Macbook not booting correctly

[PAPAG]

I need HELP HELP HELP! Macbook starts up, chimes, is set to automatically login, goes to main screen and then just sits there with the multi coloured wheel just spinning and spinning.....the screen shows menu bar at bottom but nothing else.

 

Any advice?

 

Papag

[Dos_Box]

Hmm. The spinning beach ball usually indicates it is waiting on other services or functions to complete. Have you set it to look for any network services such as remote user areas on boot?

[dayzd]

You may wanna try booting the MacBook into Safe Mode. --It's much like Windows' safe mode - only essential services are used and minimal drivers/extensions are loaded.

 

If you can get logged in with safe mode, that should give you an indication if the problem is with the machine, or a service or network connection that it is waiting on, like @Dos_Box suggests. Check newly installed software, startup items in System Preferences, or if you're familiar with them, the LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folders in /System/Libary.

 

From my point of view, it sounds more like it's waiting for something or is stuck on something, as once you're past the grey loading screen with the Apple logo and spinning gear, the bulk of the OS and drivers etc are loaded. Have you installed something new recently?

[rusd]

I would agree, if all else fails, boot off the install media and run a permission repair and disk repair. Sometimes user permissions get changed and the OS isn't sure what you have access to.

[jerryeight]

if all other ways fail

backup your data and re-install the os

[markcuk]

get yourself diskwarrior