Stuck at login & can not enter safe mode

lucanedark

Registered
I was installing the MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.dmg patch when I lost internet connection, and the installation went screwy. My computer crashed and I manually shut it down. When I turn it on it gets stuck at the grey screen with the apple and swirling loading circle.

I can not enter safe mode.

When I went to fsck I got the following error:

load of /sbin/launchd, errno 88 and load of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 88

Disk utility repair and verification does nothing to solve the problem.

I am now trying to re-install the update via the terminal. I put it on a USB drive and am attempting to open it from the terminal. I have mounted the "Mac OS X 10.4.11 Update (Intel)" but I can not access the .pkg to install. I can not figure out the correct command prompt to type in.

To open the .dmg file I typed "/volumes/macintosh hd/usr/bin/open" "/volumes/NO NAME/MasOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.dmg"

Where NO NAME is the name of my USB drive.
 
I found this on www.appleerrorcodes.com

-88 prInitErr InitUtil found the parameter RAM uninitialized

It seems to indicate a problem with the parameter RAM (read more about that here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86194) in which case maybe "zapping" it would help.
Restart the Mac while holding Command+Option+P+R. Wait until you've heard the startup chime three times before letting go. I don't know if that will help. If your system has been left "in limbo", a restore from a backup or a reinstall are the only solutions which come to mind. If your HD has a valid system folder it should appear as a startup volume if you hold down the Option key when you restart.
In the future, do what I do. Whenever SoftwareUpdate brings any upates to my attention, I choose 'Download Only' from the Update menu. I then run the updater from my HD. Doesn't matter then if you have a dodgy internet connection, and let's face it; whose internet connection is working 24/7? Anyway, best of luck!
 
Before you zap I tried doing that and it didn't work.

See my post "PowerBook G4 not booting" on 1st Dec

The only thing that worked for me was re-install with the start up disk and preserve settings, I didn't loose any of my files and although it is now flaky with lag it is working.

I personally thought it was some bug to encourage me to upgrade to Leopard. But I realise I could well be being paranoid on that one.

I'll keep looking at your post to see what others suggest I think you're the second person after me that has the same problem. Post your result when it works.

Cheers
 
Hi, so this same thing has happened to me, and I'm pretty sure it was caused by the update. I noticed something was wrong when I Safari refused to open. I restarted it, and then I came to the apple screen with the progress wheel spinning. I'm not technically savvy, so I have no idea what to do now. I'm pretty desperate because if I call apple they refuse to help me unless I shell out 50 bucks, and I kinda need to be able to use my mac for school related things. How do I reinstall the start up disk and preserve the setting so I don't lose everything?

Help a college girl out,
Kaylena
 
Hi Keylena,

I went home to UK in Jan and went to a MAC techie/sales shop and they seemed to think it that there were some probs with the new update. If I had had the time I would have let them keep my machine and pay the money to get it sorted. As it was I managed to work things out a bit on my own. But I dont know that I've actually solved the problem just made things ok for a bit longer.

I dont have a definite answer to this problem.

Please go to the Apple site and check there this might be of use to you. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303124
Although you'll need to suit the search for your particular Mac.

I am not techie either, but I found wondering through the support site using different combinations of key words I ended up learning something and almost sorting the problem out.

How I got around it is the following.

If you still have your grey (that was my colour) install / start up disk put this in the machine whilst the spinning gear is spinning.

Close your machine down using the "on" switch pressed down for 10 seconds or so.

Start you machine again and when you hear the chime press the 'c' button until you see it start up in the install disk mode, you'll have to choose your language, then you can do an install, but choose to keep settings. Otherwise you will loose all your data!

If you are in doubt, figure out if your data and settings on your machine are worth $50 or more, if they are use the support they give you. If it clears or disaster happens you'll have some come back. If you've tried everything and it is last resort time then do what I did.

I tried all the "zap the PRAM" and "reboot the NVRAM" and boot in safe mode blah blah blah. But nothing worked.

I guess not being a professional techie, it was trial and error that got it working and a bit of luck. I wouldn't want you to think I gave you the wrong information that's all. It worked for me. Let me know how it goes and good luck.

What ended up happening and it seems to be working a lot better now is: I replaced my power charger and drained the batter of all life. This in combination with the reinstall seemed to do the trick.

How it all works, good luck

Mike
 
Hey Mike,

Thanks for your help! I did manage to get it up and running again when I did the install. Things seem to be okay now, but it was a real pain in the butt that it happened the way it did. I am having some stupid problem now with my printer, but I guess I probably need to reinstall my printer software..which will be hard considering I can't find the disk! Anyway, thanks for your advice, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

-Kaylena
 
Hi Keylena,

No probs glad to be of help.

Not sure how old your MAC is or anything but you might want to think about getting it sanity checked by a pro.

Also if you haven't already, make the first thing you do is a back up of all the important stuff.

That way if it does all go south you have it saved somewhere. When it comes to backing up data there is no harm in being paranoid.

Take care.

Mike
 
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