HELP!! Unable to boot OS X; /var/ missing

[lust4life]

Hello all. I have a problem with starting up with my OS X on my MacBook Pro. When I turn on my computer, the usual white/gray apple screen comes up with the company logo and startup sound. Then it immediately jumps into a black screen with white text, in the style of the Windows DOS system. Here are the text I receive:


/etc/master .passwd: No such file or directory
-sh-2.05b# CSRHIDTransitionDriver::stop
I0BluetoothHCIController::start Idle Timer Stopped


I read more on Google later and found my problem. I was deleting things from my HD the other night and I saw the "Private" folder under Macintosh HD. I thought it was a useless folder and I deleted everything under "Private." I guess I deleted var and other things as well... I heard it's usually a hidden folder. I have no idea why it suddenly showed up there. Could someone tell me what I could do to fix this problem??? I am studying overseas now and sadly I did not bring my sales receipt and installation disk along with me from the U.S. If anyone could help me out, I would appreciate it.


Thank you very much. I really need the help.

 

[lust4life]

Here's what I got after trying this on my MacBook: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106908

I entered in single-user mode.


...
...
...
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
-sh-2.05b# mount -uw /
Mar 15 00:59:11 launchd: mkdir("/var/launchd"): No such file or directory
Mar 15 00:59:11 launchd: mkdir("/var/launchd"): No such file or directory
-sh-2.05b# ln-s /private/etc etc
ln: etc: File exists
-sh-2.05b# mv /etc /private/tmp/etc.delete
mv: rename /etc to /private/tmp/etc.delete: No such file or directory
-sh-2.05b# mv /var /var.delete
-sh-2.05b# ln -s /private/var var
-sh-2.05b# ls -l | grep ">"
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
lrwxr-xr-x 1 0 80 60 Jul 27 2006 User Guides And Information -> /Library/Documentation/User Guides and Information.localized
lrwxr-xr-x 1 0 80 11 Jul 27 2006 etc -> private/etc
lrwxr-xr-x 1 0 80 9 Mar 13 11:19 mach -> /mach.sym
lrwxr-xr-x 1 0 80 11 Jul 27 2006 tmp -> private/tmp
lrwxr-xr-x 1 0 80 12 Mar 15 01:00 var -> /private/var
lrwxr-xr-x 1 0 80 12 Mar 14 02:14 var.delete -> /private/var
-sh-2.05b#



I reboot next but the same problem occurred:

/etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory
-sh-2.05b# CSRHIDTransitionDriver::stop
IOBluetoothHCIController::start Idle Timer Stopped

 

[ebel3003]

That's pretty unfortunate, especially not having your system discs.

When you do get ahold of some, you're going to have to reinstall Mac OS X. Using your Install CD, you should be able to "Archive and Install" and by checking "Preserve User and Network Settings", you should be back up and running as you were prior to this little fiasco.

Unfortunately there isn't anything else you can do, you removed crucial system files.

 

[lust4life]

Thanks ebel. Would I lose all my data if I do A&I?