Problems starting up

[NoBadFaith]

I've been away for 2 weeks so I had to pull the plug out of my mac (leopard). I'm back now but every time when I try to start up I get the message: 'You need to restart your cmputer. Hold down the power button for serveral seconds or press the restart button'. I've tried it serveral times now but I keep getting the same message.

Does anyone know how to start it back up again?

Thanks in advance

 

[Sawday]

I have exactly the same problem. I had to turn the power off to my imac this morning due to electrical work. Tonight when turning it on I get the apple on a white screen, then the screen turns dark grey with the message about needing to restart the machine. I've done this five times now but always the same.

 

[ki99]

this is called a kernel panic. i apologize for not having very much information about how to solve them. i know if you re-install os x, it will fix it. but you can probably wait if anyone else has any other suggestions or search the forum for "kernel panic".

 

[chat19]

definition of a kernal panic:

"hey bob, it's getting kind of hot in h--- OH S*** WE ARE IN A PAN!"

 

[Sawday]

Update - I resorted to reinstalling OSX leopard and, fingers crossed, it's back to normal. It's rather worrying though that I do not know what caused the problem and that it might happen again.