Macbook pro won't boot

[/dev/toaster]

When I got home tonight, I went and opened up the lid on the machine. Did the normal 10 minute screawing around with it to get it out of sleep mode. (Which I have yet to figure out what the problem is)

Anyway, I went to play a DVD and started getting the error -108, which I have no idea what that means. Since I did some software updates today I relogged back into my account. That did the same thing, just error'd.

I figured, eh ... I wanna watch a movie don't wanna screaw around I will just reboot since it only takes 30 seconds anyway.

Needless to say, the only thing I see right now is the Apple logo and the spinning wheel. I can't get it to do anythng else. On top of that, I have a DVD in the drive that refusses to eject. So, I can't figure out how to put the install CD in to attempt to repair the startup disk.

I tried calling tech support, but they are closed. I am pretty upset about that because I kinda thought tech support would have been 24/7.

Does anyone have any suggestions ? I actually have work to get done tonight, I need to get that machine back up and running.

 

[mad jew]

Unplug everything except the power. Now, try getting the disk out by holding down the button on your track pad as you power it up. Then, reset your Power Management Unit (PMU) and if that gets nowhere, then try starting from the OSX discs. Good luck.

 

[/dev/toaster]

ok, I am running the repair now. After 20 attempts to get the DVD to eject, I ended up booting into windows and doing it. It was refussing to do it other wise.

I think this problem might have started due to how many times it took putting it in and out of sleep mode to get the system usable.

I am gonna try the reset to the PMU and see if that helps. I am starting to get a little nervous about bringing this machine on the road. I have a bad habbit of losing CDs and DVDs. (I have bought Ghostbuster 2, 5 times now ) I don't wanna carry my installation CD with me, losing it would be expensive.

 

[jsw]

I don't wanna carry my installation CD with me, losing it would be expensive.

Not that you'll likely need it, but you can use Applications->Utilities->Disk Utility to duplicate your installation CDs so as to bring a backup copy and not the original when you travel.

 

[/dev/toaster]

Thats a very good idea, I am going to burn that tonight. Having a backup anyway is a good for me.

Ok, bad news time. I just finished the repair, and its still not booting. Its just sitting there doing nothing. Odd thing is, Windows boots just fine. I don't belive this is a boot camp issue, since I installed boot camp a week after it was released and I haven't had any trouble with it.

Any other ideas ? I can't do my work in Windows, since all my stuff is on OS X.

 

[/dev/toaster]

ok, I am finally back up and running. I ran permissions fix and that seemed to have fixed it.

So, it was a problem with the filesystem and the permissions. Hopefully, reseting the PMU will prevent this from happening again.

Thanks for your help!

Side note, I was getting very scared ... I was forced to use my old Windows laptop to create the previous posts. I have gotten just way too used to my mac, it feels too much like home. Windows feels like that baby sisters house that was very creapy.

 

[TAV]

Deleted - poster fixed this issue.