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Macbook lid 'closed' during system update (HELP!)

F

frikk

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 15, 2006
14
0
Hey everyone,
Tonight I upgraded my dad's macbook to Leopard, successfully. During the first login process, the software update asked me to install some updates, and that a reboot was required immediately (I imagine they were firmware related). I left the room to let the macbook do its thing, and when I came back in my dad had shut the computer (not knowing I had done the firmware update thing).

Long story short, I get an immediate kernel panic right away when I turn the computer on. I did not back up the data because I was only doing a system upgrade (which worked just fine!). How screwed am I?

When I boot, I do see the Apple Logo. I am able to boot into the Leopard Installation DVD (WHEW! Just got that up...). At this point, what are my options? I am only familiar with Linux and Windows advanced installations, so I dont know what is available to me.

1) Can I do a 'repair' on the firmware (or whatever is damaged?) from the DVD?
2) Am I able to do a fresh re-install of Leopard, without re-formatting the drive?
3) Does the 'Disk Utility' give me any options?

Thank you so much. Merry Christmas! (Our ham is in the oven right now...) :eek:
 
Disk Utility allows you to verify and repair the hard disk - this can be useful if a boot sector has been somehow damaged. Certainly, I'd try that first before a complete reformatting.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Update: I did a re-install of Leopard (upgrade, without hard drive format). I ran the disk utility, and 'repaired' the drive. The install went successfully. Everything looks good....

except that the boot is still messed up. I still get the kernel panic on boot. Why would this be? Wouldnt a fresh install of Leopard override any boot sector problems?

Can someone comment on whats going on? I'm not going to try a fresh re-format unless I am certain it will solve the issue. There really is not crucial data on the drive, but it is not backed up and there is a lot of software installed and reformatting is not something that I would like to have to deal with.

Do I need to do some kind of firmware update? Can I burn something to a CD on another macbook and boot from it??

The kernel module says that com.apple.drivers.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement may have been involved...
 
Ouch. Sounds like a lot of work on Christmas. Hope you get it working soon! And to prevent this from happening again, keep it away from your dad when you're updating stuff like firmware.
 
Thanks for the sympathy.:(

Yeah, turns out the factory firmware reset wont even start. I hold down power, wait for three flashes, and put the cd in. Nothing but the black screen. I am thinking a reformat wont help at all.

Is this something that will require new hardware? Something from Apple? :(
 
I'm really just throwing this out there, but if boot up in Safe Mode, if possible, and then try and use the Firmware update in the Utilities folder. This may help. I really have no experience in Safe Mode, so I'm not sure if you could even prevent the kernal panic from happening.
 
Macbook lid 'closed' during system update (HELP!)

Hey there frikk,
i had a similar problem to what you have described when i tried to take computer security settings into my own hands, using get info and setting the access privelages to myself i was effectively able to lock the computer operating system out of itself. thus preventing a boot up of any description.. I had to do a reinstall in the end, your applications should still be there on your computer when you reinstall, the reinstall will move all of your original files/preferences/apps/folders etc into a folder called previous systems. I can speak of experience from having to do multiple reinstalls of my mac mini machine-cos i got a carried away with preferences etc.. after you have installed mac osx again, its a simple enough procedure of copying the system files that you want back:)

Hope that helps.. not very well explained, but better than nothing i guess:S

Good Luck Pete
 
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