Computer won't start up, stuck on gray logo screen.

Hey I have been having this problem for about 2 days now. When I try to turn on my computer, it won't fully start up, it gets stuck on the grey screen with the apple logo and stays like that forever. I tried to fix the problem using single user mode, typing "/sbin/fsck -fy" as well as trying to go on recovery mode and pressing "repair" on disk utility, MacHD ect. Now I have a backup from a month ago but is there any way to fix the problem? The error is: incorrect number of thread records. Oh and I have bootcamp, windows on Mac that run fine, I'm guessing that might have messed with my computer a bit though. Please let me know how to fix this soon. Thanks!

If you want to preserve the data on the boot drive, 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, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
1. Boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in the support article linked below, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
How to back up and restore your files
2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. Copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode
3. 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.

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I had the same problem, I believe it is called a kernal panic. They had to replace my hard drive. I did have apple care or it would have cost $450. The guy at the genius bar did some tests to see if he could fix it, he couldn't, so I had to have the hard drive replaced.

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Hello Tara-louise,
I would be concerned too if my MacBook Pro was booting just to the gray screen with the Apple logo on it. I recommend following the steps in the article below for the issue you are experiencing:
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

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You probably have some type of hardware failure. The only people that can fix hardware failures are Apple or an authorized Apple repair center by replacing the part or parts that have failed. So you'll need to take the system into Apple to be diagnosed and repaired.

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chiae:
am i looking for the Leopard installer or the disc that came with my Powerbook all those years ago?
You are looking for the installer disk for the system which is currently installed on your computer, which is Leopard according to your profile.
Will doing these steps erase my hard drive?
No. Running Repair Disk will not in any way affect your data or any contents of your HDD. However, if there are serious directory issues your data might be jeopardized even without running Repair Disk.
Your question suggests that you may not have an up-to-date backup, if any backup at all. That is one of the most dangerous things you can do. I suggest that you take steps to secure your data even before you do much more. If you need ideas on how best to accomplish this, please post back and ask.
While you are waiting to locate your install disk, here is something you can do right now, and it will not in any way endanger the contents of your HDD:
• Shut down the computer.
• Locate the following keys: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously later.
• Turn on the computer.
• Press and hold the Command + Option + P + R keys immediately after the startup chime.
• Hold keys down until you hear the startup chime for the third time.
• Release the keys and immediately hold down Shift key to start up in Safe Mode.
• Log in and empty Trash.
• Restart normally and log in.
Please do post back with an update or with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius

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To the best of your knowledge how much free space was on your hard drive the last time you looked? You could try connecting to another Mac via firewire and booting your MBP into target disk mode and get files off of there. You should try to maintain at least 15% free hard drive space least you trash the drive and make it unable to boot. (Which sounds like you have already). Hopefully you can rescue the hard drive.

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I am on OS X 10.6 (the latest developer build, whose build number I can't remember and can't look up because my computer won't start up) and this morning when I tried to start up my computer, it chimed, the apple appeared but then a grey progress bar (like the one that appears during a firmware update) appeared at the bottom of the screen along with the customary spinner. This progress bar didn't update and after 10-ish seconds, it disappeared and left just the spinner. I left the computer in this state for 4 hours and nothing happened. It still starts up in single user mode (but I can't seem to get Open Firmware mode to load) and it starts Windows XP on another partition of my main HD.
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It is a good idea to run +Repair Disk+ in Disk Utility on the startup volume before installing a major system update. Actually, I do it before any system-level update.
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If you have a backup of at least your personal data, you may want to reformat the internal drive, install Snow Leopard and bundled apps, install your third-party apps from their original sources, update everything that needs updating, and restore your personal data.
If you don't have a backup, the best bet is to try either DiskWarrior or TechTool Pro. DiskWarrior is very specialized into repairing this type of data problem. TechTool Pro has similar capability, but it is a more general tool with other features.

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What does a file folder with a question mark in it mean when the computer won't start?

There are four general causes of this issue:
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2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
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(68976)

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Use this tip to identify your Mac:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6413
If indeed it has a PowerPC processor (the PowerMacs use that, and have been around since early 2006 simultaneously with some of the Intels), see this tip on beeps:
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If it is Intel, see this tip:
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Writing this for a friend, as his computer is inop at the moment. Hence this message.
He has a new 27" iMac. He upgraded to Mountain Lion a few weeks ago, and then had intermittent problems with apps unexpectantly shutting down.
Now he did a ML update this morning, and his computer won't start up. It gets to the point of the Apple logo coming up, a progress bar, and then the spinning wheel, but then shuts itself down right afterwards.
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Thank you for the fast response.
He was able to get into Disk Utility with the Command and R keys, but when he tried verifying the disk, in red it said 'Invalid Node Structure, volume could not be verified completely'.
He went ahead and verified it anyway, then proceeded to repair it. Howver, it stopped repairing, said it cannot repair, and that he should back up files and reformat the disk.
How can he back up his files? He cannot see a way to do it. Is there anything else he can do besides having to reformat the disk?
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Help Please!
My computer won't start up, when I click the start up button the light comes only once, sounds click (once) and that's it, no power up.
Because of the age, I knew that the battery could be the reason, so I ordered the exact same battery and replaced it today (following the instructions very carefully). Nothing changed. Then I read about the button for resetting the power management (the one below the ram memory), did that too...and nothing.
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I had similar problems with my G5 2ghz dual PPC. Mine would turn on, sometimes the startup chime would sound, sometimes not. The fans would run and continue to run faster and faster until I shut it off.
The red light comes on by the way, when the internal plastic shield is not installed or seated correctly.
Anyway, I determined after fooling with the machine for several hours that the symptoms pointed to the video card so, on a hunch, I grabbed a hair drier, pulled the video card and warmed up the video card with the drier. Then reinstalled the video card, hooked up the monitor and hit the power button. Bingo, the machine booted normally. BUT, it would intermittently hang or act odd while running so, I ordered a replacement video card. Installed it and the problem never returned. Sadly someone stole the machine last month but it was in perfect working order at the time:(

Computer won't start properly after Leopard installation attempt

Yesterday I tried to install Leopard 10.5.6 on my G5 (currently running Tiger 10.4.11) and ran into a ton of problems. First, a message came up preventing me from upgrading without erasing my hard drive. I decided to quit the installer and back up my drive before erasing it, but after trying to start up again on my main disk, the computer will no longer get past the Apple logo screen. It stays that way for several minutes, and the computer revs and revs until it's at max RPM, then the computer just shuts off. I can't access my data to back it up.
I did some internet research and tried started up from the install DVD again (which still works) and tried to repair my disk using Disk Utility. This didn't work and an error message came up: "Attempted to Repair Disk, attempt failed. Invalid Node Structure, Volume Check Failed. Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit."
If anyone has any advice I would be VERY grateful, I am hoping to not have to have the computer repaired as I already have my other Mac out of service as well and the cost of repair has been high. I need to back up some important files before I update to Leopard, is there any way to do this while starting up from the DVD since my Startup disk doesn't work now? What happened??!!!

Is it possible that the piece stuck in the audio jack has resulted in turning off the internal speakers?
I would say that the Leopard installation is not 100%. Sometimes this happens. Or you may have a piece of software installed that mutes the speakers, and it needs to disable that. If it's not the latter, then I would erase the hard drive and reinstall from scratch. If that's not feasible then you can do the following:
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.
2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
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 must delete it from the hard drive.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

Computer won't start up after changing permissions.

I accidentally changed the permissions for all of the files on my hard drive. Now, Leopard won't start up. And to top it all off I conveniently can not find my Leopard disk. I did, however, locate my Tiger disk but the computer won't start from the CD drive either.
I also thought that I could install Tiger on an external Hard Drive using my sisters computer but Tiger would not install on the USB Hard Drive because it said Mac OS X could not start from the external hard drive.
It won't start up in "Safe Mode (holding the SHIFT key)".
Anybody have any suggestions?

You can, in addition to Barry's excellent suggestions, reset the SMU.

Computer won't start up, stuck on gray logo screen.

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