[LoneyStoner]

My imac isn't functioning. Every time I turn it on the screen freezes on me. I rarely get brief moments where I can access my account. When I do, I'm stuck looking at a vivid picture at space after I'd typed my password. Does anyone know how I can resolve this problem without going to the apple store?

[turtle777]

Try booting into Safe mode: hold Shift after the startup chime.
If it works, then it's something wrong with an installed app or your preferences.

OS X: Ten Boot Options for Leopard | Mac OS X Leopard | Tech-Recipes

Have you recenbtly installed something new that could cause the conflict ?

-t

[LoneyStoner]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Try booting into Safe mode: hold Shift after the startup chime.
If it works, then it's something wrong with an installed app or your preferences.

OS X: Ten Boot Options for Leopard | Mac OS X Leopard | Tech-Recipes

Have you recenbtly installed something new that could cause the conflict ?

-t

It's funny how the computer got frozen. I was going through some emails late at night while listening to music. All of a sudden the computer froze on me;This was yesterday by the way. I turned off the power switch and started up the computer again but it still froze. I went to bed and woke up to find the computer was still frozen. I've tried Verbose mode but it told me there was a error OX7. What does this mean? I've also haven't installed anything new, but lime wire has been acting strange. I really don't want to go to the apple store.

[AKcrab]

Did you try turtle's suggestion?
You may need a reinstall of the OS.
You may have a failing hard drive.

[LoneyStoner]

I did try Turtle's suggestions, but none of them are worked. I have important files on my imac so I'm praying that isn't the problem. I don't want to take it to apple since they'll be able to see my files.

[AKcrab]

Try reinstalling with the disks that came with your machine, or a snow leopard disk if you're running 10.6.

If that fails, you're more than likely looking at a hardware issue.

[Waragainstsleep]

IT guys don't care what files you have unless they are illegal. And I'm not talking about movie piracy here.

Run a disk repair: Boot holding Apple-S. When you get to the prompt, follow the instructions and run these commands:

/sbin/mount -uw /
/sbin/fsck -fy

[LoneyStoner]

The problem has gotten a bit worse since yesterday. I'm utterly locked out of my computer. I can't access needed files. Is there a way to get the files out without going to Apple? I want that to be the last thing that I do.

[turtle777]

You would need to boot from an external HD in order to access the internal HD that's acting up.

Do you have that available ?

-t

[LoneyStoner]

No and can you give me the steps to do this?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by LoneyStoner 

No and can you give me the steps to do this?

Put the OS X DVD (the one that shipped with your computer) into your Mac, press the power key (of your Mac) and hold the "c" key during startup. It will boot from the DVD.

Then install OS X on your external HD.

After that, boot into the external HD OS X by holding the Option key on startup, and select to boot from the external HD.

Once booted up, you could be able to access the data of your damaged HD.

-t

[besson3c]

I take it you don't have a backup of your data?

[Veltliner]

Loney, it's not that hard. To reinstall OS X does NOT mean your important files will be overwritten.

After you reinstall the OS everything will be as it was.

Recommendation: Get DiscWarrior. Fixes all kinds of operating software problems on your Mac.

[LoneyStoner]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

I take it you don't have a backup of your data?

I'm having some privacy issues at home, and plus my apple hard drive is acting up.

[turtle777]

Uhm, say what ?

-t