Mac Pro won't start in safe mode

In order to solve another problem in Garage Band, I tried to start my Mac Pro up in "Safe Mode," But the status bar wouldn't get past about 40%, and the computer froze up. Tried it twice, same result each time. I don't really see a problem here, unless it indicates something bad. Anyone have an opinion?

Boot from your installation disc. Select Utilities > Disk Utility from the menu bar. Select the boot volume and run "Repair Disk" (not "Repair Permissions.") I'm assuming you have backups; if not; back up first.

Similar Messages

Mac Pro won't boot into safe mode

I tried to boot into safe mode by using the keyboard key and the progress bar got a little bit of the way across but then it got stuck and sat there for 2 days with no change. Any idea why no safe mode? Here's a photo of the screen how it sat for 2 days:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/23232804/no%20safe%20mode.JPG

Here's the few lines right around the boot attempt: at 1pm on 12/31 I tried to boot into Safe mode, then seeing that it was taking forever, I left, and came back on 1/2. It was in exactly the same spot so I rebooted normally. Does this give any clues?
12/31/12 1:03:48 PM
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/HelpData.framework/Versions/A/Resources/helpd[ 15597]
MDS Error: unable to create user DBs in /var/folders/kv/kvWwTJ6jGyu2tiPpClXO8++++TI/-Caches-//mds
12/31/12 1:03:48 PM
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/HelpData.framework/Versions/A/Resources/helpd[ 15597]
MDS Error: unable to create user DBs in /var/folders/kv/kvWwTJ6jGyu2tiPpClXO8++++TI/-Caches-//mds
12/31/12 1:03:48 PM
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/HelpData.framework/Versions/A/Resources/helpd[ 15597]
MDS Error: unable to create user DBs in /var/folders/kv/kvWwTJ6jGyu2tiPpClXO8++++TI/-Caches-//mds
12/31/12 1:04:05 PM
authexec[15601]
executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
12/31/12 1:04:05 PM
authexec[15603]
executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
12/31/12 1:04:05 PM
authexec[15606]
executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
12/31/12 1:04:07 PM
authexec[15608]
executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
12/31/12 1:04:23 PM
com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[395]
([0x0-0x5535530].com.titanium.OnyX[15559]) Exited: Terminated
12/31/12 1:04:26 PM
com.apple.kextd[18]
/Volumes/Clone internal disk: kextcache has had enough tries; not launching any more
1/2/13 8:33:27 AM
kernel
npvhash=4095
12/31/12 1:08:48 PM
/System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock[7534]
spawn_via_launchd() failed, errno=12 label=com.apple.Finder flags=2
1/2/13 8:33:27 AM
kernel
PAE enabled
1/2/13 8:33:27 AM
kernel
64 bit mode enabled
1/2/13 8:33:27 AM
kernel
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
1/2/13 8:33:27 AM
DirectoryService[21]
Improper shutdown detected

I have purchased the Acrobat pro subscription for 1 year and have followed the steps to install it. But when i go to start it, It crashes and it does this every time! I have restarted my mac pro and also restarted in safe mode but it just doesn't work! PL

I have purchased the Acrobat pro subscription for 1 year and have followed the steps to install it. But when i go to start it, It crashes and it does this every time! I have restarted my mac pro and also restarted in safe mode but it just doesn't work! PLEASE HELP!!

Hi jim1287,po
Check for the latest updates. Installing latest updates should resolve this problem.
Also, try to ran disk repair using safe mode in Mac, for instructions please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14204
Try enabling root user profile on mac and try to check. OS X Mavericks: Enable and disable the root user
Regards,
Ajlan Huda.

My MacBook Pro doesn't start; in safe mode shift CMD V the message "disk0s2: media is not present" is written on the screen repeatedly but the MacBook doesn't start. Do you have any ideas of why this should be or what I should do to resolve this?

My MacBook Pro doesn't start; in safe mode <shift CMD V> the message "disk0s2: media is not present" is written on the screen repeatedly but the MacBook doesn't start. Do you have any ideas of why this should be or what I should do to resolve this? Thanks Eamonn

Thanks for these suggestions: I have tried safe mode re-starts (both "verbose" and simple "shift" + power) to no avail. I get the error message "disk0s2: media is not present". Following this I inserted the installation disc and from there ran disc utility. The "Verify Disk" indicated an error " invalid sibling link" which it could not repair.
I also tried to completely re-format/erase the disk, but again got an error message "disk object invalid or unable to serialize".
Any ideas of what could be causing this or the best solution? I fear I am fast running out of options.

HT1338 My Mac Pro won't stay in sleep mode. keeps waking itself up. Anyone else have this problem?

My Mac Pro won't stay in sleep mode. keeps waking itself up. Anyone Suggestions to solve this problem?

If you can't solve this through other means, get PleaseSleep.
http://www.dragonone.com/products/macosx/pleasesleep/

My Mac Pro won't start. It turns on and then a blank, white screen appears. What do I do?, My Mac Book Pro won't start. It turns on and then a blank, white screen appears. What do I do?

Mac Pro won't start. It turns on and than a blank, white screen appears. What do I do?

This could be a software/state problem or a hardware problem. Here are steps to resolve the former.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

My Mac Pro won't start

My mac pro won't start have a light on and sometimes have a green light on caps key.

Hello there hoc5050,
It sounds like your computer is not turning on consistently. I would recommend the troubleshooting in this article to help you determine what might be causing the issue, named:
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Sterling

MacBook Pro won't start in normal mode and won't open in safe mode.

My Mac suddenly won't open in normal mode. It just stays on the apple logo and won't continue. Then, I tried going on Safe Mode. Unfortunately, it only loads up to the Apple Logo with the progress bar below it. I would load one-third the bar and shut down completely. What do I do?

Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks without erasing drive
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

Macbook Pro will only start in safe mode 'Lion' all I get is the wheel

My Mackbook pro 13 hangs at sign in, I get the wheel for over 6 hours
I can start in safe mode only
I have removed the HD placed in a USB Cradle and it appears to work fine I can view all pics, music, on another Mac
I've formatted another HD placed in the macbook pro, inserted the CD for snow lepod install held down 'C' on startup, but I get a message saying that the software can't be installed on this HD or words to that effect.
On new the Macbook pro had Snow Leopard, and was upgraded to Lion unsure what version I'm at but I know it's not the latest version
Any advice in plain english please ( Step by Step)

LowLuster ,many thanks I can flash it up using my USB cradle, all I need now to do is find the MPN of the HD Harness cable and procure one. solved in 10 minutes

Logic pro 9 additional content won't install and iMac 27" late 2012 won't start in Safe Mode

Hi,
I have bought Logic Pro 9 and have encountered problems installing the Additional Content pack. I am using late 2012 iMac 27" (with fusion 3TB drive) and OS X Mavericks (10.9.1).
For some reason the Additional Content pack does not install when downloaded from Logic Pro menu and it does not install either when using the .dmg file. I noticed that many users are facing the same problem, but they have resolved the issue installing the Additional Content in Safe Mode. However, my iMac does not boot in Safe Mode (other users are encountering this annoying problem and it remains unresolved by Apple, see https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5485131?start=0&tstart=0).
This is extremely frustating, because I am using my iMac for my work and therefore it is impossible to backup my data reinstall the OS X. Additionally, I am using the computer for my music projects and I am completely stuck, because I cannot use insrument patches that I need.
Does anyone have solution for this?

Install on my Core2Duo 17" MacBook Pro went flawlessly, but install on my 8 Core Mac Pro suffered this problem. Many thanks for the solution Don, it worked for me ;-)
I am trying hard to supress an ironic chuckle though, reading other posts in this thread .... suggesting that people should call Apple Tech Support and expressing incredulity that people weren't doing this as their first option.
Well I can say say that after several calls to Apple Tech Support, amounting to several hours on the phone, and well over an hour on the phone with them today, I was informed that this problem is a known bug, and that Apple are working on a solution. They couldn't tell me what the bug is, what machines are affected, or what else might trigger it, or when a bug release might be due.
Their troubleshooting steps basically involved various reboots, repairing disc permissions, reseting the user home directory via terminal, booting up in recovery mode (but not safe mode as per this solution) trashing various preferences files, and, as a final step, uninstalling and reinstalling from scratch.
Only when all that failed was I told that there is a known bug that Apple are working on.
I came here to see what the community was saying, as the Tech Support guy did say there was likely to be some info on the forums. Lo and behold, a solution is posted and it works.
Why are Apple's Tech Support (in the UK at least) not aware of this?
Oh well, at least I'm up and running on my Mac Pro now.
Thanks again Don,
Cheers,
Nigel

IMac won't boot, won't start in safe mode

I'm at my wits end. My 17" iMac G4 won't boot. I just get the Apple logo, with the spinning progress wheel. I get the same thing when I try to boot in safe mode -- it just sits there with the progress wheel spinning. (I waited an hour, just to make sure.)
Here's what I've tried:
First, I read various articles on the Apple Web site which, among other things, talk about bad fonts, etc. All of the tips rely on safe mode, so I didn't get too far.
I was able to see the iMac HD from my PowerBook by launching it as a target drive, via "t", using a firewire cable. I used Disk Utility to do a repair on the iMac HD. It did find problems (I don't remember what they were), but when I ran it again it said there were no problems with the HD. I can move files from it to my machine, and browsing it looks normal. I looked for non-standard StartupItems, as recommended, but didn't see anything that isn't on the PowerBook.
I also tried putting my install disk in the iMac as it booted. The DVD went in, but had no effect on startup. (Same symptoms.)
Is there any way I can re-install from my PowerBook -- i.e., can I somehow run setup from the PowerBook on the firewire-connected iMac?
I'm not sure of the exact version of the OS it's got, since I can't boot it to see. (Should I look somewhere on the HD for that information?)
Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks!
iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I am just going to jump on the band wagon (first post). Before I try all the good advise given for "no start"... Does this info point me in a different direction? thanks
IMac (2003) OS 10.4.X troubleshooting. Bill Howarth 14Feb07
· iMac has been running slow. Has not been shutdown/restarted in months.
· Shutdown Computer, Power off, Power on. Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
· Power off, power on with mouse down to insert TechTool Pro 4 CD.
· Turn journaling off, perform Directory Maintenance. Locks up at 1971269 of 1971270.
· Start from TechTool CD. Run test on File/Finder info. Locks up at mh1661.html ~ 70% of files tested.
· Start from TechTool CD. Run test on File/Finder info with “repair on” checked. Task completed.
· Run Directory Maintenance. Locks up at 1971269 of 1971270.
· Cannot do e-drive restart in TechTool (greyed out).
· Optimize volume. Task completed.
· Run Directory Maintenance. Locks up at 1971264 of 1971264.
· Try regular startup. Power off, power on (no CD). Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
· Shift startup. Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
· Startup from Apple Test CD (v2). Passes extended hardware test.
· Startup. Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
Arrrrggghhhhh.
iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Won't start in Safe Mode

Within the last few weeks, after upgrading to Yosemite, my 27" IMac has slowed down. The spinning wheel has begun to appear several times when either running Aperture or just typically turning on. Now the serious problem. After updating another version of the OS my IMac will not start up. It shows nothing but a white/grey screen. I have followed several step recommended in the apple communities but nothing works. I can't even get past the white screen in Safe Mode.
please help!!!

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
To restart an unresponsive computer, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until the power shuts off, then release, wait a few more seconds, and press it again briefly.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.
b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
c. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
d. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 4
If a desktop Mac hangs at a plain gray screen with a movable cursor, the keyboard may not be recognized. Press and hold the button on the side of an Apple wireless keyboard to make it discoverable. If need be, replace or recharge the batteries. If you're using a USB keyboard connected to a hub, connect it to a built-in port.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 6
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
Step 7
If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 11. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
If you can start and log in in safe mode, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the startup process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 8
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select the startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then restart as usual.
Step 9
If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.
Step 10
Reinstall the OS. If the Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 11
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 12
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 13
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

Mac Pro Won't Start After Installing Security Update Tonight

I just installed the latest security update for Lion on my Mac Pro via software update. The update seemed to install fine. I was about to start work when all of a sudden the system rebooted on its own. Now it just continues to reboot because it can't complete the boot up.
I tried resetting PRAM and SMC, but this didn't help.
I tried booting up from CD using an old SNL disk. I was able to get to disk tools once. I checked my startup volume and disk tools said the volumes is fine. I was checking permissions when once again the system rebooted on its own.
I tried starting up in safe mode, but it only gets so far into the boot process before it reboots.
I tried starting in verbose mode, and noticed several SMC related errors (this is why I tried to reset the SMC). No joy.
If I leave the system sit a few minutes, it gets further into the boot process, but still won't boot completely.
Any suggestions?

Mac Pro tower or MacBook Pro notebook? Which model?
If you are encountering kernel panics, check in the logs as suggested here and post a recent kernel panic log:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2546
Mac OS X: How to log a kernel panic

HELP! My Mother in Law's IMAC - OS 10.3 won't start in safe mode!

She had a power outage last night, with the computer on. She just gets a screen with the apple and spinning gear. We can't start it in safe mode or with the install disc. She got something when we started up in single user mode, but she said there was no place to type in any commands - just lots of writing that does not make sense to us. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

sciteacher77:
Here are three articles from Apple's Knowledge base dealing with different startup issues. Look through the first two and see if they offer any help. Then go to the third and see if you can get it to work.
Your Mac won't start up in Mac OS X (Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier)
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
Good luck.
cornelius

Macbook Pro won't boot into safe mode or via bootable USB key

Hi,
Am running OSX Lion latest version on my Macbook Pro 4,1 and can't get the thing to boot from any source. Always get's stuck at the grey screen with apple logo. Have tried all the following...
- Straight Boot (power on)
- Boot via Recovery HD (hold option on bootup then select)
- Boot via Safe Mode (Holding Shift on bootup)
- Boot via Safe Mode Verbose (Shift, Command, V)
- Boot via bootable Lion USB Key (Hold option, and choose the USB drive - not the same USB key works on my other macbook pro)
On every one (except verbose) it just get's stuck on the grey screen with spinning timer thingie.
I have done PVRAM reset, SMC reset and have reseated the RAM and all to no avail. I'm pretty sure the problem was caused by removing battery at wrong time (device not responding after sleep mode started and I plugged in power - should have been more patient!)
I have a Time Machine backup but it's a bit older than I thought and very much want to get my newer photos off it before rebuilding - not that Time Machine would work in current state anyway.
So what are my remaining options? Will I have to open it up and remove the HD as next step or is there anything else left to try? Can I remove the HD and connect it via a USB caddy to my existing Mac to recover info (hardrive spins and sounds ok to me)?
Any advice appreciated...

ds store wrote:
Yes, once the data is off you can use Disk Utility to Erase the entire drive (Lion + Recovery) with the Zero option (one selection below 7x) then use the Lion USB to install it fresh and stick it back into the machine.
Thanks for the info - I removed the HD and data is all ok on there so very happy about that. Before I wipe the data (all backed up now) I thought I would try booting the mac without any harddrive installed - using a OSX Lion bootable USB. However, still can't get past the grey apple screen and circle icon whirling away. I know the USB works ok, as tried it in my 2011 Macbook Pro and it boots absolutely fine.
I am happy to wipe the HD now and start again, but seeing as the DVD Drive is broken I'll probably need a USB drive boot to install OSX onto the wiped HD anyway. I'm a bit lost as to what to try now.

Mac Pro won't start in safe mode

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for