MacBook Pro with very Slow Reboot

Ok Friends I need some help. My Macbook Pro 2.33 Intel, 2GB RAM with 43GB free HD takes nine minutes to reboot. I have OS X 10.6.3 installed. Take two minutes to show the background and the icons and 7 minutes to allow me to use any application or file. I tried all of the following:
1. Using the "Run Installation Disk Repair and Repair Permission - No Solution to Problem.
2. Reset NVRAM - No solution to problem
3. Deleted unwanted startup items - No solution to problem
4. Reset System Management Controller - No solution to problem
... any idea ...Thanks

Have you tried downloading something like OnyX to run some maintenance? On top of this, it is very possible that there is a daemon or process running in the background during boot or login that isn't shown in your Login Items. What software have you installed?

vansmith said:

Have you tried downloading something like OnyX to run some maintenance? On top of this, it is very possible that there is a daemon or process running in the background during boot or login that isn't shown in your Login Items. What software have you installed?

Click to expand...

Thanks Vans, I tried with OnyX. Verify HD appears to be OK. Run Maintenance and a deep cleaning, but reboot still taking 9 minutes... any other suggestions?

I'd do a fresh reinstall. Just make sure you have a good back up.

A "nuke and pave" will probably solve the problem, but if you're curious, you could simply examine the system.log files in console to see what's taking so long. Sounds like something important (probably more than one something) is "timing out" during the startup process.

james_b said:

I'd do a fresh reinstall. Just make sure you have a good back up.

Click to expand...

Thanks James, I did a fresh reinstall yesterday. Now reboot takes around 5 Minutes without reinstalling my backup files. It is crazy!!!

chas_m said:

A "nuke and pave" will probably solve the problem, but if you're curious, you could simply examine the system.log files in console to see what's taking so long. Sounds like something important (probably more than one something) is "timing out" during the startup process.

Click to expand...

Thanks Chas - I did a fresh reinstall yesterday, now complete reboot takes 5 minutes. Sorry for my ignorance but where can I see the system.log files? Your help is appreciated.

Dude, thats not good.

How much space do you have left on the hard drive?

Do you have your Apple Hardware Test DVD that should have been shipped with your mac?


A few links to some info.

Tutorial: Resolving slow startup: Speeding up Mac OS X boot time | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews

Easy ways to fix Mac start-up problems | News | TechRadar UK

When you say fresh install, is that a truly fresh install (ie. right after you install OS X and before you do anything with your machine)? If so, something is definitely wrong with this picture. Try running the Apple Hardware Test (instructions here).

james_b said:

Dude, thats not good.

How much space do you have left on the hard drive?

Do you have your Apple Hardware Test DVD that should have been shipped with your mac?


A few links to some info.

Tutorial: Resolving slow startup: Speeding up Mac OS X boot time | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews

Easy ways to fix Mac start-up problems | News | TechRadar UK

Click to expand...

I'm agree with you James, "thats not good". Thanks for the reference links I will verify its.

vansmith said:

When you say fresh install, is that a truly fresh install (ie. right after you install OS X and before you do anything with your machine)? If so, something is definitely wrong with this picture. Try running the Apple Hardware Test (instructions here).

Click to expand...

It was a truly fresh install (No files, applications or other programs installed after the OS X installation). Immediately I boot-up twice taking 9 minutes the complete restart. I did the Apple Hardware Test and everything is OK.

...no idea my friends :-(