Member Avatar for JKK

I am in dire need of assistance, Canadian apple support is closed for a holiday and the US Support will not help because I am outside US.

I have been through all the hoops on the mac site, but here we go.

I went to restart from classic to OSX.

A broken file icon appears.

I can not start from CD, it pauses and goes right back to the broken folder icon.

help? I am in dire need of assistance. I have files that are required for a major deadline 9:00 am tomorrow. This is prob as serious as it gets.

Thank you in advance.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by kc0arf

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The blinking/broken-folder graphic means the Mac firmware cannot find a valid startup volume. That can be caused by a corrupted directory, a missing or non‑bootable system, or a failing drive or optical unit. Given ’s deadline, the priority is safe, fast file extraction before any destructive repairs.

Fast, low‑risk ways to get files off the machine:

  • Mount the internal disk on another Mac (Target Disk Mode over FireWire or by placing the drive in a FireWire/USB enclosure) and copy the Home folder and any project files to an external drive. This avoids further writes to the suspect disk.
  • If another Mac isn’t available, try booting from a known‑good external boot disk (not a scratched or custom-burned CD) so the internal disk can be accessed and files copied.

Quick diagnostics that don’t overwrite data:

  • Use Startup Manager to see whether any bootable volumes are visible.
  • Reset PRAM/NVRAM or try Safe Boot (these are non‑destructive and can clear a bad startup preference).
  • Listen for drive noise: clicking or repeated seeks usually means hardware failure — stop attempts to repair and image the drive instead.

If the disk mounts but looks damaged, make a full image/clone before attempting repairs. Tools that rebuild directories (DiskWarrior, specialized imagers) can help, but imaging first preserves recoverable data. If the drive won’t mount and urgent files are at stake, a quick hardware swap to an external enclosure or a professional imaging/recovery service is safer than repeated repair attempts.

’s single‑user and Disk Utility suggestions are valid follow-ups once critical files are secured. Prioritize copying Documents, Desktop, Mail and application data for the 9:00am deadline, then proceed with file‑system repairs or replacement.

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

I am not certain what Mac you have, or what OS is your base.

If you purchased the Mac with OS 9 disks, you can boot from those CD-ROMS, and access your files. OS 9 doesn't have any knowledge of security, so you should be able to go in there and get your materials. If the computer doesn't want to cooperate, hold down the C key while the computer is booting.

If you purchased the Mac with OS X disks right away, there is a different solution. Boot with the OS X CD, and hold down the C button while it is booting. It will throw you into the OS X installer. Go to the Blue Apple Menu, and run the Disk Utility. Do a repair on your drive. Y ou might need to also repair the permissions. Restart and see if it works.


AND IF YOU ARE DESPARATE:

  1. Restart the computer. You may need to perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer.
  2. Immediately after the startup tone, press and hold both the Command (Apple) and "s" keys on your keyboard. The computer will displays a series of text messages, at which time you may release these keys. When startup is complete, the computer will display a command line prompt (#).The computer is now in single-user mode.

How to Use fsck From the Command Line

Once you have reached a command line, follow these steps to use fsck:

  1. Type the following at the # prompt: fsck -y
  2. Press Return.The fsck utility will go through five "phases" and then return information about the disk's utilization and fragmentation. If fsck alters, repairs, or fixes anything, it will display the message:

    ***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****

    Important: If this message appears, repeat the "fsck -y" command until this message no longer appears. It is normal for your computer to require several "passes" of fsck, because first-pass repairs may uncover additional errors.

  3. When fsck reports that no problems were found, type the following command at the # prompt: reboot
  4. Press Return.

The computer should start up normally and allow you to log in.

Good Luck with your repair. For the very few times I had to do this, I have been successful with the booting and using the disk repair. Whatever you do, DO NOT use an OLD VERSION of NORTON utilities on an OS X disk. I did that in the lab, and well, I am glad I did it in the lab.

Christian

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