My Macbook won't start

1167 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by i-rui, Jul 19, 2010

bekky

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2010

The other day, I went to turn on my macbook. It made the starting sound, but it won't go past the loading screen with the apple symbol. It will stay like that for hours if I let it. To turn it off when it overheats, I have to hold the power button. It won't even go to sleep when I close it.

My mac has a Microsoft side programmed onto it so that, when I hear the start-up sound, I hold down the option button and I can choose between Mac or Windows. The windows side works, but not the mac.

I don't know what's wrong. What do I do?

Also, there's no mac dealer or technician in my city.

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eMacMan

· #2 · Jul 18, 2010

Try inserting and booting from the disk that came with the MacBook.

Besides the installer there is a normal menu bar at the top of the screen. Look through the menus and find the item that allows you to select a start-up disc and select the normal Mac HD. This will re-bless your system, that is tell the computer where to find the information it needs to boot correctly.

Does not always work but is worth trying before going onto more drastic measures.

If that fails it is time to buy a copy of Alsoft's Disk Warrior.

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MacGenius24

· #3 · Jul 18, 2010

If windows is working, then that means the File Directory for OS X is corrupted. If you have everything backed-up, Re-install OS X.

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bekky

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 18, 2010

Are there any other options? Not everything is backed up.

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MacGenius24

· #5 · Jul 18, 2010

bekky said:
Are there any other options? Not everything is backed up.

Try going into windows and download this: Mediafour | MacDrive

This should allow you to see your Mac OS X Partition. You should be able to back up all files. I believe the software is a trial, but it will allow you to take important files. Then Format your OS X Partition and re-install.

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kramer15

· #6 · Jul 18, 2010

MacGenius24 said:
Try going into windows and download this: Mediafour | MacDrive

If you have Snow Leopard the drivers to read your osx drive is included.

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i-rui

· #7 · Jul 19, 2010

MacGenius24 said:
Try going into windows and download this: Mediafour | MacDrive

This should allow you to see your Mac OS X Partition. You should be able to back up all files. I believe the software is a trial, but it will allow you to take important files. Then Format your OS X Partition and re-install.

I don't think she needs to do all that.

Simply start up from the original install DVD (or a newer snow leopard install dvd) by holding down 'C' on start up (or holding the option key should also let you select the dvd as the start up volume).

Then when it's started up via the dvd back up the data to an external hard drive.

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