bootdvdinstallmacossnow leopard
I accidentally deleted my /bin folder. My computer is now permanently stuck at the Apple screen with an infinite spinning indicator.
I have:
I am not sure how I can just start fresh and install a clean build of Snow Leopard?
There should be a point—after you choose the language, but before it starts trying to install the OS—where you see a Utilities option in the menu bar.
Do you get to this point? If so, what happens when you choose Disk Utility?
There's more information about this at Using Disk Utility to Repair a Disk (University of Wisconsin).
OK, now it's a different question, so here's my different answer:
If repairing your main partition is what you want to accomplish, why not just run Disk Utility off the 10.5 system disk?
One more thing to try: Boot in Safe mode holding the Shift key at the startup sound. If the internal drive is bad (failed drive or borked OS), this won't work.
If you have an external drive as a full bootable backup (and I hope you do), connect it a power it up. Then try booting the Mac holding the Option key, and select the external drive.
If you have another Mac, connect the sick Mac to it and boot the sick Mac in Target mode (hold the "t" at startup sound).
If either works, copy all critical data to the drive you are booted in.
I agree that there is at least one hardware failure involved.
Best Answer
Create a bootable flash with Mac OS X, then hold down options and load from that drive. Then just install a clean build as usual.