Accidental Shutdown during Software Update

[Jgoal55]

Hi Guys,

Im new to the forums because I have a question that I was hoping you could help me out with.

About 3 weeks ago I was installing a software update on my mac mini (with the latest OS X installed). While the software update was running I accidentally pulled the computer and the power cord came out thereby shutting the desktop off.

Now, I cannot re-start the computer....it goes into an eternal pin wheel.

I have a Macbook Pro that I can hook up to it via Firewire....will this help?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Bitgod]

Basically the OS is jacked up. You could try to narrow down the issue one way or the other, or just take the easy way out and do a reinstall of the OS.

Pop in the OS X install disc, then restart with the C key held down. My rule of thumb is wait till you get the spinning gear again, give it 3 seconds, then let go. Once you select the language, just keep hitting continue til it starts the install. It basically removes the old OS files and re-writes the OS from the install disc without erasing the whole hard drive.

Once it's done, you'll want to run a software update to get everything up to date. Depending on any 3rd party SW you use, you may have to reinstall those. Basically, if they don't start up properly, just reinstall them.

If you want to be anal about it, which I am, after you boot to the install disc but before you do the install, you can open disk utility from the Utilities menu on the menu bar and run a disk verify on the volume before doing the install. Doesn't do any good to do an install if there's disk issues, though I'm sure your issue was caused by the power being pulled.

 

[Jgoal55]

Basically the OS is jacked up. You could try to narrow down the issue one way or the other, or just take the easy way out and do a reinstall of the OS.

Pop in the OS X install disc, then restart with the C key held down. My rule of thumb is wait till you get the spinning gear again, give it 3 seconds, then let go. Once you select the language, just keep hitting continue til it starts the install. It basically removes the old OS files and re-writes the OS from the install disc without erasing the whole hard drive.

Once it's done, you'll want to run a software update to get everything up to date. Depending on any 3rd party SW you use, you may have to reinstall those. Basically, if they don't start up properly, just reinstall them.

If you want to be anal about it, which I am, after you boot to the install disc but before you do the install, you can open disk utility from the Utilities menu on the menu bar and run a disk verify on the volume before doing the install. Doesn't do any good to do an install if there's disk issues, though I'm sure your issue was caused by the power being pulled.

Thanks. Is this pretty much the only/bets way? I had heard something about being able to fix problems like this by hooking up a laptop to the mini but wasnt sure how.....the OSX disc is at my brothers house.

 

[Bitgod]

Hmmm, none that I've done first hand so you might want to google around, but I guess maybe you could try putting your computer in target mode, download the 10.6.4 combo update on the other computer, run it, and see if you can point to the hard drive on this system as the destination, that might fix things.

 

[Jgoal55]

Hmmm, none that I've done first hand so you might want to google around, but I guess maybe you could try putting your computer in target mode, download the 10.6.4 combo update on the other computer, run it, and see if you can point to the hard drive on this system as the destination, that might fix things.

Sorry, I though Id get emailed when there were replies to this thread....guess I have to mess with my settings.

At any rate, I just saw this and haven't tried it yet but what would the process be step by step.....I can work on computers, but Im not good at troubleshooting them...lol..thanks!

 

[Jgoal55]

Got it working again guys...thanks!

just used the disk as I was finally able to get it back from my brother.