Need help with my mac! Won't log in?

L

lehatch

Registered
I have a G3, and when I start it up it takes me to the log in page, but when I try to log in it never logs me in... it just sits there and says "Login window starting" ... Can anyone offer me some ideas on what could be wrong with it?

I have panther running on it, but no panther installation disk... I have Tiger, but I'm hesitant to put that in, because I know nothing about macs...
 
Try this

• Power off the G3
• Press the power button, and right after the startup chime, press and hold the SHIFT key; wait at least for about 8 seconds after the startup chime, then let go.
• You should notice that the bootup process will take abnormally long. This is because the drive is being scanned for errors.

You should see "Safe Boot" on the screen during the process.

If that will allow you to log in, Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities, and double-click Disk Utility. Wait for it to process, click "Macintosh HD" on the left, and then click the "Repair Disk Permissions" button and wait for the repair process.

Next, reboot your Mac without pressing any keys during the boot process and see if that fixed the problem.
 
When I try to boot in safe mode, it just restarts all over again...

Also, I've been searching the forums all day, I don't know if I know what I am doing at all, but some of the similar posts have replies talking about doing the fsck -fy thing. I tried it and it says "Invalid Length Key (4, 732) Volume check failed"
 
Darnet! I was afraid of that...
Well... that just sucks.
Is there any way to get my files off of the hard drive? I just got laid off at my job and everything in my portfolio is on that drive!!!
I've tried an external hard drive enclosure... but it wouldn't mount to my mac mini. Is this because the HD has dropped dead completely? Is there any other way to get my files off of the HD?


Thanks for the replies you guys! I really do appreciate it.
 
Well I have heard a good trick is to put the drive in a airtight freezer bag (so moisture will not get into it) and then freezing it. Once it is has been it the freezer for a couple of hours, take it out and VERY QUICKLY put it back in the enclosure then try to get the data off it ASAP (before it warms up).

Another way is the Unix way using this hint. Then there is always DriveSavers and/or Data Rescue 2.

I am going to preach to you about the importance of and a backup. Especially if you are keeping work data on you Mac or PC. You seem to be learning this the hard way.

Lastly IMHO maybe the best disk fix it program on a Mac is called DiskWariior. I can't count how many times over the past couple of years the program saved my bacon.
 
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