Safe Boot Frozen - Worried

I've been having a problem with my system taking 10 minutes to boot up since I updated to 10.3.8. A suggestion was made to me that I do the 'ctrl' boot for safe boot and do it twice.
So, I safe booted once...and once it was up and running. I did it again (I restrated but didn't shut down, so that could be part of my problem and I have my volume turned off so I can't hear the starting chime)...and now it is sitting at the blue screen background with the spinning beachball for the past 1/2 hour.
My question: Is it ok to shut down the system and restart? Will I damage something that it's trying to fix? It's just been so long. It's making me very nervous.

Thank you.

Mike D


(yes, I do some stupid stuff at times...but I had to be honest and tell you ALL the steps I took to get to this)

I think safe boot is to restart while holding down the *shift* key...

Boot up while holding down Command - S.
You will get to the terminal, (weird looking text on black background)
Wait until it goes through it's system tests and watch to see what's happening.
It should eventually end up with a blinking cursor.
Type in the following.
fsck -f
Make sure and put a space after the k
This will force journaling.
When it's done, type reboot.
Hope this helps.
Also, repair disk permissions using Disk Utility.
Matt Murray
Lineside Productions
Wellington, FL
[www.edgesportfishing.com]
Florida Sailfish videos, pictures and more
My World Video Productions

Matt, why do we want Journaling?

Normally it's fsck -y for a normal file system check.

When you're returned to your user prompt, note the message (should say "Files appear to be OK) and then type

reboot

with hands off the keys.

- Loren
Today's FCP HD 4.5 keytip:
Do a virtual Audio Mixdown to lighten playback load with Command-Option-R!

The FCP HD KeyGuide?: your power placemat.
Now available at KeyGuide Central
www.neotrondesign.com

"Matt, why do we want Journaling?

Normally it's fsck -y for a normal file system check."

No, it's not.. It's fsck -f for Panther.
that is force journaling.
fsck -y was for previous versions.
Journaling is recommended for system disk only now.
Matt Murray
Lineside Productions
Wellington, FL
[www.edgesportfishing.com]
Florida Sailfish videos, pictures and more
My World Video Productions

Interesting. I've heard that, but I don't use journaling on*any* disk. Fsck -y continues to work fine n 10.3.7.

- Loren
Today's FCP HD 4.5 keytip:
Do a virtual Audio Mixdown to lighten playback load with Command-Option-R!

The FCP HD KeyGuide?: your power placemat.
Now available at KeyGuide Central
www.neotrondesign.com