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).

Similar Messages

TS1381 My left arrow does not work on my macbook pro(model A1226). I have reset nvram, performed a safe boot, pulled the cache to desktop, replaced .globalpreference.plist, test all other keys with keyboard view (all others work) - HELP!!

My left arrow does not work on my macbook pro(model A1226).
I have reset nvram, performed a safe boot, pulled the cache to desktop, replaced .globalpreference.plist, & tested all other keys with "keyboard viewer" (all other keys work except for the arrow).
In addition, I have gone thru all the recommended checks with universal access and have booted from snow leopard dvd and the left arrow still does not work.
I have tried using the left arrow key in all of applications I use such as: excel, ms word, address book, calendar, iphoto, terminal, & highlighting an icon and using the arrows to move to another selected icon.
Here is the kicker! In addition, I purchased a logitech solar bluetooth keyboard and the arrows work fine with my ipad but do not work when paired with the macbook pro. All other keys work fine on the macbook pro using the bluetooth keyboard.
I believe this says that the problem is not in my macbook pro keyboard. So where can it be?
Can anyone think of any other rabbit holes I can search?
thanks and regards
vats3

I would also like to add that I've reverted the two cd drive and hard drive mods I did and the laptop is back to factory hardware and there is 0 corrosion or mold visible.

What a heck is "safe boot"?

Hi guys -- I had to restart my iMac and when it was starting up, the light gray beckground with the gray apple logo was there as usual, however, there was a progress bar below it that hadn't been there before and it took way longer than usual to start up... Once it finished it requested me my password as usual BUT it had a line of red text saying "Safe boot"... I then entered my password as usual, my desktop was there but the volume icon at the top right corner was gone so I restarted it again and all was fine: No "Safe boot" text and the volume icon was there. So what a heck was that all about??

When you boot your Mac while holding the shift key down it loads only a small selection of the various kexts and other process which normally run in the background, together with all fonts other than the handful built into the system. Consequently many of the usual facilities, internet included, don't work. The purpose of this is to enable you to boot the computer when some background process is conflicting or corrupted (usually it's third-party add-ons which do this) so that you can diagnose the problem. It also runs a disk check on start-up, hence the slow start. On the next boot everything is back to normal.

TS2570 Still cant access my computer, followed instructions to perform a safe boot and last line of script it shows: BootCacheControl: Unable to open /Var/db/BootCache.playlist:2 No such file or directory. Any idea?

Brand new Mac Book Pro
Purchased in Mexico's Department store Liverpool on June 20th 2012
Purchased Memory upgade to 8Gb, on june 27th, at Apple Store Memorial City, Houston
Upgraded memory from 4Gb to 8Gb on June 28th.
Tried to write on my external HD (previously written on a windows based PC) with no success.
Upon reccomendation from a Mac assistant, copied all my external HD contents into my Mac Hard drive.
Then formatted my external HD and copied back all my information to it.
deleted all the information from my MacBook Pro HD.
Attempted to repeat the same operation with another external HD, but got a message saying there was not enough epace on the computer HD (even though I have a 750Gb Hard Drive.
Looked in the trash bin and there it was, all the information previously deleted..
Could not empty the trash bin, although I got a message asking me to safely delete all the information from the trash bin,
Could not get enough space released, after several attpempts the trash bin was finally emptied.
All happy getting acquainted with my new MacBook Pro. Two days later, got a gray screen and not able to start the computer.
Looking in to Mac support I found article http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570 and followed instructions to perform a safe boot:
"Perform a Safe Boot
Simply performing the Safe Boot may resolve this issue.
Shut down your Mac. If necessary, hold your Mac's power button for several seconds to force it to power down.
Start your Mac, then immediately hold the Shift key. This performs a Safe Boot. Advanced tip: If you want to
see the status of a Safe Boot as it progresses, you can hold Shift-Command-V during start up (instead of just Shift).
Note: A Safe Boot takes longer than a typical start up because it includes a disk check and other operations.
The following is the script that appears on the screen upon safe boot. and halt after the last line.
AppleACPICPU:Processor Id=6 LocalAplicId=255 Disabled
AppleACPICPU:Processor Id=7 LocalAplicId=255 Disabled
AppleACPICPU:Processor Id=8 LocalAplicId=255 Disabled
calling mpo_policy_init for TMSafetyNet
Security policy loaded: Safety net for Time Machine (TMSafetyNet)
calling mpo_policy_init for Sandbox
Security policy loaded: Seatbelt sandbox policy (Sandbox)
calling mpo_policy_init for Quarantine
Security policy loaded: Quarantine Policy (Quarantine)
Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
        The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.
MAC Framework Succesfully initializad
using 16384 buffer headers and 10240 cluster IO buffer headers
IOAPIC: Version 0x20 Vextors 64:87
ACPI: System State [SO S3 S4 S5] (S3)
PFM64 (36cpu) 0xf10000000, 0xf0000000
Aplconsole relocated to 0xf1000000
PCI configuration changed (bridge=16 device=4 cardbus=0)
[ PCI configuration end, bridges 12 devices 16 ]
Firewire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5901 built-in now active, GUID 3c0754fffe9b2aa2; max speed s800.
Pthread support ABORTS when sync kernel primitives misused
com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib kmod start
com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless kmod start
com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib load succeeded
com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeDateless load succeeded
AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient: ready
BTCOEXIST off
wl0: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11 Wireless controller
5.100.98.75
AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::checkStatus - received Status Packet, Payload 2: device was reinitializad
rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 6E918706-FC0D-37460-A3A0-6268A51DF93B
Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
Got boot device = IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleAPIPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleIntelPchSe riesAHCI/PRT0@0/AOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlock
storageevice /IoBlockStorageDriver/TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF Media/IOGUIDPartit
BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2
Kernel is LP64
com.apple.launchd 1   com.apple.launchd 1   *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
com.apple.launchd 1   com.apple.launchd 1   *** Verbose boot, will log to /dev/console. ***
Running fsck on the boot volume...
** /dev/rdisk0s2 (NO WRITE)
** Root file system
   Executing FSCK_HFS (version diskdev_cmds-540.1~25).
BootCacheControl: UNable to open /Var/db/BootCache.playlist:2 No such file or directory
launchctl:Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /Library/LaunchDaemons
launchctl:Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /System/Library/LaunchDaemons
Any help or suggestions on what to do next would be welcomed.
I am in the middle of the Atlantick, stuck with a brand new, non working Apple MacBook Pro.
Best regards
Sergio Ramos

Reinstalling MacOS does NOT fix the problem for me. I'm still searching a solution !
Bernard

My macbook pro ended up in safe boot mode randomly twice in a row...how do i fix this permanently??!

And I think this issue is coming from a few different problems I've had with my MacBook Pro on lion...one major thing was probably the fact that I changed from Lion to Mountain Lion...and then changed right back (I think I did back up my stuff first), but somehow it didn't agree with my computer. Also I've been wearing it out a lot by throwing it with the case into my car frequently...maybe a bit much, idk...also though I have a lot of trouble keeping up with the numerous files that build up on my desktop and don't know where to begin. Let's just say my computer has pretty much had it, although for months it's been functioning normally.
...oh yeah and did I mention I had to get a brand new hard drive, with that not really making a difference as to how bad I, um, throw my computer around (it's not as bad as you think but to be candid, blech). I did bang my computer at one point in a rage attack and made sure no one really knew when I took it to get it fixed? TMI...that's what I deserve....so.
I did try this web link the second time in a row this happened which was about an hour or so that I managed to, uh, kind of fix it with the bottom advice on the page:
http://applehelpwriter.com/2012/06/24/mac-keeps-starting-in-safe-mode/
(sorry I couldn't get this to click)
Anyways at the bottom of this help article you will notice the very end of PRAM reset directions where you hear the start up chime two times. That did not happen, but somehow out of nowhere the computer stopped the safe boot mode routine and the progress bar didn't show up as I continued to hold down the given keys. I really don't know where my luck came from there...and I also found an article that fixed my computer the first time and I cringe to say that it came from a person on Apple Discussions complaining about something similar that one of my friends helped me google. Planning to actually bookmark the applehelpwriter article in case I just happen to need it but i'm pretty sure someone will be on here with an answer at some point.
SO....I did get my comp fixed twice now, but I hope that somebody will go back and read the beginning of my question explanation to see if I'm doing something that may be overwhelming my computer. If this safe boot thing happened to me instead of me testing the computer myself AND MORE THANA ONCE yikes...something needs to be done. Take note that the only reason I'm asking the community's advice is that I'm past my computer's contract so if I wanted to I couldn't take my computer to get it fixed and I planned to take one or two more classes in college again to complete my certificate.
Please help, some people must run into this situation at some point, either way if they ask or don't I'm sure they're lucky to get it fixed somewhere.
chels

Only if your home/renters insurance doesn't cover such damage without raising your rates/dropping you. Ask first of them if it is worthwhile the claim once you get an estimate for repair. These repair places are pretty good:
http://www.dttservice.com/
http://www.powerbookresq.com/
http://www.microdocusa.com/
http://www.macspecialist.com/
http://www.techrestore.com/

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.

EMac Freezes in Normal Start Up - OK under Safe Boot 10.3.9 or 10.4.11

In helping a charter school get its eMacs back running, one of these eMacs [(ATI Graphics w/32Mb VRAM), 1.25GHz G4, 37GB HD, 1Gb RAM, and whose SN = G8429CDSQJ8] is displaying very unusual symptoms. It simply has to be software or a very weird RAM or VRAM memory issue, but I am mystified as to whose since I found no Firmware Updates at Apple or ATI. Here is the gory story.
I had replaced its battery and added a 1Gb DIMM (About This Mac and System Profiler show this is OK). I repaired the HD from a “Gray Restore DVD that was shipped with these eMacs” (got a “No Repairs Needed” from this) and its Permissions from the DVD set of 10.3.x system SW, and initially did an "archive and restore" installation. This had worked fine for all the other 10 eMacs as had going up to 2 Gb RAM.
On re-start the eMac froze and refused to eject Restore DVD. I hooked up a Firewire Cable to the ailing machine and ejected the Restore DVD after starting the ailing eMac in Target Mode. After this, I started up in Safe Boot and updated the 10.3.x Restored SW to 10.3.9 using Software Update ... things seemed fine. So, I started up in normal mode, opened System Preferences to Accounts to make sure the Student account was under agreed restrictions. As soon as the Authentication panel opened, the eMac froze, needing a Power Button shutdown … it kept doing this, and it behaved itself under Safe Boot after each freeze. I installed YASU (from a CD in Safe Boot and have used for years on my home PMMD, dual 1Ghz G4, 10.4.11), which I understand is simply a group of Unix scripts under a nice GUI and had it do all the system and web browser tasks (i.e. crons, permissions, prebinding, swap filesetc) but saved the logs and their archives.
We were upgrading all the eMacs System SW to Os 10.4.11 (starting from a 10.4.3 "Black X" commercial system disk … so from a Safe Boot, I loaded the 10.4.3 DVD, started up from it, and did an Erase and Install, so all the SW on the drive is Apple’s own. PRAM was reset and amazingly, on this re-start, this eMac froze a few seconds after a App’s window opened. From a new Safe Boot, Software Update took me to 10.4.11 (I refused to allow Safari, iTunes and Quick Time update until it had also updated all the other security and Java (9 Javas of these in numerical order from SUD).
Under Safe Boot, I found I can open as many as 10 Apps or Utilities, flip between the windows … nothing wrong. After some thought, I used Activity Monitor, Disk Utility (to perform “Erase Free Space, 7X” and with Screen Saver’s Flurry at maximum in the Choice window, and this places the processor use at almost 100% (~70-75% user + ~20% system) … but this does not test much of the memory (couldn’t figure out how to do this). I kept things going for over 7 hours while randomly using Safari or Text Edit. But as soon as a Normal Restart is done and a second window opens (even Activity Monitor’s little floater), it freezes again.
The Web is full of symptoms that usually blame memory, but it seems hard to believe that the 1Gb DIMM would “know” when the system is booted Normal vs Safe. So, tonight, I am going to run Rember (v. o.2b) that I dragged off my PMMD … an have used it under 10.4.11 over the years.
BTW, contents of Trash after two (2) hard freezes are always the same system files [annex_aux, annex.db, filetoken.db, fonts.db, and qdfams.db]. The mention of “fonts.db” seems to suggest a font problem, but why … all are fresh 10.4.3 stuff.
It’s my understanding that Safe Boot allows ONLY Apple extensions and Apps to load and this is why it seems to me that the problem must be SW … somehow, somewhere.
Is there a utility that can list third party components? Does this make sense? In looking into the Preferences and Application Support there are Adobe, Macromedia prefs, fonts … which I assume came in w/ Safari since I have not added any 3rd party programs other than YASU, who tells you truthfully where its stuff is loaded
When back at the school, I plan to swap out 1Gb RAM DIMMs and/or replace the old 256Mb DIMM that was original. Also, plan to go back to the Restore Software DVDs (10.3.4 since these have more Apps that are needed): Erase (Zero Out Deleted Files) and Install to rebuild a “virgin” set of 10.3 after restarting. Then Check to see if Safe Boot is stable BEFORE trying to update to 10.4.11 (via 10.4.3 Black X).
However, if this does not make sense, I would be grateful for readers pointing out my errors and/or flawed plans.

Hi Cosmic (and, per my Southern US heritage, hope yawl are doin fine down under),
Firstly, thank you hugely for guiding me through this eMac puzzle. Your insight that under Safe Boot the ATI video extensions are turned off now has the symptoms I see matching a cause.
Last evening, I did an Erase (Zero out the HD, 1 pass) and a virgin , custom install from the eMac Media DVD that came with the machine; this took the system to Os 10.3.6, and it seemed to let me open more windows than two(2) for several passes, but it still froze, these times leaving no recovered files as a trail.
I decided to use only Apple’s Software Update, under Safe Boot, to sequentially load only system or Java UDs and not let Safari or any iApp stuff bring in foreign SW components(tis strategy caused by finding, last evening, strange troubles with the Font book not validating any font and it displaying most of these incorrectly. This font finding kept me thinking SW had to be the problem instead of heeding your and Alan Jones experience …
All well and good, and when I got to 10.3.9 with all the Java and Security Uds, I could open as many as 4 Apps, but the killer was always testing the “Flurry” screen saver … lots of video here. Yet in Safe Boot, I could open all the Apps in the folder and randomly switch between them with no issues.
Lot of driving chores today kept me from seeing your second reply till late this afternoon, but as I drove I remembered that on my now ancient Power Mac Mirror Door, 2x1Ghz, one of my partitions had 10.3.9 loaded with free Unix scientific SW and Xbench 1.1.3 and Cinebench 2003, both of which test video cards, etc. So, I loaded and made DVDs of these testing apps after running them on the PMMD in the 10.3 partition as well as my normal 10.4.11 main drive. Got them over on the eMac, checked to make sure its fonts were OK, ran the tests under Safe Boot, then saw immediate freezes under Normal Boots, and finally, logged into the Apple site and read your reasoning. Bingo!
I again checked the caps I could see and they matched your ID of them, still, even with a machinists mirror could not see the ones further in … called the school marm and told her we should consider this eM as nearly dead, use its internal organs (HD, RAM, ATA drive) and externals (Keyboards, cables) in our organ donor program. She’s agreed, so it’s a done deal.
So, tomorrow I’ll satisfy my curiosity and do the surgery to remove the innards and see if there is evidence of the caps … sure there will be. BTW, I made my living, till a good severance package induced early retirement , as a PhD level Materials Scientist/Elec Engineer (mostly in chip level packaging and several forays into flat panel electronic displays (LCDs and OLEDS(Orgainc Light Emitting Diodes)). As I looked at the circuit board, these electrolytics seem to be surface mounted, an unusual design even for its day, and I cannot imagine any “shade tree” electrician having much success trying to replace them.
Again, a thank you for your insight. I’ll just have to owe you a beer since I’m doubtful you would get one I’d drop along the seashore. Take good care … and without checking a map, I hope Brisbane is not being flooded.
drsax
PS I forgot to mark your and Allan Jones earlier replies as Helpful which they were ... just did so. Sorry for the oversight. Owe you both a beer for sharing your experience.

Help: upon safe boot, got following message: BootCacheControl: Unable to open /Var/db/BootCache.playlist:2 No such file or directory

Mac Book Pro, late 2011. Purchased in a department store in Mexico.
Was running ok for several days after I purchased it.
Had some software installed and memory upgraded from 4 to 8Gb.
Suddenly at start up, got a gray screen with a spinning wheel and never boot.
Followed advise from http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570 and performed a safe boot. (hold Shift-Command-V during startup instead of just Shift).
The boot sequence starts then stops and nothing happens. these are the last lines of the boot sequence.
BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2
Kernel is LP64
com.apple.launchd 1   com.apple.launchd 1   *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
com.apple.launchd 1   com.apple.launchd 1   *** Verbose boot, will log to /dev/console. ***
Running fsck on the boot volume...
** /dev/rdisk0s2 (NO WRITE)
** Root file system
   Executing FSCK_HFS (version diskdev_cmds-540.1~25).
BootCacheControl: Unable to open /Var/db/BootCache.playlist:2 No such file or directory
launchctl:Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /Library/LaunchDaemons
launchctl:Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /System/Library/LaunchDaemons
For what little experience I have on Unix systems, it has to do with the libraries which cannot be launched...
Any ideas, solutions, suggestions are welcomed.
Cheers.
Dipbaja

Boot into Recovery (command-R at startup), launch Disk Utility, select your startup volume, and run Repair Permissions. Then reboot as usual.

My Macbook Pro (15" early 2011) got blue screen every i normally booted it. It only can enter the OS when it's in safe boot. Solution please.

My Macbook Pro (15" early 2011, Mountain Lion, but after reinstall i change it to snow leo) got blue screen every i normally booted it. It enter the OS only when it's in safe boot.
I've tried any solution that i got from the internet, such as:
-Reinstalling the OS X (normal install & clean install)
-Reset PRAM and SMC
-Repair Disk Permissions and Repair Disk from Disk Utility (the result is OK. There's no problem)
-Repair Disk Permissions manually (with Command + S at the beginning of booting)
-Checking Hardware from Application Installer DVD (result is OK)
-Checking from Mac Resource Inspector/MRI (result OK)
-Booting from Recovery Disk is same problem, blue screen
All of that solution is not working. My Macbook still got light blue screen and sometimes blue screen with lines after apple logo and spinning wheel is shown.
HDD is in good condition because when it's checked on the other macbook it can be booted. But if you must know, other HDD can't be booted when its plugged to my macbook (blue screen again). If i do safe booting, it works but can't play video and music also photobooth. I got confused with this case.
Any solution or comment? Thank you very much by the way

Hi. I'm not trying to rush things, you may have a different problem, but your issue looks quite familiar to me. I recently had a problem with the discrete graphics card (the Radeon GPU) due to overheating, all because a faulty application of the thermal compound in the factory.
In my case, the problem started slowly and intermittently, a few days after a gaming session (Quake 3) of about three hours (at the moment, I didn't realized that could be linked to the problem).
This issue is being actively discussed in another threads in this forum, but so far there's enough evidence that it's been causing similar problems for 2011 MBPs owners: screen corruption, black/blue screens, and in some cases, a total inability to boot. Some of the threads I'm talking about:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/13150366#13150366
https://discussions.apple.com/message/21110132#21110132
So far, and since the problem seems to affect only the discrete GPU (that's why you can boot in safe mode) a possible solution is to disable it by removing some extensions which prevent OS X from loading the Radeon drivers. This post describing the process (there are different files involved depending of your GPU version, so make sure you are moving the right ones):
https://discussions.apple.com/message/22521574#22521574
In the case your discrete GPU survived and is not permanently damaged, I personally had success by changing the thermal compound myself, which completely fixed the problem (at least for now). I've posted about it here:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/22630561#22630561
I hope you can find a solution, believe me I know the feeling when you see your expensive machine turning into a brick and it *****.
Good luck!

My caps lock was stuck and I shut down. Now it's coming back up in safe boot and asking for a password. It won't take my password, I believe because of the caps lock problem. So, how can I get in?

My caps lock was stuck when I shut down my computer. It is coming back up in safe boot (I had spilled liquid on it).
It's asking for my password - which has some lower case letters...So now how can I get in?
Is there a way to change this password or something?
I have a wireless keyboard, but it wasn't set up - so, It's not recognizing it.
Any ideas?

Take your computer to get the keyboard replaced, your lucky it didn't trigger the moisture sensor and brick your machine, so your chances of the machine working well after the keyboard is replaced is likely very good.
As long as the main keyboard is sending a caps lock signal, it's not going to work even if you get in.
If you need to remove files off the internal drive, use a Firewire cable (800 to 400 adpater may be needed) and hold T to boot the problem Mac into Firewire Target Disk Mode and connect the cable to another Mac, the hard drive will appear on the desktop which you can then remove/erase files.

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.

Why does Firefox not launch after safe boot?

Folks:
I've been using ML for several months, no particular issues, yesterday as part of the monthly maintenance I did a safe boot, and after that firefox will not launch. Other 3rd party apps will launch, and of course Safari will . . . but, any thoughts as to why FF would go "limp"? When I click on it in the dock the icon bounces but then returns to the dock . . . I tried to launch it from the application folder and from the "previous application" launcher . . . . I tried it in a "guest" account that is never used . . . no difference. I did try to do something in the Terminal, but since I'm thinking that very soon I'm switching up to Mav, I haven't bothered to figure out how to add my regular user account to the sudoers list. But, I did try to launch FF in my admin account by the regular methods yesterday, no luck. Any ideas why this is happening . . . to me? Solutions are better, but, conspiracy theories also accepted . . . . =8 - 0
e.e.p.

Ran "Repair Permissions" several times . . . seems to be fixed.

Macbook fails to boot and safe boot won't log in

Hi All,
This is my first post here after owning a mac for about 2 weeks and then having a serious problem that needed a good dose of Unix know how to fix!
Symptoms are:
1. If you try an boot the Macbook you get a blue screen with a working mouse pointer but nothing else and none of the shortcut keys work
2. If you try and boot in to Safe Boot it won't accept a user name and password (not even root) and gets into an infinite loop.
Cause:
Something called ypbind is trying to contact a Domain that doesn't exist so it gets into a loop and fails. This problem seems to be fairly easy to achieve by playing with the Directory Utility (I was trying to connect to a Windows work group).
Solution:
Boot the macbook into Single User mode (by holding Command-S during start-up). You may need to do a hard reboot by holding down the power button to get it to restart.
At the command prompt locate /etc/defaultdomain and clear its contents using Vi or Pico. Some people have suggested that you can delete the file but clearing it works as well. Then reboot (type exit). The machine should reboot fine. Other things I did to be on the safe side were to check the hard disk and check the permissions using the diagnostic tools on the OSX install CD (it's bootable).
This took me ages to sort out so I hope this helps someone else in the same position.
Regards,
Mark

I have just managed to get duped into getting re-infected with that same PC Optimizer Pro virus.
Ordinarily, System Restore does not remove all the damage from a virus.
Now that you're able to back up your important files, it seems best to to restore the hard disk to its original out-of-the-box contents and reload the applications.
   Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery tab > Recovery tab > Remove everything and reinstall Windows
If that doesn't work, you can obtain recovery media from Toshiba. Scroll down to Get Recovery Media here. For instructions, see the section Restoring from recovery media, which begins on p. 57 of the User's Guide.
   Satellite/Satellite Pro C800/L800/S800 Series User’s Guide
If you restore to Windows 8, be sure to follow the instructions when you upgrade to Windows 8.1.
   How to Update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
-Jerry

No Menu Bar, No Dock, No way to Safe Boot or Recover

I've searched the forums (and the web) and couldn't find a sitaution just like this one, tho a few have been close.
I re-started my Mac Pro yesterday in hopes of finishing up a Logic Pro project, but upon restart my screen had no Menu Bar, no Dock, and had returned to the default desktop pic. Also, it appears the screen resolution changed as my two start-up apps (Things and Evernote) were pushed off the screen, with only a corner of them visible on the left side (I could grab them and pull them into view, but even then their window sizes had changed from what they usually are). I'm running a 2008 MacPro with 10.8.4 and 8 GBs of RAM, 4 internal hard drives (one system, one Time Machine Backup, one Music Project drive, and one (outdated) Clone). An Apogee Duet (v1, Firewire) is connected.
I opened a new Finder window (Cmd+N) and was able to see that my data was still there and could even launch the few apps I tried, tho their windows - like Things & Evernote - were off to the left side of the screen.
I searched these forums and the web for a solution and decided to try booting in Safe Mode. However, the screen that appeared was just a blank version of the grey fabric background like you see in Dashboard, and nothing else ever appeared after letting it sit for 20 minutes. So I tried booting in Recovery Mode, but once I selected the Recover Volume as my start-up, I once again found myself staring at the blank grey fabric screen for another 20 minutes.
Frustrated, I shut down the computer for about half an hour, and when I re-started it all was fine. I repaired Permissions and ran ClamXav just to test, but no problems were found. After working on it most of the afternoon without incident, I shut it off for the night. However, this morning when I started up, I get the same No Dock, No Menu Bar, default Desktop situation.
Any thoughts on what to do? I realize it may be time for a new computer, but I'd like to at least be able to finish this project I'm working on!

I would love to see your real full (sans ser no) System Profile
You don't mention what you are using. If not the ATI 5770 or above, get one.
Replace the graphic card likely even as troubleshooting
reset SMC
Make a current clone or two
Boot off clone or setup a clean new emergency system for maintenance
Safe Boot
Recovery Mode
Start a new 2nd TimeMachine (I swap out and use one about once a month for insurance)
Never used it and not endoring spending or using but TechTool Pro 7 does more testing
The fewer background goodies the better but monitoring temps, fans, memory are useful.
Temperature Monitor, SmcFanControl 2.4+
I dont' think you need to be using ClamXav
A system performs better with less
New computer? maybe a new disk drive. Maybe more or swap out some or all FBDIMMs. Maybe just a clean system. Worse case, you updated from SL to Lion/ML and didn't do a clean break.
Early 2008 3,1 that you have have been more tempermental for a goodly number of users.
How To 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
http://www.coolestguyplanettech.com/how-to-make-a-bootable-osx-10-8-mountain-lio n-disc-or-drive-from-the-downloaded-mountain-lion-app/
ATI Radeon 5770
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/726537-REG/Apple_MC742ZM_A_ATI_Radeon_HD_5 770.html

Mac mini shut down on its own, will not restart, grey screen, spinning wheel. Unplugged everything, will still not restart. Did safe boot, will not restart after safe boot, only grey screen with spinning wheel.

Mac mini shut down on its own. Could not restart, chime, grey screen and spinning wheel. Unplugged everything but monitor, still only chime, grey screen and spinning wheel. Started in safe boot, shut Down, will not restart.
This happened a couple of months ago, unplugged everything and it restarted, now that won't work.

Hi BDAqua,
I just did the repair as you suggested. T ran the disc repair, and twice it cam back, the volume macintosh seems ti be okay, I also ran the verify and permissions repair, both came back okay.
I was actually hoping that they would find something, so they could repair. I shut the computer down, and restated with out holding a key, and I started up great. I'm baffled. I have moved 20 GB to an external hard drive, as I only had 10% open space.
I have Tech Tool 6, would you recommend to run a repair check on that, or just leave well enough alone.
I agree with you on the new Mac's, I have problems with no disc for back up, until they realize their mistake I will stay with Snow a Leopard. This is the first problem I have experienced, so I can't complain. Their last programs are not as perfected as under Steve, prior to his handling over the reins, hope this is not going to be the future we can expect from Apple.
I will wait to here back as to your suggestion regarding the Tech Tool check
Thanks for all your help.
Gratefully,
Cheri

Safe Boot gone

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