Macbook air freezes up at grey screen and

My macbook air freezes up at the grey screen where you sign in. The mouse is stuck in the upper left corner and does not move. None of the buttons work either. What can I do?
It boots up like normal and then I cant do anything once it goes on the grey screen. HELP!

Reboot the computer and hold the Shift key as soon as it chimes. When you see the Apple icon release. This is will start you in Safe Mode (hopefully). Once the computer gets to the Finder (assuming it works) restart as normal and see if the cache cleaning solved your problem.
If that didn't work restart holding the Command R key to enter the recovery partition or Command Option R to enter Internet recovery mode. From one of these two options you can reformat the hard drive and restore from a backup.

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Macbook air Lion stuck at grey screen and spinning wheel

HI
I have a Macbook air with Lion installed. I pressed the On button, but it gets stuck at grey screen, apple logo and spining wheel. I then managed to get it to startup in Safe Mode.
How can I find out what the problem was?
Please could you let me know if there are some simple steps to fix this?
Thank you in advance.

Please carefully read Gray screen appears during startup, Apple will tell you how to trouble shoot the issue. I suspect your HD has crashed, not a big deal if you have been backing up. However if you haven't then you're probably about to learn a lesson on why backup is critical.

Imac freezes on startup grey screen and really loud fans

My Imac G5 non intel 20" freezes on startup grey screen and really loud fans start and it won't boot. just have the logo on the grey screen.
I've tried resetting Pram - think that was the right thing to do?
I've tried disk utility, but it won't settle for me to choose the hard drive, it kind of sticks and keeps rotating the wheel.
any ideas anyone?
please help.

Lots of things you can try - first, try resetting the SMU. Next, boot from your install disc, go to Disk Utility and try to verify and repair your hard drive. If that doesn't work, try running the Apple Hardware Test on one of your install discs.
Also, depending on which model you have, you may be eligible for Apple's power supply or video and power issues.
Please post back with results,
Miriam

My Macbook Air 2011 got a white screen and a folder with a question mark. I tried to press option+r and try to install the OS X Lion but it didn't show the disk Macintosh Hd

My Macbook Air 2011 got a white screen and a folder with a question mark. I tried to press option+r and try to install the OS X Lion but it didn't show the disk Macintosh Hd

You are using Snow Leopard so you have no OPTION+R shortcut. You need to boot the computer from your Snow Leopard DVD or USB flash drive.
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

Macbook Air starts with a white screen and permanent "poing"-sound...

Macbook Air starts with a white screen and permanent "poing"-sound...
Tried SMU, PRAM, MMU resets, but nothing helps...
Thank you for your support.

You need to take it in for service, it may be a stuck key or component failure.

Macbook Air 2011 Stuck on grey screen

Hello All,
I have a 2011 Macbook air running 10.8.1 which won't successfully boot up. I press the power button, (i have to hold it a long time) and then it goes to a grey screen with an apple logo and a slowly filling status bar. Once the bar fills up after about 15-30 minutes, the computer turns off. Has happened maybe 10 times, always the same result.
I tried booting in repair mode, and I decided to reinstall OSX. The software said it would verify my computer with Apple. Despite having a completely legit computer purchased from an apple store, it says there is an error and I should try again. Again I've tried many times, and each time it won't let me reinstall OSX.
I reset the PRAM but it didn't make a difference.
What should I do to reinstall OSX or at least get the computer to a desktop again?
Thanks!
P.S.
If it helps, this is a link to an old discussion which was dealing with my computers previous issue of running merely very slow. Since this is a different problem (I can't even get it to turn on) I created a new discussion.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4386839

Take this Mac to a local Apple Store (make a genius bar apointment first) and they can boot off ethernet and run a program called "MRI" which will run a bunch of tests quickly without loading OS X. This can pinpoint if there is a hardware, RAM or disk problem.

Security Update 2010-007 freezes MacBookPro with grey screen and spinner

Just some observations: a client with a MacBook Pro (2GHz Duo Core, 1.5Gb RAM) was running 10.5.8 without issue. Applied the Security Update 2010-007, Java Update 8, iTunes 10.0.1 and Safari 5.0.2. Rebooted, and machine kernal panics. Restarted twice to same kernel panic. Machine was able to reboot off of a clone backup (firewire external drive) made the day prior (without the updates) without issue. Try to reboot on normal drive and kernel panic.
Tried Rember and found one of the modules of RAM failed the test. Pulled the 1Gb out, machine booted to the grey screen (gray screen for google typos), the Apple logo and the spinner - for an hour. Apparently the update installation (with the bad RAM) pooched the system. Resetting the PRAM/NVRAM and PMU did nothing. A reinstallation of the 10.5.8 combo update fixed the issue.
Reminder: kernel panics are almost always a result of bad RAM in my experience. And by bad RAM, I mean RAM that will work with an older version of an OS, but not a newer one. EPROM info wrong or however else that RAM is preconfigured doesn't jive with the latest specs Apple uses in some in-between update.
Grey screens, endless spinning of the spinner -- most of that can be ferreted out, but it's usually easier to simply reapply a combo update to restore a system to sanity.

Hey, since I have updated to 10.6.3 I have a similar issue. When I put my macbook pro to sleep and I come back a few hours later and turn my external monitor on I notice that the macbook is ON, BUT frozen! The time is usually a few hours back, so the macbook must have started up and frozen shortly after I had put it to sleep. There is no way to restart but to hold down the power button, SUPER annoying!
Hope this will get addressed in an update. Any way your problem is connected to sleep mode?

My Macbook is stuck on the grey screen and we don't have the original installation discs. Please help

Hi there,
We have a late 2008 Model MacBook (Serial No: 45920ccp9gu) It has suddenly stopped working and is stuck on the grey start up screen, I have tried to press the Command and R Keys after chime and also the hold of Option key, but both don't work, I can't tell what version of software is installed, (we bought it second hand) but I thin it is Snow Leopard. Any ideas how to fix this? Many thanks

. The 10.6 Snow Leopard DVD is in the Apple online store. You can get it for $19.99. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Command + R is only for 10.7 Lion or 10.8 or Mountain Lion. For 10.6 Snow Leopard or lower you need a DVD install disk.
Put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

Macbook pro boots up at grey screen and then turns off!

Hello! My 3 month old macbook pro suddenly has problems booting up. I press power and it goes to the gray screen with the apple logo, the gears start spinning, and then it just shuts off! Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Give this a try and see if it helps:
Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks without erasing drive
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

My Macbook Air shut down on the screen and is making a beeping noise every second. I tried charging it up unsuccessfully.

Please help. I was watching netlix last night and my computer just went dark. It began making a beeping noise every second. It would not turn on or all the way off. I tried charging it which changed nothing--not the screen nor the beeping.

if its continuous it cant be every 3 seconds, logically
1 beep = no RAM installed
2 beeps = incompatible RAM types
3 beeps = no good banks
4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)
5 beeps = processor is not usable
hardware fault regardless. Still RAM
dead screen, no SMC reset possible, ergo:
Contact Apple for appt. for free diagnostics and drop off at your local Apple shop.

When I start up my Macbook Pro, I get a grey screen and a flashing folder icon. What does it mean and how do I fix it?

Help. I don't know what to do. I need this computer for college courses.

Hi PrinceCobra925,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like there is an issue starting your Mac, it's booting up to a gray screen with a folder that has a flashing question mark on it. The article linked below provides a lot of great troubleshooting tips that will resolve most issues like the one you described.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
I hope this helps.
-Jason

Grey screen and weird click

please can some one help, my macbook just hangs on its grey screen and has this weird click coming from the hard drive area, it just randomly happened, please can anyone offer me any assistance as i'm unable to get to an apple store! i telephoned apple but found them a little unhelpful! i tried rebooting from the install disk and nothing happens, just grey!
if this cant be fixed would i still be able to access my hardrive from another mac using a firewire cable??

Well if you hear a "clic" noise coming from the hard drive ares you could have a problem with the hard drive, when you insert the installation disc do you press letter "C" to boot from the cd?? conecting te hard drive to an other computer maybe will help you to recover all your data but not to fix it. How ever if you dont know how to fix it i will recomend you to take it to a store or techical support to get it fixed, or calling apple if you still have the warranty.

My macbook pro is stuck on grey screen with apple symbol in center with the progress circle under it continusly spinning. After I had turned it on. Prior to turning it on I had to force close and shut down a few hours prior. Please Help?

My macbook pro is stuck on grey screen with apple symbol in center with the progress circle under it continusly spinning. After I had turned it on. Prior to turning it on I had to force close and shut down a few hours prior. Please Help I have tried everything I know to do

Unfortunately this means that there is a problem in the boot sector of your hard drive. It might be indicative of a fundamental corruption in the coding that allows your computer to boot your operating system from your hard drive. I had this problem twice and it resulted in me having to get a new hard drive and restore my data.
In other words, your computer can't talk to your operating system so you can't access your data.
Here is my advice: DON'T CALL APPLE TECH SUPPORT though they are kind and usually helpful it will take you an hour just to explain the situation and they will only tell you to do what I'm gonna say here.
First: Shut down your computer completely
Two: boot up while holding down the following keys: command, option, p, and r. The computer will reboot 3 times. This solution will likely fail so if you're frustrated skip to the next step.
Three: Boot up while holding down the option key. Select recovery drive. Select your default language. Select disk utility, click on Macintosh HD, and select "verify and repair volume." Likely the verification will produce some line like "unused node not erased." Or something like that. If anything using the words "node structure" comes up, you need a new hard drive.
If after verification and repairs you still can't boot I sincerely hope you have apple care because you will need a new hard drive. Set up an appointment to come in to the apple store, they will tell you to go and get data recovery, just ask them to give you the old hard drive. Unless you have an up to date backup in which case you can just restore from that. If you're lucky the only issue is with the boot sector which means that if you ask them to give you the old hard drive, you can buy an enclosure and you have effectively been given a free external hard drive. It still works to store data just not to load an operating system.
If you have a back up drive bring it to the apple store and they'll do the whole thing right there, it should take around an hour and a half but may take longer.
Hope this helps, it's annoying but it's your safest bet.
All the best.

At startup I get grey screen and a folder with a flashing question mark. How do I reset my MacBook Pro to the manufacture defaults?

At startup I get grey screen and a folder with a flashing question mark. How do I reset my MacBook Pro to the manufacture defaults?

Click here and follow the instructions. If the computer originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, when you reach step 5, insert its original disk, restart with the C key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the internal drive, and install a fresh OS.
(113954)

My old MBP (2005) often crashes, freezes or shows grey screen at start up. Also track pad often does not work. I have re fomatted the HD and reinstalled system but to no avail. Genius bar says possible faulty HD, but suspect logic board, any ides any body

My old 17" MBP (2005) often crashes, freezes or shows grey screen at start up. Also track pad often does not work. I have re fomatted the HD and reinstalled system but to no avail. Genius bar says possible faulty HD, but I suspect logic board. All checks out OK on the Apple Diagnostic bench. Can a Logic board go intermittant?? Any Ideas any body??

Ive repaired 1000s of laptops over the years (translate: diagnose and replace parts).
Its not that old, Ive owned 100s of laptops (most were free) ....some I still have are nearly 13 years old and still perfect, ....some extremely expensive ones died in under a year.
other than becoming obsolete at some point, there isnt really any "will spoil on" data like Milk for solid state computer parts, ....alas.
You can have a $5000 laptop die in 4 months, and a junker one keep kicking after 10 years.... Ive seen that firsthand countless times.
Common logic dictates that "very expensive = long life" in computers,..... but all the repair people will tell you just the opposite.
I know you have a gripe, I get that all too well honestly .

Macbook air freezes up at grey screen and

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