Macbook bad software update?
Hi, I've had a Macbook for over a year, and recently I was updating software for it and Quicktime, iTunes, etc and when the update was about 75% done my Mac froze. I shut it down, and when I restarted it it wouldn't go past the grey apple screen. I called apple and they had me reinstall the original software. Now I can get to the login screen but when I click my logo nothing happens. I'm a student and use my Mac almost all day, I NEED it to work! Can someone help??
Comments
Take your Mac to a Genius Bar.
Hi, I've had a Macbook for over a year, and recently I was updating software for it and Quicktime, iTunes, etc and when the update was about 75% done my Mac froze. I shut it down, and when I restarted it it wouldn't go past the grey apple screen. I called apple and they had me reinstall the original software. Now I can get to the login screen but when I click my logo nothing happens. I'm a student and use my Mac almost all day, I NEED it to work! Can someone help??
Sounds like your internal HD may have crashed. If so, it would obviously need to be replaced. Do you have a good backup of your data to reinstall on a new HD?
Take your Mac to a Genius Bar.
Is there a reason you can't do this?
Is there a reason you can't do this?
I don't live near a Genius bar, it would be sort of a commute to get to one but if I have no other options then I would have to. I just want to find out all my other options before making the commute.
P.S. You have implied that you don't keep backups. Get yourself an external HDD now. Everyone should keep backups. HDD failures can and do happen and you usually don't get any warning.
One of the DVDs that came with your machine will have a hardware test on it, probably the first software install disk; the printed guide that came with your Mac will tell you which one. Insert it into the Mac and hold down the "D" key while booting to take you to the hardware test. Let us know how that goes.
P.S. You have implied that you don't keep backups. Get yourself an external HDD now. Everyone should keep backups. HDD failures can and do happen and you usually don't get any warning.
Very good points though I would like to add that external hard drives can fail as well so have an FTP as a third option. Get a domain name and some hosting as many places (GoDaddy, Dreamhost) are fairly reasonable.
Very good points though I would like to add that external hard drives can fail as well
Of course, but the probability of them failing at the same time as your internal drive is very low.
I occasionally burn the important stuff to DVD and then leave it at my mother's house - off-site backup in case of fire etc.
I occasionally burn the important stuff to DVD and then leave it at my mother's house - off-site backup in case of fire etc.
You are aware that burned DVDs will become unreadable in 5 to 10 years max?
I copy/re-burn DVDs when they're 3 years old, and thrash the old ones.
Burned DVDs are useful for medium-term storage only. Not for long-term storage!
You are aware that burned DVDs will become unreadable in 5 to 10 years max?
I'm aware it's possible. I don't think it's guaranteed that a burnt DVD will become unreadable within 10 years though; the RW type is much more likely to fail, write-once should survive better. Anyway, the off-site backup is replaced every few years so it shouldn't be an issue.
I'm aware it's possible.
No, it's hard fact.
I don't think it's guaranteed that a burnt DVD will become unreadable within 10 years though;
I guarantee it 100%!
The problem is that they start failing after FIVE years already! You cannot rely on burned DVDs to remain readable for 10 years! Especially not if it's "the important stuff"...
the RW type is much more likely to fail, write-once should survive better. Anyway, the off-site backup is replaced every few years so it shouldn't be an issue.
To be on the safe side – you talked about "the important stuff", after all – you should burn and store an extra mirror set of those DVDs (and replace them every few years with 'freshly' burned ones).
If you get your install disk and start up holding down the "c" key, once booted you'll be able to run disk utility to check/repair the HDD. If there's nothing wrong with the HDD, try reinstalling the OS.