Hey y'all, I'm new to this forum so excuse me for not knowing the customs around here...
But I've been using my roommates laptop looking for solutions for the past several days, and I haven't found anything. I'm on a limited budget, so I'm more inclined to fix this issue myself then to spend $$$ sending it in.
Anyway, my issue:
My MacBook Pro (Running Snow Leopard 10.6) "Crashed" so to speak. I was using Firefox when the it shutdown unexpectedly. After that, it would crash everytime I tried opening it. Shortly after, my computer froze, so I manually shut it down. Upon booting it, the process took at least 5 minutes. Folder Icons no longer appear, and most applications won't open. It takes FOREVER to do the simplest task. Whenever I try to open the "Applications" folder on my dock, the dock disappears for a few seconds (and the folder doesn't open). Finder doesn't even open half the time. In other words, everything [is a mess].
Booting to Safe Mode is just as faulty, although it does run slightly better. Still, it's a 50/50 chance that anything will open.
I've tried booting to the OSX Installation Disc and repairing permissions etc from Utilities.. but nothing works.
I'm an idiot, and haven't backed up my files previously.
My question is:
If I were to buy an external USB harddrive, what is the process of backing up my files to the Ext. HD without being able to use my desktop?
My plan of action is to somehow back all my files up onto the external HD, erase my laptop's harddrive, and then reinstall Snow Leopard and see where that gets me. At least then I could access my old files on the external HD.
Any and all help is appreciated! You will seriously save me so much $$$ if you help me develop a better game plan. I've scoured Google and various forums looking for an answer, but it seems everyone has a slightly different issue with their MacBook, so I can't find a solution for my specific issue.
THANK YOU!
;D
But I've been using my roommates laptop looking for solutions for the past several days, and I haven't found anything. I'm on a limited budget, so I'm more inclined to fix this issue myself then to spend $$$ sending it in.
Anyway, my issue:
My MacBook Pro (Running Snow Leopard 10.6) "Crashed" so to speak. I was using Firefox when the it shutdown unexpectedly. After that, it would crash everytime I tried opening it. Shortly after, my computer froze, so I manually shut it down. Upon booting it, the process took at least 5 minutes. Folder Icons no longer appear, and most applications won't open. It takes FOREVER to do the simplest task. Whenever I try to open the "Applications" folder on my dock, the dock disappears for a few seconds (and the folder doesn't open). Finder doesn't even open half the time. In other words, everything [is a mess].
Booting to Safe Mode is just as faulty, although it does run slightly better. Still, it's a 50/50 chance that anything will open.
I've tried booting to the OSX Installation Disc and repairing permissions etc from Utilities.. but nothing works.
I'm an idiot, and haven't backed up my files previously.
My question is:
If I were to buy an external USB harddrive, what is the process of backing up my files to the Ext. HD without being able to use my desktop?
My plan of action is to somehow back all my files up onto the external HD, erase my laptop's harddrive, and then reinstall Snow Leopard and see where that gets me. At least then I could access my old files on the external HD.
Any and all help is appreciated! You will seriously save me so much $$$ if you help me develop a better game plan. I've scoured Google and various forums looking for an answer, but it seems everyone has a slightly different issue with their MacBook, so I can't find a solution for my specific issue.
THANK YOU!
;D