OSXFAQ Mac OS X Tip-of-the-Day  

Boot into Single User mode if you Mac does not get to the login window. You may see a blue or grey screen, an icon of a broken folder, a kernel panic, a flashing question mark, or nothing.

Start up with the Command(Apple) and S keys held down. You will be logged in as root in single user mode. Then try the following.

(Note that single user mode may not work with firmware password protection, see:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/openfirmwarepassword.html )

Clean out the system configuration preferences

At there command line prompt type:

mount -uw /

mv /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist.old

reboot

Clean out the login window preferences

At there command line prompt type:

mv /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist.old

mv /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist.old

reboot

Try these Apple tech notes:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106805

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042

Boot into Target Fire Wire mode if your Mac will not even boot into single user mode. Hold down the T key when booting. Your Mac is now nothing more than a firewire disc. Plug it into another Mac to get at access the hard drive and perform some of the steps above.

Enjoy !! :-)

Panther 10.3.8

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