[mason943]

Let me start by saying that I am a Novice Unix user and that I am writing this post from a second computer.

As the subject suggests I have installed, or tried to install, MySQl using Marc Liyanage's precompiled package from entropy.ch/software/macosx/mysql. I had problems starting MySql from the terminal once installed and so restarted my computer, thinking incorrectly that I would be starting with a clean slate. As the computer started all was well until it was time for the desktop to come up. Essentially there are no icons, no file menus, no dock etc. however, the system responds normally to the power button (gives option of sleeping, restarting, shutting down or cancelling).

I have then tried these three things.

1. I first tried to correct permission using the boot CD. No DIce.

2. I then did a archive install. No Dice.

3. I installed OSX on my external harddrive and took a look around at permissions. Nothing strange there, that I could see.

Still, no effect to my problem. I am hoping that I will not need to reformat my HD. Hopefully there is a more elegant solution than that. Thanks in advance to any who can help, J-A

[machiavel]

Originally posted by mason943:
As the computer started all was well until it was time for the desktop to come up. Essentially there are no icons, no file menus, no dock etc. however, the system responds normally to the power button (gives option of sleeping, restarting, shutting down or cancelling).

I have then tried these three things.

1. I first tried to correct permission using the boot CD. No DIce.

2. I then did a archive install. No Dice.

3. I installed OSX on my external harddrive and took a look around at permissions. Nothing strange there, that I could see.

Still, no effect to my problem. I am hoping that I will not need to reformat my HD. Hopefully there is a more elegant solution than that. Thanks in advance to any who can help, J-A [/B]

There are a few other things you can try.

1. You've tried correcting permissions; but did you also try disk utility? (Or, what amounts to the same thing, fsck? Command-s at start up, and enter fsck -y when you get a prompt.)

2. Check your preferences. If you can can access your computer from your other hard drive, see if you can move your /Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Preferences to your Desktop folder. (This is probably not your problem, but it's worth a try.)

3. Check your system logs. Go to /var/log and take a look at system.log. You're problem may be that some critical file or files have been moved or hosed. The log may give you a clue as to what files your system is trying to access but can't.

[mason943]

Thanks for the reply here is what I have tried and the results I have
gotten. Following your advice and some advice from other forums.

First I started in Verbose mode: all seemed well to my novice eyes, however,
uid = 0, there was a line "etc/nologin/private/tmp/etc/rc : cd:
var/spool/lock Directory not found" , and, the last line before switching to
my iconless desktop was starting timed execution services. Could this mean
that I have set up the root incorrectly and it is having trouble finding the
neccesary directories?

Second, I started in Single-user mode and after running the sbin/ fsck -y
command 39 lines of "overlapped extent allocation (file xxxxxxy)" came up
then it took along time for it to "check volume info" then it repaired the
volume. This hasn't seemed to change anything. I have run this a couple of
times and the same result occurs...

Third, I started in safe mode and all was well until the desktop came up. In
other words, same response.

Fourth, I explored the startup items folder and did not see anything that
was modified recently. I also looked for the preference folders and moved
them over to the desktop folder. This did nothing.

Fifth, I looked at the system.log in the var folder. I went back to the
time when I was having problems and I found an interesting thing. Here are some of the lines late in the boot phase.
Feb 15 09:04:36 John-Alex-Masons-Computer SystemStarter: Unable to load localization strings for /System/Library/StartupItems/JavaCleanup
Feb 15 09:04:38 John-Alex-Masons-Computer automount[376]: automount version 26
Feb 15 09:04:40 John-Alex-Masons-Computer xinetd[368]: {init_services} no services. Exiting...
Feb 15 09:04:58 John-Alex-Masons-Computer configd[105]: executing /usr/sbin/DirectoryService
WHo knows? Maybe you who is reading this. Anyhow, that is where I am now, I getting closer to throwing in the towel, but am still hopeful.