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HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 05:51 PM

Why am I getting this message all of a sudden??? This is what happened.

I downloaded Monolingual to remove some language files that I didn't need...saved over a Gig of space. I DID NOT...I repeat, I DID NOT remove ANY English language files. I also removed some Asion Keyboard Layouts...and that was IT. All was fine. I double, triple and quadruple checked to make sure I did not touch ANYTHING that said English on it.

I then proceeded to login to my VerizonWIreless account (this is after I did the above) to look at my account. Again, all was fine. Then, the next thing I know, I am unable to type anything. I can move my mouse around but I am unable to type anything. I fugred that maybe I just needed to restart or something, and then I restart. I then get a screen saying "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for several seconds or press the restart button." then it has the same message listed in French, German, and what I think is Chinese. In the background, it's grey and has a big huge power button symbol.

I dunno why this happened all of a sudden...I didn't remove any English language files at all...this is the first time something like this has happened..I am new to Macs and have no idea what to do.......I am typing this on my PC

FYI, I have a Mac Mini running OS 10.4.4, 512 RAM, 40GB hd, 1.33 Ghz PPC........help!

By the way, everytime I restart it, it gives me the same message.

bradoesch · Jan 27, 2006, 05:55 PM

You've just had your first kernel panic. It's similar to the Blue Screen of Death in Winders. Here's some info from Apple about kernel panics:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106227

Tomchu · Jan 27, 2006, 06:01 PM

The not-being-able-to-type-anything happened to me when I removed a bunch of keyboard layouts on my girlfriend's sister's iBook G4. Logging out and logging back in fixed the problem. I'm assuming it's just Finder re-initializing the list of available keyboard layouts when you log in.

As for the kernel panic ... that should definitely not be happening. Do you have any software installed that was not in English?

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 06:15 PM

no i didn't....i had all regular software...nothing actually written in foreign languages....kernal panick? i dunno what that is but i guess i will have to fix it....thanks for the info, brad....i'm scared! am i gonna lose all my stuff? and whats a kernel anyway?

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 06:18 PM

just looked at the link...thats exactly what i had! How do I fix this??

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2006, 06:30 PM

You deleted something that apparently should not have been deleted.

Reinstall the operating system with an Archive & Install with reimporting of users and settings

(and since you're reinstalling, you can customize your install and not install languages you don't need and not install printer drivers you don't need – the latter save a lot of space, just keep GIMP printer drivers since it's a kind of generic fall-back for most printers and relatively small).

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 07:00 PM

as per the instructions, i put the install disk in there, but when i restart eh computer i still get the error message...how do i make it boot fromt he cd???

Chuckit · Jan 27, 2006, 07:13 PM

Hold down C.

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 07:29 PM

thanks a lot! that worked...but now i got another problem...it asked me to choose a destination or something but then it didn't give me any choices! I dunno why it did that.....

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2006, 07:34 PM

The Installer has a Utilities menu. Select Disk Utility and "Repair" the internal disk until it says it is OK. Then quit Disk Utility and proceed with the Archive & Install.

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 07:42 PM

i proceeded to do this and i got a message saying "invalid volume header" and then it continued anyway with the repair....then it said that the repair was successful, so I restarted, but got the same error when I tried to proceed with the archive and install. when it asked forf a volume location, no option was given to choose anything.

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2006, 07:50 PM

You have a more serious problem with your disk then. You can try to Repair several times in the hope it will eventually fix it (sometimes it does). If not you can purchase another, more capable disk repair software (someone else needs to make a suggestion here) and try whether that can fix the disk.

Alternatively you can just freshly format your disk with Disk Utility. Of course this will delete all your data. So you might first want to try to recover your data from the disk (like booting in Firewire target disk mode, connecting to another Mac via Firewire and copying your data to that other Mac).

goofticket · Jan 27, 2006, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by HazelGirl

i proceeded to do this and i got a message saying "invalid volume header" and then it continued anyway with the repair....then it said that the repair was successful, so I restarted, but got the same error when I tried to proceed with the archive and install. when it asked forf a volume location, no option was given to choose anything.

The software you used may have inadvertently removed some Core files.
If you can backup data, do it and I would suggest to do a complete restore from the original DVD's.
Have you tried booting fro the DVDs to do a disk repair that way?

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 08:29 PM

well i repaired the disk a few times and i didnt see an "invalid volume".....so I am restarting again to see if it will work now. If not, I will have to call up APpleCare, using up my one free phone call.......and then if they still can't help me i may need to give up the 99 bucks for the full applecare....I don't have any other Macs...I just have a PC desktop and a PC laptop...I don't have any firewire stuff either...no external drives...and money is not good right now either so technically i cannot even afford the apple care right now.....well, at least this ahppened ont eh weekend and not during the weekday when I am working on stuff.

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 08:32 PM

well, when i restarted, it gave me an invalid volume header again...sigh..it wont let me do anything...i cannot even get to where it says to choose an instalation method because it won't let me choose a destination volume! guess i have to pull my hair out and deal with applecare.

Edit: Oooh, I got three stars. I'm a senior now...WOO HOO! Now, back to work...grrr I don't want to be stuck using the PC this weekend, as I have things to do that are easier on a Mac....grrrr

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 08:34 PM

It won't let me even choose an installation method....I can't do anything...I can't back up anythign either.

All is lost.

TETENAL · Jan 27, 2006, 08:45 PM

One question: When you say it doesn't let you choose where to install, did you change the installation method to "Archive & Install" beforehand? Because the default installation type is an "update" and since the DVD is an older version than what is on the hard disk, it can't update a newer version. So make sure you changed to the "Archive & Install" option.

baw · Jan 27, 2006, 08:50 PM

Funny thing, ever since using OS X since public beta, I've only encountered 3 kernel panics. Weird.

HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 10:41 PM

It will not let me change the installation type...i can't even get to that point....I insert the disk, it tells me a language to pick..i pick english, then it gives me the terms and conditions I have to agree to...so I agree, and then it asks me to "pick a volume destination" only there is no choice....nothing to select. Just an empty white square. This is after running the repair utility and me being told that everything is hunky dory.

HazelGirl · 11:15 PM

[IMG]

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HazelGirl · Jan 27, 2006, 11:50 PM

i was getting the above message when i tried to use the install disk...i was able to eject the disk by holding down the mouse button...no other command would work for some reason (space bar??) anyway, i did that and restarted and then got this screen....

[IMG]

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I keep restarting and holding down command v and i tried a few other commands after the chime but still i would get this screen. I guess i relaly do have to bring it intot he store or whatever....

kick52 · Jan 28, 2006, 12:15 PM

tell us when you get it fixed, or update us.

Edit: Try this: Boot off the CD, and in one of the menus (i think its installer), there should be the item "Startup Disk". Go on to that. What can you see? Can you see your hard disk?

HazelGirl · Jan 28, 2006, 12:31 PM

yes, I can see the hard disk when I do that......and I try to repair it, and although it then says its okay, I get the same errors...that is, I am unable to choose a volume location. I am going to take it over to the Apple Store today.

baw · Jan 28, 2006, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by baw

Funny thing, ever since using OS X since public beta, I've only encountered 3 kernel panics. Weird.

Haha, and I got a kernel panic today on my new Intel iMac. I unplugged the keyboard and BAM! panic. So I plugged and unplugged the keyboard from my Mac Mini, BAM! kernel panic.

HazelGirl · Jan 28, 2006, 07:13 PM

i took it to the store and they erased everything and then reinstalled the OS....I didnt know I could erase everything and then reinstall......i thought I would have to make it recognize the hd before i could do anything like that....

But anyway, after that, it started up normally. Then I asked a tech guy if he coudl check to see if there was a way in Preview to make it DEFAULT to a larger font size when it opens a pdf file instead of me having to manually change it every time. He said he'd take a look at it...then disappeared......so I am waiting and waiting thinking this guy is coming back, but he doesn't so i ask soemone else, who was clueless about it.....so I'll just keep using Adobe, which automatically opens stuff so that I can actually read it.....

Anyway,initial problem is done and hopefully won't happen again. Now I get to re add all my pics and documents to it and re network it with my PC. Oh joy.

TETENAL · Jan 28, 2006, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by HazelGirl

I didnt know I could erase everything and then reinstall......

Previously in the thread I said:

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Alternatively you can just freshly format your disk with Disk Utility. Of course this will delete all your data.

I thought you were not doing this because you still have important data on your disk.

Chuckit · Jan 28, 2006, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by HazelGirl

Then I asked a tech guy if he coudl check to see if there was a way in Preview to make it DEFAULT to a larger font size when it opens a pdf file instead of me having to manually change it every time. He said he'd take a look at it...then disappeared......so I am waiting and waiting thinking this guy is coming back, but he doesn't so i ask soemone else, who was clueless about it.....so I'll just keep using Adobe, which automatically opens stuff so that I can actually read it.....

In Preview's PDF preferences, there's a setting for "Default document scale." I think that's what you're looking for.

Cadaver · Jan 28, 2006, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Previously in the thread I said:

I thought you were not doing this because you still have important data on your disk.

Guess we'll find out when she does to open a document...
Maybe the Apple guys were kind enough to move her documents on to a DVD or a second HD and restore them for her.

olePigeon · Jan 28, 2006, 08:08 PM

I was about to suggest Target Disk her iMac to another Mac and grab her files off of it.

Hope she didn't lose anything.