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My computer is not working. The screen is black, and it won’t boot. I have tried several suggestions but none have worked.
i apologize as I haven’t been able to answer all your comments. The IPad doesn’t post them.
I can’t use my one finger to compose so I’m going hunting to see if I can get my MAC up and running.
Coffee is on a short break. I would have said coffee break but that even made me groan.
Explore posts in the same categories: Just Complaining, Uncategorized
April 1, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Good luck!
April 1, 2016 at 5:20 pm
Thanks, sprite. I hate stubborn machines.
April 1, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Kat …
Here’s an Apple Support link that might help … good luck with the fix.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
What is safe mode?
Safe mode (sometimes called safe boot) is a way to start up your Mac so that it performs certain checks, and prevents some software from automatically loading or opening. Starting your Mac in safe mode does the following:
Verifies your startup disk, and attempts to repair directory issues if needed
Loads only required kernel extensions
Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
Disables user-installed fonts
Deletes font caches, Kernel cache and other system cache files
Together, these changes can help resolve or isolate issues related to your startup disk.
Starting up in safe mode
Follow these steps to start up into safe mode.
Start or restart your Mac.
Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key.
Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
After the Apple logo appears, it might take longer than usual to reach the login screen or your desktop. This is because your Mac performs a directory check of your startup disk as part of safe mode.
To leave safe mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.
If you don’t hear a startup chime after pressing the power key, see what to do if your Mac won’t turn on.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204267
April 1, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Kat …
Here are some possible solutions from the Apple Support site. Good luck.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
What is safe mode?
Safe mode (sometimes called safe boot) is a way to start up your Mac so that it performs certain checks, and prevents some software from automatically loading or opening. Starting your Mac in safe mode does the following:
• Verifies your startup disk, and attempts to repair directory issues if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, Kernel cache and other system cache files
Together, these changes can help resolve or isolate issues related to your startup disk.
Starting up in safe mode
Follow these steps to start up into safe mode.
1. Start or restart your Mac.
2. Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key.
3. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
After the Apple logo appears, it might take longer than usual to reach the login screen or your desktop.
This is because your Mac performs a directory check of your startup disk as part of safe mode.
To leave safe mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.
If you don’t hear a startup chime after pressing the power key, see what to do if your Mac won’t turn on.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204267
April 1, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Kat …
Here are some possible solutions from the Apple Support site. Good luck.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
What is safe mode?
Safe mode (sometimes called safe boot) is a way to start up your Mac so that it performs certain checks, and prevents some software from automatically loading or opening. Starting your Mac in safe mode does the following:
• Verifies your startup disk, and attempts to repair directory issues if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, Kernel cache and other system cache files
Together, these changes can help resolve or isolate issues related to your startup disk.
Starting up in safe mode
Follow these steps to start up into safe mode.
1. Start or restart your Mac.
2. Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key.
3. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
After the Apple logo appears, it might take longer than usual to reach the login screen or your desktop. This is because your Mac performs a directory check of your startup disk as part of safe mode.
To leave safe mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.
If you don’t hear a startup chime after pressing the power key, see what to do if your Mac won’t turn on.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204267
April 1, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Richard,
Thanks for all the trouble you went to for my computer. It and I thank you. I did try to put it in safe mode this morning but it didn’t work. I got the Apple logo then the screen got grey and it looked as if it was loading, but when it got half way, it went back to black again. Overtime I restarted the same thing happened-half loading then stopping. Finally I found a site which told me to hold down three keys and the start up button (I forget the keys but maybe shift, control and command) then let them go at the same time. I did and it started to load. I took a nap.
When I came downstairs, the loading had 10 minutes left and I patiently waited. All of a sudden my background picture appeared and then the dock appeared. That was the first time the dock had loaded through all of this. I knew then all was well. I did my happy dance!!
April 1, 2016 at 6:26 pm
Kat, that finger positioning sounds as if you were indeed ‘Zapping the P-RAM’ … glad everything worked out for you.
April 1, 2016 at 6:29 pm
Thanks, Richard.
I was really thrilled when my background picture appeared and not that stupid logo again. When the dock reappeared, I was thrilled.
I like my MAC but doing all those somersaults to get it back was a pain.
April 1, 2016 at 11:53 pm
Just imagine how much more fun you’d have had if you’d been using a Pee&See instead of a Mac …
April 2, 2016 at 11:14 am
Richard,
I don’t know what a Pee&See is.
April 2, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Kat, a ‘Pee&See’ is just slang for ‘PC’ … a/k/a ‘PeaSea,’ etc …
April 2, 2016 at 12:32 pm
Thanks, Richard!
April 1, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Good luck!
I do hate computer problems!
Christer.
April 1, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Thanks, Christer
My computer is now hale and hearty!
April 1, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Hi Kat,
When my old Mac whitebook did that, I pulled the battery out of it for several minutes. Then I had to hold down that prq something or other finger twister combo on the keyboard until the machine dinged a couple of times. After that it was good.
Hope yours is easy.
April 1, 2016 at 5:14 pm
Hi, Kat …
Here are links to articles for troubleshooting, including zapping the PRAM (parameter RAM) … maybe starting in Safe Mode will let you do the troubleshooting that’ll get it running again.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204267
April 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Hi Richard,
I ended up reinstalling the operating system. That was the suggestion from a couple of sites. It worked. I did my happy dance as everything came back, all my files, music, pictures and even bookmarks. Then I took a nap!!
April 1, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Thanks, Caryn,
I solved the problem by reinstalling the operating system. When I did, everything was where it was supposed to be. I thought I was doomed.
April 1, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Hi Caryn,
I also had to hold down keys, 4 of them and then the operating started to reinstall itself. That’s all it took. I told Gracie but she wasn’t as excited as I was. We re back on line!!!
April 2, 2016 at 10:41 am
That’s the finger twister combo. P-RAM or something. There may be a Command key involved as well. The first time I had to do it, I flashed back to piano lessons and a Chopin etude with a 12 note chord. 🙂
Glad you found the solution.
April 2, 2016 at 11:01 am
Caryn,
I was thrilled to have my computer alive and well. I would have tried to get it fixed and hope for the best.
The finger sprawl worked, but it was the third sprawl I tried.
April 1, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Hi, Kat …
Here are links to articles for troubleshooting, including zapping the PRAM (parameter RAM) … maybe starting in Safe Mode will let you do the troubleshooting that’ll get it running again.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204267
April 1, 2016 at 6:34 pm
Thanks, again, Richard for all the trouble you went to to help!!
April 1, 2016 at 7:52 pm
Your lucky if to just reinstall the OS. A couple of months ago my iMac’s hard drive bit the dust. Luckily I had everything backed up an external drive. I use my iPad much more than my Mac these days but the iMac is the storage hub of our digital life.
April 1, 2016 at 7:55 pm
Bob,
I have everything backed up with Carbonite so I could have replaced everything if I lost the hard drive.
I use my iPad when traveling and when reading in bed. I find the keyboard a bit difficult.
I was so happy to get my MAC back!