Boot to grey screen

Hi there,
I had to force quit. Now my pb only boots to a grey screen after playing one startup chime.
Have run disk utilty. Disk needs repair. After repair attempt it reads:
"invalid B-tree node size
the volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired
Error; The underlying task reported failure on exit
1HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
"1 volume could not be repaired because of an error"
I have also done the option/apple/p/r start.
Is the data recoverable?
thanks,
rwa

rwarwa:
Your computer has serious directory issues. I also suspect that your HDD is too full.
Disk Utility reports "Underlying task reported failure" when repairing a volume describes the issue you are experiencing. If you do not already have a current backup, that should be job one. The article also suggests the use of a third party utility. Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior are the two utilities of choice for Mac OS X.
A reinstall using Archive and Install is a more radical option, or even more radical option a reformat and reinstall.
Please do post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius

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G5 won't boot past grey screen

G5 2.0 Dual will not boot past grey screen. Running 10.5.8 on an old maxtor 160gb drive, drive is available as a startup disc in StartUp disk in system preferences. But when it is chosen the machine shuts down in the usual manner then switches to the maxtor disk and only gets to the grey screen with the apple log no progress clock appears. Using disk utility from install disk reports that drive is ok, running techtool pro 4.6.2 reports the drive is fine and all file structures, volume structures and directories are fine. So of course i am keen to find out what the issue is and wether it can be resolved without resorting to a clean install. When booted from another internal drive the icon for the errant drive is visible and all files and folders are visible and readily accessable.
It would be great to get back to booting from this drive as it is the main drive I use and has so much more on it than the secondary drive.
Any help will be of immense use
Thank You

I assume you have already tried a PRAM reset. If so, then the following three items may yield a clue.
Number one thing to try is a Safe Boot by holding the shift key down at boot. You may have a something in the non-minimal Apple kext set that is causing the hang. (If it safe boots, you may have a problem in kext caches which can be cleared. See below.)
Second is to disconnect all peripherals except monitor, keyboard and mouse and see if something there is contributing to the hang.
Third is to use verbose boot (hold down cmd-V at boot until you see a black Unix terminal screen come up) and see where the system is hanging.
Clearing the kext Caches (if indicated)
This is probably easiest done booted from the other drive, so I'll describe that method.
Open the Maxtor's System folder, then open the Library folder and drag the following two files to the trash:
Extensions.kextcache
Extensions.mkext
Empty the trash.
Open a Terminal session from the Terminal application in the /Applications/Utilities folder.
Type cd followed by a space in the command line and then drag the icon for the Maxtor into the window, which will put a properly formatted Unix path into the command line, then press the return key. Type the following three commands
cd System <cr>
cd Library <cr>
sudo touch Extensions <cr>
then give your password when requested and close the terminal session. Select the Maxtor as the statrup drive in System Preferences and give it a go.

My iMac won't boot past grey screen and it didn't come with a os x disk

My iMac won't boot past grey screen with apple. I've tried booting in safemode but that didn't help and my iMac didn't come with a os x disk.

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
b. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
c. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use either of the techniques in Steps 1b and 1c to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 4
If you use a wireless keyboard, trackpad, or mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. The battery level shown in the Bluetooth menu item may not be accurate.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 6
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
Step 7
If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 10. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
If you can start and log in in safe mode, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the startup process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 8
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select the startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then restart as usual.
Step 9
Reinstall the OS. If the Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 10
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 11
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 12
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

IMac wont boot Past Grey Screen, finder folder with blinking question mark

iMac G5 won't boot Past Grey Screen. The G5 froze and i restarted, It will not go past the grey screen and it has the finder folder with blinking question mark, also the fans kick on wide open. As it atempts to boot a sound plays "beepda beepda beepda beep" that starts quiet and gets louder and repeats a couple of times. I ran a hardware check on the startup disk and all hardware passed. I thought it might be the RAM any suggestions?
I have restarted using the troubleshooting methods in the guide.

Sorry for the late reply. The drive shows up when booting to disk, but it will not allow you to verify disk or repair. Also it will not allow you to select the hard drive to reinstall the software. Under disk utility Maxtor sabre shows up with total capacity:0 bytes.
I've taking the Mac to the Apple store to get looked at, and its probly the hard drive. Now Im trying to see if theres a way to recover the data myself. I've used software like "Data Rescue" the hard drive shows up "Maxtor Sabre" totally capacity: 0 bytes, and it will not recover anything.
Did this test just to see if it was power problem.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2173
Thats when noticed the beeps are coming from the hard drive. So its getting power.
Now just wondering how to recover data.
Any suggestions?

Mac mini shut down on its own, will not restart, grey screen, spinning wheel. Unplugged everything, will still not restart. Did safe boot, will not restart after safe boot, only grey screen with spinning wheel.

Mac mini shut down on its own. Could not restart, chime, grey screen and spinning wheel. Unplugged everything but monitor, still only chime, grey screen and spinning wheel. Started in safe boot, shut Down, will not restart.
This happened a couple of months ago, unplugged everything and it restarted, now that won't work.

Hi BDAqua,
I just did the repair as you suggested. T ran the disc repair, and twice it cam back, the volume macintosh seems ti be okay, I also ran the verify and permissions repair, both came back okay.
I was actually hoping that they would find something, so they could repair. I shut the computer down, and restated with out holding a key, and I started up great. I'm baffled. I have moved 20 GB to an external hard drive, as I only had 10% open space.
I have Tech Tool 6, would you recommend to run a repair check on that, or just leave well enough alone.
I agree with you on the new Mac's, I have problems with no disc for back up, until they realize their mistake I will stay with Snow a Leopard. This is the first problem I have experienced, so I can't complain. Their last programs are not as perfected as under Steve, prior to his handling over the reins, hope this is not going to be the future we can expect from Apple.
I will wait to here back as to your suggestion regarding the Tech Tool check
Thanks for all your help.
Gratefully,
Cheri

Macbook Pro won't boot past grey screen with Apple logo and then shuts off

This is a long story...
This morning, I would turn it on and it'd go to the grey screen with the Apple logo for a few seconds and then go to the icon that is a circle with a line through it. After reading online, I was able to boot it up in Safe Mode. I messed around a little bit in system preferences thinking I could fix it on my own, not really knowing what I was doing (I'm a *******). I went to Startup Disk in Preferences. I chose the MAC OS X, xxxx and then clicked the lock to prevent further changes and then clicked restart.
Now when I turn on the macbook, it goes to the grey screen with the Apple logo for at least two-three minutes and then just shuts off. Won't boot into Safe Mode now. Please help. I already tried the Command-Option-P-R keys trick like five times.

If you have a full retail DVD for 10.6 you can boot from that by holding the C key during startup...but you will then be in install mode if that is what you want to do. At least go ahead and see if it will boot ok from the 10.6 disk and then you can decide what you want to do further.
Apple does not have 10.5 for sale anymore from what some other users have said on here so if you want to go that route you will have to find a copy for sale such as from eBay or one of the Mac resellers.
Before taking the machine to someone, try booting from 10.6 and see if that works...that way you can narrow down problems the machine may be having.

After update Mac Pro boots to grey screen with Kernel Panic. Help please.

It would be great if someone can help me out. Yesterday I did a software update of iTunes and osx (it said to ease update to Lion) and now my Mac Pro tower (MacPro3,1) boots to a grey screen, kernel panic, telling me that I need to power down and restart my machine. I can boot into osx via the safe mode but unfortunately I don't have an install disk to repair the system disk. What are my options?
The machine appears to work in safe mode. I have tried resetting the PRAM. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
In safe mode, I get this error report.
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 2403 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          4
Anonymous UUID:                    2F681FF9-168D-42D2-865B-C00AD4C8FA30
Thu Oct 27 14:29:21 2011
panic(cpu 7 caller 0x560821): "getPhysicalSegment() out of 32b range 0x3f10000000, len 0x0, class IOGeneralMemoryDescriptor"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1504.15.3/iokit/Kernel/IOMemory Descriptor.cpp:1594
Backtrace (CPU 7), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x840b3cc8 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x840b3cfc 0x223ce1 0x0)
0x840b3d18 : 0x560821 (0x5e6dfc 0x10000000 0x3f 0x0)
0x840b3d68 : 0x55d2df (0x15d9fd80 0x0 0x0 0x16a4f580)
0x840b3d88 : 0x55ceee (0x16a4f580 0x0 0x0 0x10000)
0x840b3da8 : 0x8e7ee97e (0x16a4f580 0x0 0x0 0xffffffff)
0x840b3e18 : 0x543f60 (0x8eb44000 0x15c68b00 0x1 0x506b76)
0x840b3e78 : 0x542137 (0x15c68b00 0x8eb44000 0x16abd180 0x51a1b0)
0x840b3f28 : 0x5426e9 (0x15c68b00 0x16aba8c0 0x0 0x516766)
0x840b3f78 : 0x5443d5 (0x15c68b00 0x8 0x840b3fac 0x1)
0x840b3fc8 : 0x2a179c (0x15858690 0x0 0x2a17ab 0x15f17904)
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
         com.aja.iokit.kona3(8.0)@0x8e7c0000->0x8e806fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily(10.0.3)@0x84130000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x84082000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.8.3fc2)@0x8e635000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2)@0x8e6b2000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Mac OS version:
10K549
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacPro3,1 (Mac-F42C88C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 22607847366
unloaded kexts:
(none)
loaded kexts:
com.aja.iokit.kona3 8.0 - last loaded 22387593921
de.novamedia.driver.NMSmartplugSCSIDevice 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 428.42.4
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.1
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.AppleRAID 4.0.6
com.apple.BootCache 31.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 142.6.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 1
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.12
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 142.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.3fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 320.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.10
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d5
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard 141.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 141.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.6
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.3
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.6
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
Model: MacPro3,1, BootROM MP31.006C.B05, 8 processors, Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 3 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 1.25f4
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 5770, ATI Radeon HD 5770, PCIe, 1024 MB
Memory Module: global_name
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x88), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.42.4)
Bluetooth: Version 2.4.5f3, 2 service, 19 devices, 0 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en2
PCI Card: pcif1d0,c0ff, sppci_video, Slot-2@3,12,0
PCI Card: ATI Radeon HD 5770, sppci_displaycontroller, Slot-1
PCI Card: ATI Radeon HD 5770, ATY,HoolockParent, Slot-1
PCI Card: pcif1d0,c0ff, sppci_video, Slot-3@10,12,0
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0, 1.82 TB
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0, 1.82 TB
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0, 1.82 TB
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD5002ABYS-01B1B0, 465.76 GB
Parallel ATA Device: OPTIARC DVD RW AD-7170A
USB Device: Keyboard Hub, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x1006, 0xfd100000 / 2
USB Device: Apple Keyboard, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0221, 0xfd120000 / 3
USB Device: Kensington Expert Mouse, 0x047d (Kensington), 0x1020, 0x1d200000 / 2
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8206, 0x5d200000 / 2
USB Device: HASP HL 3.21, 0x0529 (Aladdin Knowledge Systems), 0x0001, 0x3d200000 / 2
FireWire Device: built-in_hub, Up to 800 Mb/sec
and here is my system software overview once I have booted into osx in safe mode.
System Software Overview:
System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)
Kernel Version: Darwin 10.8.0
Boot Volume: System
Boot Mode: Safe
Computer Name: qdise’s MacPro3,1
User Name: q2dise (dty61)
Secure Virtual Memory: Not Enabled
64-bit Kernel and Extensions: No
Time since boot: 16 minutes

There's no point in reinstalling the same driver. It hasn't changed. It's incompatible with the OS update. Contact the device manufacturer to see if there's a driver update. In the meantime, you should physically remove the device so the driver doesn't load. If you uninstall the driver and leave the device installed, that might also cause a panic.

Macbook Pro will not boot beyond grey screen. System freezes.

My Macbook Pro will not boot-up or get beyond the grey screen (with spinning gear wheel.) I've tried all the recommended actions: resetting PRAM, disk repair, permissions repair, re-boot in safe mode etc but still the problem persists. When viewing the safe-boot in verbose mode, the system seems to hang at the stage when it's checking the Airport & Ethernet - the last line on the page reads: "AppleBCOM5701Ethernet: 0 0 setFixedSpeed - logic error, speed any?"
Any ideas how to fix this without doing an Archive & Install?
I'm assuming that if I do an "Archive & Install" then I will lose all my Applications (VLC, Handbrake, MS Office for Mac etc.) Will this actually be the case? Will I lose them.
Any help gratefully received. Many thanks.

jfromplymouth wrote: ...I'm assuming that if I do an "Archive & Install" then I will lose all my Applications (VLC, Handbrake, MS Office for Mac etc.) Will this actually be the case? Will I lose them...
Archive and Install just affects the System files, so any apps you have should still be available afterwards. The Installer on the disk that came with your Mac, when you bought it, will tell you this before you proceed. Of course, you can always back out of the Installer if you feel chicken.
Notwithstanding it is still necessary to backup everything. You need to check that Time Machine is set to also backup your Applications folder. It might be set not to do this.
It may not be necessary to worry about this if you have the original installer disc(s). I think any stuff downloaded from iTunes etc can be re-downloaded. However, it's probably quicker to get Time Machine to backup your apps if you can afford the HDD space. It's bound to be quicker than re-downloading the stuff plus any updates. And of course there's those Apps that you have but forgotten about. What about them?

Will not boot past Grey Screen of Death

I was using Safari. Got the spinning beachball. Then it quit, followed by Text Edit, and Quicktime player which were running in the backround.
I was able to restart through the Apple menu, and got the Grey Screen of Death(GSoD), with the apple, and no spinning gear.
I had to shut it down using the power button and restarted holding Command-S so that I could run fsck in the Command Line, but it wouldnt go to the command line and all I got was the GSoD.
So, I started the computer from an external firewire drive, (using the option button on startup, which worked), and it booted fine and mounted my internal drive. (All my files appear to be there and are accessible. The good News...)
I ran disk utility, and it said that the internal drive was fine, no repairs needed.
I shut it down,unplugged the power cord and battery, reset the PMU, restarted, zapped the pram, and let it try to load, only to get the GSoD.
Then I booted from the firewire again, ran Techtool Pro (TTP), everything passed. I rebuilt the directory using TTP, restarted and still got the ole GSoD.
Telephone Tech Support made me use the Install disk to restart, and run disk utility, (no problems), and upon rebooting still the GSoD. They said I could take it to the Apple store, or run an archive and install.
I can't do an archive and install, (from home), because my original disk was Panther, and I can't find it, and my Tiger disk is only an upgrade disk. I don't want to do this anyway, and my last resort would be to clone my firewire disk back to my laptop, which I also do not want to do if I don't have to.
I was considering buying Diskwarrior (DW). It used to do miracles for me with OS9, but that was always when the drive wouldn't mount. I don't know how DW does with the ole GSoD, and a disk that mounts, or whether it can be reccomended to deal in this situation.
Any help would be appreciated, as well as anyone who cannot help, but can tell me what is wrong when the computer can't get past the GSoD.
Thanks in advance.
Powerbook G4 1.67mhz 1gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I wanted to add to my post that I have no third party hardware attached, (RAM, etc.), and disconnected all peripheral devices, only connecting the firewire external to boot the thing.
I also made no recent software installations. The last was the 10.4.8 update on 11/22.
Austin
I looked at that article for <10.3.9
The closest symptom was the blank grey screen. Though it did not mention the addition of the apple like my case. It suggests disk utility, and PMU reset, which I did and didn't help.
I looked at some of the other symptoms fixes for the blue-screen, -OS9 is not installed on the computer, and single user and safe modes also don't work.
I have an appointment at the Apple Store for this afternoon. I have the AppleCare protection plan. What in your opinion can they do, that telephone tech support couldn't suggest, besides performing the archive and install, that I can't do at home, and don't want to do anyway?
Also, seeing as the internal drive does mount, and I can access the data, why do you think that DW might fix it? I know they have a proprietary method, but I did replace the directory with TTP.
DW did perform miracles for me in the past, but then only when the disk wouldn't mount.
Right now my plan is to see the Genius this afternoon, if he's got nothing new to offer, I can buy DW rev 39 at the Apple Store, and run it there.
I guess barring any other advice, if you feel that DW can do the trick, I could buy it before seeing the Genius, and if it works, cancel my appointment.<br>
Powerbook G4 1.67mhz 1gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

2010 MacBook wont boot past grey screen, even after a new hard drive and install CD.

Hey guys, I received a 2010 Macbook last year as a gift (no warranty). It worked fine untill a few days ago. It wouldn't boot past the grey apple logo. I took it in to an Apple store and they said it was a bad HDD. Since I didn't have much stored on it, and I have everything backed up to my desktop, I got a new, larger capacity HDD and replaced it with no issues. I started the Macbook with the OSX Leopard install CD, but it didn't identify the HDD, and now it won't boot past the grey screen.
Any ideas? Is it the motherboard?
Thanks a lot!

House3917 wrote:
I started the Macbook with the OSX Leopard install CD...
Leopard is done for, call Apple via phone and order the 10.6.3 white retail disks and use those.
Use these install instrcutions for best operation and performance.
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6

Mac Mini boots to grey screen w/ symbols

This morning my Mac Mini will not boot to Mac OS - it displays a light grey screen with a thunderbolt and some weird symbol that looks like a wheel/hub with 3 arms - 1 arm is solid and the other 2 are made up of lines perpendicular to the hub.
The Mac Mini was recently upgraded to Mountain Lion - running lastest updates - this was a few days ago. The display to VGA through the mini display port. Using magic mouse and usb keyboard, that's about it.
Any idea what has happened? Or what isn't happening?
Thanks for your help!

OK - It looks like I'm stuck in target Disk Mode .... I suspect my kid had something to do with this or a stuck key.
Can someone recommend the best wat to get back to normal boot?

Macbook Won't Chime Or Boot Past Grey Screen W/ Apple Logo & Spinning Gear

So i took my Macbook into the apple store to get looked it, cuz i sensed it was a little too hot and maybe overheating........... I DJ so my Macbook is bascially used for that and that only, so after he ran a diagnostics he seen i needed a new fan, but they didn't have that fan in stock, so i went home.... Laptop still working fine until i went to boot it up and it didn't chime and was stuck on the grey screen with the apple logo and spinning gear. Does this indicate i need a new logic board or a new hard drive

Hi ds,
Sorry to hear you're having such trouble!
Unfortunately, the best thing you can do at this point is reinstall Leopard (and then attempt to install the combo updater, too). If you don't have a backup of your machine, you could boot it into Target Disk Mode (by holding down T at startup) and then attach it via FireWire to another computer to salvage your files.
I recently had to repair a machine with this exact same problem, and after messing around with that for several hours, I'd have to say that I think that an Erase and Install is the way to go. If you then migrate over your user data and start having troubles, you at least know where the problem lies. I suspect, though, that having a clean machine with all of the new updates applied will be the end of the issue.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. There are a few other things you could try first; you could, for example, manually download the relevant combo updater from Apple's website and attempt to install it to your damaged machine while it's in Target Disk Mode. If you have a copy of Disk Warrior, that too is certainly worth a shot (and in some cases may be the saving grace). In my experience, though, a failure of this magnitude isn't easy to resolve.
Hope that helps.
—Hazy

IMac refuses to boot up - grey screen, first aid failed

Hope someone can help me...
Recently downloaded the latest intel mac securiy update - ver. 11 - since then my iMac began to take a long time to boot up. It started fine this monring but upon shutdown and subsequent restart this evening my machine reaches the grey screen stage and then seems to 'loop' continuously - no log-in screen is ever reached.
I tried power off, unplug all cables - no results
I tried safe boot - no joy either
Booted from back up cds - ran disk utilities
verify disk - it aborted at the catalog check with invalid node structure, 1 HFS volume could not be repaired messages
verify disk permissions - it froze
tried install and archive - message was installation failed
Is there anything else I can try apart from erasing my hard drive and installing from scratch?
This seems to have started since I downloaded the ver 11 intel security update...
any advice greatly appreciated
Hazel

Hi Hazel, and a warm welcome to the forums!
Don't try to Repair Permissions or anything else until the Disk Structure is fixed.
You must repair the HD, if Disk Utility or fsck should fail to repair it, your best bet is DiskWarrior from Alsoft, you'll need the CD to boot from if you don't have another boot drive...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
But sometimes fsck will work if you do it a few times, not likely, but possible.
Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...
/sbin/fsck -fy
Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.
(Space between fsck AND -fy important).
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Tough without the Tiger Disk problems, but try fsck...
To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
1. Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Hold CMD+s keys down at bootup. Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
2. At the command-line prompt, type /sbin/fsck -fy
(SPACE between fsck AND -fy important)
3. Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found: 
The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK  If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message: *** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***   Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

TS1440 When booting up, grey screen with a 'folder icon' with 'question mark' flashes?

When I boot up, a grey screen appears with a folder icon with a question mark inside it. The Mac won't respond to and commands or anything, only the On/Off Power button.
Any ideas? If you read my previous question, you can see what happened before all of this started happening.
Thanks,
-Dylan

Did you follow this procedure?
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-install-or-reinstall-mac-os-x-mount ain-lion.html

Mac Mini just boots to grey screen - help!

My trusted mac mini a1176 (intel 1.66GHz) has always worked fine but now it just has a grey screen when it starts. There is no chime, and if I leave it long enough a picture of a file with a ? in it appears.
The events leading up to this could have an effect, I am not sure. The original hard drive had a mac and a PC division. I took this drive out 6 months ago and fitted a larger one. This larger one had a carbon copy of the mac part of the original drive made on it. I did not put the PC division on it. All worked fine since. Today I wanted to boot up the PC partition on the original drive so I put the old drive in a USB enclosure, plugged it in and then in settings chose to boot from the PC part of this drive. This is the last thing useful the mini did. It just went to grey screen on restart. So then unplugged the external drive, still no boot. Since then I have tried.
Pressing differen buttons on restart
Putting leopard instal disk in drive ( this is he os I am using)
Disassemble mini and put he original disk back in
SMC reset
Take out extra ram
Disconnected every other peripheral.
I use a apple wired keyboard
A dell mouse (I have a Bluetooth apple one)
Any suggested next steps would be warmly appreciated? Would the logic board just go like that? It seams a bit of a coincidence!
Thanks and sorry for he spelling, this is from my iPhone.

Here is YouTube video of what the screen is now doing.
http://m.youtube.com/index?client=mv-google&xl=xltsp&desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?xl=xlblazer&v=oGoeCSPV8ag

Macbook won't boot past grey screen with Apple logo and spinning wheel.

For some reason, after about 1 year and 10 months of owning my Macbook, it decided this morning not to load past the grey screen with the Apple logo and spinning cog/wheel.
I used it for a couple of hours beforehand, and it was working fine. Software Update prompted me of about about 4 or 5 updates; I can't remember exactly what was downloaded, but I think there was a Security Update and iTunes among them. I restarted, left it to install with no errors, but when I logged in, Safari and iTunes were running incredibly slowly. I also noticed that the volume keys weren't responding, as well as the power key to bring up the "Sleep, Restart, Shutdown, etc" dialog box. I forced shutdown, hoping a restart would solve my problem, and that's when my troubles started. I originally just left it, but after about an hour the wretched thing was still spinning.
So far, I have done a number of troubleshooting tips on a variety of websites. I have tried taking the battery out and holding down power for 5 seconds, resetting the PRAM with option, cmd, p & r, and holding down power until the sleep light flashes rapidly and the computer lets out a large "BOOOP".
I have booted off my Leopard install disk with both option and c, repaired the hard drive a number of times, with there being no errors whatsoever. I have tried repairing permissions, but everything seems to freeze up, except the mouse.
For some reason my computer will not boot into safe mode, either, and holding cmd & s at startup doesn't get me to the stage where I can enter commands with the keyboard.
Unfortunately, because of my puny 60GB hard drive, I only have 1GB of free space left and cannot reinstall Leopard without wiping my hard drive.
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could assist me with this unfortunate dilemma. It's such a shame that my computer has been fantastic for so long and now decides to play up. (Maybe it's just Apple trying to get me to buy a new 2.4Ghz aluminium Macbook sooner than I was planning...)
Thanks very much.

Hi ds,
Sorry to hear you're having such trouble!
Unfortunately, the best thing you can do at this point is reinstall Leopard (and then attempt to install the combo updater, too). If you don't have a backup of your machine, you could boot it into Target Disk Mode (by holding down T at startup) and then attach it via FireWire to another computer to salvage your files.
I recently had to repair a machine with this exact same problem, and after messing around with that for several hours, I'd have to say that I think that an Erase and Install is the way to go. If you then migrate over your user data and start having troubles, you at least know where the problem lies. I suspect, though, that having a clean machine with all of the new updates applied will be the end of the issue.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. There are a few other things you could try first; you could, for example, manually download the relevant combo updater from Apple's website and attempt to install it to your damaged machine while it's in Target Disk Mode. If you have a copy of Disk Warrior, that too is certainly worth a shot (and in some cases may be the saving grace). In my experience, though, a failure of this magnitude isn't easy to resolve.
Hope that helps.
—Hazy

Boot to grey screen

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