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Mac won't boot please help

F

fcorry

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 28, 2010
12
0
Basically I was in bootcamp and I selected start installation. The mac went to reboot but it then said there were updates to install, so I selected ok to install. They installed and then the mac rebooted and its now stuck on the opening screen but completely blank. Then after a few mins a folder with a question mark comes up but can't get any further.

I also have refit installed, so don't know if this could have caused the issue clashing with boot camp.

I've tried holding down command to get into refit and select osx drive but it won't work. I've also tried my snow leopard disc and that won't load.

I just want to be able to get back into osx.

Where should I go from here?
 
spinnerlys said:
Have you tried any of these steps?

Click to expand...

I've so far tried the removing the power cord, then reconnecting it after 10 seconds with power button held down. The computers turns on now with a very loud fan noise, but still blank screen (beige I mean).

I've also tried holding down shift. I must add that my superdrive is broken, so I'm using an external dvd drive, in case thats a consideration.

Not sure what to try next, the top guide you link doesn't seem to be working.
 
This is an absolute nightmare, I'm using a wireless keyboard, so firstly I've no way of knowing if its connected properly as I can't get past the blank sceen Second its only got windows keys so I have no idea if the buttons I'm pressing are doing anything. I don't mind opening my mac if theres like a reset all button. I saw a small black button under the front panel when I last opened it.
 
Hold down C with the Snow Leopard CD in the optical drive. It should boot the CD.

The gray screen with the ? mark means that the Mac can't find a bootable install of anything, which probably means your hard drive went bad. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but #1 rule of computing: backups are your friend. You can check this with Disk Utility when you are able to boot the CD.
 
fcorry said:
This is an absolute nightmare, I'm using a wireless keyboard, so firstly I've no way of knowing if its connected properly as I can't get past the blank sceen Second its only got windows keys so I have no idea if the buttons I'm pressing are doing anything. I don't mind opening my mac if theres like a reset all button. I saw a small black button under the front panel when I last opened it.
Click to expand...

The Windows key is the equivalent of the Command/Apple key. Control is Control and Alt is Option/alt.

Don't you have a wired USB keyboard in your vicinity (10 to 50m)?

And as far as I know, there is no reset button, even if it would exist, it would not help you, as the rest button on PCs only restarts a computer and if the computer is frelled (OS corruption or BIOS), then even the button will not work.
 
We'll the other keyboard I've tried doesn't seem to want to do anything.

The only thing I can say is that the external DVD drive flickers a few times and then seems to stop their.

If I plug in my USB hard drive, it goes to a black screen with a flickering cursor. Could it be looking to boot from my USB drive?
 
Ok I've tried another usb keyboard, nothings working. I wish I could just to get some command screen to work to get to another screen just so I could tell that its recognising my keyboard.

I have a dead superdrive, and probably if it worked, this would be the simple answer but it doesn't. I don't think it wants to boot from my external DVD it flickers for a few seconds and makes the sound like its recognised but then doesn't want to go any further. I've tried holding down C.

The only thing that gives me any difference is plugging the USB drive which then goes to a flashing cursor, but it stops there. I recall this was a similar screen which I got when I got Refit to make a bootable windows partition, but it doesn't seem to want to do anything else.

I don't get a chime when the mac comes on, but that my be because my volune was last turned off.

Really not sure want to do now, I've checked most of the guides. I was thinking if it was recognising my external USB, then I could make a bootable OSX installation disc on that using windows, but don't know if this would work or even how to do it.
 
The nightmare is over!!!!! I held option command P + R and it booted with chime apple screen back. I think I may well be getting somewhere. Sorry for all the melodramatics.
 
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