Can't boot into OSX


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Hi.. I have a unique problem that I've never experienced before.

I was trying to setup some permissions for networking with Vista in OSX (10.5.7) and I think I might've deleted some Administrator account on my main OSX volume. When I rebooted the system shows me blank screen, I can see the mouse pointer but it doesn't go in OSX, it just sits on blue blank screen. I can move the mouse, but nothing happens.

I booted through Startup Disc, went into Disk Utility, did verification of the permissions, it found a bunch of inconsistencies, I clicked Repair Permissions and rebooted. Same thing :(

I also tried Verify Disk/Volume from StartUp Disc and it reported Disc/Volume is ok.

Not sure what I can do to fix this problem without reinstalling everything.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

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Hi.. I have a unique problem that I've never experienced before.

I was trying to setup some permissions for networking with Vista in OSX (10.5.7) and I think I might've deleted some Administrator account on my main OSX volume. When I rebooted the system shows me blank screen, I can see the mouse pointer but it doesn't go in OSX, it just sits on blue blank screen. I can move the mouse, but nothing happens.

I booted through Startup Disc, went into Disk Utility, did verification of the permissions, it found a bunch of inconsistencies, I clicked Repair Permissions and rebooted. Same thing :(

I also tried Verify Disk/Volume from StartUp Disc and it reported Disc/Volume is ok.

Not sure what I can do to fix this problem without reinstalling everything.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Not sure why your deleting stuff while networking... Things like accounts are created during setup so it's not like you can just copy the files back on your computer.

Sounds like you got a reinstall on your hands...

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I don't think you understand.. I didn't delete accounts.. When you go into Sharing in Preference Panel and you see hard drives, there's a list of users on the right.. I didn't delete users, I just deleted the user from the list of assigned accounts to that specific share.

The reason why I was changing accounts is because OSX networking is so screwed up and in order for Windows network to properly read files from OSX machine I have to assign a bunch of stuff to shares. I got to the point where I managed to login to the Mac from the windows network and see the shares but I couldn't see the files. I kept getting "Access Denied". So I tried setting up new accounts to these shares.

I didn't do anything to the actual Accounts in Preference Panels.

If I have to reinstall the computer for this thing, this has to be the most idiotic OS available. Seriously.

And Disk Utility on Boot disc see changes to Permissions. I click Repair. It says it's fixed and then nothing is fixed when I reboot and run Verify Permissions again. What the f...?

Edited by Boz
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Ok I dont know anything about OSX, I don't even own a Mac, but doesn't OSX has something called Time Machine or something around those lines where you can get the sytem back to the state it was before the problem ocurred? Just wondering.

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Ok I dont know anything about OSX, I don't even own a Mac, but doesn't OSX has something called Time Machine or something around those lines where you can get the sytem back to the state it was before the problem ocurred? Just wondering.

Time Machine is great..but it only works with files and stuff if you can already boot into OSX. It's also helpful if you have a completely system meltdown or hard drive failure so when you go to reinstall it will recover your system to the point of last backup. It's not perfect though, even though it works great, you still have to kind of fix a few things when it's recovered.

I'm trying to avoid this too if possible, if it's something I'm missing with permissions and stuff.

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It does, but you need to boot into OS X for it to work. So he can't do that.

The blue screen is basically OS X's version of a BSOD. It's occured recently after doing major system updates.

This might not be the exact problem you're having, but you're at the same stage so it's worth a try: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?t...2&tstart=45

If that doesn't help, google seaching 'OS X Blue Screen' might help yield more, alternative results.

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Hi Boz,

I had a similar issue, just last week in fact. (https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=773048) Just a few things to try:

After the Boot sound, immediately press and hold CMD + V (this is the Boot sequence, but it gives you the text of what is happening). If you wait long enough for the process to finish, does it give you any error messages we can look at?

Also within the Disk Utility, if you do 'Repair Disk' and it says ** Files System has been Modified** don't reboot and run the 'Repair Disk' again. It can take a little while but you should eventually get a message saying that the disk is fine - once you get that reboot and try again.

If all else fails, which in my case it did. Perform an Archive & Install process, basically it's like the Repair Install function of Windows. It just replaces the OS X files and keeps your settings & documents as long as you tick "Preserve Users and Network Settings" which is an important part.

See more about the Archive & Install feature here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710

Once I did the Archive & Install, I personally created a backup of all my data and formatted and started again but you don't have to do that if you would prefer not to.

Good Luck, and if you haven't already started use TimeMachine for backups from now on. ;) (Y)

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I can see the mouse pointer but it doesn't go in OSX, it just sits on blue blank screen. I can move the mouse, but nothing happens.

That sounds like a problem that happens sometime to people using OSx86 when the video card drivers are corrupted or incorrect. Try booting into a command prompt and deleting any extensions related to your video card, OS X should then load some default video drivers. You should at least be able to get into the desktop at that point.

The blue screen is basically OS X's version of a BSOD.

No it isn't! You are thinking of a kernal panic.

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Time Machine is great..but it only works with files and stuff if you can already boot into OSX. It's also helpful if you have a completely system meltdown or hard drive failure so when you go to reinstall it will recover your system to the point of last backup. It's not perfect though, even though it works great, you still have to kind of fix a few things when it's recovered.

I'm trying to avoid this too if possible, if it's something I'm missing with permissions and stuff.

I'm pretty sure that when booting from the Install DVD (providing it's 10.5) or Leopard DVD, the menubar gives you an option to restore from Time Machine. You then choose the most recent date and off you go.

Radish?

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Hi Boz,

I had a similar issue, just last week in fact. (https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=773048) Just a few things to try:

After the Boot sound, immediately press and hold CMD + V (this is the Boot sequence, but it gives you the text of what is happening). If you wait long enough for the process to finish, does it give you any error messages we can look at?

Also within the Disk Utility, if you do 'Repair Disk' and it says ** Files System has been Modified** don't reboot and run the 'Repair Disk' again. It can take a little while but you should eventually get a message saying that the disk is fine - once you get that reboot and try again.

If all else fails, which in my case it did. Perform an Archive & Install process, basically it's like the Repair Install function of Windows. It just replaces the OS X files and keeps your settings & documents as long as you tick "Preserve Users and Network Settings" which is an important part.

See more about the Archive & Install feature here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710

Once I did the Archive & Install, I personally created a backup of all my data and formatted and started again but you don't have to do that if you would prefer not to.

Good Luck, and if you haven't already started use TimeMachine for backups from now on. ;) (Y)

How about Apps.. when you do Archive and INstall did it keep all apps and settings intact too?

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How about Apps.. when you do Archive and INstall did it keep all apps and settings intact too?

It kept my Applications yes, not sure about settings as the only application outside of Apple I had installed was VLC Player so the settings on that weren't really relevant. ;)

It did keep my music in iTunes & iPhoto images as well though, so that may tell you. (Y)

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