safe mode

How do I get into safe mode on my computer? I thought I had but I guess not.

Can someone just tell me the key codes, I know what it does and all that I just need to know HOW to get into safe mode.

Usually pressing F8 when you start up will get you to the screen to load in safe mode. Hope this helps

Usually pressing F8 when you start up will get you to the screen to load in safe mode. Hope this helps

thanks I will try that. What I've read and tried is holding down the shift key while loading. I will try the F8 and hopefully it will help.

i HAVE an intel-BASED MAC COMPUTER - I hope that's what you meant as to a "windows" computer.

From: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), do this:

• Be sure your Mac is shut down.
• Press the power button.
• Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
• Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

During startup in Mac OS X v10.4 through Mac OS X v10.6.8, you will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if you normally log in automatically. During startup in Mac OS X v10.2 through v10.3.9, you will see "Safe Boot" on the Mac OS X startup screen.

To leave Safe Mode, restart the computer normally, without holding any keys during startup.

From: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), do this:

• Be sure your Mac is shut down.
• Press the power button.
• Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
• Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

During startup in Mac OS X v10.4 through Mac OS X v10.6.8, you will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if you normally log in automatically. During startup in Mac OS X v10.2 through v10.3.9, you will see "Safe Boot" on the Mac OS X startup screen.

To leave Safe Mode, restart the computer normally, without holding any keys during startup.

Thanks Animal, that's what I thought and thats what I've been doing. however I've never seen "Safe Boot" in my login screen and the shift key during start up is what I used. Does this startup show SAFE BOOT while starting up with the shift key or just regular start up? I'm beyond confused but thanks for verifying my keystrokes have been correct.

What are you attempting to accomplish with SafeBoot?

What are you attempting to accomplish with SafeBoot?

It was recommended to me as part of an ongoing effort to get my Imac computer working again. Right now all I get are the beach ball and endless script errors. I'd like to be able to use my MAC again.

What version OSX are you running and do you have the Install Disk, or Recovery set that came with your mac?

Edit: Saw the other threads

Reboot your mac With your OSX Snow Leopard install disk (Power on insert your snow leopard disk and hold the C key)P. When the installer loads run the Disk Utility and and Select your MAC HDD click on Verify and allow it to run. This should repair any errors in the OSX file system.

What version OSX are you running and do you have the Install Disk, or Recovery set that came with your mac?

Edit: Saw the other threads

Reboot your mac With your OSX Snow Leopard install disk (Power on insert your snow leopard disk and hold the C key)P. When the installer loads run the Disk Utility and and Select your MAC HDD click on Verify and allow it to run. This should repair any errors in the OSX file system.

Thanks - I've already done that twice. It took forever like 10 hours or so each and both times it said repaired but it didn't change anything. It never took that long before and I still don't know why it did and then changed nothing.

I'm running Snow Leopard on my 27 inch Imac

First I am very new to troubleshooting OSX if I suggest something you've tried or something you know won't work forgive me. Have you tried repairing the Disk permissions?

Edit: Have you tried Singe user mode to find the offending script error? To log into single user hold the command key and S during boot. This will bring up a black screen with white writing. Are any errors present?

Edit 3: Still finding all of your threads I am seeing what your original problem is I will post in your first thread from now on

First I am very new to troubleshooting OSX if I suggest something you've tried or something you know won't work forgive me. Have you tried repairing the Disk permissions?

Edit: Have you tried Singe user mode to find the offending script error? To log into single user hold the command key and S during boot. This will bring up a black screen with white writing. Are any errors present?

Edit 3: Still finding all of your threads I am seeing what your original problem is I will post in your first thread from now on

I appreciate your time and suggestions no matter whether I've tried them or not, you have no way of knowing that. I think my trying to fix this for so long without any progress has had me thinking about it so long I figure (wrongly of course) that everyone knows what the whole sordid tale is. Please don't think that i don't appreciate your effort you're very helpful just for trying. Thank you really.

It appears the underlying problem was with google chrome?? Since you have not (that I can see) Erased your original OSX installation by Formatting the Partition with the security option you have not actually Removed any offending 3rd party application or file. This is why disk utility could not repair the disk permissions.


Do you have any time machine backups?

It appears the underlying problem was with google chrome?? Since you have not (that I can see) Erased your original OSX installation by Formatting the Partition with the security option you have not actually Removed any offending 3rd party application or file. This is why disk utility could not repair the disk permissions.


Do you have any time machine backups?

No - I do not have any time machine backups. I tried once but could never get it to function or else the disks I was using weren't acceptible.

I only got that message about Chrome once, the rest of the time it talks about scripts randomly. The one time I was finally able to get on (and thought progress was being made because I managed to download applejack and onyx) there were all sorts of pages/programs that I needed to close out behind the open pages. I tried once to get a screen shot of my activity monitor but was unsuccessful. This has been very difficult because the resources are limited and its been going on so long I'm getting lost and confused myself.

I really have tried to avoid just wiping out my disk because I've lost so many pictures a year ago to intruders stealing both my computers and my pictures with them that to lose more is bothersome. I do have some of my pictures backed up in Dropbox but I ran out of space.

My tech skills vary - I far from a newbie but not all that savvy either. Add to that my frustration/attention deficit problems and its well - what it is.

Thanks for your response.

You can create a back up partition on your current drive and make a back up of your OSX drive before you Wipe the partition I can guide you. How many pictures do you have? Any movies in there? Do you know if your hard disk is Full already?

You can create a back up partition on your current drive and make a back up of your OSX drive before you Wipe the partition I can guide you. How many pictures do you have? Any movies in there? Do you know if your hard disk is Full already?

I have all sorts of room left on my hard drive so space is not an issue - I don't have the exact number but I recall that being the case.
I can't remember how many pictures I have actually because I was in the middle of organizing them and so there are several groups but I'd say 200 or 300 or so in various stages of development.

How would I create the partition? Could I do that in utility? No - I have no movies

I do have probably 100 or so music files.