MacBook Pro Won't Start Up Please Help!!

[phrontistery]

Sorry, I wasn't sure where to post so I just went here.

I accidentally deleted my /etc/ file and couldn't get it back. Well now my computer won't start up. Is there anyway I can fix this?

 

[Hellhammer]

Reinstalling OS X is probably the easiest and only way. None of your files should be deleted and it takes roughly half an hour.

 

[phrontistery]

Reinstalling OS X is probably the easiest and only way. None of your files should be deleted and it takes roughly half an hour.

ok, this maybe dumb, but how do I go about that?

I don't have an OS X disc or anything like that

 

[Hellhammer]

ok, this maybe dumb, but how do I go about that?

I don't have an OS X disc or anything like that

You should have the two grey discs that came with your Mac - they can be used to reinstall the OS. If you're running Lion, then you could use the recover partition to reinstall OS X.

 

[phrontistery]

You should have the two grey discs that came with your Mac - they can be used to reinstall the OS. If you're running Lion, then you could use the recover partition to reinstall OS X.

could you explain using the recover partition, because I was running lion.

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I found my install discs actually!

how do i go about installing this without losing my data though?

 

[Hellhammer]

could you explain using the recover partition, because I was running lion.

Hold down the alt key when booting and select recovery partition with the arrow keys. You should be prompted with a window with an option to reinstall the OS X.

I found my install discs actually!

how do i go about installing this without losing my data though?

Pretty much the same as above. Insert the disc and hold alt while booting. Select the DVD and follow the instructions. As long as you don't erase the HD, your files should be there, only system files will be affected.

 

[phrontistery]

thank you sooo much!!

im going to try this now!

 

[phrontistery]

ok another problem. when i tried to use the installation discs it told me I could not install to my harddrive without erasing it and losing all of my data? is there any way around that?

 

[Quad5Ny]

DONT USE THE RECOVERY DISCS IF YOU WERE RUNNING LION!

The recovery discs probably have Snow Leopard on them, use the Lion Recovery Partition instead (Hold Command+R during boot).

 

[phrontistery]

DONT USE THE RECOVERY DISCS IF YOU WERE RUNNING LION!

The recovery discs probably have Snow Leopard on them, use the Lion Recovery Partition instead (Hold Command+R during boot).

ok that is what I'm trying. I held down alt during boot and then clicked Recovery HD, is that right?

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DONT USE THE RECOVERY DISCS IF YOU WERE RUNNING LION!

The recovery discs probably have Snow Leopard on them, use the Lion Recovery Partition instead (Hold Command+R during boot).

and yes, the recovery discs do have snow leopard on them.

 

[Hellhammer]

ok that is what I'm trying. I held down alt during boot and then clicked Recovery HD, is that right?

Yes. Does it still ask you to erase the HD? Snow Leopard definitely will but Lion shouldn't, unless there is a problem.

 

[phrontistery]

Yes. Does it still ask you to erase the HD? Snow Leopard definitely will but Lion shouldn't, unless there is a problem.

I clicked the Recovery HD like you said to do and it is still sitting at the Apple Logo with a spinning circle. It has been sitting there a while. I have to go to work though, hopefully it will be up when I get back, thank you guys for your help, I will probably be reposting again tonight on this thread

 

[phrontistery]

Ok here is where I got to.

-I booted and held Alt and clicked Recovery HD
-Then I clicked to Reinstall Lion OS (those might've not been the exact words but something to that extent)
-Then it said it couldn't be done because there was no internet connection
-I clicked my airport and typed in my WEP password then I got this:

"airportd wants to use the "login" keychain"

I have no idea what ^^ that is or how to fix that. any ideas?

 

[Comeagain?]

"airportd wants to use the "login" keychain"

I have no idea what ^^ that is or how to fix that. any ideas?

it wants some saved passwords. Let it.

 

[phrontistery]

it wants some saved passwords. Let it.

no it is asking for a password
idk what password it wants?

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It says "Please enter the keychain password"

 

[Elbert C]

no it is asking for a password
idk what password it wants?

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It says "Please enter the keychain password"

Try using your account login password. If it doesn't work, try your admin password.

 

[phrontistery]

Try using your account login password. If it doesn't work, try your admin password.

I've tried them all...