indigo6
asked on
OS X 10.6.8 Blue Screen, no Login Items
Hello,
I have a 2011 iMac with OS X 10.6.8 and it is not displaying the login screen. It POSTs, but I get the second blue screen (with the cursor) and it hangs there. I can use safe boot to login however. I have had this happen once before, but it was a third party startup item. Now, there are no login items, and the startup items folder is empty. I'm a bit stumped. Could it be a kext? A font? Some other extension? I've been poring through the console logs but have yet to come up with anything. Any help is greatly appreciated!
I have a 2011 iMac with OS X 10.6.8 and it is not displaying the login screen. It POSTs, but I get the second blue screen (with the cursor) and it hangs there. I can use safe boot to login however. I have had this happen once before, but it was a third party startup item. Now, there are no login items, and the startup items folder is empty. I'm a bit stumped. Could it be a kext? A font? Some other extension? I've been poring through the console logs but have yet to come up with anything. Any help is greatly appreciated!
SOLUTION
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There's an application on OSX called Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder inside Applications
Open that to see what processes and apps are hogging memory or cpu.
Also look in the Console app to see the LOGS for all apps which might show something
Open that to see what processes and apps are hogging memory or cpu.
Also look in the Console app to see the LOGS for all apps which might show something
ASKER
The activity monitor doesn't provide much help since sometimes I cannot even get logged on. The Logon window just sits there with the barber pole. Also, I've pored through the logs in the console and nothing stands out. Let me elaborate on what happens with the computer once the network is in use. All goes well for about 3 minutes and then the computer starts to lag a bit. Then, I cannot launch anything at all. Finder windows do not open, when I click on a dock icon, it bounces for a few minutes and then stops, like it gives up on launching, all applications do this. I also cannot open the force quit menu. The cursor moves fine, and when I mouse over something, the label shows, but clicking does nothing.
I may be headed in the Archive and Install direction. I'm reluctant to since the machine has Adobe apps and Final Cut Pro, but no install discs to be found.
I may be headed in the Archive and Install direction. I'm reluctant to since the machine has Adobe apps and Final Cut Pro, but no install discs to be found.
Sorry but it does sound like something is amiss with the system alright.
I'd agree that the simplest option is to re-install the core system. OSX 10.6 DOES NOT have an Archive & Install option (that ended in OSX 10.5) but do not panic. There is just one install which is close to the old archive and install. It reinstalls 10.6 over the current system and only archives a few things that the system thinks are incompatible.
If you boot from the 10.6 DVD you might want to backup/clone the HD to an external drive before you run the installer just to be 100% safe. Seeing as the computer keeps freezing you may want to disable the network to leave the system stable and run carbon copy cloner to backup alternatively you will have to create an alternate boot system. To do this you'll need to install OSX on a USB drive and also put a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner... then boot from the USB drive and clone the HD to a 2nd Hard Drive .. it does mean you need 2 USB HDs but would be the most secure solution.
IF you have a 2nd Mac and suitable firewire cable you could put the sick mac into Target Disk mode and back it up using the other Mac.
I'd agree that the simplest option is to re-install the core system. OSX 10.6 DOES NOT have an Archive & Install option (that ended in OSX 10.5) but do not panic. There is just one install which is close to the old archive and install. It reinstalls 10.6 over the current system and only archives a few things that the system thinks are incompatible.
If you boot from the 10.6 DVD you might want to backup/clone the HD to an external drive before you run the installer just to be 100% safe. Seeing as the computer keeps freezing you may want to disable the network to leave the system stable and run carbon copy cloner to backup alternatively you will have to create an alternate boot system. To do this you'll need to install OSX on a USB drive and also put a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner... then boot from the USB drive and clone the HD to a 2nd Hard Drive .. it does mean you need 2 USB HDs but would be the most secure solution.
IF you have a 2nd Mac and suitable firewire cable you could put the sick mac into Target Disk mode and back it up using the other Mac.
ASKER
Ok, I did the AHT, and it all came back clean. I also did the in place "archive and install" and it worked fine for a bit! I installed the 10.6.8 combo update, and now it does the same thing.
ASKER
eoinosullivan, I've also looked through Lingon. What should I be looking at disabling?
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ASKER
The other solution did not work in this case, deleting the two plists is what solved it.
ASKER