Attn: macbook pro won't start up past grey screen NO MATTER WHAT

my macbook pro won't start up past the grey screen, NO MATTER WHAT I DO. i've searched all the discussions on this, and NOTHING WORKS. nothing caused this either - i was just browing the internet and using ichat, and my computer shut down, and that is when this started.
I am EXTREMELY disappointed with this bullstein. My computer works great, etc., and I support mac and apple to the nth degree, but then some stupid crap like this happens and I can't use my computer at all. I have to use my sister's **** ibook g3 to even do this.
PLEASE HELP. do NOT post what you have already posted in the other discussions, and i've already been welcomed to the boards. I can't go to an apple store because i'm on vacation in new mexico for the summer, and there no stores anywhere near here. is there any real advice around here? I need to use my computer. That is why I spent close to $4,000 for it with upgrades and software.

where can i get an install disc for the macbook pro?
You really need to use the one that came with your MBP. If you don't have it, a retail Tiger OS X disc should work.
also, could an archive/install potentially free up some harddrive space on my computer?
No, it will actually use more space, so you will need at least 6G of free space. To clean your hard drive, use WhatSize.
WhatSize >>
-Bmer
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MacBook pro won't start up past grey screen

Ive tried a PRAM reset four or five times- nothing. Won't boot into safe moDe. Tried the command line with fsck-fy and it says there is no problems with my had drive but still won't load up.
it shows the grey screen with a clear spinning cog, then a blue screen, then the grey screen again, then blue, then grey before it goes to blue and stays there. I can move the cursor
any help would be appreciated. I can't get a Genius Bar appointment for a week :/

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

MacBook Pro won't boot up past grey screen! Help!

Long story short, my Mac was working fine yesterday and then it froze. I held down the power button and didn't think twice about it. Now it won't start up past the grey screen. Actually, I just recently held down the "d" key before it started up and now I'm at Apple Hardware Test but I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do. My hardware is testing for something. Does anybody have any troubleshooting things I could try to help make it come back? I am very depressed it's not working. I tried calling Apple Support but the guy only sent me an e-mail telling me how to fix it.

AHT test can take up to 4 hours...
Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test
You can also try Disk Utility (fsck)
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Macbook Pro won't start up past blue screen

I'm running OS X 10.5.7 on my MBP, along with a boot camp partition. My superdrive has been playing up for the past few months, and upon learning that the 2.1 firmware update could be responsible, I obtained the update and attempted to re-flash the firmware myself. To do this I had to edit a system file and spoof my version number to 10.4.9; I couldn't flash the drive otherwise.
I used textwrangler to edit the file /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist - I had to unlock the file to do this. I saved it, used the flashing utility and rebooted as instructed, and then encountered the issue. The screen turns from grey to blue, and the "loading" indicator appears briefly before disappearing again - this happens repeatedly until I power my computer off.
I started up in single-user mode and performed a fsck - this repaired some filesystem issues I wasn't aware I had, but did nothing to fix the problem. Running in single user mode, however, did reveal that the loginwindow.app was crashing repeatedly, and crash reports were being saved in a log directory.
Attempting to start in safe mode results in it sitting on the loading indicator at the grey Apple logo screen for upwards of twenty minutes with no results (save my computer getting increasingly warm).
I've long since mislaid the discs bundled with my MBP as well as my Leopard disc.
Windows XP still boots with no problems.
What exactly is the cause of this issue? I wouldn't have thought the file I edited and not being able to get past this blue screen were connected. Is there any way I can restore it?
I also have a Macbook at my disposal - are there any feasible solutions which would involve booting another machine in target disk mode?
Message was edited by: fnool
Message was edited by: fnool

Is there any way I can restore it?
Did you make a backup of the file? Always a wise thing to do when messing with system files.
Not sure if pico works in SUM but it would be worth a try to edit the file again to revert it to its proper version. If that fails, you will need to get your Leopard disc for an Archive and Install. Might be able to get a replacement one from Applecare at little cost.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
Edit:
Just saw you have another Macbook available. If both machines were running same OS you might be able to copy the file from one computer to the other. I would do this as root though then run a Permissions Repair in Disk Utility afterward
Message was edited by: theonlydean

TS2570 My MacBook Pro won't start up.only gray screen

Hi there,
My MacBook Pro won't start it show only gray screen (with apple logo )
And I have tried these solutions none of them worked
1/ Reset PRAM and NVRAM
2/ Restart in safe mode
3/Run Disk Utility in Single User Mode
After I tried third option it shutdown by itself
Please I need data inside the laptop , i have no backup
what should I do ?
I need some kind of solution does not contain formatting or deleting my data
Thank you in advance

..Step by Step to fix your Mac
Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive
My computer is not working, is my personal data lost?

My macbook pro will only start-up in grey screen

hi, i have a potentially big problem
I have just purchased macbook pro 15 inch 2.0 GHZ and tried to transfer data using the migration assistant.
i started have numerous problems like i did not have permissions to open folders - i found out how to solve that from this forum and it worked
i had more problems though with Teamviewer - it would not open - came up with an error message 600, so i downloaded the newest version which also wouldn't open.
and basically it just got from bad to worse.....
so i thought that i would then try to do a restore from 'My Passport for Mac' external hard drive.
then i got numerous messages popping up saying 'system extensions cannot be used' etc
i tried numerous times to restart new laptop, shutdown or even hard re-boot and it would not
so i went into SYSTEM / LIBRARY / EXTENSION and started deleting the files that it said were not installed properly
the list went on and on and on so i deleted the whole contents of extension folder - it was only then that the laptop would restart
BUT - now that it has restarted i get the restart 'sound' a grey screen with the apple icon in the middle - no cursor and some small writing in the top left hand corner (looks like CMD mode) and amongst the jargon it does say 'unable to find driver for this platform'
what on earth have i done ?
please help
thanks
Serena

i found the answer to my question on this forum - see below, hallelujah.....
This solved my question by Franco16 on Jun 13, 2012 3:13 AM
I found the solution, thanks to MrE_the_Great (read following cut and paste)
I'm glad it worked out. I'll put the steps below again for others who join this discussion late and to clarify as I was typing on a phone last night while my MBP was re-installing.
1) Hold in command-r while rebooting (or from cold start) to boot to the recovery partition.
2) Chose re-install mac osx
3) Enter appleID credentials
4) After the re-install is complete (may take a while depending on your intenet connection etc) all your files, preferences, and software will be there, you shouldn't lose anything.
5) DO NOT reattempt the Thunderbolt update. You can update the iPhoto and other updates that Software Update finds...just DO NOT check the Thunderbolt one or you will be at step one again.
for more information go here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4020399?start=60&tstart=0

Powerbook G4 won't start up past grey screen

Hello. I'm a little worried about my mac.
It doesn't start up past the grey apple screen. I hear the start up sound, and I hear the hard disk start spinning, but after a while the only thing I hear is the fans. The longest I've let it try was about an hour, and still nothing. I've tried resetting the PRAM and resetting the PMU. I don't have the OS 10.5 install disc with me at the moment, so I can't use that.
Some events that may have led up to the problem:
I installed the latest software update last night. Installation was sucessful, and I restarted. Everything was fine on restart, so I put the computer to sleep for the night. Today when I woke it up, one of the toolbars in the Finder was open (probably not a problem, but unusual). Everything seemed fine and then I opened Text Edit. It was bouncing in the dock for about a minute, so I tried to force quit, and after a while it eventually stopped bouncing. Then I tried a restart, and I got a message saying it was unsuccessful because Text Edit failed to quit, but there was no marker under it in the dock. Tried again, and I ended up having to do a ctrl-command-power. After that, I haven't been able to get past the grey start up screen.
PLEASE HELP Thanks!

If that's the case, then what I would do next is to use TDM to clone the contents of your problem drive onto an external FireWire drive using either SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner to make sure you have a backup of everything. Once done make sure you test the backup by restarting from the external drive.
Next thing I would do is run DiskWarrior (sometimes it can be a directory issue that might be causing problems) to check that everything is still OK on the drive. It might be worth running DW on the external backup whilst you are at it. If DW finds nothing wrong then I would consider reformatting the drive and installing a fresh copy of OS X onto it to test if everything works fine. On the other hand if DW finds problems, it might be able to fix them so that you can restart properly.
If after all that everything works then you can try cloning everything back from the external drive onto the PowerBook's internal drive.

Powerbook won't start up past grey screen

PB G4 17inch
10.4
Did a software update and now powerbook won't restart.
Stops at grey screen with Apple on it (no spinning icon underneath)
Here's what I've tried :
Inserted Tiger upgrade DVD
Started up holding down option
Both DVD and Hard Drive show up - I selected DVD and finished starting up
I ran Disk Utility / Repair Disk
At first it found a problem with a Cache count (didn't get the exact message)
It continued and fixed the problem
I repaired permissions
Tried restarting - stopped at same point
I ran the installer and reinstalled the OS
Still wouldn't start and stopped at same point
I have repeated the Disk Utility process several times - it obviously sees the hard drive, but won't start up from it...
Any ideas ?

I would not trash anything. Instead I would backup everything you can see to another hard disk. Once you have done that, let us know, and we can proceed with better troubleshooting methods. Some methods may be risky with data, but if successful then you won't have to recover anything.
It is important to always remember to backup your data:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
Disclaimer: Reference to links I make to my Macmaps.com website are a for your information only type reference. I do not get any profit from this page, and it is open to the public.

MacBook Pro won't boot up past gray screen?

Okay, so I was running chrome and iTunes and spotify. Spotify was playing and Avast! Detected an infection and moved it to the chest. I quit chrome and opened up a Steam game called Garry's Mod, but it wouldn't open no matter how many times I tried it. So I tried to open chrome again and it bounced but didn't open. Tried to open system preferences and it opened but didn't show a window and wasn't responding. So I tried to restart but it wouldn't restart, so I force shut it down. Then it wouldn't go past the gray screen.
So I restarted the PRAM. Didn't work. Tried booting into safe mode. Didn't work. When into single user and checked the directories I think. Didn't work. Called apple and repaired permissions and that didn't work. Then I downloaded OS Mavericks and reinstalled it. Didn't work. So I'm redownloading to see if it might work if i do it again. Otherwise, he said I'd have to completely restore and lose my data, which would suck. I don't have a backup unfortunately.
What I'm wondering is if there's anything you think I could do that just might fix this?
Or, is there anyway to save my data if it won't boot up and I don't have a backup? I have lots of writing and music I really would not like to lose.

Your disk may be sick or dying. As you surmised the top priority at this point is to make a copy of your data.
First, check the health of the disk. Boot in Recovery Mode (Boot, Command-R). Run Disk Utility. Click on the upper left disk icon. Does the S.M.A.R.T. status say “Verified”? If not the disk/SSD is unhealthy and needs to be replaced. Click on the icon indented below, usually called “Macintosh HD” and Verify Disk. If it finishes with a green “OK” message then all is well with the disk. If it shows errors in red then you have found a problem to address once the system is backed up. Do not attempt software repairs until you have secured the data. Post back with the results of this test.
If the disk will not show up at all in Disk Utility to run these simple testes then it is probably already dead. A trip to an Apple store to confirm that would be in order.
If you have an external disk drive you can use as a backup drive then do so. If not I’m going to council you to purchase a drive you can use to replace your internal drive if need be. The silver lining is this new drive will be much faster than the old one. Google “Seagate 1 TB SSHD”. You should find a drive for about $100. Google “USB 3.0 enclosure”. That should cost $10 to $20. When they arrive plug the drive into the enclosure.
Assuming it is still breathing you can recover the data without booting from the sick disk.
Reformat the external disk Boot in Recovery Mode. Start Disk Utility. Plug in the new disk. Select it’s disk Icon (the second one down, left justified). Select the Partition tab.
Partition Layout > Single Partition
Name: Emergency Recovery 1 (or whatever name you wish to use)
Format: Mac OS Extended (journaled)
Options… > GUID Partition Table > OK
Apply
Select the Restore tab.
Drag the old system volume (Macintosh HD) to Source.
Drag the new disk volume (Emergency Recovery 1) to Destination.
Click on Restore.
If that will not complete post back for another emergency data recovery method.
If the backup succeeds use the First Aid tab in Disk Utility to select the old volume (Macintosh HD) and Repair Disk. If it repairs with a green OK message, will it boot normally?
Post back for further instructions. How to proceed will depend on what has transpired to that point.

Installed Yosemite...now my MacBook pro won't start up. Keep showing "Kernel Panic!" HELP!

installed Yosemite and now my MacBook pro won't start up. Keeps showing "kernel panic"
PLEASE HELP ME!

If you can't start up and log in in the usual way, try in safe mode.
During startup, you’ll see a progress bar, and then the login screen, which appears even if you normally log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Log in as an administrator to carry out these instructions. If you have only one account, you are the administrator.
☞ If you don't see any reports listed, but you know there was a panic, you may have chosen Diagnostic and Usage Messages from the log list. Choose DIAGNOSTIC AND USAGE INFORMATION instead.
Safe mode is slower than normal, and some things won’t work at all.
Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t start in safe mode.
If you're able to log in, 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.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
In the Console window, select
DIAGNOSTIC AND USAGE INFORMATION ▹ System Diagnostic Reports
(not Diagnostic and Usage Messages) from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
There is a disclosure triangle to the left of the list item. If the triangle is pointing to the right, click it so that it points down. You'll see a list of reports. A panic report has a name that begins with "Kernel" and ends in ".panic". Select the most recent one. The contents of the report will appear on the right. Use copy and paste to post the entire contents—the text, not a screenshot.
I know the report is long, maybe several hundred lines. Please post all of it anyway.
In the interest of privacy, I suggest that, before posting, you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.)
Please don’t post other kinds of diagnostic report.

I was messing around with .kext files in the MacintoshHD and now my MacBook Pro won't start up.

I was messing around with .kext files in the MacintoshHD and moved the system.kext and two others to my desktop and deleted the originals and now the MacBook Pro won't start up. All I get at start up is the apple icon then a bunch of text shows up part of which says Mac OS version: not yet set. then the apple icon turns into the power icon and tells me to turn off the computer. I've tried reinstalling from the install DVD by holding down option when powering on and selecting the install DVD and it just goes to a white screen with the apple icon and stays like that. I didn't have the disk utility on my Mac before this happened because I deleted it to make room on my computer a while ago so I'm not sure if that's why it won't load the install DVD but anyone who knows the solution to this with out going to get it repaired would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Never mind my dad just found the original install DVD and that worked. Before I was using an install disc that Apple sent me for another issue I was having, but thanks for replying so quickly and trying to help on this Thanksgiving day!!!

Hi! My MacBook Pro won't start! HELP !!!

Hi! My MacBook Pro won't start! I have tried everything I can think of like Safe Mode (doesn't work), Recovery (does not find Recovery Drive), Booting with OS Snow Leopard Cd (doesn't work)...
I have really no clue about what to do now... I paid quite a lot of money for this computer and am pretty short of money nowadays! Would like to repair with help rather than having to take it to Apple Store.
Has anyone had this same problem?
All I get is white screen + grey Apple and spinning grey disk... it's 100% frustrating! Any help would be more than welcome since I think i've tried EVERY SUGGESTION on this Support Center and Youtube videos...
This MBP is from 2011, runs on OS X 10.6.8
I tried booting with OS X Snow Leopard CD, it didn't work! (my cd player works! recognizes the Snow Leopard CD, but then never opens it... goes back forever to the with screen + apple and spinning disk)
I don't care about the content, it's OK if i lose all DATA... I just want to bring this Mac BACK TO LIFE!
When i run coomand on root# fsck -fy --> RESULT = my HD was checked and seems to be FINE!
Thanks

Please make a Genius Appointment and take it in for service.

Spilled liquid on MacBook Pro - won't start - any suggestions?

spilled liquid on MacBook Pro - won't start - any suggestions?

Thank you both for your responses! I watched a video on how to remove the hard drive - special tork(?) screwdriver and too many steps for me to feel confident about doing it myself, so I took the computer to an Apple Store - and thank God, the hard drive appeared undamaged - they are transferring the data to a new Macbook Pro. The loss of data was the scariest part, so I am breathing again!
The laptop was three years old, I was hoping for another year or so before upgrading, but such is life. I appreciate your upfront advice.

MacBook Pro won't start up after chime, MacBook Pro won't start up after chime

MacBook Pro won't start up after chime, MacBook Pro won't start up after chime

Try resetting the SMC.
Barry

MacBook Pro won't start after changing access rights

I did something very wrong. Unfortunately I changed the access rights of Macintosh HD for "everyone" to none.
Result, my MacBook Pro won't start anymore.
Already tried the installation disk, reset password for root and users. No result.
Help program "check acces rigths". Didn't work either.
How do I reset the access rights of Macintosh HD?

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2240
The first solution is what you're looking for.

Attn: macbook pro won't start up past grey screen NO MATTER WHAT

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