trying to remain calm; it's a long time since I've had to deal with this.

What does it specifically mean if it's stuck on that grey screen? Is it still running diagnostics, looking for a drive?

I'm a .Mac member, that comes with TechTool diagnostic software, right? Going to look now after this post.

I had a copy of DiskWarrior, but not sure if it's current.

My first step? I was thinking trying to mount it as a Firewire target disk on my PowerBook.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2006 08:38PM by stephen.

Just let it sit for a while.

How long has it been wheeling?


You can also try zapping the PRAM and The NVRam(See Open Firmware) and trying to get into single use mode.

---

_______________________________________________________________
Security is just a word. The act of being secure is entirely different.
"...but I think that to make your dream a reality, having a dream itself is a mandatory prerequisite"
From A Book: Walking Through The Impossible

Just because it has two clutches, shifts faster, uses a torque converter or has near-infinite gear ratios, requires less driver intervention and is more efficient doesn't make it better in my opinion.
Save The Manual Transmission

I let it wheel for about ten minutes. Maybe I should try longer.

I forced shutdown, and unplugged for fifteen seconds at suggestion of Apple web site (reset SMU?), no luck.

I had just done the recent Software Update upgrade on Friday, BTW. Not sure if I booted since, I thought so, once.

Quote
microchip13
You can also try zapping the PRAM

You mine as well spin a dead chicken 'round your head, it will do the same thing.

BGnR

10 minutes... That's pretty long.


Try holding Apple-S when you boot up, see if you get into single user mode(Lots of text and such), if you can grab a pair of headphones(Fans power up after a bit) and type fsck -fy and see what comes out, when you want to reboot just type reboot.

Best of luck.

Also, try resetting the NVRAM, after the bong hold Apple+Option+o+f then once you get into it type

reset nvram
set defaults
reset all


Again, best of luck

---

_______________________________________________________________
Security is just a word. The act of being secure is entirely different.
"...but I think that to make your dream a reality, having a dream itself is a mandatory prerequisite"
From A Book: Walking Through The Impossible

Just because it has two clutches, shifts faster, uses a torque converter or has near-infinite gear ratios, requires less driver intervention and is more efficient doesn't make it better in my opinion.
Save The Manual Transmission

Quote
BigGuynRusty
spin a dead chicken 'round your head, it will do the same thing.

Darn. I'm fresh out.

I've had the most amazingly trouble-free Mac for a couple of years. I hope this update didn't fry it.

I'm scared the hard drive's @#$%&.

Is this what would be happening?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2006 09:05PM by stephen.

Try restarting in safe mode. When you restart hold the shift key until it starts coming up. This could take a while as it repairs your disk at this time. Once you get the login window just click restart and then start normally and you should be ok. If you don't have a login window show then once it starts restart without holding any keys and you will be ok.

---

Formerly known as Dennis R

More than likely everything is still there, but the boot sector is a bit screwed up. Sounds like it is trying to boot, but isn't sure where to go or what to do.

---

**************************************
MacResource User Map: [www.zeemaps.com]#

I think I hear a little click once in a while, that's it. It won't even recognize the force CD boot key command of holding down the C.

EDIT - strike that, I definitely hear a little bit of disk activity (five secs or so) when starting up in safe mode.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2006 09:21PM by stephen.

OK, I tried starting in safe mode, and released the shift key after I saw the grey Apple logo. It ran for about ten more seconds and then shut itself down.

Apologies for the 27 play-by-play posts, but I'm going to let it work a while. I definitely hear a little disc stuff every once in a while.

Use your Install DVD and hold down the "c" key and run Disk Utility from there. OR hold down the "option" key and run Apple Hardware Test from the installer DVD.

Carm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2006 09:30PM by Carm.

I couldn't even get the drive open or get it to recognize the C command.

More disk activity after zapping PRAM, fan came on briefly. I'll let it work a bit and see if anything comes of it.

Sincere thanks for all your suggestions. Nice to know this is still a Mac forum.

Stephen, read this thread. [forums.macresource.com]

Carm

Thanks for the link. Managed to get a CD in but couldn't get it to boot from it.

Started tower in Firewire Target disk mode. Ran Disk Utility from PowerBook.

It says.

Verify and Repair disk “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid sibling link
Volume check failed.

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit


1 HFS volume checked
1 volume could not be repaired because of an error

Do you have DiskWarrior?

---

Formerly known as Dennis R

I did. Searching for it right now. Hope it's sufficiently current. Since the tower drive mounts in Firewire mode, thought about trying to back up some crucial files first.

Uh oh.

But it is mounted as a Firewire disk, and so far it's letting me copy via the Powerbook to an external drive. I'm sure I'll get a disk error at some point, but....

I'm going to attempt some file salvaging overnight and hope for the best.

Good to hear you're at least able to salvage some stuff.

Hope it all goes well.

---

_______________________________________________________________
Security is just a word. The act of being secure is entirely different.
"...but I think that to make your dream a reality, having a dream itself is a mandatory prerequisite"
From A Book: Walking Through The Impossible

Just because it has two clutches, shifts faster, uses a torque converter or has near-infinite gear ratios, requires less driver intervention and is more efficient doesn't make it better in my opinion.
Save The Manual Transmission

stephen:

I'm very glad to hear that your backup is going well so far -- hopefully this will inspire you to do backups more regularly.

After you get your user folder backed up, I would encourage you to contact Alsoft and bring your DW disc up to date (they can help with this) and then try running it again.

---

chas_m




[crawlingfromtheusa.blogspot.com] <-- Moving to Canada blog

stephan, I'd try booting while holding the mouse key down. This might open the CD tray and let you pop in DiskWarrior.

Then reboot while holding the Option key, not the C key. If you see the DW disk, you can select it (after a few seconds to get the cursor) and continue the startup process.

If DW is sufficiently current enough to boot your Mac, you may stand a better chance of repairing your HD if it's booted of of DW.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Thanks much. I'll definitely look into it.