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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Single User And Flashing ? Issues

sandpears - Sep 12, 2005 - 11:01 pm

My used mac has a flashing ? on startup.

I do not have the Disk Utilities CD (or the OS on CD), and it won't go into Single User Mode.

What could this be... ?

DeltaMac - Sep 12, 2005 - 11:12 pm

what could this be...?
the flashing ? means that your computer can't find the system software to continue booting your computer.

Could be:
1. A damaged/missing file in the system startup software - you need an OS disk to fix this, or a good disk repair utility could help (like Disk Warrior)
2. A failing/failed hard drive - again, good disk repair utility - Disk Warrior is a good one.
It's also very likely that you will need to reinstall the OS, so you should do some searching to see what you can find. You may have a friend who can help you out by borrowing an OS X installer disk, if that's what you may need.

- Dale

sandpears - Sep 13, 2005 - 11:25 am

Thank you Dale,

Things seems to be as you advise. Have you any ideas about the computers inability to go into single user mode?

Regards Alex

DeltaMac - Sep 13, 2005 - 7:15 pm

You will need a partly working system that can boot a little before you can get into single-user mode (it is part of the main operating system, after all)

You'll need reinstall disks to get this to work now...
- Dale