Leopard won't load

[Bosco]

For some reason, it won't load. Just hangs on the grey screen at start up with the Apple icon (see link). Won't go any further.

I tried Diskwarrior to rebuild the database and have tried repairing permissions. Still, no dice... Has anyone experienced this...? If so, how did you fix. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

photo of my screen:

[Doc]

Have you done any OS updates recently?

Had a crash?

'Anything else odd?

What model Mac?

What version Disk Warrior?

Have you done anything else diagnostically? Zapped PRAM? Tried to get into Single User Mode? Tried safe-booting? Unplugged non-essential USB and FireWire devices? Started up from an installer disc to repair the drive and repair permissions with the Disk Utility?

Did you run DiskWarrior from its CD or did you boot that Mac into target mode and run DW from another Mac?

[Bosco]

My G4 Quicksilver has four separate drives. Each drive has an operating system... OS 9.2, Panther, Leopard 1 (10.5.5), Leopard 2 (10.5.6).

The system I'm having this problem with is Leopard 1 (10.5.5). I ran DiskWarrior 4.1 from Leopard 2 to rebuild the database. I booted off my Leopard installer disc to repair permissions w/ disc utility. There are no USB or Firwire devices connected that would cause the problem. I can still boot into all other drives / systems without fail.

BTW: I started having this problem after a system freeze / crash.

[Forrest]

Startup in verbose mode (command V) and see where it's hanging up. Here's a list of OSX startup keys http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343

[decay]

boot into single user mode & run fsck?

do a Safe Boot? (hold shift at startup until gear starts spinning)?

[Article Accelerator]

Bosco wrote:
For some reason, it won't load. Just hangs on the grey screen at start up with the Apple icon (see link). Won't go any further. I tried Diskwarrior to rebuild the database and have tried repairing permissions.

Step #1 should have been to restart in safe boot mode.

[Bosco]

Ok guys. I got it to boot using safe boot mode (shift key at startup). Thanks!

Now what do I do?

[C(-)ris]

Can you run software update from Safe mode? Or do a disk repair and permissions repair in disk utility?

[Bosco]

I repaired permissions w/ disk utility. It rebooted with no problem!

It seems to be working now Thanks everyone!

-

[decay]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564



Starting up into Safe Mode does three things to simplify the startup and operation of your computer:

* It forces a directory check of the startup volume.
* It loads only required kernel extensions (some of the items in /System/Library/Extensions).
* In Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier, it runs only Apple-installed startup items (such items may be installed either in /Library/StartupItems or in /System/Library/StartupItems; these are different than user-selected account login items)
* Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger only: It disables all fonts other than those in /System/Library/Fonts .
* Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger only: It moves to the Trash all font caches normally stored in /Library/Caches/com.apple.ATS/(uid)/ , where (uid) is a user ID number such as 501.
* Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger only: It disables all startup items and any login items.
* Mac OS X 10.5.6 or later: A Safe Boot deletes the dynamic loader shared cache at (/var/db/dyld/). Restarting recreates this cache. A cache with issues may cause a blue screen on startup, particularly after a Software Update.

Taken together, these changes can work around issues caused by software or directory damage on the startup volume.
Some features don't work in Safe Mode

Safe Mode can be useful for troubleshooting. However, certain Mac OS X features do not work in Safe Mode. For example, you can't use DVD Player, capture video in iMovie, use audio input or output devices, or use an internal or external USB modem. The behavior of some devices such as an AirPort card may vary depending on computer and Mac OS X version.