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CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 01:45 PM

I am very new to Mac's. I have a Powerbook I was trying to enable Windows File Sharing to copy some files. I gave up after several hours as I could not get my PC to see the mac. I unchecked Windows File Sharing then shut down for the day. Now when I turn on my Mac all I get is a screen with gray & white lines. No login prompt! Anyone help a newbie in need?

LfGrdMike · Sep 5, 2003, 01:57 PM

First I want to say what you are experienceing is very rare. What I would do is start up, and hold down the following keys immediately.
COMMAND + OPTION + P + R
Keep holding let the mac zap the pram 4 times you will be able to tell becasue the screen will flicker, and it could chime. The command key is the little apple key if you dont know.

Also I need more information about your computer. How long you have had it and stuff. Once we get your mac booted up we can work on getting windows file sharing to work. Also look up articles in mac help on windows file sharing because that helps a lot too. Post back here with more info.

OH and disconnect everything from your laptop except the internet, and your AC adapter that powers the machine.

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 02:15 PM

Ok, I have tried your recommendation and still get just the gray and white screen. It does show the blue screen with Mac OS X starting services etc. then it just goes to the gray and white. It is like it is waiting for a key to be pressed or something to show the login. It is a G4 800 powerbook. Just got it last weekend, and it works great until I messed with the file & print sharing thing.

Mithras · Sep 5, 2003, 03:03 PM

That is very strange. I have found OS X to be remarkably stable and trouble-free.

Your next step is this: Boot from your OS X CD (put the CD in the drive, and hold down the 'c' key).

In the Installer menu, go to the application menu (just to the right of the Apple menu), and select Disk Utility. Run Disk First Aid on the Powerbook disk.

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 03:21 PM

Yep, I tried the First Aid from the OS X cd. I can press Enter when sitting at gray & white screen and it switches to a console screen. It ask me for a login and password there. I can login fine on that screen, but it just looks like a DOS screen. When I type exit, it takes me back to the gray and white screen. It is acting like it is running in some sorta server mode or something.....very frustrating.

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 04:27 PM

Here is something else I just noticed. When I started up my Windows PC I can now see my Powerbook.

b3t4 · Sep 5, 2003, 04:36 PM

alright dude, let's try this

can you gain access to the files on your powerbook. maybe through your pc???

i guess the preferences from the loginwindow are somehow f**** up. you can find them in /Users/YourName/Library/Preferences/

delete everything there which has something to do with login.
Don't worry about the delete stuff cause your mac will recreate those files immediatly if he needs them.

when you are in the console mode maybe you can delete it from there. try to get rid of those files.

good luck and give your mac some patience. maybe he is a bit afraid of you.

this is a pretty rare prob so don't go crazy on a mac at all. bad newbee experience but after that you will love him.

beta

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 04:46 PM

What the command to delete all these files?
I guess it is unix? I am in the folder, ready to wipe em out.

b3t4 · Sep 5, 2003, 05:00 PM

yeah you are right you need some kinda unix language to talk to your mac right now

try this

"rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist"

and after that

"rm loginwindow.plist"

if your mac is saying permission denied, than type

"sudo rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist"

and

"sudo rm loginwindow.plist"

you need to enter the admin password.

hopefully that fixes the problem

beta

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 05:06 PM

I deleted everything in the user folders...still no go.

Mithras · Sep 5, 2003, 05:09 PM

Sounds to me like your windowserver got broken. Though it could be the loginwindow application.

If you're feeling brave, you can do this at the command prompt:

md5 /system/library/coreservices/WindowServer

and compare the result to this:
b1c35c05b4e329715282a5682dce1f57

You could also type
md5 /system/library/coreserves/loginwindow.app/contents/macos/loginwindow

and see if it is:
2e6768bb96bc86ef53533185dcc92465

Otherwise you can just reinstall Jaguar, *making sure* to select (with the Options... button), an 'Archive and Install', which keeps all of your information.

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 05:13 PM

Does this save installed programs?

Mithras · Sep 5, 2003, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by CobraNT:
Does this save installed programs?

Yes. It puts all of your installed programs, anything you've added to the 'Library' folder, in a "Previous Systems" folder. You can just drag them out of there and put them back in the Applications folder.

You'll then have to re-download all the system updates for the past 8 months, (maybe 100 megs total), so i hope you're on broadband.

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 05:22 PM

Thank you all very much for all of your help regarding this issue. I am going to reinstall using 'Archive and Install'.

b3t4 · Sep 5, 2003, 05:25 PM

i hope you didn't delete the content of your users folder ;-)

alright login on the console again and type in "top"
this command will give you a list of things which are running right now. if it is not so long could you please post PIDs and COMMANDs
i am wondering if you have a process running like "loginwindow" and what else is going on there.

if we know what your powerbook is running we might kick some process a** or restart some processes.

i don't know the command for restarting a process right now but maybe somebody else can help with that.
Could be worth a try to restart the loginwindon process.

the other solution could be that you insert your osx cd and choose install a new osx. at some point you can press options and then you can tell him to install over the existing system without touching the users folder. maybe this might help.

beta

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 05:33 PM

I am reinstall OS X using the Archive and Install feature. Hopefully this will resolve it. This frustration is minor compared to the issue I have had with Windows PC's so no big deal. At least I caused this one, not just a random blue screen telling me I have experienced a serious unknown error!

CobraNT · Sep 5, 2003, 06:29 PM

The re-install fixed it. Thanks for all your help guys.

LfGrdMike · Sep 5, 2003, 07:51 PM

Ya sometimes OSX gets hosed if you do something to it. It sounds to me you might have screwed with something while setting up your windows server and didnt know it. I would reccomend now that you have solved the problem to think about picking up a really great program that I love a lot. www.micromat.com. I am picking up a copy for my powerbook. Its called TechTool Pro 4 its not out yet but when it does think about it. I have never seen better support from any company either. these guys hire people to help on the www.macfixit.com forums. Its just a wonderful program. Also make sure to do your OSX updates. Download a program called cocktail and run your cron scripts. www.versiontracker.com If you need help or guidance talk to me on AIM or MSN messenger and i can help you out. I am willing to do it in the next few days. I start college on the 10th so you need to let me know. I am glad you solved your problem.

These maintenance procedures should limit any future problems.

CobraNT · Sep 8, 2003, 07:09 PM

All seems great now. I tried enabling Windows File Sharing again and it also works. I did notice when I bought this unit some of the background wallpaper was not there and a few other strange issues were happening. I am begining to think the install was not right from day one when I bought it. Since the reload everything is there, and it works great. I have been using it 12 hours a day since I got it, and can say for sure my PC / Windows days are over. No more blue screens of death for me! Thanks for all your help.