Major problem with my iMac. Help needed.

Forums › Mac OS › Major problem with my iMac. Help needed.

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#38337 28-Jul-2009 12:35

I have an M-Audio FireWire 1814 audio interface connected to my iMac running OS X 10.5.7. I accidentally bumped the power button on the interface. My screen then began to dim from top to bottom and then it said I have to restart the computer via the power button (in a number of different languages). I shut the computer down with the power button, let it rest for a minute, then rebooted. Upon booting, it gave a weak little huff of the fan then continued to boot like it normally does. I saw that the files I had on my desktop were still there, but the wallpaper had changed to the default Mac wallpaper instead of the photos I have cycling through. Things only got worse when I found that I couldn't access the dock and can't do the command+tab app switch thing. I tried to change the dock preferences but they won't save and just stay as the default settings. I can still access everything through Quicksilver or Spotlight but can't switch in-between. Can't even minimise applications because there is no dock.
I'm assuming that the audio interface is the problem since the power button was knocked and I hope there is a fix for it.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Thanks.

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187 posts

Master Geek

#239686 28-Jul-2009 12:56

Sounds like a possible filesystem directory corruption due to the bad shutdown - try DiskWarrior - www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#239688 28-Jul-2009 13:02

Thanks for the advice.
Is there any other way around this? Perhaps a free way around this? Redundancy is a bad time for my computer to start playing up.

BartManGeek

187 posts

Master Geek

#239705 28-Jul-2009 13:24

First things: BACKUP anything on your system now - if you have TimeMachine working you'll be ok. Otherwise boot up in Firewire Target Disk mode and connect to another Mac to transfer you data off.

Once you are sure you have a backup - you could try the following:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#239737 28-Jul-2009 14:24

Thanks, Bart. Won't be able to try that out until tomorrow after I get another hard drive but I'll update when I try.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

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#239744 28-Jul-2009 14:38

WillieBobo: Please let me know if there is anything I can do.

Good afternoon WillieBobo.

It sounds like the M-Audio FireWire 1814 audio interface needs delivering to me. PM me for address details.

(I just acquired a Tascam US-122L, but the M-Audio looks like it would kick butt over the Tascam 8 ways from Sunday with a stopover in China - how much did it cost you?)

Thanks.

Anytime.

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#239749 28-Jul-2009 14:43

She's served me well up until this latest episode.
I got it for the bargain basement price of $50 as part of the aforementioned redundancy. Take the good with the bad.

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#239785 28-Jul-2009 15:26

After a trip to iServiceMac, I've discovered that it was a kernel panic. Just thought I'd add that to see if it would get more suggestions.
All my Windows mates are laughing at me now.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

wellygary

8345 posts

Uber Geek

#239788 28-Jul-2009 15:31

BartManGeek: Sounds like a possible filesystem directory corruption due to the bad shutdown - try DiskWarrior - www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html

re boot your mac without any peripherals connected, and Run Disk Utility to check the disk permissions and disk integrity.

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#239800 28-Jul-2009 15:47

Permissions repair works fine, but when I try to verify the disk, it freezes up then I have to do the hard power button shutdown again.
Thanks anyway, Gary.

Edit: I tried again and let it go and it came back with "The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK."

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#239874 28-Jul-2009 18:43

Just one more thing.
My iPhone was plugged in when the whole deal went down. Is that going to affect it at all?

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#240497 30-Jul-2009 10:15

So, last night I backed up my hard drive with Time Machine. Where to go from there?
I was considering an Erase & Install, but if I were to that, would Time Machine also reinstall the faulty files?
Also, I created a new account to see if the Dock worked, and it did. Is there any way I can import the settings from the new account back to my original account, or is it worth just getting rid of the original account and sticking with the new one?

wellygary

8345 posts

Uber Geek

#240511 30-Jul-2009 10:47

WillieBobo: So, last night I backed up my hard drive with Time Machine. Where to go from there?
I was considering an Erase & Install, but if I were to that, would Time Machine also reinstall the faulty files?
Also, I created a new account to see if the Dock worked, and it did. Is there any way I can import the settings from the new account back to my original account, or is it worth just getting rid of the original account and sticking with the new one?

OK it sounds like you may have screwed up your dock preference file

go hunting in ~/library/preferences/ and look for

com.apple.dock.plist

Delete it and then shut down, when you restart it should get re created with the default icons, but it should then behave itself

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#240524 30-Jul-2009 11:12

Thanks, Gary.
I tried that but it didn't work. Its still doing the same thing, but now there's a blank blue screen where the wallpaper used to be.

wellygary

8345 posts

Uber Geek

#240546 30-Jul-2009 12:11

WillieBobo: Thanks, Gary.

I tried that but it didn't work. Its still doing the same thing, but now there's a blank blue screen where the wallpaper used to be.

Hmmm,

One more thing to try

Open terminal and type "killall Dock" without the quotes.

The Dock should have restarted when you close terminal

If all else fails, move to a new account

As you have been able to create a new account, ( which works) it means the trouble is with your current account settings,

I think the easiest thing to do might be to just continue to use the new account you have created, ( you can use an admin account to copy your documents/files across) then blow away the old account,

WillieBobo

32 posts

Geek

#240548 30-Jul-2009 12:21

I've tried the Terminal thing before and it came back with "No matching processes belonging to you were found".
Looks like I'm moving to a new account.
How would I go about copying all these files to the new account? Time Machine?

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