You might also like to check out this Tech note regarding the blue
screen you mentioned:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464&SaveKCWindowURL=http%3A%2F%2Fkbase.info.apple.com%2Fcgi-bin%2FWebObjects%2Fkbase.woa%2Fwa%2FSaveKCToHomePage&searchMode=Assisted&kbhost=kbase.info.apple.com&showButton=false&randomValue=100&showSurvey=false&sessionID=anonymous%7C163788075#symp1
-Mart
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TITLE
Mac OS X: Troubleshooting a Startup Issue
Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
106464
9/19/01
1/31/03
TOPIC
Use these steps if your computer experiences a blue screen, broken
folder icon, gray screen, kernel panic, flashing question mark, or
otherwise stops responding when starting up with Mac OS X.
DISCUSSION
Symptom
A Mac OS X-compatible computer is unable to start up successfully. A
flashing question mark, blue screen, gray screen, broken folder,
prohibitory sign (Figure 1), or kernel panic message appears.
Figure 1 The prohibitory sign
Products affected
Mac OS X 10.0 and later
Mac OS X Server 10.0.3 and later
Solution
Choose the matching symptom, and follow the corresponding steps.
Symptom I: A blue screen appears during startup; a spinning disc
cursor may also be visible.
Symptom II: A "broken folder" icon or "kernel panic" message appears
during startup.
Symptom III: A gray screen appears during startup.
Symptom IV: A flashing question mark appears during startup.
Symptom V: Any other issue occurs during startup.
I. Steps for a blue screen during startup, which may appear with a
spinning disc cursor
1. Mac OS X reviews fonts in the Mac OS 9 System Folder during
startup. A damaged Mac OS 9 font file may contribute to this issue.
Start up from your Mac OS 9 System Folder or a Mac OS 9 CD-ROM disc.
Drag the Fonts folder in the Mac OS 9 System Folder (not the Mac OS X
System folder) out of the System Folder into the root level of the
hard disk, or to the desktop. Restart the computer from your Mac OS
X volume.
2. Remove third-party startup items.
a. Start up from your Mac OS 9 volume or a Mac OS 9 CD-ROM disc.
b. Navigate to your Mac OS X volume.
c. Temporarily remove third-party items from the
/Library/StartupItems and /System/Library/StartupItems folders. You
may wish to temporarily store items in your Mac OS X Users folder. If
you are unsure whether an item is a third-party item or an
Apple-installed item, do not remove it.
d. Restart from your Mac OS X volume.
3. For Mac OS X 10.2 or later, start up in Safe Mode (see technical
document 107393 if you do not know how). Open System Preferences,
then the Login Items pane. Select any login items shown and click
Remove. Restart. If this resolves the issue, add login items back
one at a time to isolate the issue.
4. In some instances, setting auto-dial may interfere with the login
process. This option is set in the Networking control Panel under PPP
Options by checking the "Connect automatically when starting TCP/IP
applications" box. This setting can be removed from single user mode
by removing the preferences file that holds the setting. Note: This
is an advanced step. This will reset all network settings to default.
You will need to reconfigure the Network pane of System Preferences
to reconnect to the internet or your network.
a. Start up in Single-User Mode (press and hold the Command-S key
combination during startup until white text appears).
b. Type: mount -uw /
c. Press Return.
d. Type: mv /var/db/SystemConfiguration/preferences.xml preferences.old
e. Press Return.
f. Type: reboot
g. Press Return.
5. Reset certain privileges. Note: This is an advanced step:
a. Start up in Single-User Mode (press and hold the Command-S key
combination during startup until white text appears).
b. When the command line appears, type: fsck -y
c. Press Return.
d. Type: mount -uw /
e. Press Return.
f. Type: chmod 1775 /
g. Press Return.
h. Type: reboot
i. Press Return.
6. Otherwise, follow the steps for Symptom 3 .
II. Potential causes of a broken folder icon, prohibitory sign, or
kernel panic during startup
When a kernel panic happens, white text on a black background is
drawn on top of the last video image on the monitor before the panic
occurred. You may see a message that begins with a phrase like
"Unresolved kernel trap". To learn more about a what a kernel panic
is or to verify that you are experiencing one, see technical document
106227, " Mac OS X: What is a Kernel Panic? "
Note: The prohibitory sign replaces the "broken folder" icon in Mac
OS X 10.2 and later.
Here are potential causes:
1. Renaming or relocating system-installed folders may lead to a
startup issue or kernel panic. Do not relocate system-installed
folders (such as Applications, System, or Library) while started up
from Mac OS 9, or logged in to Mac OS X as the root user. If you have
moved or renamed system-installed folders, you should return them to
their original location or rename them using their original names.
See technical document 106805, " Mac OS X: 'Broken Folder' Icon,
Prohibitory Sign, or Kernel Panic When Computer Starts Up ".
2. Modifying the privileges of Mac OS X system files may contribute
to a kernel panic. See technical document 106428: " Mac OS X:
Changing Privileges for System Software Components May Prevent Proper
Startup "
3. Hardware associated with kernel panic
Certain hardware may produce a kernel panic message during startup.
See these technical documents if you have the named hardware:
106422: " Mac OS X 10.0: Kernel Panic When Using Matrox RTMac Card "
106404: " Mac OS X 10.0: 128-Bit 2D/3D Professional Graphics Card
Causes Kernel Panic "
106904: " Mac OS X: Kernel Panic When Using PC Card Modems "
4. For other potential causes, review these technical documents:
107043: " Mac OS X 10.2: Does Not Start Up After Third-Party Software
Installation "
107111: " Mac OS X 10.2.1: Kernel Panic After Updating to 10.2.1 or
Optimizing Mac OS Standard Volume "
5. Otherwise, follow the steps for Symptom 3 .
If a kernel panic issue occurs, you may wish to report it to Apple.
See technical document 106228: " Mac OS X: How to Log a Kernel Panic "
III. Steps for a gray screen during startup
1. Make sure that the current firmware for your computer is
installed. The latest firmware updates are available from Apple
Software Downloads ( http://www.apple.com/swupdates/ ).
2. Disconnect peripheral devices, except for the Apple keyboard and
mouse. This includes ADB, serial, USB, FireWire, SCSI, and PCMCIA
devices. If this resolves the issue, add back one device at a time,
restarting after each, to isolate the issue.
3. Remove third-party hardware upgrades such as memory (RAM),
microprocessor upgrade cards, and PCI cards. If this resolves the
issue, add back one at a time, restarting after each, to isolate the
issue.
Note: Apple does not provide technical support for Mac OS X when used
with third-party processor upgrade cards.
4. Try using Disk Utility or, if necessary, fsck. See technical
document 106214: " Mac OS X 10.0: Why, When, and How to Run fsck for
File System Maintenance "
IV. Steps for a flashing question mark during startup
See technical document 106389: " Mac OS X 10.0: Flashing Question
Mark Appears; Computer Starts up From Wrong Operating System "
V. Steps for any other issue that occurs during startup
1. If an Ethernet cable is connected, temporarily disconnect it and restart.
If you have enabled NetInfo, you may need to temporarily disable it
with the Directory Setup application.
2. "If you have previously removed or renamed any of the following
Mac OS X system files or folders, see Technical document 106805, "
Mac OS X: 'Broken Folder' Icon or Kernel Panic When Computer Starts
Up ".
Applications (a visible folder)
automount (an invisible folder)
Library (a visible folder)
mach_kernel (an invisible file)
System (a visible folder)
Users (a visible folder)
3. Otherwise, follow the steps for Symptom 3 .
Other related issues
Technical document 88152:
"Mac OS X 10.0: Stops Responding While Starting Up From Mac OS X CD "
Technical document 106147:
"Mac OS X 10.0: Computer With SCSI Chain Does Not Start up or Stops
Responding "
Technical document 25176:
"Mac OS X 10.0: SCSI Card Updater Document and Software "
Technical document 106805:
"Mac OS X: 'Broken Folder' Icon, Prohibitory Sign, or Kernel Panic
When Computer Starts Up ".
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Martin Hill mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Multimedia Consultant Home Page: http://mart.curtin.edu.au
Educational & Online Technologies, Information Services, Curtin University
Mobile: 0417-967-969 wk: (08)9266-3101 Fax: (08)9266-3826
