"ARGHHH! OS X wont go past bluescreen at startup."

I've had this problem with my MacBook before but it was so long ago I've forgotten how exactly I fixed it.

I believe it is probably a problem with a start up item so I tried to boot into safe mode by holding Shift while the computer is starting up but.. That doesn't seem to do anything as the computer still wont go past the blood bluescreen!

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

I also tried to boot with the OS X install disk but the computer still gets stuck on the bluescreen, do I have to hold a key while booting up or something?

And finally, is it possible to remotely access the files on the computer without logining in? I've got some very important files on it which I need to urgently.

Thanks for reading.

Your HD is clearly fuckered.

If you have another computer:

Boot the Mac whilst holding down T, this will start it up in target disc mode and it should behave like a hard disc that can be accessed either via a Firewire cable or alternately via ethernet (in theory, I've never done it that way).

After backing up reformat the hard drive and look at getting a replacement drive ASAP since it might not be trustworthy anymore.

*edit*

Just checking. You are trying to boot from the DVD by holding down C after the startup chime? I've never come across a problem so bad it wouldn't even boot the startup disc.

Edited by Cappy at 18:14:53 03-11-2009

Cappy wrote:
If you have another computer:

Boot the Mac whilst holding down T, this will start it up in target disc mode and it should behave like a hard disc that can be accessed either via a Firewire cable or alternately via ethernet (in theory, I've never done it that way).

After backing up reformat the hard drive and look at getting a replacement drive ASAP since it might not be trustworthy anymore.

*edit*

Just checking. You are trying to boot from the DVD by holding down C after the startup chime? I've never come across a problem so bad it wouldn't even boot the startup disc.

I've booted into Disk Utility using the disk now and repaired permissions so hopefully that will fix the problem, if not is it possible to change start up items using the install disk?

Had this issue, and it was fucked hard disk. I got hold of a disk that allowed me to attempt to recover data... Disk Warrior it was called. I couldn't recover everything, but got a good proportion of my music back. This was the day after I had handed in my dissertation, thank fook, but I did have that backed up online, USB stick, CD! :D

So how do I do this Target Disk Mode thing? The only other computer in the house is a Windows PC.

Disc utility is really there for restoring, disc first aid and formatting. You can change the startup disc if you have multiple partitions or your system is dual boot.

I would take this opportunity to do a backup if you can, run disc first aid again to see if it finds any other problems then see if it boots normally.

It just works.

/sorry

Fizzog wrote:
So how do I do this Target Disk Mode thing? The only other computer in the house is a Windows PC.

Restart or startup, hold T after the chime and wait till you see a firewire symbol on the screen, I'm not sure if PCs can read some Mac hard disc formats though.

Fizzog wrote:
So how do I do this Target Disk Mode thing? The only other computer in the house is a Windows PC.

If this is the case, then get MacDrive on your Windows PC and rip the Mac HD out of the Apple and connect it to the PC, get it to read as much as possible and copy off for back up, then buy a new HD.

Red Moose wrote:

Fizzog wrote:
So how do I do this Target Disk Mode thing? The only other computer in the house is a Windows PC.

If this is the case, then get MacDrive on your Windows PC and rip the Mac HD out of the Apple and connect it to the PC, get it to read as much as possible and copy off for back up, then buy a new HD.

I'm not going to buy a new HDD, I've had this problem before and fixed it without messing with the hardware. It's a software problem.

What did you to fix it last time?

You said it also doesn't boot and hangs when using the system DVD to boot. That is a sure sign of something Ultra Funky With Your Busses.

Edited by Red Moose at 18:51:19 03-11-2009

I can't remember what I did to fix it last time, that's why I'm asking for help on here. :p

I've booted into Disk Utility via the system disk to repair the disk/permissions but it hasn't rectified the problem.

I'm giving MacDrive a go now but it doesn't seem to be able to locate my Mac..

The Macs in Target Disk Mode and connected to a Windows Vista PC using FireWire. Is there something I'm missing?



Edited by Fizzog at 19:08:47 03-11-2009

Your best bet is to use a time machine backup, if you have one. hold alt while you are booting and when the boot menu pops up boot from the usb disk.

If it boots, your logicboard isnt fucked, which is great. It does, however, probably mean your HDD is fucked.

Fizzog wrote:

The Macs in Target Disk Mode and connected to a Windows Vista PC using FireWire. Is there something I'm missing?

yes. Your PC cant read OS X journaled.

nickthegun wrote:

Fizzog wrote:

The Macs in Target Disk Mode and connected to a Windows Vista PC using FireWire. Is there something I'm missing?

yes. Your PC cant read OS X journaled.

Ofcause, I'm not stupid.. I'm using a program someone mentioned earlier in the thread to get around that, http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive/''>MacDrive /

Anyway I've giving up on that now.

I'm going to try and change the login items one more time, am I right that do that I have to boot up the computer while holding the Shift key?

You could install the bootcamp 3.0 drivers on your PC, then you can read HFS discs

Should have bought a Ma........oh right :)

I don't know why people seem to think Mac's are so much more realiable than PC's. A few years back I took a course in multimedia - there was a room at the college full of about 50 Imac g4's & at any one time 10 or so would be fucked or wouldn't boot at all.

justanotherdave wrote:
I don't know why people seem to think Mac's are so much more realiable than PC's. A few years back I took a course in multimedia - there was a room at the college full of about 50 Imac g4's & at any one time 10 or so would be fucked or wouldn't boot at all.

Because that smug kid from the commercial said so. Sheesh!

Actually, in the commercial they don't really say Macs are more reliable - they just say PCs are unreliable.

Fixed!

I had to reinstall the OS but thanks to OSX's "Archive & Install" feature I got to keep all my files and settings, lovely!

I wouldn't have been able to do that on a Windows computer. ^_^