Well, I managed to boot from the original 10.5.2 install disc, which worked fine after one false start (since the disc wasn't actually fully inserted, of course, but I tried again and it registered). Very heart-warming. I opened up Disk Utility and repaired the HD, which showed no problems. I then repaired permissions, which took not time at all and was fine. I then restarted and all went according to Hoyle. Finally I opened Cocktail from within the administrator account and cleared every cache there was. Hoping for the best...
Thanks for your responses! Bill On Dec 7, 7:05 pm, Elliott Price <[email protected]> wrote: > It sure sounds like it's software based - If worst comes to worst, you can > always perform an Archive & install, I believe you can still select this > option in the Snow Leopard installer. You can even preserve user settings, so > it only re-installs the base system. > Have you tried booting in the OSX version of Safe mode? (Hold Shift at > startup) I don't know if this will do anything - But it might... > > -Elliott Price > Mac Computer Repair - Santa Barbara > Graphic Design - Artwork Setup > Websites - Low Cost Custom Websites > > On Dec 7, 2009, at 3:50 PM, Jim Scott wrote: > > > > > > > On Dec 7, 2009, at 3:36 PM, William Spencer wrote: > > >> Hi there: The newer of the two machines listed below has decided to enter > >> a parallel universe. It will not boot to the regular login screen but > >> instead goes straight to my son's desktop after just a couple of seconds > >> worth of a grayish screen I've never seen before, with a horizontal > >> progress-bar-looking sort of thing visible at the bottom of the screen. > >> The menu across the top of the screen is no longer visible, the mouse > >> pointer moves but will not open or close anything, there is no way to > >> command-tab through apps (even if there are any open), and the only way to > >> shut down is to hold down the power button. > > >> I plan to dig up the original discs and see if I can boot from there, and > >> then see what happens...maybe repair permissions or something. I think I > >> have an old copy of Tech Tools floating around someplace, but I don't even > >> know what version, let alone if it will function properly on this thing. > >> Push comes to shove I can take it down to the genius bar tomorrow night, > >> but not before then. > > >> Any advice gratefully accepted, the sooner the better. > > >> *************** > > >> Bill Spencer in Maryland > >> IMac Core Duo 2.4 ghz/1 g RAM/Snow Leopard > >> IMac Core Duo 1.83 ghz/1 g RAM/Snow Leopard > > > Sounds as if the directory is munged, perhaps from one or more improper > > shutdowns, and that the iMac's booting in a hybrid EFI/OS mode. Running the > > latest version of DiskWarrior for SL (4.2) should clear it up, but if you > > don't have it, try booting from the Snow Leopard install disk. Then try > > repairing the disk using Disk Utility. It's probably not a permissions > > issue, but you can run that too. If Disk Utility repairs the hard drive, > > keep running the repair function until it stops repairing. Then quit the SL > > installer and see if it will boot normally. If it doesn't, then reboot from > > the SL install disk and reinstall SL, then update. The reinstall actually > > will do an archive & install, so you won't lose anything. If that doesn't > > set things right, then by all means take it to the Genius Bar. What it's > > doing now is very unusual, and possibly could indicate a faulty hard drive > > or some other hardware problem. Let us know what transpires. > > > Jim Scott > > > -- > > You received this message because you are a member of the iMac Group, a > > group for those using Apple iMacs and eMacs. > > The list FAQ is athttp://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtmland our netiquette > > guide is athttp://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > > To leave this group, send email to [email protected] > > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/imaclist -- You received this message because you are a member of the iMac Group, a group for those using Apple iMacs and eMacs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To leave this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/imaclist
