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My mac will not star, that is to say it opens, begins its start yp with mac icon but shuts downbefors the desktop can engage. I have been having trouble with it freezing up for several days but restarting put an end to that. This is all new. The unit is three weeks old a mac book pro 15" purchased in Paris France.
Optional Information: Computer OS: Mac OS X Browser: Firefox Already Tried: tried to restart using alt to get to hd the pinwheel searching turned but nothing else One try did get me to the screen saver but then the coulered pinwheel took over Since the unit shuts itself down
Hi - I'm happy to help with your Mac issue. Please remember to Accept when we are completely finished and you are satisfied with my answer.
It appears that your hard drive may have become corrupted. I suggest you boot from the Install DVD that came with the machine as follows:
1. Insert the DVD and then power off by holding the power switch until everything shuts down
so just insert cd and let is go from there?
2. Hold down the c key - then power up. Do not let go until the system is booting from the DVD
Then when the installer comes up, answer the first question then observe the top menu bar. When you see Utilities, drop it down to select Disk Utilities
ok need to get the cd first will you be waiting or do I call you somehow?
After Disk Utilities starts, you can ty to repair the the disk. If no erros, then try Repair Disk Permissions
Do not re-install the OS, simply quit of power down the machine after running the disk utility, and try to restart from the hard drive.
ok located where the repair disk? and what permissions?
When you start Disk Utility, there are several choices. Try the repair disk first, then repair disk permissions when it finishes with repair.
Let me know about any error messages while doing the repairs
ok just one thing you say power down...I do that after repair right like restarting?
The sequence is after you get the DVD into the system - power it down by holding the power switch until everything shuts down - THEN
hold the c key down and power on until the system boots from the DVD.
Answer te first question about languag, then the Utility Menu will appear on the top menu bar. That is when you start disk utility
After running the disk utility, you will power down again and try to boot from the hard drive
ok....insert cd hold c key down until it boots and the installer kicks in then power down? am still not clear here sorry
after the installer starts it will ask a question about language - answer the question, when it goes to the next step, the menu bar will be populated at the top. One of them is labeled Utilities. Click on Utilities and it will drop down and one of the selections will be Disk Utility. That is how you start it
so that is done before any powering down? when in fact in the sequences is the power down supposed to be done please?
Please reread my instructions and just follow them to the letter
believe me am trying to get a handle on this
what have you done so far?
am now ready to begin as I said had to retrieve the cd
put the cd in the system. When it is inside - power it down. Hold the c key and keep it pressed while powering up. Keep it pressed until the system boots from the DVD. Then follow my instructions. Are you on another computer to talk to me?
cd is in
yes
ok is repowering now
hold the power key down until the MBPro shuts down. Then reboot with the c key pressed
doing it
for the moment pinwheel is going
It will take about 1-2 minutes to boot from DVD
ok have from startup disk reset password XXX but no repair yet do I chose startup disk?
keep the c key down until it starts booting
Look for Disk Utility and select it
ok got it
still on c key?
Select Macintosh HD on the Left and then click the button marked repair Disk
coming up
ok
do i still need c key?
no - you can let go of the c key
whew
lol
ok have window
Select Macintosh HD on the Left and then click the button marked repair Disk on the right side
verifying now
let it do it's thing. If you get any errors - tell me what it says
you a model in patience
error disk utility can't repair this disk....
OK - bad news - the Hard Drive is Damaged and will need to be replaced. Did you purchase from Apple or an authorized Apple Dealer?
Did you drop the machine or was it damaged that you know of?
3 weeks ago this is for pro too
no no dropping or anything else
is it possible to do a back up?
You can try to reformat and reinstall the system, or you can take it in let the Apple Genius help - which do you prefer?
hat was my next question - do you have a backup?
would like to try as I am not in Paris at the moment to see a genius lol
do you have a time machine backup (or some other backup)?
other back up here simple exterior hd
western digital
Was it running time machne backup or just copies of your files
just copies time machine is at home
only need documents
if I help you reformat and re-install, it will be original again. You will need to restore your critical files and applications - is that OK?
of course
OK - is the disk utility still running on the MBPro?
was not yet fully installed antway thank god
yes still there
OK - on the left side, notice that there is a disk icon and info above the line labeled Macintosh HD?
500.11 GB Toshiba?
yes - click once on that line
or optarc?
sone
done
The tabs on the right side will now have a button called partition
disk os2
click on the the 500.11 Toshiba
did
then click on Partition on the right side
disk0s2 dropped
not seeing that
where it says Volume cheme, there is a drop down menu - select 1 Partition
After selecting check that the name is XXXXX XXXXXXXXX HD
sorry not seeing that at all
where it says Volume scheme, there is a drop down menu - select 1 Partition
not seeing volume scheme
Did you click on Parition in the tab bar on the right?
*partition
doing it again?
What do you see blow the tab bar now
*below
ok under 500.11 there is the disk0s2
nothing has changed in the window where error message appeared
That has nothing to do with my instructions.
sorry but clicked partition as per your instructions no drop down has appeared
Please follow my instructions - i will copy what i told you before:
pinwheel one second please
where it says Volume Scheme, there is a drop down menu - select 1 Partition
still have pinwheel turning here
Click on Current - that is a drop down
did exactly what you asked but as I said got no drop down sorry
still have pinwheel turning and cannot get in
Then I am sorry to say that your drive is damaged and we are unable to reformat it. It will need to be replaced by Apple. I am very sorry, but there really isn't anything we can do if the hardware has failed.
ok how do I get this pinwheel to stop?
ok thank you for your help will get it back to Apple
and how to eject the dvd
Just hold the power key down and the system will shut down. If you power on again with the trackpad depressed, it will eject the CD then you can power down again and take the system back to Apple.
ok thanks again sorry for the trouble
I would appreciate an Accept for my answer to compensate me for my time. Again I am sorry we were unable to resolve the issue. Thanks for using Just Answer.
no problem have a great day
Thank you.
Experience: Apple Consultants Network, Apple Certified