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elrah · Nov 16, 2008, 01:40 AM

Grey screen apple logo spinning icon and then computer switches off.

possible cause of events...

I was running XP from my bootcamp partition. (I have the partition at 32GB and use MacDrive to share files between the partitions). I was in the process of installing some windows software onto a the mac side when I suffered a blue screen of death and instant restart. Now I cannot boot into OS X! I can still boot in XP though, but not access my mac files using MacDrive...

I have booted it up off the install disk, but the option to repair Macintosh HD is greyed out. I can't boot into single user mode. What happens is I get to the grey screen and thats it.

I CAN access my files using firewire target disk mode using my old computer.

What can I do?Will any software like DiskWarrior help me here or am stuffed?

Really annoyingly this weekend I'm meant to be working on a project that i already slightly late.

Please help

Big Mac · Nov 16, 2008, 02:01 AM

It sounds like the Windows crash somehow screwed with the Mac partition. I don't know if Disk Warrior can help, although it certainly couldn't hurt at this point. If I had to handle it, I'd backup and then reformat the drive.

CharlesS · Nov 16, 2008, 03:12 AM

Here's my take:

DiskWarrior might be able to solve your problem, but it might take a while to run.

Reformatting and reinstalling will take a bunch of time, but it will solve your problem.

If you're in a pinch for time, I'd go for the reformat and reinstall. It will take a bunch of time to do the backup and restore, but at least the amount of time is a known quantity. And while the install is going on, you can work on the outline of your paper (using a pen or pencil, of course).

elrah · Nov 16, 2008, 03:14 AM

Thanks, Big Mac

Yeah, I was thinking reformating would be a possibility. I'm glad I can still access the files, because ...ahem... I do not keep regular backups >.< (going to buy external Hd for Time Machine, unless anyone else recommends better backup software today, because this incident gave me the chills!)

What is the quickest way of getting back to productivity? Am I able to make an archive installation from my backup? Or is that inadvisable.

Damn, will have to reinstall Windows as well, it is going to be a long Sunday...

elrah · Nov 16, 2008, 03:23 AM

Thanks as well CharlesS

I didn't see your reply as I was composing my post.

I think I will proceed with the reformatting. As you say, it is a known quantity.

Spheric Harlot · Nov 16, 2008, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by elrah

I was in the process of installing some windows software onto a the mac side

What?

100:1 this action completely boogered your Mac partition's file system.

It's one thing to use MacDrive to access your data. It's quite another to *install* software onto a filesystem with a file structure that has nothing whatsoever in common with what the software installer assumes is there.

I doubt that DiskWarrior can help you here.

Use target disk mode to back up any data you haven't backed up yet.

Then boot from the Mac OS X install disk and erase the Mac partition and completely reinstall your system, restoring your data from your backup.

Big Mac · Nov 16, 2008, 04:47 AM

SH brings up a great point - I didn't key into that detail about having MacDrive installed and trying to install Windows software on the Mac partition. Ouch.

Knowing that, the best thing to do is definitely to reformat, elrah. I wouldn't trust the existing filesystem even if Disk Warrior could get it back in some sort of functional order.

elrah · Nov 16, 2008, 07:20 AM

Good point. I had been using it without any problems until now. I have my Steam games installed on the Mac partition and was installing the Left 4 Dead demo. I guess its not such a good idea., but 32GB quickly runs out of room when games are involved

When I reinstall the system software, is it correct that I only touch the Mac partition, I can leave the Windows alone? That would be one less thing to worry about.

jay3ld · Nov 16, 2008, 07:23 AM

Well if you haven't reformatted yet.
You can boot into verbose mode (Apple+v on when you start up).
This helped me determine what was causing my macbook to not boot the other day.

CharlesS · Nov 16, 2008, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by elrah

Good point. I had been using it without any problems until now. I have my Steam games installed on the Mac partition and was installing the Left 4 Dead demo. I guess its not such a good idea., but 32GB quickly runs out of room when games are involved

When I reinstall the system software, is it correct that I only touch the Mac partition, I can leave the Windows alone? That would be one less thing to worry about.

Yes, you can erase just the Mac partition, and then install on that partition. Any other partitions will be unaffected.