clone your system but not the Lion Recovery partition. Oddly Apple did not 'endorse' making bootable clone of the system which works too but most choose Carbon Copy Cloner - it works more consistently; it allows for smart update of the backup volume. Both can backup to a sparse disk image if desired.
Using Cloning as a Backup Strategy
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7032/carbon-copy-cloner
http://www.bombich.com/software/updates/ccc-3.5.html
OS X Lion Install to Different Drive
How to create an OS X Lion installation disc MacFixIt
Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard
http://www.apple.com/support/lion/installrecovery/
Create an OS X Lion Install disc
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20080989-263/how-to-create-an-os-x-lion-ins tallation-disc
How to clone your system:
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone-backup.html
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone.html
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7032/carbon-copy-cloner
http://www.macperformanceguide.com/blog/2012/20120711_2-MacPro-internal-clone-ba ckup.html
The DVD is dependent on your hardware. And your hardware changed. The drivers for the 5780 and 6xxx are bundled in the OS and lacking. Minimum build thing.
Put the new drive anywhere you want. Does not matter. Can move it later. Can be drive bay 0-3 or a Firewire external or under the DVD drive.
When you clone pull the old drive and boot from the newly cloned.
After that keep a backup clone around all the time. Takes less than 10 minutes to do a smart update to copy just the changes to keep it current. So you have working copy of the system. I keep Clone "A" that I keep "as was" the system as of last month or whatever (like 10.7.4 before upgrade to 7.5).
Comes easier after doing it once and have all your ducks in a row.

Mac OS X won't boot, logo doesn't even show! Cannot reinstall OS X

I'm really frustrated. I'm logging in from Bootcamp Windows.
First, I formatted my Hard Disk yesterday, and I accidentally erased the bootcamp partition without using Bootcamp assistant, so the "free space" partition was created. I formatted the Mac OS X side reinstalled Mavericks and everything was working perfectly. Next, I wanted to install Parallels 7, using the Bootcamp partition that I wanted to reclaim. So I created another windows partition and unistalled using the Bootcamp assistant, and the free space was merged with OSX hard disk this time. So things seemed to be perfect. The Mac OS X hdd had all its original volume.
Second, this is where everything turned haywire. Because I needed to use Revit and Rhino on a larger partition, I had to install Windows again, creating a 115 GB partitiod. I used BC assistant. It installed Windows fine, but on restarting, Mac OS X did not boot. It didn't even show up as a disk when I hit the ALT key. But when I checked Disk Utility in Recovery mode, the disk was showing up fine. So I decided to reformat it again - erasing the contents and tried installing Mountain Lion, which was the only option I had using Internet recovery. The installation did not work! It said, the recovery system from the main volume was missing, or something like that.
Third, I tried to restore from Time Machine. Now, it boots, and the apple logo shows up, but then after a few seconds, the logo is replaced by a (X) sign instead, and nothing shows up. I'm so afraid my computer is permanently damaged, can somebody please tell me how to fix this? I have loads of assignments due this week, I'm about to cry

You may need another Mac so you can boot up into target disk mode. Some how you need to get that software off. You may need those OS installer disks. Are you near an Apple store or AASP? By the way it is perfectly legal to make a copy of your OS installer disk to take with you when you travel. Never leave home without it.

Mac Performa 405 Won't Boot

I have a Mac Performa 405 that won't boot. It's running Mac OS 7.6.1 with maxed out RAM & VRAM. I have installed a networking card with optional Motorola 68882 FPU in the LC PDS slot. It has a Revision B LC II logic board. I have already tried replacing the power supply. I also updated Open Transport to v. 1.1.2. My next move is going to be trying to replace the fan. The Mac won't even bong. What should I do to get my Mac working again? Is the hard drive dead?

Update: I have swapped the RAM in my Performa 405 out for the RAM that originally came with it. This resulted in some very odd things happening. The RAM I was using before was parity memory. The RAM I found in the Mac when it was given to me was non parity. The RAM I had in the RAM slots before had three memory chips. The RAM I found in the Mac originally only had two RAM chips. Swapping the RAM also appears to have affected the logic board too. Now polarity on the fan plug as measured with my digital multimeter has changed. Before when the parity memory was installed the plug at the left was negative & the middle plug was positive. Changing back to the original non parity RAM changed the polarity of the logic board's fan connector so that now the middle plug is negative & the plug on the right is positive. I was also wondering what other tests I should perform too. The Mac also now bongs & is acting more normally than before.

Power mac G4 450 won't boot past grey apple

I took trusty old Power Mac G4 450 (PCI graphics) apart for a week to paint the office. I put everything back together as before including a lot of old SCSI peripherals, but when I start it up, the fans run, i get the chimes, but it will not boot past the apple on the grey screen. I tried a safe boot, disconnecting everything but monitor & keyboard, & resetting the pram. The battery was replaced about 8 months ago. It had been freezing a lot before this, & I considered replacing it, but all I need it for is to run an old SCSI flat bed scanner that I'd like to hang on to. Any ideas?

Hi-
Will it boot to the OS X install disc?
If so, use Disk Utility to "Repair Disk" on the start up volume.

Mac Pro 2010 Won't boot after adding Ram

Just got my Mac Pro 2.8 a few days ago. My 4x2 8Gig Crucial Ram upgrade arrived today along with my SIIG FireWire400 PCIe card. It seems as though the Mac Pro won't boot with both the Crucial Ram and the Samsung Ram that came stock with the Mac Pro. I kept 2 of the 1 gig Samsung chips and put in the 2 4Gig Chips from Crucial. They are all the DDR3 1066 240 pin chips. I've moved the 4Gig chips to slots 1 & 2 and I've tried them in slots 3 & 4. I've moved the 1Gig Samsung chips accordingly. The power light on the Mac Pro blinks continuously when they are both installed. I even tried removing the new SIIG FireWire 400 card but that doesn't change anything. It seems as though combining these two types of ram just doesn't jive. Any ideas? I'm dragging the tower from queens to SoHo tomorrow to let the Apple Genius gang have a look at it.

FYI, when I did install the Registered or "buffered" 8 Gigs of Crucial Ram by themselves the system did boot up normally and a memory notification popped up and said that my ram was in the "correct" or "suggested" configuration. I can't remember the exact phrasing but the OS definitely gave me a thumbs up. So now I am trolling the web trying to find out if the Registered memory is ok. I'm fine to just have 8gigs for now. But don't want to jeopardize the stability of my system. So, Is it ok to use Registered memory and if it is, am I using a lesser quality of ram in doing so?

Mac Mini server won't boot.

Our server is on, but when we try to access it via its screen it excepts password but returns to login page. Any ideas?

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, or by a peripheral device.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click Log in.
*Note: If FileVault is enabled under OS X 10.7 or later, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode. Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin. Test while in safe mode. Same problem? After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Mac OS X Won't Boot Up

Ever since I have installed the new Yamaha Pro Audio network driver, http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/downloads/firmsoft/network_driver/networkmidi.html My Mac won't boot up, when I turn it on, it is stuck at a violent apple/"do not" icon strobe. See the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUrb1LLgnJ0
I can still boot into my Windows 7 boot camp partition (ironic isn't it) which is how I'm typing this. I don't have my boot disks with me, and the shift key at start-up for safe mode has proven ineffective too. Zapping the PRAM seemed to not work as well (The startup sound doesn't even happen
Thanks for any help!

You may need another Mac so you can boot up into target disk mode. Some how you need to get that software off. You may need those OS installer disks. Are you near an Apple store or AASP? By the way it is perfectly legal to make a copy of your OS installer disk to take with you when you travel. Never leave home without it.

8800 won't boot, tried wiping and reinstalling OS to no avail....

I have an 8800 that won't boot! The red led stays solidly lit for a few seconds after putting in the battery and then nothing else happens...
I've tried using JL_Cmder to reinstall the OS but it wouldn't connect so I went about it the alternate way and it goes thru the first couple steps and then when it tries to reconnect it fails and gives me the message, "could not reconnect during multistage load operation".
Is there anything else I can do to try to get this thing to boot up?

That error is in regard to a low power USB port.
Keep trying, or try another PC.
EDIT, eh, it looks like you have bigger problems anyway:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-8800-series-discussion/159157-8800-won-t-turn.html
Message Edited by JSanders on 11-13-2008 11:47 AM
1. If any post helps you please click the below the post(s) that helped you.
2. Please resolve your thread by marking the post "Solution?" which solved it for you!
3. Install free BlackBerry Protect today for backups of contacts and data.
4. Guide to Unlocking your BlackBerry & Unlock Codes
Join our BBM Channels (Beta)
BlackBerry Support Forums Channel
PIN: C0001B7B4 Display/Scan Bar Code
Knowledge Base Updates
PIN: C0005A9AA Display/Scan Bar Code

Dvd stuck in Dvd drive, won't eject, tried everything

Hi, I inserted a dvd into the dvd drive and I had headphones on so I couldn't tell but I don't think it made any noise at all when I put it in, meaning it didn't pull it in like it normally does. It just kind of slid in and got too far so that I can't pull it out. I have tried everything. Hitting eject shows the eject symbol on the screen but does nothing. It does not show and dvd on the desktop and it isn't making any noise at all. I have restarted and tried holding the mouse button down on startup which did not work and tried getting it out with a thin card as suggested in other places. Any suggestions?

Hi,
I don't know how helpful this is, but I just luckily got out of a similar situation. I tried all advice on this page, nothing worked. The CD was still stuck in the drive, and despite the fact that I could hear it running during start-up, it did not show up on the desktop and the dvd-drive was no longer recognized by the system.
I've had a disc stuck once before, and then I eventually had to give up and send the macbook to apple.
So, this is what I did. Since after booting the disc stops turning and the unit goes to sleep, or rather coma in this case, I went into system preferences menu and adjusted so that the harddrive never goes to sleep, nor rests. This page (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20051207044615606&query=lingon) motivated me to do so, since this will affect all drives, including the optical one, apparently.
Turns out, after restarting the computer the ordinary eject button suddenly did the trick!
Hope your problem can be solved the same way.

2014 Mac Book Pro won't boot

2014 MBP SSD w/Retina Display won't boot. Machine was running fine and exhibited no problems. But when I try to power up the screen stays dark.

Hey RemyVSP,
It sounds like you are experiencing an issue where you computer will not power up. Here is an article with some tips on addressing this issue:
If your Mac won't turn on - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204267
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

Start-up disc is full and mac book pro won't boot

I got the your startup disc is full pop-up a few hours ago, but didn't do anything about it. I powered down my machine, but now when I try to power it on again, it won't boot, I simply get the spinning gear and apple logo. I opened disc utility and performed a disc check and it said the disc was ok, however there is only 700 kb of free space. I want to free up some space to allow the computer to boot, but don't know how. Is there a way to do this? I don't have another mac available to me, not sure how to fix this issue.

You're Welcome. Glad you got it sorted and Thanks for posting back.
All Kudos goes to the Author of the User Tip by ds store

Mac OS X won't boot--tried everything

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for