[Ambrosa]

Hello everyone,

I was installing the iPhoto and iMovie updates from Software Update. The downloads completed and iPhoto installed correctly. However, the installation of iMovie froze near the end. I was forced to restart the computer (using the power button).

Now OS X no longer works. The computer starts, and I can log in. Yet, as soon as I attempt to do anything (like look at the dock), the computer freezes with the swirly wheel thing. The dock freezes where it's at.

This is also true with the Apple menu or using Finder to view a folder.

I started with the OS X installation CD and ran a permission repair, but it didn't work. It looks like I can log into single user (Unix) mode.

Is there anything else I can try? Anything from single user mode? The installation CD?

I appreciate your help.

[Xeo]

Have you tried "fsck -y" from single user mode? If not, give that a shot. Repeat the command until it tells you that no changes were made (it's possible this will take a few times).

If that doesn't help, post back and we'll think of something else.

[Ambrosa]

It keeps saying that Macintosh HD is okay. Does this mean that it made no changes?

Thank you for your help!

[Ambrosa]

It appears to have affected Finder more than anything. I was originally able to start and use Internet Explorer from the dock. Finder would immediately lock up the system. However, after running the permission repairs, the dock itself locks up the system.

fsck -y doesn't seem to have helped.

I can't log in using Safe Mode. After I log in, the status bar just continues to spin for many minutes.

[Ambrosa]

Fixed it. Thanks to CharlesS in the third-party forum! ran the following from single-user mode (in case anyone else runs into the problem).

fsck -y
mount -uw /
update_prebinding -root / -force