Help, Help, machine won't load!!

[newmanm]

Hey guys!

I really did it this time. I was trying to make my mac meet the common security criteria found in a pdf file on apples website. Maybe I was just bored, but now im freaking out because my mac won't start!!!! It just keeps loading after I enter my password (I use filevault). Please help me!!! Applejack did not do the trick. This is what I typed into terminal before this happened:

sudo /bin/launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/
com.apple.systempreferences.installer.plist

Please help me repair my system! Right now all I have is the command + R safari version....

 

[newmanm]

Just to add I cannot get into safe mode by holding down shift at startup.. an extra bar appears below the loading screen like it's going to load but then it vanishes and the system goes into an infinite loop of loading again...

 

[RavingMac]

I'm not going to be a lot of help in this, and I will refrain from berating you for mucking around in Terminal using Sudo without being absolutely certain of what you are doing.

However, to save time for those able to help we need also the following:
1) Your Mac Specs
2) OS version
3) 3rd party software you are running
4) Any other details that might be significant
5) Whether or not you have a current backup

 

[chscag]

Never mess with terminal if you don't know or can anticipate the results and have not made a backup first. And especially if you're using Filevault.

Do you have your original install recovery DVD? (You didn't mention which version of OS X you're running.) You may be faced with having to reinstall OS X.

 

[vansmith]

I'm not sure what unloading that particular launch daemon is supposed to accomplish but it shouldn't affect your boot. Regardless, let's reload it:

sudo /bin/launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.systempreferences.installer.plist

Do that in safe mode and reboot.

As noted (and it bears repeating): don't use commands when you don't know what they do especially when you're elevating your privileges (this is what sudo accomplishes). Simple as that.

 

[newmanm]

Guys, Thank you so much for all your replies. im on pins and needles here. I definitly learned my lesson on this one.

So I tried reloading it, and I could only try this in single user mode. Tnat and the command +r mode is all I can get. I tried booting into safe mode a few times and it just gets stuck in an infinite loop trying to boot. Reloading it did the same thing - and infinite loop...

Im using max os X lion on a macbook pro with the latest firmware update. I do have lots of third party apps, mainly small programs like marsedit, transmit, coda, and a few others. I also have photshope 5 installed. I do not have a backup . My external hardrives are on there way now actually - Im currently in Dominica for carribean med school so it takes about two weeks to ship anything here. My mac is about 3 months old or so.

The problem is it keeps looping. I have applejack but when I run it in singleuser mode it comes back saying everything is fine. I have diskwarrior (not sure how to even use it) and its only on my HD - the disk is being shipped to me as well so its 2 weeks away...

anything that I can do in single user mode, or by changing disk volumes at boot, or maybe in terminal on the utilities dialog (cmd +r mode - not sure its technical name)?

Im crying everytime I have to hard reboot this beauty from getting locked up. All help is very much appreciated and anything you guys want me to provide to you or do, im now 100% by my computer at all times just praying for you guys and and answer.

Thanks so much!!

(ps I leaned my lesson!!!)

 

[newmanm]

Also just saw your question about having a dvd.. I dont have a physical dvd. It just shipped with lion preinstalled

 

[vansmith]

When you reloaded it (make sure the -w switch is there), what happened? Did it load without issue? If so, that unloading wasn't the problem (nor did I think it would be).

Try rebooting in verbose mode (hold Command and V while booting). Since something is going wrong during boot, an error is likely being printed to the screen. If there is one, let us know what it is.

 

[newmanm]

This is what I got in verbose mode:

kernal is lp64 (not error but thought you guys might want to know)

-boot cache control:unable to open /var/db/bootcache.playlist: 2no such file or directory
-kextd unavilable proceed without lock for unknown
-couldnt get description from disk arbitration
***Nstat lookup entry failed 2 (this is the last line it says and then it freezes)


When I did try reloading it, it would freeze in single user mode. I did have the -w switch in there but it did attempt to load it (terminal was busy working so when I pressed buttons weird symbols would come up after I initiated the command, but it frooze ultimately)

 

[newmanm]

Could this have anything to do with a network account server? I think I had recently used this feature (I didnt turn it on but I had clicked on it within the accounts preferences before my last reboot)

 

[newmanm]

Wanted to also include this: its from verbose mode loading in safe mode (shift+command+v)

(lacuncht loaded successfully btw)

com.parallel.kext.prl* (about 4 lines)
last line /dvr/hypioctis.c:777
/oct/vtd status: 0

Then it freezes


How bad are hard reboots on your machine?

Thanks

 

[newmanm]

Some forums point to a parallels + lion relationship issue.. how do i disable parallels (sorry a 3rd party app i forgot to mention) so it wont be involved in loading? Btw, I dont want to deter your ideas - they are definitly a million times more intuitive than mine are - just thinking out loud. Also filevault seems to be talked about as well, but I dont believe this, b.c ive never had a problem with it (plus I love filevault 2)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3320580?start=0&tstart=0

everytime I hard reboot my mbp I die a little inside

 

[RavingMac]

Can you boot into Recovery mode? (Command R during boot)
Apple - OS X Lion Recovery - Introducing Lion Recovery

 

[newmanm]

Yeah, I can get into recovery mode

 

[RavingMac]

Yeah, I can get into recovery mode

You might want to try a reinstall of the OS and see if that fixes it. You should be able to choose to reinstall without erasing which (hopefully) will prevent overwriting your data.
Before you do, I would give our resident gurus a chance to weigh in.

 

[newmanm]

I just finished a reinstall and the result is the same: it freezes up on boot. I checked the verbose safe mode again and still getting the things I told you guys about:

/dvr/hypioctis.c:777
/oct/vtd status: 0


-boot cache control:unable to open /var/db/bootcache.playlist: 2no such file or directory
-kextd unavilable proceed without lock for unknown
-couldnt get description from disk arbitration

any ideas?

took about 5 - 6 hours to reinstall so that's why im a bit late getting back to you guys.


more and more im thinking this might be a parallels issue - I have parallels version 7 installed and did use it before my last reboot (of the session that actually worked) - what do you guys think?

 

[RavingMac]

I have to admit I am out of ideas (I told you upfront I wouldn't be a lot of help) other than two options:

1) Take it to an Apple store if there is one near you
2) Try a clean install (obviously all your data will be toast)

 

[newmanm]

aww was really hoping to try and avoid a complete wipe of y system... anyone know how to deactivate filevault from single user mode?

how about how to uninstall parallels from single user mode?

Thanks