Methodical debuggiung when only Safe Boot works ?

If I do a normal boot I get the eternal blue screen.
I've Safe Booted many times and run "repair disk" as well as running "repair disk permissions" from the install CD.
I've removed all startup items from the account preferences.
The disk has about 7 GB free out of ~250.
I'd appreciate any suggestions for how to methodically go through and try to find the offending software or determine if it might be a HW issue ? The iMac went in for a new motherboard about 18 months ago to take care of the bootleg capacitor problem and I assume I don't have new bootleg capacitors
Is there anything equivalent to the "remove half the extensions and try booting, then try removing the other half ..." to home in on the problem ?
Thanks, as usual.
-Sven

Point taken,
We just got rid of a bunch so now we only have 7
The problem machine is:
Machine Name: iMac G5
Machine Model:Power Mac8,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (3.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.5f1
System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (8S165)
Kernel Version: Darwin 8.11.0
I ran Cache Cleaner and did a deep clean on all the caches. I uninstalled Application Enhancer. I ran Hardware Test from the install disk, but only once since it isn't an intermittent problem. I've unplugged all peripherals.
Starts fine in Safe Mode but I can't start in Single User Mode (keyboard is DOA, both bluetooth and wired). Tried booting in verbose mode to see how far it gets but it zips by too fast and clears the screen to blue.
I bet it is a damaged prefs file or extension (as in stored in the extensions folder) but so far I haven't found any app that will look for damaged prefs. I'm assuming that I can't use ResEdit to localize and repair the damaged prefs ?
Now this poor machine has been in safe mode for 5 days and that is too long
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll see if I can free up more disk space too.
-Sven

Similar Messages

Startup issue - blue screen freeze before login - Safe Boot works fine?

I've not seen this before and I can't fix, wonder if anyone has any new suggestions, here is what I've tried so far... (safe boot works fine)
1. Verbose and Single user login
2. removing the startup folder from disk library
3. Zapping PRAM
4. Reset SMC
5. Zeroed disk and reinstalled system
6. Target disk and disk repair (No Problems Found)
7. Permissions repair (No Problems Found
8. Apple Hardware Test (No Problems Found)
9. System DVD Startup - Disk Utility (No Problems Found)
10. Network Startup - Disk Utility (No Problems Found)
In every case unless I hold the shift key down for safe boot, the mac will freeze on a blue screen when the grey screen disappears, and never proceed to login. Thought about replacing the disk but it's a lot of bother on these machines and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it??
Any ideas?
Can anyone think of a possible fix not listed above?

Hello chip
The only thing I see missing from your list is, have you disconnected all External HD's, iPods and other storage devices befor Starting up? Sometimes when the iMac has multiple storage devices connected the Startup Manager will get lost.
Also try going to: Startup Manager in System Preferences, select the Macintosh HD and restart the iMac..
Dennis

WindowServer stuck during booting - only safe mode works

Since today during working it seems the WindowServer stopped functioning.
I can only start the Mac with Shift-Down = Safe Boot. Then it works with all connected screens, but is obviosley unusable, because nothing is working without the extensions.
So I tried to install a new system onto another drive.
Same Problem - Also I can start the OSX installer from the 3rd drive with only pushing the shift key.
It´s the same thing again and again.
Booting - gray screen. In this state I con logon via ssh and can see the process WindowServer stuck. I cannot kill it.
shutdown -r now won´t work.
What is the problem ? - please help !
windowserver.log says:
Mar 03 00:24:05 [63] CGXRestartSessionWorkspace: session workspace exited for session 257 ( on console )
Mar 03 00:24:05 [63] loginwindow connection closed; closing server.
Mar 03 00:24:44 [71] Server is starting up
Holding the shift key it says:
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] CGXMappedDisplayStart: Display0 : boot screen
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] CGXMappedDisplayStart: Display0 : no display alias property
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] CGXMappedDisplayStart: Display1 : no display alias property
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] CGXMappedDisplayStart: Display2 : no display alias property
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] CGXMappedDisplayStart: Display3 : no display alias property
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] AGCAttach: Couldn't find any matches
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] CGXPerformInitialDisplayConfiguration
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] Display 0x1cab7674: MappedDisplay Unit 0; Vendor 0x472 Model 0xad95 S/N 1916801846; online enabled (0,0)[1440 x 900], Rotation 0, base addr 0x106800000
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] Display 0x3f003f: MappedDisplay Unit 3; Vendor 0xffffffff Model 0xffffffff S/N -1; offline enabled (2464,0)[1 x 1], Rotation 0, base addr 0x116800000
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] Display 0x3f003e: MappedDisplay Unit 2; Vendor 0xffffffff Model 0xffffffff S/N -1; offline enabled (2465,0)[1 x 1], Rotation 0, base addr 0x116800000
Mar 02 15:08:50 [63] Display 0x3f003d: MappedDisplay Unit 1; Vendor 0xffffffff Model 0xffffffff S/N -1; offline enabled (2466,0)[1 x 1], Rotation 0, base addr 0x106800000
Mar 02 15:08:51 [63] Display 0x1cab7674: MappedDisplay Unit 0; ColorProfile "Default(sRGB IEC61966-2.1)"
Mar 02 15:08:51 [63] Display 0x1cab7674: MappedDisplay Unit 0; ColorProfile "X192W"

Having a loading bar at startup in OS X Yosemite doesn't mean that you are booting into Safeboot. (As its the new design of the OS) .
Follow the steps in Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck and see how it goes.

IMac will only safe boot (blue screen when not safe booting).

A buddy asked me to help with his Intel based iMac. It was giving a blue screen when trying to boot up (and an odd cursor along with the blue screen). The cursor moves around the blue screen but looks like two cursors. One cursor is a normal arrow pointer, the second is a rectangle about .25 inch wide and 1 inch tall made up of about 10 horizontal lines.
I'm very familiar with Macs and OS X and was sure it was probably a messed up preference file (most likely login preference). It wasn't.
Here's the odd circumstances:
I have an intel macbook that if I use firewire target disk mode I can boot just fine off his iMac.
His computer will not boot off my Macbook that is in firewire target disk mode.
We cloned his hard drive to an external firewire hard drive (using Carbon Copy Cloner), my Macbook boots off it just fine, his iMac will not.
He's been wanting to go to Leopard so we upgraded his computer (did basic upgrade), but it still blue screened (with odd cursor).
Then we did an erase and install. Still no difference in behavior.
I would almost be convinced that it's a hardware failure, but it will safe boot every time.
Here's what happened when it died. His son was playing a Star Wars game (I'm not sure which one). The kid was in the middle of the game and paused it when it was time for dinner. When the kid went back to play, the computer was frozen. They tried everything to unfreeze it and ended up powering it down. Started the blue screen ever since.
He's going to contact Apple (it's barely still under it's warranty) but I was hoping someone here has another idea what it could be.

I found this topic while trying to find an answer to my problem. It seems we have a similar thing going on with our imacs (although mine is a much older crt imac). I'll copy and paste my original post from the imac board :
Hi
I received a free imac snow (G3 500mhz) from someone. He told me it was broke, and someone told him the logic board needed to be replaced.
I brought it home and tried to start it up. It gave the '?' folder icon. I started up from an OS 9.1 cd - Success! Except there was no HD. I opened it up and discovered that the HD wasn't connect to the ATA cable. I was able to start up to a previously installed Tiger. Except once it booted it would quickly freeze - the mouse pointer would turn into a scrambled beach ball (very strange) and wouldn't move.
I did some research and found about the potential problem with OS X and the imac's firmware. I restarted from the 9.1 CD and installed that OS. Everything seemed fine and was running ok (from my limited time on it). I then DL'd the latest firmware for the imac (4.1.9.) and tried to run it. Except the message came up that the latest firmware had already been installed. So i guess thats a good thing. I don't have to worry about firmware being a problem.
So i did a zero out wipe on the HD and installed tiger from the dvd. But on the first restart after installation (where i should go to the set up assistant) I get the scrambled beach ball and it freezes.
I thought perhaps the HD is faulty and ran disk utility on it - it came back as fine. I doubled checked to make sure it was set to 'master'. it sure was. I decided to swap out the HD anyways since i can't see what else could be the problem and put in a different 30gb IDE drive. I once again zeroed out the drive and did a fresh install of tiger. On restart i get the same scrambled beach ball and the freeze.
I guess i should describe the scrambled beach ball. It's seems like the beach ball icon, except the bits that make it up are out of order and glitched out.. perhaps a video problem?
Could this really be a logic board problem? It was working in OS 9.1 fine. It starts up from system CDs and DVDs fine. Wouldn't a logic board exhibit the same problems on those systems?
Anyone have any idea?
Update - starting in Safe mode (restart with shift held down) works, and i was able to update to the latest version of Tiger, but once i restart with the full system i get the same problem.
This seems to me that it ISN'T a logic board problem, but more of a system software problem. Now my question is how do i isolate and fix the problem in Tiger?
I guess i'll post this question in the Tiger forum, but if anyone has any ideas please let me know.
Thanks

What does this log mean? Fresh os install still can only safe boot

*My head is about to explode.*
*Last night, I pulled my old hard drive. put in new one and did fresh install.*
*Ever confident that this would magically fix my computer.*
*I can still only boot in safe mode.*
*I ran AHT. everything passed. I have reseted every thing and reset logic board. yes only one push of the magic button*
*below is a system log from before I put in new drive.*
*however, after new drive and fresh install and still can't boot I check sytem log and still get same message:*
*Cannot use ATS Persistent Store - switching to old FODB cache code*
*Is this my underlying problem?*
*What does it mean?*
*When I try to boot up normally, I get to grey screen , spinning wheel, then wheel turns pixelly and fuzzy with random colors juist where the wheel is and the grey screen with apple logo fuzzy then black.*
*Any words of wisdom will save my sanity.*
Feb 11 16:10:32 sherrydesktop shutdown: reboot by louislevy:
Feb 11 16:10:32 sherrydesktop SystemStarter748: authentication service (757) did not complete successfully
Feb 11 16:10:33 sherrydesktop SystemStarter748: The following StartupItems failed to properly start:
Feb 11 16:10:33 sherrydesktop SystemStarter748: /System/Library/StartupItems/AuthServer
Feb 11 16:10:33 sherrydesktop SystemStarter748: - execution of Startup script failed
Feb 11 16:14:42 localhost kernel[0]: standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
Feb 11 16:14:41 localhost memberd72: memberd starting up
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: vmpagebootstrap: 1141505 free pages
Feb 11 16:14:41 localhost mDNSResponder-108.6 (Jul 19 2007 11: 33:32)65: starting
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: migtable_maxdispl = 70
Feb 11 16:14:42 localhost lookupd76: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Feb 11 16:14:42 2008
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: using 8192 buffer headers and 4096 cluster IO buffer headers
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: DART enabled
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 42 built-in now active, GUID 001124ff fe382290; max speed s800.
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Security auditing service present
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: BSM auditing present
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: disabled
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 334016DB-E0CA-3E86-8A4D-47576141AB26
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC4PE/ht@0,f2000000/AppleMacRiscHT/pci@7/IOPCI2PCIBridge/k2-sat a-root@C/AppleK2SATARoot/k2-sata@0/AppleK2SATA/ATADeviceNub@0/IOATABlockStorageD river/IOATABlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDriver/WDC WD2500JD-41HBC0 Media/IOApplePartitionScheme/Untitled@3
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s3, major 14, minor 2
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Jettisoning kernel linker.
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Resetting IOCatalogue.
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 0
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 6
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 6
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 6
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 6
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 6
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: IOPlatformControl::registerDriver Control Driver AppleSlewClock did not supply target-value, using default
Feb 11 16:14:43 localhost kernel[0]: IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
Feb 11 16:14:44 localhost diskarbitrationd71: disk0s3 hfs 334016DB-E0CA-3E86-8A4D-47576141AB26 Macintosh HD desktop /
Feb 11 16:14:44 localhost DirectoryService81: Launched version 2.1 (v353.6)
Feb 11 16:14:45 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet: Ethernet address 00:11:24:38:22:90
Feb 11 16:14:45 localhost launchd: Server 0 in bootstrap 1103 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd"76: exited abnormally: Hangup
Feb 11 16:14:45 localhost lookupd90: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Feb 11 16:14:45 2008
Feb 11 16:14:48 localhost mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
Feb 11 16:14:48 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet::monitorLinkStatus - Link is up at 1000 Mbps - Full Duplex
Feb 11 16:14:48 localhost configd69: AppleTalk startup
Feb 11 16:14:48 sherrydesktop configd69: setting hostname to "sherrydesktop.local"
Feb 11 16:14:51 sherrydesktop kernel[0]: ATY,ChockStone_A: vram a0000000:10000000
Feb 11 16:14:51 sherrydesktop kernel[0]: ATY,ChockStone_B: vram a0000000:10000000
Feb 11 16:14:51 sherrydesktop configd69: executing /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/enable-net work
Feb 11 16:14:51 sherrydesktop configd69: posting notification com.apple.system.config.network_change
Feb 11 16:14:51 sherrydesktop lookupd95: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Feb 11 16:14:51 2008
Feb 11 16:14:53 sherrydesktop configd69: target=enable-network: disabled
Feb 11 16:14:54 sherrydesktop configd69: AppleTalk startup complete
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
Feb 11 16:20:44 localhost memberd57: memberd starting up
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: vmpagebootstrap: 1138664 free pages
Feb 11 16:20:44 localhost mDNSResponder-108.6 (Jul 19 2007 11: 33:32)50: starting
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: migtable_maxdispl = 70
Feb 11 16:20:46 localhost lookupd64: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Feb 11 16:20:46 2008
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: using 8192 buffer headers and 4096 cluster IO buffer headers
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: DART enabled
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 42 built-in now active, GUID 001124ff fe382290; max speed s800.
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Security auditing service present
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: BSM auditing present
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: disabled
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 334016DB-E0CA-3E86-8A4D-47576141AB26
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC4PE/ht@0,f2000000/AppleMacRiscHT/pci@7/IOPCI2PCIBridge/k2-sat a-root@C/AppleK2SATARoot/k2-sata@0/AppleK2SATA/ATADeviceNub@0/IOATABlockStorageD river/IOATABlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDriver/WDC WD2500JD-41HBC0 Media/IOApplePartitionScheme/Untitled@3
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s3, major 14, minor 2
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: HFS: Removed 3 orphaned unlinked files
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Jettisoning kernel linker.
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Resetting IOCatalogue.
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 0
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: IOPlatformControl::registerDriver Control Driver AppleSlewClock did not supply target-value, using default
Feb 11 16:20:47 localhost kernel[0]: IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
Feb 11 16:20:48 localhost diskarbitrationd56: disk0s3 hfs 334016DB-E0CA-3E86-8A4D-47576141AB26 Macintosh HD desktop /
Feb 11 16:20:49 localhost DirectoryService65: Launched version 2.1 (v353.6)
Feb 11 16:20:50 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet: Ethernet address 00:11:24:38:22:90
Feb 11 16:20:52 localhost mDNSResponder: mDNSPlatformSendUDP sendto failed to send packet on InterfaceID 01808800 lo0/4 to 224.0.0.251:5353 skt 9 error -1 errno 65 (No route to host) 306010061
Feb 11 16:20:52 localhost mDNSResponder: mDNSPlatformSendUDP sendto failed to send packet on InterfaceID 01808800 lo0/4 to 224.0.0.251:5353 skt 9 error -1 errno 65 (No route to host) 306010061
Feb 11 16:20:53 localhost mDNSResponder: mDNSPlatformSendUDP sendto failed to send packet on InterfaceID 01808800 lo0/4 to 224.0.0.251:5353 skt 9 error -1 errno 65 (No route to host) 306010311
Feb 11 16:20:53 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet::monitorLinkStatus - Link is up at 1000 Mbps - Full Duplex
Feb 11 16:20:53 localhost configd54: AppleTalk startup
Feb 11 16:20:53 sherrydesktop configd54: setting hostname to "sherrydesktop.local"
Feb 11 16:20:55 sherrydesktop kernel[0]: ATY,ChockStone_A: vram a0000000:10000000
Feb 11 16:20:55 sherrydesktop configd54: executing /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/enable-net work
Feb 11 16:20:55 sherrydesktop kernel[0]: ATY,ChockStone_B: vram a0000000:10000000
Feb 11 16:20:55 sherrydesktop configd54: posting notification com.apple.system.config.network_change
Feb 11 16:20:55 sherrydesktop lookupd75: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Feb 11 16:20:55 2008
Feb 11 16:20:58 sherrydesktop mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
Feb 11 16:20:59 sherrydesktop /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow: Login Window Application Started
Feb 11 16:21:00 sherrydesktop configd54: AppleTalk startup complete
Feb 11 16:21:00 sherrydesktop configd54: target=enable-network: disabled
Feb 11 16:21:04 sherrydesktop loginwindow113: Login Window Started Security Agent
Feb 11 16:21:17 sherrydesktop /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framewo rk/Support/ATSServer: (-3230) Cannot use ATS Persistent Store - switching to old FODB cache code

thank you thank you for taking an interest. this is so frustrating.
i only have apple keyboard, mighty mouse, and 20 inch cinema display connected. this morning took out memory and tried to boot up with individual pairs in the first bank. first the (2)256, the (2) 1g, and then the other (2) 1g modules. everytime I get the weird fuzzy wheel under the logo after a while, black screen flashes, then grey apple logo fuzzy screen then black forever.
I ran tiger updates this morn. still will only boot to safe mode. then tried to run leopard disk to install it
will not boot from leopard disk.
tried safe boot, then doulble click install leopard, restart, then the saga repeats with the pixely red square around the wheel.
these are fresh drives with only what came on instll disk loaded.
thanks again for taking an interest.
i love this system(well at least i did). I want to install leopard on my powerbook too but am terrified to do so right now since it is working and I have work to do. Can't afford to have no computer to do my work on...self employment is great?!
This is making me crazy. I anxiously await your words of wisdom.

Can only Safe Boot

I seem to be in a world of trouble right now.
It all started simply enough. I had Parallels running when I had to do something. When I got back my iMac was asleep, no biggy. I simple woke it up but when I did everything was frozen. So I waited for a few minutes... still nothing so I turned it off using the power button.
Turn it back on, the usual grey screen with the Apple on it. Followed by the grey screen without the apple, then a blue one, then yet another grey screen... and then that is it. Tried restarting again but ended up with the same sequence with just a grey screen and cursor by the end yet again. Kept trying and sometimes the screen will even dim into the black screen of death telling me to restart but nothing more.
So I tried booting from my OS X Install Disc... nothing, I get the same grey screen. I can't even boot a Mac disc. Tried a Linux disc and it worked. No such luck with anything OS X related even from a disc right now. Did a hardware test using my OS X Tiger disc by holding down the key and it said everything is fine.
Pretty worried by this stage I then try doing a Safe Boot... it works! So the next step is to do a normal reboot... But then I get the same sequence as before. I can only seem to Safe Boot. Safe Boot even allows me to boot Mac install discs. So I used Disk Utility, it said my hard drive was fine. There were a lot of permission issues but it fixed most of them. But I still can't boot unless I use Safe Boot.
Since I can't even boot from the Mac Install disc without using Safe Boot I'm guessing a re-install would be pointless at this stage.
So here I am using Safe Boot, can anyone please help me?

Hi C, sorry to take long to be back.
So we have:
Power up leads to a normal boot process until the launchd calls the login window.
Safe boot is successful but the system restart from here is not.
From this point the next one is to reset PRAM and NVRAM as stated in http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570.
To perform this reset use these guide http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379 and return to steps in the first one.
After this reset If normal boot still don't work is time to insert Install DVD and use Disk Utility.
It would be useful to use the verbose boot on any attempt by holding COMMAND+V in addiction to any other key combination and read the screen printed messages so you can maybe see any warning that could be an evidence to the problem origin.
BEFORE any of these recover steps you should disconnect all cables, wait a minute or so and connect only the essential for use, that would be the power cable.
The first troubleshooting guide has a long list of procedures to perform in sequence that if not lead to a successful boot will advice you to backup your data (safe boot, connect usb/firewire external disk, copy data) and drive your Mac to Apple Service. Use this guide and take detailed note of what happens and bring it here so we can have more data to work with.
Good luck.

A G4 desktop Will Only Safe Boot

Hey, so the place I'm working has a G4 PowerPC, updated to the latest version of OS 10.4, but will not boot up normally. It will only boot in safe mode. I ran disk utilities, it repaired some disk permissions but it said the disk didn't need to be repaired. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't know exactly which G4 it is, since it is day one at the new gig (great timing, right?). Anyways, I tried your advice of using single user mode, and it was unable to find a problem. So then I booted in single user mode, and it stopped locked up with the last lines being:
Localhost ajad[57]: ajad - Copyright 2005-2008 AJA Video Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.\n
Macintosh-1 ajad[57] - device found. . .\n
Macintosh-1 ajad[57]: ajad initializeDevice\n
I talked with the other the other intern, sounds like they haven't really used it since they installed a new video card (which I am guessing, the CPU is looking for the old one and can't find it). However, since I ran that mode, now the CPU won't safe boot. We don't have access to the startup discs, were going to borrow some but can't until tomorrow. I of course didn't bring anything large enough for me to make a bootable drive out of.
Please let me know if anything else comes to mind.

Grey screen on startup - safe boot works

Hi. I have a Mac Pro (2008) that starts up with the apple logo and the spiining wheel. Then the screen goes blank. I have tried everything at:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Interestingly it does work in safe boot mode (but lots of the functionality isn't there).
Disk utility doesn't find any problems. Hardware check from the original disks is very slow but says the hardware is working.
I even got a new disk and put a clean install of Mountain Lion, and got the same behaviour.
I think I'd like to try various options of what is disabled by safe mode, to find the culprit, but I can't seem to find what that may be.
Thanks,
David

I did something better; I erased the disk and did a clean install of Mountain Lion. (I had previously bought a new disk becuase I though that it might be a disk failure). But I still get the same problem. In fact I got the problem during the install. But I could finish the install doing safe boot. Again, I can do a safe boot, but not a standard one. And this occurs before the login.
The hardware check from the original disk says that there are no problems with the hardware.
I will now try a clean install of Snow Leopard and see whether that works.
I'm guessing that it is a hardware problem, because Mountain Lion has worked fine for a few months. But I've no hints as to what it may be.
Thanks again,
David

Kernel trap prevents normal reboot, can only safe boot

Hi,
I was trying to connect my mid 2012 MacBook Air 13" with Mavericks 10.9.5 to a projector that I previously succesfully connected.   In the meantime I mistakenly clicked to connect to an unknown AirPlay device, thinking it was perhaps the projector. As I was not able to connect to the projector, I wanted to reboot the computer but it never did. It can safe boot and I obtained a kernel trap log file. I tried disk utility to repair permissions, everything seems ok, but still cannot boot normally. If anyone can help me identify what may be causing the problem, I'd be awaiting your suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Log file:
Anonymous UUID:       1CB63A57-1FEB-FC11-B2EE-885207CD9B7E
Thu Sep 25 22:06:43 2014
panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff80276dc43e): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7fa8f3246e, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0x0000000000000070, CR3: 0x0000000018e96046, CR4: 0x00000000001606e0
RAX: 0x0000000033b6be00, RBX: 0xffffff80c38a3a74, RCX: 0x0000000000000000, RDX: 0xffffff80345e8604
RSP: 0xffffff80c38a3a40, RBP: 0xffffff80c38a3ac0, RSI: 0xffffff80354f7800, RDI: 0xffffff8036ab4000
R8: 0xffffff80345e85fc, R9: 0xffffff80349f8000, R10: 0x0000000000000384, R11: 0x0000000000000000
R12: 0x00000000ffffffff, R13: 0xffffff8036ab4000, R14: 0xffffff80354f7800, R15: 0x0000000000000009
RFL: 0x0000000000010297, RIP: 0xffffff7fa8f3246e, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x0000000000000070, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x2
Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff80c38a36d0 : 0xffffff8027622f79
0xffffff80c38a3750 : 0xffffff80276dc43e
0xffffff80c38a3920 : 0xffffff80276f3976
0xffffff80c38a3940 : 0xffffff7fa8f3246e
0xffffff80c38a3ac0 : 0xffffff7fa8ec1012
0xffffff80c38a3af0 : 0xffffff7fa8ebfa9c
0xffffff80c38a3b70 : 0xffffff8027acfbfa
0xffffff80c38a3b90 : 0xffffff8027ad075e
0xffffff80c38a3bf0 : 0xffffff8027ace1af
0xffffff80c38a3d40 : 0xffffff80276b6998
0xffffff80c38a3e50 : 0xffffff8027626bc1
0xffffff80c38a3e80 : 0xffffff80276139c5
0xffffff80c38a3ef0 : 0xffffff802761e013
0xffffff80c38a3f70 : 0xffffff80276c9b9d
0xffffff80c38a3fb0 : 0xffffff80276f4196
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2(98.22)[0EC64777-94B9-32E3-AC03-A2367895744 B]@0xffffff7fa8ead000->0xffffff7fa8f11fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[4662B11D-2ECA-315D-875C-618C97CDAB2A]@0xffffff 7fa7cbe000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[75D81741-64C1-3941-ADFA-9D6B6C434EE4]@0 xffffff7fa84a6000
         com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD4000Graphics(8.2.8)[D2D01985-3507-32D8-8928-D0847F EC05DA]@0xffffff7fa8f1f000->0xffffff7fa8f6afff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSurface(91.1)[5E4EA3A2-5AB6-3577-B32D-EF5717A0EF5B]@0xffffff7 fa83b2000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[4662B11D-2ECA-315D-875C-618C97CDAB2A]@0xffffff 7fa7cbe000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[75D81741-64C1-3941-ADFA-9D6B6C434EE4]@0 xffffff7fa84a6000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2(98.22)[0EC64777-94B9-32E3-AC03-A2367895744 B]@0xffffff7fa8ead000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer
Mac OS version:
13F34
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 13.4.0: Sun Aug 17 19:50:11 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2422.115.4~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 9477416E-7BCA-3679-AF97-E1EAAD3DD5A0
Kernel slide:     0x0000000027400000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8027600000
System model name: MacBookAir5,2 (Mac-2E6FAB96566FE58C)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 7253954485
last loaded kext at 6113741739: com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.60 (addr 0xffffff7fa93f7000, size 28672)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.60
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 2.6.3f4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCDC 4.2.1b5
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler 2.0.9d6
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.14.34
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformShim 1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.2.6f1
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.6.3f4
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothUSBDFU 4.2.6f1
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.2.6f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.13
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 2.6.3f4
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD4000Graphics 8.2.8
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.6.22
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltIP 1.1.2
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.4.11
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.4d1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelMCEReporter 104
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferCapri 8.2.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeLZVN 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache 35
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 683.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.6.0
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 700.20.22
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.0.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 660.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBXHCI 683.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 217.92.1
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 153
com.apple.security.quarantine 3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 217.92.1
com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.7
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.6.3f4
com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.9.7fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.14
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.2.6f1
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 91.1
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.6.22
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.2.6f1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.4
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.6.3f4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.6.3f4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.8
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.7.1d6
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltEDMSink 2.1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPOutAdapter 3.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.12d1
com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2 98.22
com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.6.22
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 240.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 660.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter 3.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily 3.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 1.4.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 650.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 656.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI 2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily 3.3.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 660.4.2
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 640.36
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 683.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox 278.11.1
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 371.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 23
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0
com.apple.kec.pthread 1
Model: MacBookAir5,2, BootROM MBA51.00EF.B02, 2 processors, Intel Core i5, 1.8 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 2.5f9
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Built-In
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333235533643465238412D50422020
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333235533643465238412D50422020
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0xE9), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)
Bluetooth: Version 4.2.6f1 14216, 3 services, 15 devices, 0 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en0
Serial ATA Device: APPLE SSD TS128E, 121.33 GB
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader
USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Thunderbolt Bus: MacBook Air, Apple Inc., 23.4

Thanks again for your suggestions Linc.
I wanted to give an update as the issue seems to be resolved through running software update.
Since I was able to use safe boot, I downloaded the 10.9.5 Combo Update file and ran the update. Afterwards, the computer booted with no problems. If anyone is experiencing repetitive kernel traps, I hope this will solve the problem for some of you as well!

Kernel Panic After Login yet Safe Boot Works

Every time I attempt to login I have a Kernel Panic, so I booted up in Safe Boot and logged in with no problem. Any ideas?

Remove your login items and check if you still get a KP after login.

Blue screen on startup- only application accessible is iTunes by hitting f8 osx 10.6.8, Safe booting works but otherwise no login screen comes in, is this maybe a popad malware thing? what should I do

when starting up I get a blue screen with no dock, I can access some application by hitting f8 which opens iTunes, from there i use the apple icon in upperleft to go to recent items. There is trouble printing from application or web sites. IF this is a malware thing what should i try to fix it?

Perhaps however what we need is a EtreCheck report of the system if you can. Please download and post your EtreCheck report and we can then look for obvious issues.
http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Why does a Safe Boot fix my video problem?

After visiting my local Genius Bar twice (and getting two different answers), I erased and reinstalled Snow Leopard 10.6 on my late-2006 "white plastic" iMac.
I reinstalled the version of SL that came with the iMac, then upgraded it twice to OS 10.6.8. Software Updater says all of my OS components are up-to-date.
My video-corruption problems ("ghosting", "tearing", pixelation of icon, then the kernel CRASHES within 20 minutes) appear when I boot normally. But they permanently disappear when I reboot into the Safe Mode!
I've search Apple.com and every other site I can find without a clear answer to this:
What extensions, StartUp items, software daemons or gremlins DO NOT load in Safe Mode? Shouldn't one of them be the cause of my problem? Or does Safe Boot work on a hardware-level, too?
This happens on ALL accounts, both Admin and regular users. No external devices are connected except the wired mouse and wired keyboard.
I've zapped the PRAM three times, and I've unplugged it for hours. Disk Utility shows everything is good, too. There's about 50 gigs left on the internal 750 GB hard drive.
The so-called "Geniuses" both ran their Triage OS off an external drive and my iMac hardware passed ALL of their tests. One said it just needed a reinstall (a free fix!!), and the other said my video card is bad ($800, and I have to use an outside repair shop).
Can someone give me an idea how to proceed? I've been working in Safe Mode for days, but that prevents me from using: Sound, my home network, fonts, Preview, editing in iPhoto, etc.
Thanks.
Specs:
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac6,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 3 GB
Purchase Date: March 2007

Hi, Mike,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I read the linked post about QE, but I don't see how it could help me troubleshoot my problem. Could you clarify: is QE a piece of "software" (that is, a file -- like an extension)?
If QE IS a piece of software that is disabled in a Safe Boot, I should be able to move it to my Desktop and restart. If my video problem is eliminated, the QE software is the problem, right?
But then, if my problem is caused by a file/extension, why would the problem occur (and be eliminated in a Safe Boot) right after I re-installed the OS? Shouldn't all the System software be pristine right after re-installation? But since it's NOT fixed by the re-installation, it seems like a hardware problem -- like the expensive video card. That's what's confusing me.
So, I'm proceeding as if the problem is caused by a file being loaded into memory and I'm trying to disable the items that don't load in Safe Boot Mode one-at-a-time. I just need a specific list of what those items are (and their locations on my hard drive).
In OS/9, I used Conflict Catcher to do this automatically, but I haven't found an OSX app to do the same. So I'm trying to do it manually.
Please excuse my layman's terms. Any help is appreciated.

Safe Boot gone

I have two internal hard drives (A and B) in my PowerMac G5. I normally use drive A which after some sort of update of significant changes I clone to drive B. Then I will start up from drive B to defragment drive A. For some time now I would start drive B in safe boot mode (holding down the shift key during start up) when I would use it to defrag drive A.
Well, a little while ago when going through this routine, holding down the shift key while starting up had no effect. I've tried it several times starting from both drives, I did things like checking the disk to see if it needed repair, maintenance routines, repair permissions, and so forth, all to no avail.
Anyway, I give up on it for now. As far as I can tell Safe Boot is no more.
Anybody else have this happen or have comments on this.

"... for some time now..."
Sounds like lots of experience with how and when to hold down the shift key to me, doesn't it? not "operator error" type situation.
If it doesn't go into Safe mode but does boot from the "B" drive, I would check the drive in Single User Mode and running fsck followed by Applejack to remove cache folders and swap files (but not the /Users cache folders).
Also, does Safe boot work on Drive A?
And have you tried resetting nvram? (from Open Firmware ideally).

TS3742 How to do safe boot on MacBook Pro

How to do a safe reboot on my MacBook Pro when kernel panic message appears?

Are you trying to safe boot because you got a KP or are you getting a KP when you safe boot?
You boot in safe mode by pressing the shift key immediately after you hear the boot chime.

I have late 2006 iMac 24" and I cannot boot it up. I have tried everything but it will only come up in safe boot. I can, at last, boot up on the option key and it now gives me the option of the Recover HD but when I select this, it still won't boot up?

When I select the Recovery drive it tries and then I can't get further than a white screen. My curser so has 2 columns of marks like a horizontal barcode. I think it's a software problem. When I boot up in safe boot, I have run the disc utility and it says the disc is fine and I have run the repair permissions but it makes no difference.

Thanks AAndy but I had read all of that and tried everything but I have no disks as I upgraded from Snow Leopard over the internet. I have my Snow Leapard box but the disk is missing so I can't use that and anyway, I can only boot up in safe boot so it wouldn't recognise the superdrive. I had a copy of the recovery on a flash but it doesn't recognise that. I have redownloaded it but cannot get it onto an external because of safe boot. I have done the following
Reset the PRam, reset the desktop.
Tried the D key - no responce
Tried opt D and Command D - no responce
Comant R, jusr R and opt R - no responce
By no responce, I mean that the wheel goes round under the apple and then it goes white - and stays like that.
The only thing that I can do, is to boot up on the option key when it give me a choice of drive. If I select Recover, wheel turns under apple - white wcreen
If I boot up on the shift key, it boots into safe mode and there it stays, quite happy surfing the internet and playing stupid Facebook games, so long as I don't want to use any search engines (none of which work (not finder, not mail, not anything) and then after a few hours of forgotton pleasure, it crashes!
The only thing I can think of to do is to redownload Lion - it appears in my purchased account in the App Store but, Sod's law, our satellite internet is not working and I don't think my phone account has enough MBs - anyone know how many Lion is?
I can't backup because I can't use an external drive and old one stopped working a few months ago, so I haven't been backing up and as this is the first problem I have ever had with my iMac in 7 years, I had got a bit comlascent! However, I am pretty certain that I can re-install Lion without wiping my hard drive - I have done it years ago with an older system and an older Mac.
Do you think that downloading Lion again and re-installing it will help? Does anyone else have any suggestions?
Thanks for responding so far.

Methodical debuggiung when only Safe Boot works ?

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