Help me reformat my hard drive in single user mode (mac).
April 16, 2008 9:43 PM   Subscribe

Can I reformat my ibook's hard drive in single user mode?

My computer is broken . When I try to boot it up, it takes anywhere from 30 - 45 minutes before it goes to a log in screen. When I try to log in, it doesn't recognize my username or password. This happens even when I boot in safe mode. I can't boot up using my system disks, but I can get into single user mode and run fsck. It says my hard drive is fine. When I ask it to boot up in single user mode (sh /etc/rc) it keeps saying that it can't find the root user.

So I think I need to reformat my hard drive in single user mode, but my google fu has failed me.

I'm using Mac OS X 10.4.1. I have limited technical experience, but can follow directions.
posted by rosethorn to Computers & Internet (2 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- jessamyn

 
Do you have the original install disk? If so, it's as easy as popping it in while running OSX and choosing a few options. The on screen guide is pretty straight forward, and should have an option to install OSX, and when it comes time, it will ask you if you want to format the drive. Pick yes. That's off-the-cuff advice from a former PC user turned Mac, and I've only had to reformat twice, but it really was that easy.
posted by pedmands at 9:57 PM on April 16, 2008


Response by poster: I have no idea why it worked this time, but I finally got it to start up from my install cds... just goes to show what trying the same thing twenty times can do for you!
posted by rosethorn at 10:30 PM on April 16, 2008


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