Single User Mode w/ Networking

[tgermer]

I'm trying to fix my horrible Blue Screen of Death problem with the nonexistent LoginWindow - i've tried most everything suggested here...no go.

How do I start networking from the Single User Mode? I want to get some of my files off so I can work on them, because this damn computer won't bootup...grrrr, VERY maddening. Thanks!

Tim

[tjudd01]

Greetings.

As a suggestion, traditional BSD operating systems use text files and scripts to boot the system. OS X doesn't always use these files only to boot the OS.

The system logs it's boot messages and can be read via 'dmesg'

I'm new to the forums here, and I don't see a spot to attach files, if you'd like to get my boot messages as a file, I'd give it to you for reference. You would be better off to ask someone with the same hardware (short of ram, HDD size) for reference.

I hadn't seen any other response to your messages when I started the reply. Your particular question is a bit tricky. check /etc/rc and /etc/rc.common for things to run. /etc/rc is commonly for multiuser (and normally network) boot. /etc/rc.common is what looks like common routines and common setup for both single-user and multi-user. /etc/rc will probably run /etc/rc.common by itself.

GL

[tgermer]

Does SystemStarter load my Network settings!? I'm in a damn tight jam as I need files off of this laptop. All I need to do is copy them over the network.

[tjudd01]

Can you boot to OS9 and work from there? Or is this a OS X only? Booting to an OS9 CD-ROM and copying anything to a external drive? (USB, FireWire)

[tgermer]

I don't have the ability to do OS 9 or a firewire drive. I've actually been looking to buy one. But now I am going to try to partition my free space (have never done it in OS X) and copy the files that I need saved over to that partition then reinstall OS X onto the other partition.

[tas]

What about firewire target mode? Do you have a second Mac that you could attach your computer to?

[tgermer]

no :(

[darkpaw]

Okay, let's try and get it working for you... What happens when you boot into single-user mode? (Command + S at startup).

(You could get me on AIM, MSN, Yahoo or ICQ if you want. PM me for my username.)

[darkpaw]

Oh, there's one other thing you can try. Hold down Command + V as you boot up. This will start booting into the shell and you may be able to see what is causing the error in the text that appears.

HTH.

[hschickel]

If you have a Jag CD you could do a quick Archive and Install. As the name says - it will preserve your files and hopefully the system will boot from a clean install. Then you can transfer over the network.

Hugh

[saint.duo]

Though I've never tried it for the purpose of networking, SystemStarter is supposed to start networking, netinfo, and some other stuff (java is one, if memory serves).

[tgermer]

I referenced a KB article on Apple's Support site that ran through detailed instructions how to delete and rebuild my netinfo database. Ran the perl script they provide, restarted, ran the following commands:

/usr/libexec/kextd
/usr/sbin/configd

Didn't run SystemStarter because the network was up and running after the 2 commands from above were running. From there I use smbclient and copied all my files that needed to be copied over to his WinXP. I couldn't mount the damn drive because smbmount was NOT on my machine, althogh there was a man for the command - weird. All is well though, I have reinstalled OS X and have restored all my files. I feel so well now!