[kingskel]

Hi:

I'm lovin' my 17" imac. All was working well. Until yesterday, when I decided to reboot. I get as far as the apple, and that spinning wheel thing, then it dumps me to a "sh" prompt (text follows). The only things I've installed/changed (that I can remember) was the Milk 1.5 theme via the latest Themechanger (both should be compatible with my 10.2.3) and I disabled a few (supposedly) harmless things like Sendmail and Appletalk with the Diabolitin pref pane. I connect to DSL via a ethernet modem.

Here is the text that follows after I'm dumped to the "sh" prompt:

UniNEnet: monitorLinkStatus - Link is up at 10 mbps - Half Duplex

- So, I type "exit" to boot to Aqua, but it gives me... -

Multiuser Startup in progress
Mounting local filesystems
/dev/disc0s5 on / (local)
chomd: /.vol: Operation not supported.
BootCache: cache init failed
/System/Library/Extension/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl could not start cache: Device Busy

\mach.sym
Configuring kernel extensions
kextd: dextd: 'Kernel Extension Server' is already active.
Starting Virtual Memory
2003-01-05 19:22:53:537 fix_prebinding [1823] fix_prebinding can't register it's server because it is not running in mach-init. Quitting.
Resetting files and servers.
Cleaning up.
/etc/nologin /privat/tmpsh-205a#


--I tried to run the aquafix utility from the command line in case it was the theme that bolloxed the deal, but it just gives me the usage info for the cp command, and doesn't run. So, I can boot to OS9 from the CD and select the Classic system on the drive to start up with, but cannot boot into Aqua at all. I also ran fsck -y.

Any help or ideas appreciated! I dread having to install the whole deal over again.

[Arkham_c]

It sounds like you're booting into single user mode, as though something is wrong with your file system. Try rebooting, and immediately holding down "command-S" until you get to a command prompt. Then follow the text instructions on the screen (running fsck then running mount). When you're done, type "reboot" on the command line to boot up. If this fails too, boot off your OSX CD and run the Disk Utility and try to fix the boot partition(/). If that fails too, you could try DiskWarrior (which is not free).

[kingskel]

Thanks, Arkham_c.

I've done both of those already (fsck and boot from X CD). I was frustrated enough to consider doing an archive and install, but the 10.2 CD says I already have a newer version and refuses to install! I'm not interested in wiping an 80GB drive just yet, so I'm still looking for solutions...

[MacManMikeOSX]

might be your ttys file is trashed and its using the backup wich is darwins emergency ttys file not osx's

[kingskel]

Wish I could offer a solution here for anyone else that ever has this prob, and is researching it on the net (it always frustrated me to find similar problems, but no posted resolution). For the record, here is my solution...

As I grow older, I grow more and more tired of inserting cds, restarting, etc. I needed a backup solution anyway (other than millions of DVDs), so I bought an external 120 FW. I'm using it as my main drive right now. It's fast. It's effective (I can salvage my stuff from the original drive, and wipe it to start fresh).

Also, I do less and less hacks, and install less betas now. My time (and this puter) is too valuable. So, even though I didn't solve the Unix-based problem, the message here (I guess) is - hack and tinker all you like, but be prepared to pay the price if fate comes a calling! I'm glad I have a backup now - that's for sure.

[RealMac]

I had a similar experience while trying out a new theme on my g4 desktop two nights ago. The program I had been using to select a new theme quit during the middle of the update process. I logout and log back in, but the login window vanishes for 30 seconds, then reappeared for 2 in what almost seemed like a hahaha I told you so message from my machine. I followed the directions for the aquafix as follows.

1. /sbin/fsck -y
2. /sbin/mount -uw /
3. sudo aquafix

I got the message about the cp error also. However upon rebooting everything worked fine for me.