Problems with iMac startup

[tallchris]

Occasionally when I start up my iMac
(24-inch early 2008, 2,8GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256MB running 10.7.3b),

it takes a long time (3-4 times how long it usually takes).

It has this loading bar at the bottom

After it starts up it is sluggish, and graphics can be 'glitchy' and animates very unsmooth.

If i restart it fixes it, except that spotlight starts indexing.

If i restart it for a 2nd time then everything runs fine

Any ideas on why this is happening? I've had it happen to my early-2011 13" MBP too

 

[garevans]

Safe mode

It looks like your computer is starting in safe mode.

If you haven't already done so, back up ASAP!

If it were me I'd do a time machine backup, wipe the disk, re-install and use migration assistant to bring across my user folder again.

 

[tallchris]

okay luckily we use dropbox at work so everything that's important is backed up.


Why would it be starting in safe mode?

 

[garevans]

You normally enter safe mode by holding the shift key at startup. I have no idea why your mac has decided to do it.

There are a few things you can try like verifying the disk in disk utility, but in all honesty it's faster and less hassle to blast away and rebuild.

EDIT: incase you're interested:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564

 

[tallchris]

I've tried using disk utility and it hasn't had any effect, it's not a massive problem would probably wait until ML comes out before doing a fresh install, just curious as to why it's happening...