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MacProo · 08:50 PM

Hi There

I recently got the uni body MBP in October or so. ever since then, the start up time has been about 20 seconds.
I've just noticed in the last 2 weeks my startup time is incredibly slow, almost about 5 minutes.

I have reset the PRAM and still nothing, only that the mac doesnt want to start up !! just stuck on the apple logo with circular moving object moving below it

any ideas how i can fix this?

and no, i have not downloaded iWork 09

Thank you

64stang06 · Jan 26, 2009, 10:41 PM

Start up in safe mode if possible, holding Shift as soon as you turn the computer on. After a bit you should see a screen indicating you are starting in safe mode. If that allows you to log in and use the machine, it could be something in the /Library folder causing issues.

MacProo · Jan 26, 2009, 11:07 PM

Holding shift doesnt do anything for me. it simply goes into the apple logo screen with the wheel underneath

do I most likely have to go to the genius bar at apple?

64stang06 · Jan 26, 2009, 11:15 PM

Not at all. Have you recently installed anything that may have caused this? Also, when you hold shift down, are you holding it down for awhile or just for a second? Safe Boot always takes longer so you have to continue holding it until you get to the login screen (at least that's what I do). Do have a recent backup of your data? Any third party RAM installed?

MacProo · Jan 26, 2009, 11:22 PM

I was holding the button for at least 30 seconds
I have not downloaded anything in the last month, only school work which is mainly word files
Backup up- not really, once this gets fixed im going to start using time machine on this computer
No additional RAM has been installed

64stang06 · Jan 26, 2009, 11:33 PM

Do you have access to your install discs? I would recommend an Archive and Install to see if the machine will recover from that. HOWEVER, since you don't really have a current backup, it's very crucial that you follow the steps outlined here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1545

Summary

When you're ready to install Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5 or later, you may notice that you have several installation options available to you while started from the Install disc. If you prefer not to custom install, simply install the software using the default installation.

If you'd like to see your choices, click the Options button that appears when choosing an installation destination. A dialog sheet appears and presents you with several installation choices, listed below. Here's what each type of installation provides.

The bolded part is important.

MacProo · Jan 26, 2009, 11:37 PM

I dont have the disc on hand, i will have it on saturday
I guess i will wait until then and then proceed with the link.

If it doesnt work, i will go to the genius bar, unless there are solutions without the cd at least for now

64stang06 · Jan 26, 2009, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by MacProo

I dont have the disc on hand, i will have it on saturday
I guess i will wait until then and then proceed with the link.

If it doesnt work, i will go to the genius bar, unless there are solutions without the cd at least for now

Going to the Genius Bar isn't a bad idea; however, if you go in with no backup and they have to erase the drive, you'll be out of luck. Some stores will attempt a backup at no charge depending on the case, but a lot will follow procedure and charge you a fee for it (and AppleCare doesn't cover data backups). Do you have another Mac, and do both machines have FireWire 400? If so, and you have a cable, you can do Target Disk Mode to attempt to bring your data onto the working Mac so that you have a backup of the data.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

MacProo · Jan 26, 2009, 11:59 PM

sounds great
i have about 5 other macs at home

MacProo · Jan 27, 2009, 12:00 AM

sounds great
i have about 5 other macs at home

64stang06 · Jan 27, 2009, 12:01 AM

Just trying to give alternatives so you don't lose data

dowNNshift · Jan 27, 2009, 05:50 PM

If its stuck in Kernel (what the spinning gear is called) then it's trying to repair directory damage.

Be patient with it, if it's still stuck, you'll need to run Disk Utility from your install disc to repair the directory and permissions. This can happen from hard shut downs or random shut downs.

MacProo · Jan 27, 2009, 08:21 PM

Yes, the wheel is constantly spinning

so you are saying that i will need to simply get the MBP disc and repair the disk?

64stang06 · Jan 27, 2009, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by MacProo

Yes, the wheel is constantly spinning

so you are saying that i will need to simply get the MBP disc and repair the disk?

Or use Target Disk Mode and repair the disk using Disk Utility.

MacProo · Jan 27, 2009, 10:13 PM

Im assuming i will need a firewire 800 cable to use Target Disk Mode rather than 400 or usb?

Laminar · Jan 27, 2009, 11:32 PM

Target Disk Mode works with a Firewire 400 cable. It looks like your hard drive might be going bad - this exact same thing happened to both my sister and dad's MacBooks - they'd just hang on startup. My sister was able to get most of her data, but my dad lost everything. I hope you're able to get your data off. People, THIS IS WHY YOU ALWAYS BACKUP.

MacProo · Jan 27, 2009, 11:36 PM

Haha, I've learnt my lesson with the MBP

my MP is completely backed up

dowNNshift · Jan 28, 2009, 01:11 AM

As mentioned above, for Target Drive it does not matter, Firewire is Firewire. You seem like a neophyte when it comes to this, so keep it simple and just use your Disc 1 restore DVD or Leopard Install DVD disc to run Disk Utility.

Once the installer loads, choose your language, then select Disk Util from the Utilities menu at the top of the screen. Run the tools... It'll fix your problem. To fix the boot volume you cannot be running from it, which is why you have to boot to a known good DVD or external volume. If you lost your restore discs, buy a replacement retail Leopard disc. While you're in Disk Util, check your drives SMART status. If it's verified than your physical HDD is copacetic.

If you're still having issues, it'd be worth paying a diagnostic to let a certified technician give it a once over. We're pretty skilled at spotting the symptoms and we'll run a specialized diagnostic to isolate the issue.

bigjarom · Jan 30, 2009, 11:20 PM

I have a 20" G5 iMac iSight that has also not been getting past the gray apple logo screen.

I went through the above mentioned disk utility and got the following output:

Verify and repair disk "computer"
Checking HFS Plus volume
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid catalog record type
volume check failed

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit

1 HFS volume checked

1 volume could not be repaired because of an error

So does anyone know if there's anything I can do?
At this point I see a partial file recovery as a best case scenario. Am I being too optimistic?

Thanks

AKcrab · Jan 31, 2009, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by bigjarom

So does anyone know if there's anything I can do?
At this point I see a partial file recovery as a best case scenario. Am I being too optimistic?

Disk Warrior

mkerr64 · 01:00 AM

Originally, i had some very odd sounds coming from the cd drive,
nothing physical, but random od beeps

After that it worked, I verified the disk and i permissions which have been complete, with no errors.
However, im still getting the gear wheel

MacProo · Jan 31, 2009, 02:56 PM

just to let you know MacProo and mkerr64 are the same people. just used on different computers

ctw · Jan 31, 2009, 04:24 PM

Don't know if you have any USB devices attached, but if so, disconnect them and restart in verbose mode (Command + v).

Be sure to disconnect USB items first. After you restart in verbose mode, restart again in regular mode and see if the slow restart problem persists. If not, reconnect any USB items and you may be good to go.

If the slow restart still persists, restart in verbose mode again, connect your USB devices, and restart in regular mode.

Good luck.

MacProo · 04:42 PM

after doing the verbose mode, i got an error

"
disk0s2 I/O error
0 [level 3] [readerUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [ErrNo 5] [IO read] [PBlkNum 2883944] [LBlkNum 0] [FS etc.........."

repeating 6 times

I restarted and im still getting the gear wheel.

thank you for offering your help (all of you)

Doc HM · Jan 31, 2009, 05:00 PM

Your disc is on the way out.

Get backed up and get a new one in there. It should be done under warranty, so your best bet is to back up and let apple sort you out, return home and restore via time machine.

MacProo · 06:07 PM

?How do i back up if i cannot even run OS X? target disc mode?

I have plenty of external HD's that i can use

One other question:
I put this special Zagg protection on the MBP which cost me almost $70, took me almost 2 hours to put on and cannot be removed
Can they gut it out and put new internal hardware?

Doing the hardware extended test i got an error

"Alert! Apple Hardware Test has detected an error

4HDD/11/40000004: SATA (0,0)"

Spheric Harlot · Jan 31, 2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by MacProo

One other question:
I put this special Zagg protection on the MBP which cost me almost $70, took me almost 2 hours to put on and cannot be removed
Can they gut it out and put new internal hardware?

Of course - if the screwholes are open.

MacProo · 06:26 PM

great, they are exposed

How do i back up since its a HD failure?

Spheric Harlot · Jan 31, 2009, 06:36 PM

You don't.

You use the backup from before the hardware failed.

The only - remote - possibility you have is to boot your machine into Target Disk Mode (turn it on holding down the "T" key) - if you can - and hook it up to another machine via Firewire, and to try pulling at least some data off it:

Absolutely start with the most vital stuff first, because if it's dying, it's going to get worse the longer you use it.

Don't use it for anything except rescuing data.

mkerr64 · Feb 1, 2009, 12:03 AM

backing up worked perfectly fine, was able to transfer everything on an external

Looks like i'll be going to apple

Thanks for your help!!