OS 10.5 - Terminal has sopped my mac from starting up

lezdavies · lezdavies #1 (**permalink**)

08-29-2009, 01:19 PM

Hi All

A few weeks back I was trying to convert an MSI netbook into a mac. During this process I had to prepare a flash card on another Mac (an iMac). Whilst looking up some support I was instructed to type some code into the terminal - now the iMac will not start at all. The flashing question mark appears.

I tried many times to reboot but had no luck. I managed to get the iMac to work in target mode so I copied over all my files that I needed to keep and I decided to erase the hard drive and reinstall the system software - but still the iMac will not start-up.

I have tried starting the mac holding teh 'c' key down so I can target the hard drive to be the start up drive - didn't work; I zapped the PRAM (many times) - didn't work; I've erased the hard drive (zero'd all data) and reinstalled the system software again - didn't work; I used disk utility and then rebooted - didn't work, and I used the system disk to identify the hard drice and set it as the start-up disk - didn't work.

Am I missing something here - does anyone have any tips they can chuck my way, or is there anything I can do with the terminal (ie look-up what I did and reverse it), or is there a way to reset terminal to factory defaults - I'm not an exert at all with the terminal by the way?

Any help gratefully received!!

BR

Lez

Sur3Mac · Sur3Mac #2 (**permalink**)

08-31-2009, 03:10 PM

Terminal is a very powerful application and not to be messed with unless you know exactly what you're doing.

I have no solution for your problem, but I can tell you, it's unacceptable to be posting anything that has anything to do with converting netbooks to a mac, or Hackintosh.

I would say, if you mess with the bull, you get the horns...

Good luck

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #3 (**permalink**)

08-31-2009, 03:17 PM

without knowing what command you entered... there's no chance of me telling you how to fix it. Best suggestion is to reinstall your OS.

chscag · chscag #4 (**permalink**)

08-31-2009, 04:13 PM

As already said by Dysfunction, without telling us what it is that you entered into terminal, we have no way of knowing how to reverse it. How about posting exactly what you entered?

It's possible although not likely, that whatever you typed in may have messed with the firmware of the machine.

Regards.

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OS 10.5 - Terminal has sopped my mac from starting up

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lezdavies #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 29, 2009 Posts: 1	08-29-2009, 01:19 PM Hi All A few weeks back I was trying to convert an MSI netbook into a mac. During this process I had to prepare a flash card on another Mac (an iMac). Whilst looking up some support I was instructed to type some code into the terminal - now the iMac will not start at all. The flashing question mark appears. I tried many times to reboot but had no luck. I managed to get the iMac to work in target mode so I copied over all my files that I needed to keep and I decided to erase the hard drive and reinstall the system software - but still the iMac will not start-up. I have tried starting the mac holding teh 'c' key down so I can target the hard drive to be the start up drive - didn't work; I zapped the PRAM (many times) - didn't work; I've erased the hard drive (zero'd all data) and reinstalled the system software again - didn't work; I used disk utility and then rebooted - didn't work, and I used the system disk to identify the hard drice and set it as the start-up disk - didn't work. Am I missing something here - does anyone have any tips they can chuck my way, or is there anything I can do with the terminal (ie look-up what I did and reverse it), or is there a way to reset terminal to factory defaults - I'm not an exert at all with the terminal by the way? Any help gratefully received!! BR Lez
	QUOTE Thanks

Sur3Mac #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 03, 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,563 Mac Specs: Late 2011 MBP 13" i5/16GB RAM,Early 2007 MB white 13", 2x TV 3rd Gen, ᣦ	08-31-2009, 03:10 PM Terminal is a very powerful application and not to be messed with unless you know exactly what you're doing. I have no solution for your problem, but I can tell you, it's unacceptable to be posting anything that has anything to do with converting netbooks to a mac, or Hackintosh. I would say, if you mess with the bull, you get the horns... Good luck
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,364 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	08-31-2009, 04:13 PM As already said by Dysfunction, without telling us what it is that you entered into terminal, we have no way of knowing how to reverse it. How about posting exactly what you entered? It's possible although not likely, that whatever you typed in may have messed with the firmware of the machine. Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

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