My Mac crashed

[ZFarms Productions]

I installed the software updates then it wouldn't restart. On start up the apple logo appears but does nothing. I got a screen that says I must restart my computer. I did a google search on my phone and it came up that its a kernal error.

For you mac guys out there, am I able to get my files off the hard drive still? I've got some schoolwork and scripts I just started on and didn't have time to back up.

Thanks for the help

[Stephen Mick]

Try restarting with your original software CD (the one that came with your Mac). It should startup from the System Folder on that CD, allowing you to get your stuff off the hard drive without issue.

[Batutta]

If you can't get the OS fixed, restart and then hold down the T key until you see a firewire logo. Then, you can plug it into another mac and it will see it as a firewire disk, and you can copy off everything you need.

[ZFarms Productions]

Batutta, I tried that but it read the drive was there but it didn't find files. Someone was saying its cause I'm locked out of the computer so I can't scre it up more...

If I start off the disc won't it reinstall the system and erase my hard drive?

[Batutta]

Batutta, I tried that but it read the drive was there but it didn't find files. Someone was saying its cause I'm locked out of the computer so I can't scre it up more...

If I start off the disc won't it reinstall the system and erase my hard drive?

No, you should see your files. The directory might be damaged. If it can read the drive, run disk utility or diskwarrior to see if it fixes the directory so you can see your files. This may also fix your problem and make it bootable again. If you can't, you might have mechanical damage to the drive which may not be fixable, unless you want to spend hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars with a recovery service.

[Stephen Mick]

If you hold down the C key while restarting, it simply uses the system on the disc to start the machine, but doesn't affect what's on the drive itself. If you reinstall the system from the disc, it still won't affect your files. You have to specifically tell the computer to erase the drive and start over.

So do this…

Restart with the CD in the drive, holding the C key.
Get your files off ASAP.

[Stephen Mick]

Then, like the good man Battuta says, run Disk Utility to verify the disk and that it's functioning as it should. If it is, and if you have what you need, I'd use Disk Utility to erase the drive and then reinstall the system software and applications.

Also, for future reference, I'd use an app like Carbon Copy Cloner to create a disk image of your drive before updating your system software. That way, if something happens, you can go back to the archived image.

--SM

[ZFarms Productions]

Thanks for the help guys. When I get home from class today I'll try the boot from a disc.

If not I was told to go to a mac doctor or an apple store and see if they have a push program to get my files off.

Someone was telling me this problem usually just affects RAM. That true?

[ZFarms Productions]

i was able to get my stuff off, and the computer is still currently working. thanks again for the help.

[Sevenonline]

did your mac beep at all, if so, how many times? did you upgrade your RAM at any point? if you went the "cheaper" route on RAM, you might consider replacing it. Many of the problems that come into an Apple store can be attributed to "cheap" RAM. Glad to hear you got your stuff back.