shell?

[mr_zebra 84]

Hello!I'm new user.

I have a question. This morning, i was using my mac, but some divX files didn't open so I decided to shut it down. But it couldn't, so i was forced to hold the power button down for seconds. After this, i pressed it again to start MAC OS X again. (version 10.4 i think). All ordinary, but after the white screen with the gray apple, appeared a black screen with those white words:

-sh: /etc/profile: is a directory
-sh-2.05b#

What do I have to write?? I'm desperate, I have everything in my mac!!

Thank you for the attention

Carlo

[Yesurbius]

You are going into single-user or maintenance mode because something is afoul.

Try this command (type what's after the #, I put the prompt for clarity)

-sh-2.05b# reboot

and hit enter at that # prompt. your system should shutdown and restart - and see if boots up fine now. If it goes back to the prompt, then it sounds to me like you may just need to run a file system check:

-sh-2.05b# fsck -y

If it still does not work, what are the 10 preceeding lines prior to the prompt? You can also check out the latest system log entries by typing:

-sh-2.05b# tail /var/log/system.log

This will print the last 10 entries in the system log.

As far as your data goes - relax ... unless your hard drive failed you'll be fine.

[mr_zebra 84]

Thank you very much!!
but unfortunately this happened:
i followed your steps. first, with the prompt REBOOT it didn't boot up fine.
after, typing fsck -y, these lines appeared:

** /dev/rdisk0s3
** Root file system
** Checking HFS Plus Volume
fsck_hfs: Volume is journaled. No checking performed.
fsck_hfs: Use the -f option to force checking

then, i tried with tail /var/log/system.log and the next lines appeared:

tail: /var/log/system.log: Operation not permitted

and that's it.

What should I do?

You very kind to help me!

Thank you!!

(if u wanna chat directly to me, my msn contact is mr_zebra84@hotmail.com)