Unable to boot Mac OS X

Yesterday I decided to install Windows on my MacBook. I had both a Windows XP installation disk and a Vista Upgrade disk. I successfully did both according to the Boot Camp instructions. After tweaking Vista and downloading software and upgrades that I wanted to use on Vista I tried to reboot Mac OS X and I can't. What happens is the grey Apple logo appears for a split second and is then replaced by a circle with a line through it like a do not enter sign. From here my computer just boots up Vista. I have tried booting Mac OS X by choosing to do so through the Boot Camp Control Panel in Vista and have also just tried turning the computer off and booting up using the option key to select the Macintosh partition. Both ways produce the same result I described above. If anybody knows how I can fix this problem that would be great! Thanks!

try booting off the leopard installation disk and run disk utility and verify the disk and disk permissions. if nothing shows up wrong there, you might have to reinstall the mac system. you won't have to delete any data for this, just archive the old system and make a new one (yes, you can do this all off booting up on the leopard disk).

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Unable to boot Mac OS after 10.6.5 update

Just a question. Dont know whether its due to the 10.6.5 update. After reboot to windows. I can't log in To my Mac os anymore. It just get stuck at the grey apple logo and bar comes out and loads and it shuts down soon after. In windows when I log on it says that my Mac hdd is corrupted. Mount anyway or cancel.
Anyway my question is can I reformat my Mac hdd and reinstall SL without interfering with my windows partition (boot camp)

Use the Archive and Install, Mac OS X: About the Archive and Install feature, option to reinstall SL. This saves your Home folder. Also it saves your old Home/Library folder in a "Previous System" folder in case there are any preferences or support files of applications that require activation codes or S/Ns.
Repair disk permissions after the reinstall. Then apply the latest SL updater and repair permissions again.
After you're satisfied all is well you can delete that previous folder.
OT

Unable to boot mac OS X Lion after windows 7 installation using boot camp!

Hi,
I'm first time mac user & recently bought the latest entry level mac mini model 2.3GHz 599$ (http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html).
The machine by default came with OS X Lion.
I was trying to install genuine windows 7 on my mac mini using boot camp. I had the windows installation CD the download part for windows support software was taking too long & I foolishly skipped this crucial part set aside 70GB for win7 & continued the installation. The windows installation was done successfully with no machine specific drivers installed yet. I thought I would get some grub like thing to select OS at boot time but everytime it boots to windows. Is it since I missed downloading/installing windows support software? Please help me out to get my mac back
I've not done much of googling to troubleshoot it but bit of nervous for my foolishness at skipping that downloading part.

That was quite dumb question, the RTFM issue
Booted from macintosh HD at startup & removed the windows installation.

Unable to boot: Mac HD verify error - invalid index key

Thank you in advance for your assistance. Please provide a detailed response. There is a lot I have to learn about computers.
I allowed my macbook air mid-2013 os x 10.10.2 to update yesterday. I didn't look at what the update was (just saw the notification and clicked restart). It shut down, but did not restart. When I try to boot, the loading bar slows and tops at approx 35%, and the computer shuts off. I can boot in recovery mode. In disk utility, on the left side the first line is Macintosh HD. I can verify this without errors. The second line is also Macintosh HD written in lighter grey. I cannot interact with this until I click unlock and type in my password. After doing so, it is written in dark black, and I then have the option to verify disk. Doing so, I am given the follow error in the log:
(in red) Invalid index key.
(in red) Invalid record count.
(in red) The volume Macintosh HD could not be verified completely.
(in black) File system check exit code is 8.
(in red) Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.
A pop-up message says:
Disk Utility stopped verifying "Macintosh HD"
This disk needs to be repaired.
I click an "ok" box, but the Repair Disk button is not available.
At this point, I noticed the "mount" button is available. If I click this, it says:
Mount Failed
The disk "Macintosh HD" could not be mounted.
Try running First Aid on the disk and then retry mounting.
Of course, the only option in First Aid is Verify Disk, which I have already done.
I also tried reinstalling OS X from safe mode, but the installation failed. I would ideally like to fix this without losing any data, but my computer is backed up so it won't be terrible if I have to start fresh. My SSD failed on my macbook air 2012, so I hope this isn't happening again.
Thank you.

Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)
Startup Issues - Resolve (3)

Make OSX SD/USB bootable lock, i.e., make Mac unable to boot without SD card.

Hello!
I'm trying to find a way to make my Macbook unable to boot without an external media to initialize the computer. Or at least a way to remove the harddrives from the listed boot options by hitting the option/alt key on bootup. I want to remove those options and force the computer to boot off the removable media. Is this possible, or has it been attempted?

The boot disk is specified in System Preferences>Startup Disk
What do you see when you boot to recovery and look at the startup disk and look at the disk(s) in disk utility?
OS X: About OS X Recovery
Try reinstalling via Recovery as stated in the above.
Do you have access to another Mac? If so can connect via FireWire bd access the Mini's disk via FW target disk mode
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

Unable to boot to Vista after changing Mac OS partition size

Greetings,
After creating an additional Mac OS partition, I can't boot into Vista anymore. Any way to fix it without re-installing?
I have an intel iMac running Leopard, and Vista on a bootcamp NTFS partition. That was working fine.
I created a new partition on the drive (using space from my Leopard partition) and installed Tiger on it for a short project. I’ve been dual booting between Leopard and Tiger just fine.
However, now I’m unable to boot using the Vista partition. I boot to a black screen with white text that states "No bootable device, hit any key" error. Of course hitting a key does nothing.
I can boot into Leopard/Tiger just fine, and can see the Vista partition from Leopard and view the files as usual. However I just can't boot into Vista. I tried running the repair tool from the Vista install disk, but that doesn't work on the NTFS partition (I think it doesn't see a windows partition to fix). Disk utility from Leopard shows the vista partition as the right size and formatted as NTFS.
I'm really stumped by the problem. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

TestDisk - CGSecurity.
TestDisk is a powerful free data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.
TestDisk can
* Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
* Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
* Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
* Fix FAT tables
* Rebuild NTFS boot sector
* Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
* Fix MFT using MFT mirror
* Locate ext2/ext3 Backup SuperBlock
# Mac partition map
# NTFS ( Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008 )
TestDisk has features for both novices and experts. For those who know little or nothing about data recovery techniques, TestDisk can be used to collect detailed information about a non-booting drive which can then be sent to a tech for further analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find TestDisk a handy tool in performing onsite recovery.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
Seeing you could lose everything, I would definitely use WinClone while in OS X to backup Vista, and CCC or SuperDuper to backup your OS X volumes (or Apple DU Restore, just be sure to turn off "Ignore Ownership" and repair permissions afterward, and then rerun 10.5.2 if possible).
http://www.twocanoes.com/forums/

Completely unable to boot camp windows 7 on Mac Pro

I am at the end of my rope. I have a Mac Pro 1,1 - 2.66 quad core, 7 gigs of ram. I have been trying over and over and over to Boot Camp Windows 7 onto a secondary hard drive. But every single time time, it hangs indefinitely or straight up freezes during "completing installation". I have scoured the interent for answers. I have tried typing shift+f10 when it hangs and typing in explorer.exe. This doesn't work. I have tried having all USB devices unplugged. I have moved the drive from bay 2 to bay 1 and having the other 2 drives empty. I have tried multiple discs. And from what I have found, the Mac Pro is completely unable to boot from a USB drive with the Windows 7 installer on it. WHAT DO I DO? Please help!

your mac pro like mine has older EFI firmware that does not support booting Windows 7 64-bit.
You will have to remove all other drives.
Before you do, reformat the drive you want ot use as Windows Master Boot Record and FAT32, then format the drive with Windows during install.
Get rid of whatever is on the drive now.
You will be limited to 1.9GB RAM
Windows 7 Home Premium supports just one cpu, you have two.
64-bit Windows requires UEFI which you don't have and would need to edit and modify the DVD (reburn after using Imgburn).
Easy method: do basic install on a PC and then put the drive in the Mac Pro.

[SOLVED]Unable to boot eMac with Arch PPC

Hi everyone,
I just got into Arch and I realized there was a PPC port, so I decided to see if I could replace Ubuntu on my eMac (USB 2.0) with it. Unfortunately, I am unable to boot, getting stuck with the loading of the second-stage bootstrap. What should I be looking for in order to diagnose and conceivably remedy this issue?
I get the flashing folder with an alternating Mac face and question mark.
EDIT: Please see the link to the archlinuxppc-user mailing list for the resolution to my issue. I hope it helps someone else.
Last edited by bkadoctaj (2010-05-12 07:37:38)

Hi DaNiMoTh,
Thanks for the reply. Well, I have just made a post at the mailing list page, so hopefully it will be approved by the moderators soon. The situation has somewhat changed as I have attempted to reinstall Arch PPC on the eMac since then. Now I am immediately taken to the second-stage yaboot screen at boot and I have no access to OpenFirmware. When I use the Live CD to mount the / and /home partitions of /dev/hda, all I see in / is /home and /lost+found, while in /home all I see is /lost+found. It appears that Arch PPC never actually installed, and I have no idea why. I guess the files in /mnt were never copied to /. I'm so confused by all this, but I really desire to understand what is happening and how I can get this computer up and running. If you have any thoughts at all, please don't hesitate to share. I'm completely willing to do some reading, but I have not seen reports of a similar situation yet.
By the way, my eMac is 32-bit.
Thanks,
bkadoctaj
EDIT: I'm not sure how I can get a log for any of this, especially since it appears the install never completed, even though nothing during the install process suggested that was the case.
EDIT 2: Forget this thread... The discussion has been continued over at http://groups.google.com/group/archlinu … f4b89ad2ad
Thank you for the assistance.
Last edited by bkadoctaj (2010-05-11 21:45:57)

Unable to use Mac OS X Install DVD

My iMac came with Mac OS X Install DVD, but since I have upgraded to Mountain Lion through the Apple App Store and have made a bootable USB. So after formatting my HDD I'm unable to boot from the USB or the DVD. When prompt to select "where you want to install OS X" from the Install OS X menu I am unable to select the device (This disk doesn’t use the GUID Partition Table Scheme), Also I have tried using the factory DVDs but nothing happens, after loading the DVD and holding down the "Option Key" (Alt) the DVD then gets ejected. I have run out of ways to correct this problem, and I have sold this computer online and need to ship soon, and your immediate response is greatly appreciated!

UPDATE I have finally got it to install

Though the root disk is mirrored, server is unable to boot from alternate disk (mirror disk)

Hi PPl,
It happened second time in a row. Though the root disk is mirrored, server is unable to boot from alternate disk (mirror disk)
When the disk was found faulty, still unable to boot the OS from alternate disk, it says it still probe/look for other disk
Here are the console log when I tried to boot the OS
sc> console
Enter #. to return to ALOM.
WARNING: /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0 (mpt0):
Disconnected command timeout for Target 1
WARNING: /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0 (mpt0):
Disconnected command timeout for Target 1
WARNING: /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0 (mpt0):
Disconnected command timeout for Target 1
In such condition left out with only two options.
1) Remove the faulty disk physically and boot
(or)
2) Replace the faulty disk and boot it
Any way, I can disable the faulty disk in BIOS (or) booting from cd-rom and do something to avoid it?

You can't boot from systems earlier than that shipped with the computer. For example, early 2008 Mac Pros come with 10.5.1 and can't boot 10.5
Also you can't boot with a DVD that was shipped with a different model Mac.

Unable to boot disk utility or reinstall Mountain Lion

Hello,
I bought an iMac via ebay and I am unable to boot to disk utility and reinstall mountain lion becouse the guy I bought it from didnt delete the users nor reinstall OS
I have a Pc keyboard and am pressing the correct command+r but mac just hangs on apple sign and loading.
I can enter single user terminal and this is what I did and can do. There are 4 users in the /Users
tried following;
/sbin/fsck -fy
disk is ok
/launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServicesLocal.plist
Bug:launchctl.c:2344 (25952):2: (dbfd = open(g_job_overrides_db_path, 0_RDONLY | 0_EXLOCK | 0_CREAT, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR)) != - 1
launch_msg(): Socket is not connected
I am connected to the internet via ethernet and I am stuck here not knowing what to do! I dont have an original DVD from Apple but I do have an image on the DVD.
There is no other mac in my house either and I cant make bootable usb or firewire.
Any suggestions on where to go from here or I am screwed?
Thanks in advance

Apr 7, 2013 7:42 AM (in response to daiktsu)
@daiktsu: I wonder why these two are helping you at all.
@sls and Radiation: I admire your patience with this troll.
Unreal ! hahaha , congrats to all 3 - Lex, SSLS and Radiation for taking the HIGH road . Now that is CON"TROL" !

MBP C2D unable to boot on external OSX 10.4.8

I have a Mac mini CD and a external HDD, both are installed with OSX 10.4.8. My Mac mini can boot on both OSX. However the MBP C2D is unable to boot on both (mac mini CD in target disk mode, and ext. HDD), it can only boot on the built-in OSX. When I tried to boot that two OSX, first it loads for a while and then freeze at a white screen. Sometimes the white screen may even blink vigorously.
I even had made a disk image of the OSX on the ext. HDD and restored it on my MBP C2D's internal HDD. The same freeze still happened.
Now it seems that the MBP C2D is not compatible for OSX other than its origanal one.
Can anyone confirm the existence of the problem?

It is really bad. Does the Apple support line help? The support line in my region is not that "pro".
For the issue, I had never experience something like that on a Mac, neither MBP CD nor Mac mini CD, they can boot from each other's OSX or OSX on ext. HDDs.
I am really surprised by this problem on MBP C2D. I think it should be software issue and every one using MBP C2D should have the issue, right?

Unable to boot back to os x after installing windows7

I'm using iMAC with all the softwares updated.
As the title stated, I'm unable to boot back to my mac os x after i successfully installed windows 7.
I hold on to the Option key / Alt key but to no avail.
I'm able to see my Mac HD via My Computer from windows 7.
I even manage to install drivers from the os x cd itself to windows 7.
Just thinking is it something wrong with the MBR of mac os x or windows that caused this issue to arise.
Any help or guide will be helpful!
Regards,
xiang

X on startup should take you into OS X
For now, go to Windows control panels : Boot Camp and change the default OS there.
Whether it is keyboard, bluetooth, or karma, some people's systems do seem to have trouble on the timing or getting Option/Alt to bring up the EFI Boot menu/manager.

Unable to Boot - Stoping at Blue Screen

Help Please.
I am unable to boot. I get to the blue screen but will not go to login page.
I can boot in safe mode and from install disk.
I have run disk utility and repaired disk & permissions.
I have also reset PRAM. Also removed login items from my account.
I have even done a archive and restore.
The only thing i havent done is removed any third-party items out of the /Library/StartupItems as I am not sure what items to remove.
I am at a loss as what to do next and would really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks in advance.

Darren:
It seems like your OS is not quite right. If you decide to re-install, first be sure that you make a good backup of everything you cannot afford to lose, then do a complete reformat, zero or erase, re-install and restore from backup. Here are some step-by-step directions you might find helpful:
Formatting, Partitioning Zeroing a Hard Disk Drive
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.
Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
Go to the Utilities menu (Tiger) Installer menu (Panther & earlier) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create a single partition volume.)
Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volume diagram.
(Note: 1 partition is normally better for an internal HDD. External HDDs usually have more than one. See Dr. Smoke’s FAQ Backup and Recovery for tips on partitioning external HDD.)
Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
Select Erase tab
Select the sub-volume under Manufacturer ID (usually Macintosh HD).
Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
Optional:Select on Security Options button (Tiger) Options button (Panther & earlier).
Select Zero all data. (This step take several hours.)
Click OK.
Click Erase button
Quit Disk Utility.
Open installer and begin installation process.
Please post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius

3750 unable to boot 12.2(25)SEC

Hello.
On Catalyst 3750 bootloader unable to boot software image for advipservicesk9-12.2(25)SEC.
Progress indicator shows that bootloader fails at 1/3 of file.
It seems, that bootloader has an error in un-bzip'ing executable image.
Bootloader version is an old one, 12.1(11r)AX.
Documentation states, that bootloader upgrade is going automagically,
but in my case was not done.
I.e. currently running 12.2(25)SEB2 has not updated bootloader.
How to forcibly update bootloader version???
Regards
Valeriy

Hello.
Mr. prkrishn, you asked
Can you post the complete unsuccessful boot up sequence?
Yes, there at the bottom of message is a complete e-mail,
I'v used to open a case.
(Sorry, Add Attachment is not working)
I can tell more.
I'v cut first 112 bytes of MZIP header, a normal bzip2-file I'v got.
I'v successfully decompress this file on UNIX
using bzip2 -d command.
One again, I problem is that an OLD bootloader cannot handle any BZIP2 compression.
I need to update boot loader, but software has not done it automatically,
as written in release notes.
Regards
Valeriy
Hello.
Software update on Catalyst 3750 was done with the command
cat3750# archive download-sw rcp://217.118.84.125/c3750-advipservicesk9-tar.122-25.SEC.tar
After reload system was unable to load image with the messages attached to the end of letter.
This procedure was done 2 times with the same negative result.
Regards
Valeriy Kondrashov
Jul 26 18:56:17.113: %SYS-5-RELOAD: Reload requested by walt on vty0 (217.118.84.125). Reload Reason: Reload Command.
Jul 26 18:56:17.196: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 217.118.86.248 on Vlan3 from 2WAY to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached
Jul 26 18:56:17.196: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 217.118.86.249 on Vlan3 from FULL to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached
Jul 26 18:56:17.196: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 217.118.86.251 on Vlan3 from FULL to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached
Jul 26 18:56:17.196: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 217.118.86.248 on Vlan2 from 2WAY to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached
Jul 26 18:56:17.196: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 217.118.86.249 on Vlan2 from FULL to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached
Jul 26 18:56:17.196: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 217.118.86.251 on Vlan2 from FULL to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0d:28:18:da:00
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 385 files, 6 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 15998976
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 9372160
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 6626816
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 8 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs) installed, fsid: 3
done.
Loading "flash:c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC/c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-
25.SEC.bin"...@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Error loading "flash:c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC/c3750-advipservicesk9-m
z.122-25.SEC.bin"
Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Loading "flash:/c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC/c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122
-25.SEC.bin"...@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Error loading "flash:/c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC/c3750-advipservicesk9-
mz.122-25.SEC.bin"
Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Boot process failed...
The system is unable to boot automatically. The BOOT
environment variable needs to be set to a bootable
image.
switch:

Unable to boot Mac OS X

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