Trying to start in safe mode, but....

Have a bad hard drive and trying to start in safe mode but the circle just keeps spinning, been over an hour. Any help to get it to start so I can offload content?

Brilaneb wrote:
Will I lose these using Disk Utility?
Hopefully not, but if the HD is dying it's possible that trying to fix it may have the opposite result.
Do you have another Mac you could connect it to? If so, you may be able to boot into Target Disk mode in the hope that you can copy off the data you don't want to lose before trying to fix the HD:
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH10725

Similar Messages

MacBook pro will not boot. I get the gray screen, an apple icon and spinning wheel. Tried to start in safe mode but get the same screen. The only thing different was that I loaded the zedge sync app yesterday. Now getting this problem.

Macbook pro will not boot. I get the gray screen, an apple icon and spinning wheel. I tried to start in safe mode, but get this same screen. The only thing different is that I added the zedge update app to do a sync for adding ringtones to my apple cell phone. How can I get a good boot. I am fairly new to apple computer.

Reset PRAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405 and then try a normal boot.
Run the Startup Manager to select Startup disk: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
If those did not work your disk may be sick or dying. The top priority at this point is to make a backup copy of your data.
Check the health of the disk. Boot in Recovery Mode (Boot, Command-R). Run Disk Utility. Click on the upper left disk icon. Does the S.M.A.R.T. status say “Verified”? If not the disk/SSD is unhealthy and needs to be replaced. Even if it does not show “Verified” you can still attempt a backup.
Click on the icon indented below, usually called “Macintosh HD” and Verify Disk. If it finishes with a green “OK” message then all is well with the disk. If it shows errors in red then you have found a problem to address once the system is backed up. Do not attempt software repairs until you have secured the data.
If the disk will not show up at all in Disk Utility as your ran the tests above then it may be dead or it may have a bad internal SATA cable. A trip to an Apple store for confirmation would be in order.
If you have an external disk drive you can use as a backup drive then do so. If not Google “Hitachi USB 3.0 external hard drive 1TB” to purchase one or go to a brick-and-mortar store (including an Apple store) to pickup one. Any 1 TB external drive will do.
Assuming it is still breathing you can try to recover the data without booting from the sick disk.
Reformat the external disk. (This will erase all data on the external disk.)
Boot in Recovery Mode. Start Disk Utility. Plug in the new disk. Select it’s disk Icon (the second one down, left justified). Select the Partition tab.
Partition Layout > Single Partition
Name: Emergency Recovery 1 (or whatever name you wish to use)
Format: Mac OS Extended (journaled)
Options… > GUID Partition Table > OK
Apply
Select the Restore tab.
Drag the old system volume (Macintosh HD) to Source.
Drag the new disk volume (Emergency Recovery 1) to Destination.
Click on Restore.
It may take a long time for the backup.
If that will not complete post back for other emergency data recovery methods, including those from a brody.
If the backup succeeds, use the First Aid tab in Disk Utility to select the old volume (Macintosh HD) and Repair Disk. If it does not finish with a green OK message try to repair it once or twice more. If it repairs with a green OK message, will it boot normally? If not, boot from the Recovery Partition and reinstall OS X.
If it is still not healthy, post back for further instructions.

I don't have my navigation bar at all. I tried to start in safe mode but I never get the dialog box the y say you should get to reset to defaults. Help?

i don't have my navigation bar at all. I tried to start in safe mode but I never get the dialog box the y say you should get to reset to defaults. Help? I have even uninstalled and reloaded firefox
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== My wife hit a button and doesn' know what happened

See if this helps. View > Toolbars, if no check beside Navigation Bar, click on Navigation Bar to check it.
'''Can't see the Menu Bar''' (File, Edit, View, History, Bookmarks, Tools, Help)?
Turning the Menu Bar on and off is a new feature in version 3.6.
''(~~red:Linux & OSX see~~: [[Menu bar is missing]] )''
''Windows'' Method 1. '''''Hold down''''' the key and press the following letters in this exact order: V T M then release the key
''Windows'' Method 2. Tap once on the F10 key, while the Menu bar is visible, choose "View > Toolbars", click "Menu Bar" so that a check mark is placed next to Menu Bar
''Windows'' Method 3. Tap once and release the key. The Menu Bar will be displayed; then choose ~~red:V~~iew > ~~red:T~~oolbars and click on ~~red:M~~enu Bar so that a check mark is placed next to Menu Bar
The Menu Bar should now be displayed permanently, unless you turn it off again using View > Toolbars. Check mark = displayed, NO check mark = not displayed.
See:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Menu+bar+is+missing
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Toolbar_customization#Restoring_missing_menu_or_other_toolbars
'''Navigation Toolbar, Bookmarks Toolbar and other Toolbars''' under View > Toolbars. Clicking on one of them will place a check mark (display) or remove the check mark (not displayed).
'''To display the Status Bar''', View, then click Status bar to place a check mark (display) or remove the check mark (not displayed).
'''Full Screen mode'''
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Netbooks#Full_screen
Also see:
''' [[Back and forward or other toolbar buttons are missing]]'''
'''[[Navigation Toolbar items]]'''
'''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+customize+the+toolbar How to customize the toolbar]'''
'''''Other Issues''''': ~~red:You have installed plug-ins with known security issues. You should update them immediately.~~
'''Update Java''': your ver. 1.6.0.18; current ver. 1.6.0.20 (important security update 04-15-2010)
(Firefox 3.6 and above requires Java 1.6.0.10 or higher; see: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Java-related+issues#Java_does_not_work_in_Firefox_3_6 )
''(Windows users: Do the manual update; very easy.)''
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: '''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Java+plugin+with+Firefox#Updates Updating Java]'''
Do the update with Firefox closed.
'''NOTE:''' Java version 1.6.0.21 has been released. It is mainly an update for developers of Java applications and most users do not need to be concerned about downloading version 1.6.0.21. '''''At this time''''', the update option in existing installations of Java 1.6.0.20 are not updating to version 1.6.0.21; '''''at this time''''', it must be manually downloaded and installed. According to the Java release notes:
''"'''Bug Fixes'''''
''Java SE 6 Update 21 does not contain any additional fixes for security vulnerabilities to its previous release, Java SE 6 Update 20. Users who have Java SE 6 Update 20 have the latest security fixes and do not need to upgrade to this release to be current on security fixes."'' Source: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/webnotes/6u21.html
'''Install/Update Adobe Flash Player for Firefox (aka Shockwave Flash)''': your ver. 10.0 r45; current ver. 10.1 r53 ('''important security update 2010-06-10'''; see: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-14.html)
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: '''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Managing+the+Flash+plugin#Updating_Flash Updating Flash]'''
-'''use Firefox to download''' and '''SAVE to your hard drive''' (save to Desktop for easy access)
-exit Firefox (File > Exit)
-''In Windows,'' check to see that Firefox is completely closed (''Ctrl+Alt+Del, choose Task Manager, click Processes tab, if "firefox.exe" is on the list, right-click "firefox.exe" and choose End process, close the Task Manager window'')
-''In Windows,'' double-click on the Adobe Flash installer you just downloaded to install/update Adobe Flash
-when the Flash installation is complete, start Firefox, and test the Flash installation here: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_15507&sliceId=1
*'''NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7''' you may need to run the plugin installer as Administrator by starting the installer via the right-click context menu if you do not get an UAC prompt to ask for permission to continue (i.e nothing seems to happen). See this: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_as_administrator.htm
*'''NOTE for IE:''' Firefox and most other browsers use a Plugin. IE uses an ActiveX version of Flash. To install/update the IE ActiveX Adobe Flash Player, same instructions as above, except use IE to download the ActiveX Flash installer. See: [[ActiveX]]
*Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash ~~red:'''''AND'''''~~ [[How do I edit options to add Adobe to the list of allowed sites]]
'''You '''~~red:'''MAY'''~~''' need to Update Adobe Reader for Firefox (aka Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox)''': your ver. N/A; current ver. 9.3.3 (important security update release 06-29-2010; see: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-15.html)
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox#Installing_and_updating_Adobe_Reader
''You may be able to update from the Adobe Reader installed on your system'' instead of going to the Adobe site and downloading. Open the Adobe Reader installed on your system (''in Windows, Start > Program Files, find and click Adobe Reader to open''), click Help, click Check for Updates. Allow the download/update to occur. If you use this method, no need to proceed with the instructions below, '''but''' do look at the two bulleted items at the bottom "'''NOTE for IE:'''" and "Also see:". Restart Firefox and check your new version here: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
''If you go to the Adobe site to download the current Adobe Reader:''
-'''use Firefox to download''' and '''SAVE to your hard drive''' (save to Desktop for easy access)
~~red:-See the images at the bottom left of this post to see the steps to take on the Adobe site~~
-exit Firefox (File > Exit)
-In Windows: check to see that Firefox is completely closed (''Ctrl+Alt+Del, choose Task Manager, click Processes tab, if "firefox.exe" is on the list, right-click "firefox.exe" and choose End process, close the Task Manager window'')
-In Windows: double-click on the Adobe Reader installer you just downloaded to install/update Adobe Reader
*'''NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7''' you may need to run the plugin installer as Administrator by starting the installer via the right-click context menu if you do not get an UAC prompt to ask for permission to continue (i.e nothing seems to happen). See this: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_as_administrator.htm
*'''NOTE for IE:''' Firefox and most other browsers use a Plugin. IE uses an ActiveX version. To install/update the IE ActiveX version, same instructions as above, except use IE to download the ActiveX installer. See: [[ActiveX]]
*Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Adobe_Reader ~~red:'''''AND'''''~~ [[How do I edit options to add Adobe to the list of allowed sites]]

Trying to start in safe mode but keep getting a panic advisor

Trying to start in safe mode but keep getting a panic advisor? Any idea why I cannot start in safe mode?

Hi garfire1,
Do you have an external disk with a Time Machine backup on it?
If you do, try to boot to the Recovery Partition of the TM disk.
- During a boot press the Option key after the chime but before you see a grey screen and then select the TM disk
- If you boot to this Recovery Partition, you have options to run Disk Utility to try and Repair/Repair Permissions of the internal disk or you can select to restore from the TM Backup.
Cheers

IMac tries to start in safe mode but fails.

I have a Mid 2010 iMac running Maverick. I added 16gb of ram to the 4 existing which I have done on many Macs. It started up but after a minute or two it forced restarted on its own. I then tried it a few more times and continued to crash then restart. I started it in safe mode. It nearly loaded completely the safe start then shut down. Any time I now try to start it, it does the same thing, starts in safe mode then fails. I have taken the 16 extra gas of ram out and it still fails to load. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Have you tried repairing the disk? I know it seems simple but sometimes this can be the problem.
Hold down Command+R when starting the computer, select repair disk from the menu.
This won't delete any data and may not work but it's worth a try.

Yosemite won't install on my computer because the disk needs to be repaired. I verify, it indicates repair is needed but then the repair disk button can't be clicked. I tried to start in safe mode but it just froze.

I'm to install Yosemite but it tells me the disk need to be repaired. When I verify the repair disk button remains pale and in-clickable. I'm not sure which version of OS X I'm running but I do know I forgot to back up. Help me o-message board, you're my only hope!

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
First of all, open the Apple menu -> About this Mac, and tell us what OS X version you have.
If it is 10.6.x, you need the Snow Leopard DVD. Insert it, press the C key while your Mac is starting up, choose your language and go to Utilities menu (in the menu bar) -> Disk Utility.
If it is 10.7.x or higher, hold down Command and R keys while your Mac is starting up to boot up in OS X Recovery, and open Disk Utility.
After opening Disk Utility, choose your OS X partition in the sidebar (it is usually named "Macintosh HD") and press "Repair Disk". When it has finished, restart your Mac, make a backup of your files and try upgrading to OS X Yosemite.
The backup will help you in case you decide to go back to the OS X version you are using now. If you cannot make a backup and the disk repair does not work, you will have to format the hard disk.

Firefox installed the latest version. Now my google browser, history etc. doesn't work anymore. It doesn't respond. I can't run searches from the browser. youtube button is missing. I've tried opening firefox in safe mode but that doesn't work.

# Question
firefox installed automatically the latest version. Now my google browser, history etc. doesn't work anymore. It doesn't respond. I can't run searches from the browser. youtube button is missing. I've tried opening firefox in safe mode but that doesn't work

A possible cause is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
What happens if you open Firefox in Save mode?
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
*Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Won't boot up to desktop....apple logo spin keeps on going om gray screen. Tried to start in safe mode and it reverted back to same.

My 4 year old macbook won't boot up. Stays in the same mode . Gray screen, apple logo and spinning wheel. Tried booting in safe mode but reverts back to same. Also tried resetting by removing battery. Nothing is working!! Any advise before I take it to Apple?

Try this:
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
Or, if you have Lion or Mountain Lion:
Reinstalling Lion/Mountain Lion Without Erasing the 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 the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

I keep getting the message itunes has stopped working I can't even open itunes I have tried uninstalling and installing, starting in safe mode but nothing seems to work. Please can anyone help me

I have recently bought a new laptop with windows 7 and when i have tried to install and open itunes i keep getting the message 'itunes has stopped working' itunes then shuts down before i can do anything to fix it. This happens every time I try to open itunes. I have tried uninstalling itunes and reinstalling it, starting itunes in safe mode. Nothing seems to work. Please can anyone help.

If and when I finally manage to open it, as soon as I click on a movie to watch, the message "itunes has stopped working" comes up.
Try the following user tip with that one:
iTunes for Windows 10.7.0.21: "iTunes has stopped working" error messages when playing videos, video podcasts, movies and TV shows

Tried to start in safe mode - now nothing

I am using a Satellite A305-S6825. I have been unable to do updates since April and have been working with Microsoft Support to solve that problem. He suggested I start the laptop in Safe mode and do a virus scan. I did a reboot and hit F12 - the boot menu came up but I was unable to navigate through it or make any choices. I hit enter and the PC booted. I tried a second time; this time when I hit F12 everything went black. Now all I get is a small solid white line in the upper left corner (like a non-blinking cursor). I've tried using the Restore disk but nothing happens. I can't type anything onto the screen and hitting F2 also makes no difference. Any suggestions?

Hi, you said you tried using the restore disk? Did it gave you any error message? When you put the restore dsik and tried doing f12 to access the boot menu, did it went there? What do you mean "nothing happened"? Can you be more specific on that part? Give more details please...

Have an old mac mini 2008 running OS x 10.6 whenever I shut down or restart it wont find the dell screen again. have tried with different screen same result. have revived it before by unplugging all cables zapping PRAM and starting in safe mode

Have an old mac mini 2008 running OS x 10.6 Whenever I shut down or restart it won't find the dell screen again. Have tried with different screen same result. Have revived it before by unplugging all cables zapping PRAM and starting in safe mode but no luck now. It has all my daughters exam work on it which she, of course, has not backed up so any suggestions gratefully received.

Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar
You do have a backup, right?

MacBook Pro won't boot - tried safe mode but it went to black screen after trying.

my MacBook Pro froze after the fan was running very loudly. I turned it off and try to reboot but just got a gray screen. I tried to boot in safe mode but that did not work.any other thoughts on what might help?

Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the 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.
Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
Alternatively, see:
Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Choose the version you have installed now:
OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X
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.

Firefox 8 and 9beta. Back and Forward buttons greyed out. Right click menu also has forward and back greyed out. Updated all plugins, then disabled all plugins and extensions and started in safe mode. No change.

My forward and back buttons are greyed out after update to Firefox 8. Tried to move to 9 beta, but same behavior. Back and Forward also greyed out in right click menu.
Attempted to fix by updating all plugins and extensions, then disabled all plugins and extensions, and then tried to start in safe mode. Nothing worked.

You could have backed up your profile folder. If you did, [[Recovering important data from an old profile]] can help :)

Tried to restart with safe mode

Tried to restart with safe mode, but id not work.

What kind of issues do you have that you want to start Firefox in Safe Mode?
Can't you start Firefox at all?
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Server+not+found
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firewalls
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/fix-problems-connecting-websites-after-updating
There are other things that need your attention.
Note that your System Details List shows multiple Flash plugins.
# Shockwave Flash 13.0 r0
# Shockwave Flash 12.0 r0
You can find the installation path of all plugins on the about:plugins page.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Issues_related_to_plugins#Identifying_installed_plugins
You can check the Flash player installation folder for multiple Flash player plugins and remove older version(s) of the plugin (NPSWF32) and possibly (re)install the latest Flash player.
*(32 bit Windows) C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\
*(64 bit Windows) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\

HELP!! My player only starts in safe mode and won't do anything!

I dropped my nomad zen xtra (which i have to say has happened before), but this time it locked up - i couldn't shut it down or do anything else. Now when I start it, it only starts in safe mode, but it won't do anything in safe mode. It tells me "hard disk problems". It won't allow me to reformat even. What do I do?

Sounds like the player is broken. You can either return it to Creative for a paid repair, or try and fix it yourself by replacing the hard dri've (assuming that's what's broken). There's a guide here on hard disk replacement, but it's not for the faint hearted

Trying to start in safe mode, but....

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