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Techinfo · Dec 5, 2004, 07:00 PM

I'm hoping someone could yield some suggestions for a solution. My girlfriend's computer is stuck in the Darwin linux mode. She does not get the normal login screen. Every time the computer is rebooted it goes to the linux like black screen and asks for a username and password. Then when logged in it says "Welcome to Darwin." Anyone know how to get back to the regular GUI OS X interface. I thought to have her reinstall OS X, but the CD bay drive doesn't open from the keyboard. Are there any commands to input to open the CD tray in Darwin mode and boot from CD. Someone Please Help!!

wapangy · Dec 5, 2004, 07:10 PM

Restart the computer while holding down the mouse button, then the tray should eject.

Techinfo · Dec 5, 2004, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the tip. I hope it works. If the CD tray does open and the OS X CD is placed on the CD tray, would I need to manually press against the CD try to get it to close or Hold the mouse down again to close the CD tray. Do any another commands need to be inputed to get the computer to begin booting from the CD?

spiky_dog · Dec 5, 2004, 07:50 PM

pressing C usually causes the computer to boot off the cd. to get the drive tray back in just give it a little push

Techinfo · Dec 5, 2004, 08:04 PM

Could have some sort of MAC system update, security update, etc caused the computer to become locked in Darwin linux mode. And if this is the case, is the best way most likely to fix this is to reload OS X. Is my thinking flawed, partial correct, or pretty much right on??? I'm not really a MAC person I'm a Windows guru, I know some things about MAC but nothing like a lot of you on this site. Thanks for the quick tips and helpful suggestions so far.

CharlesS · Dec 5, 2004, 08:14 PM

I doubt very much that the ethernet address has anything to do with your problem.

From what you've described, it sounds like a clean OS install is indeed the way to go. To do this, just boot from the CD and you will enter the installer. At some stage during the installation process, there will be an "Options..." button you can select. Click this, then select Archive and Install. That will give you a clean install of the OS without erasing any existing data on the drive.

spiky_dog · Dec 5, 2004, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
I doubt very much that the ethernet address has anything to do with your problem.

ahha.

note to original poster: MAC is usually used in the context of the MAC address of your ethernet card. Mac is the short form of Macintosh, and Apple, not MAC is the company that makes Macs.

Techinfo · Dec 5, 2004, 09:28 PM

Okay some more trouble shooting here ladies and gentlemen. The CD tray was able to be open by holding down the mouse key while restarting (thanks wapangy). However we can't get the MAC to begin booting and reloading OS X off of the CD. Pressing C was tried while being stuck in Darwin (thanks spiky_dog). I'm thinking there must be some command line(s) to input into the Linux Darwin interface to get the compute to start reading and running from the CD. It seems like the easiest option appears to be reloading the Operating System and then choosing the option that would not erase the current information on the hard-drive. Anyone else have any ideas on how to get the CD to load while being stuck in Darwin?

spiky_dog · Dec 5, 2004, 09:58 PM

pressing C is something that you do as the computer starts up. hold it down right after you hear the startup chime. it won't have any effect once you're booted in Darwin.

Techinfo · Dec 5, 2004, 10:47 PM

Thanks everyone for all the input. The operation was a success. Now we are just updating small things like device drivers and updating the OS X back up to versions 10.2 and 10.3 so on and so on.

Targon · Dec 6, 2004, 12:39 AM

Originally posted by Techinfo:
Thanks everyone for all the input. The operation was a success. Now we are just updating small things like device drivers and updating the OS X back up to versions 10.2 and 10.3 so on and so on.

Remember 1 thing will u.... 'Mac' is an abbreviation of Macintosh !!! It is not an acronym !!!

A Macintosh is a product not a company. The company is Apple !!

IBM in as example of an acronym this is capitalized because it stands for 'International Business Machines'.

I thought a 'PC guru' would be able to distinguish the difference.

Oh yeah, its not a 'Linux' screen either, its a Unix terminal prompt.

Xeo · Dec 6, 2004, 07:17 AM

We, the Mac users of the board, flog you 30 times with a wet noodle for your misuse of our sacred terms. However, we also congratulate you for finding your way here. It's a good place to ask questions just as you did and don't be afraid to ask others. I run to Ars every time I have a PC question.

Angus_D · Dec 6, 2004, 11:48 AM

Darwin is not Linux.

goMac · Dec 6, 2004, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by Techinfo:
Thanks everyone for all the input. The operation was a success. Now we are just updating small things like device drivers and updating the OS X back up to versions 10.2 and 10.3 so on and so on.

You should just be able to install 10.3 without installing all the others.