Unutterably Silly So what are you doing RIGHT NOW?

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'm about to have to sit down (probably tomorrow) and figure out why my iMac running Leopard is refusing to boot (locking up, either at the Apple screen, or just after fully booting - keyboard and mouse locked up) every second time. I wish I knew more about OS X right about now. XP I know enough to find cause and resolve; OS X I don't quite know where to start, so I've some learnin' to do.

Cheers,
Marc

You don't have an iPod or similar plugged into the Mac, do you?

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'm about to have to sit down (probably tomorrow) and figure out why my iMac running Leopard is refusing to boot (locking up, either at the Apple screen, or just after fully booting - keyboard and mouse locked up) every second time. I wish I knew more about OS X right about now. XP I know enough to find cause and resolve; OS X I don't quite know where to start, so I've some learnin' to do.

"Every second time" sounds suspiciously like hardware. You might want to run fsck on the disk.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

You don't have an iPod or similar plugged into the Mac, do you?

No, not while booting. I do plug my iPod Touch in periodically, of course, but mostly it sits in the charger downstairs. There are some Bose speakers plugged into the it, and have been for a while prior to the upset, and there are also a scanner and a printer, and two external hard drives, but none of them are switched on). I suspect software (I'm wondering if Vuescan, recently installed, put some kind of tie into the boot process that is hiccuping, especially seeing as the scanner is not on).

I'll probably be learning a lot tomorow, when I go googling. I fear I'll also be reinstalling OS X, even though the problem is more nuisance than anything something that stops me actually using it (as I am now). ~sigh~

Cheers,
Marc

[nekokami]

It is unlikely that you'll need to reinstall the OS, nor would that probably help unless you reformat the hard drive first.

[Wetdogeared]

I'm not listening to fiddle practise because one of the musicians in the family got one of these.

Very pricey, plus we had to get all the attachments (good quality headphones, amplifier for when we want to hear, and to amp up the volume to the headphones since the earphones didn't go loud enough. plus other bits and bobs, etc....)

Me and the dog just love it. I can be on MR and the screeching can barely be heard. Well worth the investment!

It even has an SD card slot!

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

No, not while booting. I do plug my iPod Touch in periodically, of course, but mostly it sits in the charger downstairs. There are some Bose speakers plugged into the it, and have been for a while prior to the upset, and there are also a scanner and a printer, and two external hard drives, but none of them are switched on). I suspect software (I'm wondering if Vuescan, recently installed, put some kind of tie into the boot process that is hiccuping, especially seeing as the scanner is not on).

I'll probably be learning a lot tomorow, when I go googling. I fear I'll also be reinstalling OS X, even though the problem is more nuisance than anything something that stops me actually using it (as I am now). ~sigh~

Cheers,
Marc

Had you installed the scanner shortly before the problem started? If not, have you done anything else to the system just before it started?
Does it happen if the scanner is turned on? (Can you turn the scanner on independently of the Mac being on? Only asking as mine takes its power from the Mac)
Check if there is updated software for the scanner.
Might be worth checking if there are any updates for OS X, too.
Oh, and back up your data

(And yes, I know you're an ex-IT person so you've probably thought of all of that anyway!)

[RickyMaveety]

Well, right now I'm about to grab a movie and hit the sack. But tomorrow, oh, tomorrow will be ever so fun.

You remember the printer stand I made for my neighbor?? I finished it today, but then she decided that she wants to put the printer on the middle shelf, so I'm going to need to figure out how to cut a section out of the top shelf without taking the entire thing apart, and trim out the hole so that it looks like it was meant to be like that.

Hmmmmmmm. Must give this some serious thought. If I screw it up, I'll have to rebuild the entire thing. Erk.

[pshrynk]

I spent the day installing a ceiling fan in the guest room and cleaning up the mess from the painting and plastering project there. It is habitable. Next up, the other guest room.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I spent the day installing a ceiling fan in the guest room and cleaning up the mess from the painting and plastering project there. It is habitable. Next up, the other guest room.

Umm. I just noticed your avatar, and am trying to figure out if its just me, or if it shows a truly disturbed mind......

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by nekokami

"Every second time" sounds suspiciously like hardware. You might want to run fsck on the disk.

Is it useful to run fsck if I run "Verify Disk" from "Disk Utility" and it comes up clear? (I just realised, I haven't actually done that, but I'm about to). Do I need to reboot into "safe mode" or from the OS X install disk to do this "properly"?

I hope it's not hardware. I think this is just out of warranty (it's about 12 months old).

Originally Posted by nekokami

It is unlikely that you'll need to reinstall the OS, nor would that probably help unless you reformat the hard drive first.

I'd had a google, and for this problem there was a bit of "install OS X again in a new spot on the disk, and alter your option to boot from there accordingly" (I believe this process will copy many of your settings across too). I haven't looked at it properly yet though, to see if it's relevant. I hate reinstalling OSs.

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Had you installed the scanner shortly before the problem started?

No. The scanner has been installed, and I've been using (with the Epson software) for some time.

If not, have you done anything else to the system just before it started?

It was the Vuescan software that was recently installed, some scanning software better than the manufacturer's.

Does it happen if the scanner is turned on? (Can you turn the scanner on independently of the Mac being on? Only asking as mine takes its power from the Mac)

Mine (Epson Perfection 4990) doesn't take power from the Mac, so, yes, it turns on independently. I'll give that a go, as there's no real reason to turn the scanner off anyway (it's just a power-aware habit, and I'm willing to lose a few carbon credits to establish if that's the cause ).

Check if there is updated software for the scanner.

I'll do that. I'm pretty sure that I checked when I first installed it on the iMac, but that was about 8 months ago.

Might be worth checking if there are any updates for OS X, too.

Definitely up-to-date there.

Oh, and back up your data

Always. Photos mostly, backed up on two external hard disks, the laptop, and my old iPod Photo. The scans aren't backed up quite as much (just on the external hard disks), but then I have backups there in the form of negatives stored in archival folders.

(And yes, I know you're an ex-IT person so you've probably thought of all of that anyway!)

Am and Neko, it is very much appreciated. Putting aside that coming up on two years retirement has quickly refiled any skills I had (predominantly in an MS world) down in the back stacks, there's also my complete lack of familiarity with troubleshooting OS X, and that even while you might be restating what to you is "the obvious", to me it's an "obvious" step that I can quite easily and quickly miss while hunting down the wrong path.

Cheers,
Marc

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

ATM had to reinstall win xp and installing all programs a pain in the a$$ I know

I need to do that too... On two computers actually. I keep pushing it off

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Umm. I just noticed your avatar, and am trying to figure out if its just me, or if it shows a truly disturbed mind......

you really want an answer ?

[LazyScot]

Trying (and failing) not be be distracted by the Ten Years of User Friendly that turned up a couple of days ago... (yes, I know, it's not electronic, but, darn it, it does help the world demand for spleens).



and for Am:

[Greg Anos]

Starting up creative writing, but only at half speed. Just got my first job nibble in 7 months, have to spend time refreshing my tech base for tech interviews to come....(Drawback to job, requires translocation to Macon Georgia...)

[Wetdogeared]

On Good Morning America this morning, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich told Diane Sawyer that "one of the individuals whom he was considering appointing to fill President Obama's Senate seat was Oprah Winfrey."

His impeachment hearing starts today but Senator Oprah, has a nice ring to it!