Can't fix Grey Screen issue

Hello,
My Mac Book seems to have a grey screen/OSX problem. The computer boots up fine, but after a few minutes the screen will go grey and I will get a warning stating there is a problem with OSX and I need to shut down. After shutting down and rebooting the computer will work fine for a couple of minutes and then the same thing happens again.
I took it to a local Mac reseller and they said it was the hard drive and since it is under warranty they replaced it for me. However the problem continues. It sounds like an OSx problem, but I would have thought they would have re-installed the operating system when they replaced the hard drive.
Any thoughts? If the hard drive has been replaced and the operating system has been reinstalled, what else could it be?

Sounds like you are having kernel panics. Here are a couple of resources to start with:
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1392
Good luck!

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Stuck at grey screen issue: with an Afghanistan twist

First time post, so please go easy. I apologize for loading so much into the first post, but I believe it's better to give you all the information about my situation so I don't waste your time having to ask me questions about it, that I could have already provided.
Background: I bought my 17" MBP from a friend in late 2007 after he convinced me how superb it was in comparison to a PC. Since then I've been on a mission to convert everyone I can, as I personally view Windows as a self sustaining virus and will never use one for personal use again.
I'm in the Army, and my MBP has survived three long deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and has not once ever had any kind of problems...until now. I'm currently in Afghanistan with my MBP and do not have any of my systems disks. A week ago, the CD drive stopped reading disks of any kind and ejects them after attempting to read them. Additionally, I can now hear the right side fan sounding like a lawn mower.
Today, my biggest nightmare came to fruition. I restarted my MBP after making some folder organizational changes, and it now refuses to start. It sticks at the grey screen with apple logo and spinning wheel. The wheel does spin. (I say that since in other threads I've noticed most people say their wheel does not spin).
I've already read countless blogs and discussion boards, and have tried many recommended solutions. I have particularly enjoyed Kappy's help to others. But I feel as if I'm in an near Apollo 13 situation, in that I do not have my installation CD and it wouldn't help anyway with my CD drive not responding and having nothing else to use to get my MBP to start up.
I've tried the single user startup using command "s" and attempted some solutions suggested by Kappy with the following results:
/sbin/fsck -fy
This ends by telling me "The volume MAC HD appears to be OK"
AWESOME
So then I tried this:
:/ root# /sbin/mount -uw /
:/ root# cd /Library/Preferences
:Preferences rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist
and could not go any further because it responded with: "No such file or directory"
When I tried using command "V" it kept repeating the following:
chad-squires-macbook-pro-32 com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.mDNSResponder[31]): posix_spawnp("/usr/sbin/mDNSResponder', ...): No such file or directory
So at this point, I have no idea what to do. I have internet access through a friends MBP (thought it's about as fast as dial up), but that's the extent of my problem and availability of resources to fix.
Please tell me that there is something I can do to get my baby working again, and most importantly get some irreplaceable family photos off and other documents back.

Oh boy, you've gotten some all-over-the-board responses.
Let's start here.
Someone mentioned above that it sounds like the NVIDIA issue. Rest assured, unless you have no video, graphics artifacting (lines, distortion, etc.), or kernel panics (messages that tell you you have to power off/restart), you don't have the NVIDIA issue. People love to toss that out when you have a model that may be affected, your symptoms don't sound anything like this.
You're not necessarily SOL without your install discs per se, but if it does look like you need to reinstall, there's not much that can be done without...well...some kind of installer. You can install from a USB drive but you'd need a working machine and an operating system disc of some kind to clone it.
That said:
:/ root# /sbin/mount -uw /
:/ root# cd /Library/Preferences
:Preferences rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist
Unless I'm reading this wrong, you've got a typo.
Should be:
/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /Library/Preferences
rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist
I saw the line
:Preferences rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist
Was expecting you to have root# in front, that makes me think you typed 'preferences rm', you don't need to type 'preferences' first.
Also: is your account set to automatically log you in (take you to the desktop) or does it have you type your username/password first? That might be important.
Have you tried a safe boot?
Safe boot: this can be helpful if the issue is with your account, a font cache, or a third party kernel extension/driver. Boot this way by holding Shift when you hear the chime, let go when you see the spinning gear. If all goes well, this should take you to the login window. If you can't boot in safe mode or if it does the exact same thing, again, let us know.
The results you saw in verbose mode make me think it's hanging because something got moved. mDNSresponder is important and you can't start without it.
There are other preference files that we can troubleshoot, I find verbose mode to be the most helpful in diagnosing the spinning wheel that goes on forever, a lot of times it's a corrupt driver and there's not much that can be done except reinstall.
Lastly: you mentioned you restarted after organizational changes and that's when the problem started...what did you move? Anything in the System folder or Library folder(s)?
You mentioned you have a friend with a MBP. Any chance either of you has a firewire cable? Does he have his discs? You can use another computer's superdrive in target disk mode hooked up to your computer, that's always one way to reinstall if your own superdrive doesn't work.

GREY SCREEN ISSUE HELP

help! i keep getting a grey screen saying my mac needs to be restarted its happend for the first time today and done it at least 5 times this is my business pc and is backed up but its only 18 months old i need help!

It's ok, you likely just have a incompatible at boot third party kernel extension file.
Reboot holding the Shift key down, and go around and update all your third party software, especially something you suspect or know may install something at boot time.
Big culprits are any always on anti-virus or the MacKeeper junkware, just uninstall these totally, it's really not needed, ClamXav is good enough to clean files off of Windows and not run all the time causing problems.
But because of 10.7.4 update could be any number of other things, VMFusion, Parallels or some other specialized software.
If that doesn't work, then simply #8 Reinstall Just OS X, it's rather painless too, that will do the trick and kick out everything in OS X, then all you have to do is reinstall a few pieces of software no longer working when they issue a update that works with 10.7.4
Simple enough, but here's the link to my User Tip with awhole bunch of fixes.
Step by Step to fix your Mac

Grey screen issue with 10.5 & 10.5.1 - bad experience with Leopard

Here's a quick overview of my bad experience with installing Leopard:
*1st attempt:* Upgraded Tiger 10.4.10, was greeted with the blue screen. This was an APE issue.
*2nd attempt:* Archive and installed above install. This is where the continuing issue first occurred. The issue being on the first or second reboot after a 'successful' installation, I get the grey screen and spinning gear loop. In verbose mode I see this recurring loop:
Mez com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.nDNSResponder |xxx|) : posix_spawnp("usr/sbin/mDNSResponder", ...): No such file or directory
xxx = incremental value, it adds 1 each time the error cycles, which happens roughly ever 10 seconds).
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*3rd attempt:* Erase and install. Same issue as 2nd attempt occured.
*4th, 5th, 6th attempts:* Bought a brand new hard drive to replace the old one. This was an idea that was raised on another one of my threads. People thought I could have bad sectors. Tried upgrading and archive install from 10.4, no. Erase and install, no. Same issue as before.
*7th attempt:* Tried swapping out the RAM from a friends MBP (who has successfully upgraded to Leopard). No, same failure as before.
*8th attempt:* Tried using his Leopard disk. NO!
*9th attempt:* My last attempt so far... Erase and install, then applied the 10.5.1 update. It all went well, but it always has, until the point where I reboot. It successfully rebooted once, but to be sure all was fine (before using the migration assistant) I rebooted again... Oh what a surprise, it doesn't work anymore. Same enraging loop.
*Any new ideas people, I have faith that there is some genius out there who can provide me with a solution. I will love you forever if you can help me.*
*Quick question:* Do other people see the dialogue box that appears before the computer restarts...
"Updating Boot Caches - The Boot caches are being updated, the system will shutdown when this task is complete" (It's sort of along those lines. I don't have enough time to write down exactly what it says)??
Oh well, back to my newest backup (10.4.11).
*Fingers crossed for 10.5.2 :D*

THANK YOU!!! At least preliminarily...
I've spent the last three hours researching and troubleshooting my greyscreen dilemma, and your post is the only one that seemed to work so far.
I installed Leopard 10.5 onto my G4 Dual 1.25 Mirror, successfully restarted after the install, then had glitchy problems including being unable to run Software Update or even run the Leopard Update after downloading it from the apple website. So I restarted the computer (after removing the Install DVD and shutting the drive door) and found myself stuck at the grey screen with the spinning ball.
Nothing worked. I couldn't do anything to get it to boot.
After researching, I booted into single user mode and ran mount -o rw,remount / # (from this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5796214&#5796214) and when I exited and it began to boot I saw it get stuck at mDNSResponder line prompt, repeating the line prompt every 5 seconds or so and never getting anywhere.
Then I found your post and changed permissions as you mentioned, exited and it booted up successfully. I then immediately ran Software Update and installed the Leopard 10.5.1 update and now all is well again.
Insane for this to be required. I barely know what single user means and would have sent this computer in to Apple if I hadn't found your solution.
Hopefully the next person who searches on this problem will find this and save themselves a horror story too. Thanks again.
Jeff

How Can I Fix The Graphics Issue...?

After having my computer for a few years, it started getting an artifact around the mouse, and when it did that, everything was frozen, key commands didn't work, and I would have to manually shut it down.
I went to the Apple store, and they couldn't get it to boot, even with their external drive. The guy at the Apple store took my computer into the back, and a few minutes later, brought it out. He said he had gotten it to boot, without their external drive, but wouldn't tell me how. He said there was a problem with my video card. He said $400 to fix it.
Not having the money, I left. A friend told me how to safe boot the computer, and now it will turn on, despite the artifacts and graphics problems. Why didn't the guy at the store tell me this? It's obviously the only way he could have booted it. He wanted to charge me $50 to back up my data, when I could do it myself under the safe boot.
The thing is, when using safe boot, I have no audio or video functionality- the camera doesn't work, the speakers don't work, and the disc drive doesn't work. I've read up on this, and it's an issue for a lot of macs, from about the time I bought mine. They say there was too much glue used somewhere in the computer (2 or 3 little chips with too much glue or something), and over time the glue/ adhesive gets too hot, and spreads to other areas and ruins them (ie. my graphics card). That's my simplified understanding of the issue, anyway.
Why won't Apple replace it for me? They won't let me trade it in, because it won't boot right, but this is an issue they were aware of at some point. I spent a lot of money on this laptop and it's really nothing more than a digital typewriter now.
Does anyone know how I can fix the graphics issue? Aside from shelling out the money I don't have for something that's really Apple's fault? It'd be really nice to be able to, I don't know, watch things and listen to things. That was the whole reason I got this thing.
Thanks for any ideas, feedback, sympathy, empathy or other comments.
<Edited by Moderator>

Ok, you are right, maybe I don't know it for a fact . . . but from all the things I read in various forums, there was a batch (or something similar) of macs (the exact kind I have) that did have too much glue on some parts, and it caused all sorts of problems for different people, most of those problems being with the graphics card. Apparently the excess glue overheats and leaks out of where it's supposed to stay, and whatever it has the misfortune of getting on goes to pot.
I got very brave, thinking my computer was shot- I opened it, and there was, indeed, crusty glue coming out from under some ... things ... three square chip like things ... and it had seeped onto the edges my graphics card. Having seen the inside of other laptops, I know it was not supposed to look like that no matter how old it is.
This whole issue happened just a few months after my (overpriced, unused) AppleCare expired. Irony?
I did backup all my data and files (no thanks to the Apple people; and on safe boot the disc drive won't work, so I had to borrow my friend's external hard drive for backing up), and did a clean install with the original discs. It was a huge hassle, and when it was finally done, I booted my computer normally. It worked for about 10 minutes before it got artifacts all over and froze, at which point I had to force shut it down. I've tried the clean reinstall a few times, but the problem (I think) is that the glue inside already did the damage, and my graphics card is shot. So, I've been running it on safe boot for months. No music. No video. No disc drive. OH- and the best part- on safe boot, the airport won't work. I can't use wi-fi, and I can't take my laptop anywhere because I'm tethered to a modem. It's the worst thing ever. All of it. It's horribly depressing.
I'm just really frustrated and irritated that this happened, and Apple won't do anything. I do realize they don't HAVE to do anything- buyer beware and whatnot- BUT as a reputable company they should at least let me trade in with the discount or whatever. I didn't have to choose Mac, it was the most expensive computer I looked at- but it has so many awesome functions and things . . . that I can't even use . . .
As a poor college student I don't have the option to get a new computer or have Apple replace any parts in this one, so I just kind of feel like Apple screwed me over. Their fault? Maybe not. Their product? Yes, so they should want to keep me as a future customer. At least I think so.
I guess this isn't quite a question. But I would love more feedback, ideas, anything. Has anyone else had this problem? Can I replace my own video card? Will Apple do anything at all? I love macs but I might never get another one, since this could happen again.
And- unrelated- who changed the title of my post, and how, and why?

I don't seem to have View anymore. I can't fix my screen. Why is Mozilla deciding that I should ignore threads. I don't want to ignore threads. I can't fix this

I am really distressed that Mozilla apparently unilaterally decided I should not see all my threads. I DO want to see all my threads. In fact, one reason I don't get my mail from a website is that I don't like my messages grouped according to threads.
The instructions given in the Ignoring Threads article do not seem to match my computer. Here are the instructions: "To ignore a thread you select Message | Ignore Thread, or simply use the K (for "kill") keyboard shortcut." I don't see "View" or "Message" or "Ignore Thread." How can I fix this?
(And please, Mozilla, stop making decisions for me. )

View is in two places.
First on the menu bar where it always has been. The menu bar is hidden in the newer versions of Thunderbird. Pressing the alt key or F10 reveals hidden toolbars.
There is a new AppMenu button located in the upper right of the screen. It is a square area with 3 horizontal lines. View is located here also.
Thunderbird is software that runs on your computer. It is configured by you.

"Grey Screen" issue attached to Third Party RAM?

Ran into an issue with my iMac. A few weeks back, when I started up my Mac, I got the "grey screen" brick wall, where the machine, for some reason, isn't seeing the operating system. Sometimes the flashing folder question mark, sometimes just grey. After a hard-reboot, things were okay.
But got progressively worse over the last three weeks. One reboot, went up to between 5 and 6 reboots just to get the CPU to see the hard disk. Stripped the machine, reinstalled the OS, did okay for only a day, and then back to the usual grey screen madness. Ran Disk Utility to repair my hard drive, sometimes I cant start-up without this process.
Did everything possible from the online troubleshooting pages on this issue... and finally pulled out my "third party" 1G RAM card... just as a final hoorah before packing it into the box for the Mac Store visit...
And now she starts up like a dream.
SO... would anybody know why in the heck a third-pary RAM card would affect my computer's ability to see the start-disk OS? Why, after pulling it out, would things be just fine? Should I just replace the RAM, or is it something else?
Strange, eh? --- Hit me with any thoughts you guys have. Thanks!

Welcome to the Forum.
If your 3rd party ram, or indeed any party ram was faulty then you might experience strange issues like this. Contact the people you got it from and see what they have to say - think of it as a faulty item and they should just offer to replace it for you.

More on the G5 Won't boot, no chime, no grey screen issue....

OK, so in the last thread, I had taken it to the apple store, where the g5 (DP 2.5) dutifully started up on their firewire drive, whereupon they declared it a faulty hard drive.
I pressed them pretty hard, but it made sense at the time, and certainly never failed while they were there.
So now I have it back home, a new WD SATA drive installed, and guess what?? same thing... boots, no chime, no power LED, just fans.
I have set/reset the SMU, I have removed everything including the batter (which checks good at 3.7 volts BTW)
Here's the weird part - it seems like once per day (always the first time) I do get one good try out of it. By this I mean, it will chime and at least get to the grey screen, and i can eject a CD. However, up till now I have not been prepared with the right thing to give it. Once that opportunity has passed, its back to the old black screen with no chimes for at least 24 hours.
I don't detect any overheating or that sort of problem - anyone ever seen this - where you can only get one good boot out of it for a day?
Thanks,
adam

Hi gB -
Yes I tried without the cover, to no avail. Ended up taking it back to the apple store today where they now are able to see the problem (with a different monitor).
Their gut instinct is logic board, but I am asking them to do a complete test on it (whatever that means) just to make sure it isn't a flaky leg on the power supply, or a bad cable somewhere. I don't have alot of hope, but I will give it a chance.
If it ends up being procs, board, or both, I will probably sell it for parts and put the money into a new one with warranty etc!
Glad yours is up and running.
Adam

How can i fix a screen that keeps turning white?

My macbook pro's screen keeps turning white and it would come back on when i move the screen. Then it will happen again. How can I fix this and what is the problem?

Try this a PRAM reset:
Power dowm, power up, hold the these keys, before the start up chime.
Power up hold
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Reboot.
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How can i fix this wireless issue?

My problem is, few days now my wireless router either not showing my SSID or give me Worst signal even though im far from it like 5ft.,it sometime load fast then right back slow.
but when i run a speed test on verizon website i get a decent
21Mbps download and 15mbps upload
and this happen to almost all my devices, tivo, iphone, xbox360 and laptop.
how can i fix this problem.
this is the first issue that i have with this router.
Im currently using a
Firmware Version: 20.10.7.5 Model Name: MI424WR-GEN2 Hardware Version: E
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Ptnguyen wrote:
My problem is, few days now my wireless router either not showing my SSID or give me Worst signal even though im far from it like 5ft.,it sometime load fast then right back slow.
but when i run a speed test on verizon website i get a decent
21Mbps download and 15mbps upload
and this happen to almost all my devices, tivo, iphone, xbox360 and laptop.
how can i fix this problem.
this is the first issue that i have with this router.
Im currently using a
Firmware Version: 20.10.7.5 Model Name: MI424WR-GEN2 Hardware Version: E
change the wireless signal. you can do that in the router.   open a browser, and go to http://192.168.1.1
user name is admin. and the password is most likely the serial number found on the service tag of your VZ router unless you changed it.
}Once you login succesfully, go to the top and hit wireless, then on the left basic security.   then go to option 3 which is channel
1, 6 and 11 and are the only channels you should try.
So it will likely be set to auto, change it to 11 and put the check for keep settings even after reboot (Directly under the channel) and then hit apply.,
after you hit apply, test your connection out, if you notice a difference, leave it like that until the problem happens again, and if it happens again, go back into the router, and try channel 6,     test it out. and then finally 1 if the first two don't work.
Also take a look at page 2 of Actiontec's Wireless PDF File. It gives you some idea's with regards to position and orientation of where the router sits and how it can best be positioned for maximum coverage.

Can't fix Grey Screen issue

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