Macbook powers up, but remains at blue screen with spinning wheel

I've had my macbook for about a year and a half now. Today I noticed it was running extremely slow every once in a while. I also noticed a faint beep while using the laptop. I decided to turn the computer off for a little bit and and then started it back up. When I did this, the usual blue screen came up, but with a blinking file folder icon instead of the usual apple icon. I tried restarting it since then, and it just displays the spinning wheel upon start up and nothing else. Any advice?

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
See first if your Mac is under a return/exchange program:
http://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/
If not, attempt to reset the PRAM:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
and SMC:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411
If none of these help, is your data backed up?

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Macbook Pro 10.6.8 won't shut down. Blue screen with spinning wheel.

it's an 15 inch macbook pro. since I bought this computer was working fine about last year. Somehow, start of this year, the problem begins. Everytime when i opened microsoft word 2011 on mac or Photoshop cs5, and quit the software as normaly. When i try to shut down the blue screen with spinning wheel apears. this spining wheel is endless. But funny thing is that after use other software such as games, web browser (safari) etc. and quit them. when i shut down there was not a problem. only word 2011 for mac and adobe photoshop cs5. Any solutions?

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.
Step 1
Select "system.log" from the file list. Enter "BOOT_TIME" (without the quotes) in the search box. Note the timestamps of those log messages, which refer to the times when the system was booted. Now clear the search box and scroll back in the log to the last boot time when you had the problem. Post the messages logged during the time something abnormal was happening. That time might be before or after the boot.
For example, if the problem is a slow startup taking three minutes, post the messages timestamped within three minutes after the boot time, not before. If the problem is a system crash or freeze, post the messages from before the boot time, when the system was about to crash or was failing to shut down. In either case, please include the BOOT_TIME message at the beginning or the end of the log extract.
Post the log text, please, not a screenshot. If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don’t post many repetitions of the same message.
If the log doesn't go back far enough in time, scroll down in the Console file list to /private/var/log/system.log.0.bz2. Search that archived log, and if necessary the older ones below it, for the same information.
Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Edit it out by search-and-replace in a text editor before posting.
Step 2
Do the same with kernel.log.
Step 3
Still in Console, look under System Diagnostic Reports for crash or panic logs, and post the most recent one, if any. In the interest of privacy, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if present (it may not be.) Please don’t post shutdownStall or hang logs — they're very long and not helpful.

My MBP 15 inch can't switch off (freeze at blue screen with spinning wheel)

Whenever i try to "shut down" my MBP, it will freeze at the blue screen with the spinning wheel (that keeps spinning like 'eternally')! Any idea how to solve the problem?
I tried booting from the installation disk and repairing disk with "disk utility" but to no avail. Have also tried repairing disk permissions... Any idea how else should i tackle this problem?
Currently i can only switch off my MBP by holding the power button (forcing it to shut down)...
Please help Thanks!

Launch the Console application by entering the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search, and select "system.log" from the file list. Enter "BOOT_TIME" (without the quotes) in the search box. Note the times of the log messages referring to boot times. Now clear the search box and scroll back in the log to the time of the most recent boot when you had the problem. Look for error messages in the minutes before that time, and post them here -- the text, please, not a screenshot. Edit out excessive repeats, if any. Do the same with kernel.log.
If the logs don't go back far enough in time, scroll down in the Console file list to /private/var/log/system.log.0.bz2 and /private/var/log/kernel.log.0.bz2. Search those archived logs, and if necessary the older ones below them, for the same information.
Also in Console, look under System Diagnostic Reports for crash or panic logs, and post the most recent one, if any. For privacy’s sake, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if present (it may not be.) Please do not post shutdownStall or hang logs -- they're very long and not helpful.

MacBook Powers on but Stops at Blue Screen after Chime

My computer was charging during a wind storm that knocked out power out. My computer was in "sleep" mode. I went to the library to charge my computer while the power was still out and it worked properly. After using it I shut it down completely, which I only do during transport. When I came home to use my computer it would not start up. The computer turned on, chimed, and then flashed from a light blue to slightly darker blue screen all while the loading thing spun at the bottom of the screen. I held in the power button until the computer shutdown and tried again. No luck. I am under Apple Care. Did something happen to my computer? Thanks.

If you put the OS X Installer Disc in the computer's optical drive and boot from it does it boot into the installer as expected?
Booting From An OS X Installer Disc
1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.
If so then do the following:
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger and Leopard.) 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. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger, and 4.1 for Leopard) and/or TechTool Pro (4.6.1 for Leopard) 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.
If you still cannot startup, then there may be corrupted system files requiring that you reinstall OS X. You may be able to do the following if that's the case:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.) 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 quit DU and return to the installer.
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3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you should delete it from the hard drive.

IMac does not boot up, gets stuck on blue screen with spinning wheel ...

... and tries to do something in a 10 second circle ... blue screen ... spinning wheel b/w on blue screen ... blue screen ... spinning wheel again ...
... with some hard disc work going on ...
i habe checked the disk with the disc utility, no errors.
any idea what I could do apart from reinstalling the os?
thanks for your help!
j.

Hi J
Welcome to Apple Discussions
That sounds almost like a failed Leopard install:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1545?viewlocale=en_US
or it's Stuck in a "loop" at the login window after upgrading to Leopard: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1413?viewlocale=en_US
Try an Archive & Install:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710
or restore from your Time Machine Backup:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/15638.html
Dennis

Why is my MacBook Pro **crashing** changing to a blue screen with lines or distorted screen when I open logic or Ableton Live

Why is my MacBook Pro **crashing** changing to a blue screen with lines or distorted screen when I open logic or Ableton Live. Then I have to restart by long pressing the power button. Can somebody plz help me

What you describe sounds like a hardware issue. Unfortunately, you'll need to get that checked out by Apple. If you have an Apple Store near you, make an appointment with the Genius Bar and take the machine in for evaluation.

Macbook pro blue screen with spinning disk, won't start up. desperate!!!

macbook pro blue screen with spinning disk, won't start up. desperate!!! i'm a student and have a paper due tomorrow.
my macbook was really sluggish so i ran a hardware test. it said NO PROBLEMS. i did restart. my current login and password were REJECTED.
then the macbook went into blue screen and it just sits there and flashes to gray and back to blue and the white lines that make up the circle icon just spin and spin. i am DESPERATE to get this running so i can print my paper. please email me directly to my cell phone because i can't access computer. using someone else's computer to request help. DIRECT EMAIL PLEASE thank you.
<Email Edited by Host>

Hi ...
my current login and password were REJECTED
Try resetting your admin password > Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password

Lightroom 6 Develop module: no picture but instead a blue screen with a cross over it.[was: Something wrong with a program]

dear Sir,
I have just bought Lightroom 6 and downloading went as axpected. Although the most of the modes worked well the developing mode did not show the picture but instead a blue screen with a cross over it. I have downloaded the program twice and it is still the same error. I thing their is a error in the program you are selling.
Below you will find a copy of the e-mail sent to me received following my buying th program
ID: <Removed by Moderator>
Beställningsnummer: #<<Removed by Moderator>
>Beställda produkter:
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6 (Mac/Win,Engelska)
<serial number removed>
PLEASE HELP ME!!!! OTHERWISE I HAVE TO RETURN THE PROGRAM!!!!
GLENN

Hi Glenn,
Try to unchecked GPU Acceleration under Preferences>Performance tab.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Help | Lightroom GPU FAQ
Regards,
Sumit Singh

Grey and Blue Screens with Spinning Pinwheel

Mid 2009 Macbook Pro 13 inch with Mac OSX Snow Leopard installed. 2.26 GHZ 4 GB 160 GB Version 10.6.3
I got this dead Macbppk Pro from my daughter . I put in a new battery and re-installed Mac OSX Snow Leopard from the licesned disc she bought so I could get rid of all her files and have free space and to make the Macbook now mine with my passwords etc. I got free support from Apple on how to install the disc and overwrite everything that was on it.
Until now ... I get a Grey Screen with the Spinning Pinwheel for endless time.
So the I tired the Hold Alt/ Option + Command + holding the P and R buttons while starting it up and got a Blue Screen with the spinning Pinwheel.
Any Help on what to try next ?
I only use it about once a month because I have a desktop. Does using it only once a month harm anything ? Should I be doing anything to not have this problem with it ?
Or do I have to re-install the disc again and if so .... what would be the procedure to do so ( I forget )
Thanks Eric

Hi Eric,
Thanks for visiting Apple Support Communities.
If your MacBook Pro is only starting up to a blue screen with spinning pinwheel, reinstalling OS X may be necessary. I would recommend going through all of these steps first:
Restart the computer in safe mode. If the computer successfully starts up in safe mode, choose Apple menu > Restart to see whether the computer will restart normally.
Starting up in safe mode
If you see the login window prompting you for a user name and password, but starting up doesn't progress, you may have incompatible login items.
Eliminating incompatible login items
Repair your startup disk or disk permissions by starting up from your Mac OS X installation disc and using Disk Utility.
Repairing a disk
Back up your disk and then reinstall Mac OS X by starting up your computer with your Mac OS X installation disc.
Reinstalling Mac OS X
From:
Mac OS X 10.6: If you see a blue screen at startup
Best Regards,
Jeremy

Downloaded OSX Mountain Lion on MacBook now stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel HELP?!?!

Downloaded OSX Mountain Lion on MacBook now stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel. What can I do, will I loose everything on my laptop?

ashg23 wrote:
Thank you, I have restarted but it is still stuck at the grey page with the spinning wheel? Any idea?
Have you started up holding down Command + R and attempted to install again?
Pete

Blue screen and spinning wheel at shutdown

since a few weeks my Mac mini won't shut down properly.
The blue screen with the spinning wheel does not go away.
Once I left the Mac on over night while shutting it down. In the morning there still was a blue screen and spinning wheel.
This happens not every time but more and more often.
I repaired the rights und checked the volume with the harddrive-tool (don't know the english name of that tool). No change.

Since last Friday (3/18), the exact same thing has been happening to me on a Mac mini (2010), only every time. I have searched and search since then and have not found a resolution online.
I have zapped the pram/vram, repaired permissions and verified disk in Disk Utility. I uninstalled the ONLY app that I added before the problem.....still no success.
When I boot up in Safe Mode, I can restart/shutdown. So at least it may not be a hardware issue.
Any ideas would be MUCH appreciated!
Message was edited by: peteranton

Macbook Pro 10.8 won't shut down. Gray screen with spinning wheel.

Previous it happened on 10.6.8 snow leppord. I thought it might be the RAM problem, so i went ahead and purchased a 16GB RAM. Now I got the RAM up running, i upgraded the computer to 10.8 mountain lion. I thought the problem should be gone by now. But somehow, it happened all over again, everytime when i use microsoft office 2011. I even quit every single app fron the Active Monitor (include Active Monitor), and wait for about 5min before shutdown, the gray screen with spinning wheel appeared again. I repair the disk from recovery HD, according to that, there is no problem anymore. But, once again it happened after i used Microsoft office 2011. Is there anyways i could fix it? I suppose uninstall it will make it work, but it's vital.

Previous it happened on 10.6.8 snow leppord. I thought it might be the RAM problem, so i went ahead and purchased a 16GB RAM. Now I got the RAM up running, i upgraded the computer to 10.8 mountain lion. I thought the problem should be gone by now. But somehow, it happened all over again, everytime when i use microsoft office 2011. I even quit every single app fron the Active Monitor (include Active Monitor), and wait for about 5min before shutdown, the gray screen with spinning wheel appeared again. I repair the disk from recovery HD, according to that, there is no problem anymore. But, once again it happened after i used Microsoft office 2011. Is there anyways i could fix it? I suppose uninstall it will make it work, but it's vital.

Imac won't shut down, blue screen with spinig wheel is on and computer never shuts until I hold the power button down and shut it manualy..

Imac won't shut down,
blue screen with spinig wheel is on and computer never shuts until I hold the power button down and shut it manualy..

This is the instruction article for Intel-based Macs:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Your profile does not indicate the type of Mac you are using.
Barry

Blue screen and spinning wheel at startup

I had permission problems (locked time machine drive) so I did a full time machine restore.
Did the restart after the restore.
Machine won't reboot.
I get 'bong', apple logo on grey screen as per normal.
Then blue screen and spinning wheel for approx 7 seconds
Then blue screen and black pointer for approx 2 seconds
The blue screen spinning wheel / black pointer repeats.
Also can't start up from Snow Leopard DVD.
I get exactly the same scenario.
I have held down the power key at got the tone.
Still won't start.
HELP!!!!!
It's an Imac (white one) 1.8Gig Dual with 1.5 gig of ram.
Running Snow leopard.
I can see my disc over the ethernet; it is still there as it was sharing with my other machine.
Not sure if this helps me at all?
Cheers

Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
Do the following:
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 the Combo Updater for the version you prefer from support.apple.com/downloads/.
If you cannot boot from your installer DVD on the iMac, then you can try connecting to your other computer via Firewire cable and use Target Disk Mode to boot and install from the other computer - Transferring files between two computers using FireWire

IMac has gray screen with spinning wheel, but cannot login

After power failure last night, iMac has gray screen with spinning wheel when turned on, but does not go to login screen.

Having the same problem myself. iMac locked up and I had to hold the power button to turn it off. Ended up with the apple logo screen and spinning wheel. I tried the disk repair and got the same message as yourself, in that it couldn't repair it.
I linked up an external hard drive and installed OSX on it and booted from it. I was able to recover some files, but most I couldn't. I'm currently giving it a one pass erase in the hope (long shot) that a complete pass through the hard drive will show up any faults. Has anyone had this problem and been able to continue using the same hard drive? I really don't relish the thought of having to send it off to be replaced :-/
Assuming that the erase goes well I plan to put OSX back onto it and then run disk utility from directly on the drive and see if any faults show up. I'm kicking myself for not taking advantage of TimeMachine, but we live and learn.

Macbook powers up, but remains at blue screen with spinning wheel

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