When I start up my Mac it stays on a blue screen and never shows the desktop.
We’ve listed some of the best bets below.
- If you use an Ethernet cable, unplug it and restart. If the Mac starts up you should carefully check your network preferences for incorrect information.
- Unplug any external devices from your system.
- Check for old and incompatible third-party startup items, preference panes, and login items. Perform a Safe Boot, and look in the following places for items you may have previously installed. Drag the suspects to the Desktop to disable them. If you are unsure, it is best to leave the item in place.
If you're unsure about how to navigate to these items, read about Folders and Slashes.
| Type | Location |
|---|---|
| Preference Panes | Macintosh HD/Library/PreferencePanes Macintosh HD/Users/myname/Library/PreferencePanes |
| Startup Items | Macintosh HD/Library/StartupItems Macintosh HD/Library/Launch Agents Macintosh HD/Library/LaunchDemons Macintosh HD/Users/myname/Library/LaunchAgents |
| Login Items | Open System Preferences, Click Accounts or Users & Groups, then Login Items |
In Lion, the Macintosh HD/Users/YourName/Library folder is hidden. To access it, click on your desktop, select Go to Folder from the Go menu. Type “~/Library” into the resulting box. Then select the revealed Library folder and wait a few moments for it to load.
Published March 24, 2009 12:00 PM
Last modified on November 25, 2011 11:22 AM
Related Links
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I press the power button, and nothing happens. My Mac won't start.
I turn on my computer and hear a series of beeps, or I see the power LED blinking a repeating pattern.
I turn on my Mac and see a blinking prohibitory symbol, a flashing question mark, or blinking folder.
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What is a “Safe Boot” and how do I use it?
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