Computerscreenstuc k

[keki11]

my computer will not start. It is stuck on the Starting MacOsX page,what should I do? I have already tried using the boot keys on startup and nothing happens.

[Giaguara]

Start it up, and after startup chime, hold down shift until you get past that screen. IT will take much longer, but if you are stuck at that stage, it should pass.

[Doctor X]

. . . and if that does not work, post your computer's specifications, tell us whether or not you have booted it off your installation disk, your shoe size, et cetera.

--J.D.

[keki11]

Hi, I held down the shift key after the chime, and it took longer to get to the "starting mac os X" page, that is the only difference, but it is still stuck at that page with a blue background. I was trying to clean up my hard drive on wednesday and i'm guessing that I deleted important files. But the first time I shut down then re-opned the computer it was working but the entire desktop and settings were changed, so I fixed them. I shut down the computer again, and the second time it re-opened, it did not work and the computer is now stuck at this page. I have an Imac (the one that has a half circle as a modem) and I have the tiger version of Mac. Any help would be appreciated, and thanks for the previous help.
Keki

[Giaguara]

Moved something from /System or /Library?
Do you have any other users in the system to try to log in as those?
If safe boot and all other keys fail (alt, x...) it might be time for reinstall of the system (arhive and install). And then not touching anything in those folders.

[Doctor X]

If it means anything, Keki, I have done something similar to you in the past--f'd around and deleted something important. An "Archive Install" as Giaguara is a wonderful way to "fix" such cases! You will not "lose" any of your data.

--J.D.

[keki11]

Okay, thanks guys for the info. But I have no idea what the an "archive install" or safe boot keys or any of those things are. All I know is that my computer is stuck on this stupid blue page and it won't go away. I've never had this problem before and a friend of mine installed the system, so I really don't know how any of this works. I'll try holding down alt, and some other keys, but it really does not seem to be working. Thanks again for the help.
Keki

[Doctor X]

Here is what you do:

• 1. Stick in your OS Install disk
  2. Boot holding the "Option Key"
  3. It should list the Install disk as a disk you can boot off of--boot off of that.
  4. After the first few introductory screens, go to the Utilities--I believe it is called--on your title bar and go to "Disk Utility"
  5. Waste some time fixing your permissions and trying to repair your disk. IF that does not work . . .
  6. Go forward with installation. On one of the pages you will have "options" or "customize"--I forget which
  7. Go to that. You will see things like "Erase and Install" and "Upgrade." You want "Archive Install" or "Clean Install"--when you highlight it it will tell you it will replace your system folder but keep your account information--data--intact.
  8. Click that--you may consider not reinstalling every printer driver you do not need or language if you wish it to go faster or have concerns with how much of your HD is "free."
  9. Pour a stiff drink . . . plop in your favorite porn DVD . . . relax and wait for the installation to finish.

After all of that you SHOULD be able to boot up. You will have your "old" System that you can dump. Make sure you get your updates since it will install the system on the disk--like 10.5 if it is a 10.5 disk. Many recommend repairing permissions afterwards--which takes a long time so pour another drink.

--J.D.