Gray Screen, Mac Logo and Gears after Leopard Install

I installed Leopard, restarted the computer and am now stuck at the gray screen, MAC logo and gears turning. On the phone with Apple Support, had me hold down the C key upon restart, Repair Permissions, all checked out OK, restarted, but am still stuck at the same place. I'm on hold for the "portables" department. PowerBook is 45 days old. Any advice? Thanks,

any luck? i just received a brand new imac. it came with the leopard disc. i went through the install and it stuck at the grey screen. i tried a reboot holding down the c key and reinstalled the software a second time. same grey screen.

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Gray screen, apple logo and spinning gear hang at start up

after a lengthy round of "bejeweled", i let my imac fall into screen saver mode. when i tried to log back in, i tapped the mouse and the imac flashed as it does when actuated outside a dialogue without clicking the okay button, and immediately returned to screen saver. i then manually shut down and restarted to the gray screen, apple logo and spinning gear hang. i then inserted the leopard install dvd, manually shut down and restarted pressing the option key and selected the install disc. it booted as usual. i selected the language preferred, used the utility drop down menu and selected DU, then selected the hard drive and verify permissions to reveal a pop up "Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit. Permissions verification complete." i immediately selected repair disc, and breathed a sigh of relief with the notification "appears to be ok". then utilities/start up disc/macintosh hd/restart. still get the hang. i have repeated this process several times, also resetting the PRAM as well to the infinite hang. as a matter of fact, the gear has been spinning the entire time creating this post. needless to say, i am truly at a loss. SOS!!!!!!! Please!!!!! SEND LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY!!!!

i have perused some of the threads posted per this topic and decided to attempt an "archive and install." i also have a 620gig acomdata external drive with close to a carbon copy of my internal. a few short minutes into the install, the imac reveals a pop up stating it cannot install some files on the hard drive, contact the software manufacturer or restart and try to install again. the internal drive is a 160gig with only about 60gigs of room, so i tried to archive and install to the acomdata instead as it has 180 gig of free space. i get the exact same dialogue once again. restart and a third attempt only archive and install will not highlight, only first time and/or erase and install. further, start up disc shows only the install disc and network as choices. so i attempt first time install on both drives and get the same pop up message again. DU recognizes both drives although verify/repair permissions does not highlight, but not start up disc.
i'm trying not to become frantic, but my patience is threadbare. i am in desperate need of sound advice as to what i need to do.
thanks again in advance,
bradley

Start Up Issue-Gray Screen, Apple Logo And Cognition Wheel-Blue screen before start up at times but no longer starting up beyond gray screen and cognition wheel

Power button pressed.
Start up light okay
Chimes okay
Gray screen, apple logo and cognition wheel spinning and the loading bar underneath loading 1/10th of the way.
Loading bar doesnt load fully and then disappears.
Gray screen remains with apple logo and cognition wheel only.
No start up to desktop. Before start up to desk top which is not happening any more a blue screen appeared before the desktop appeared. When start up complete the ' Finder' had no responded and did not work' Multi coloured loading pointer continually turned. ' Network' could not be loaded in 'System Prefrences'.
Ive tried reading and following propts...Results NVRAM/PRAM - Logic board battery replacement. How much will this cost?
Hardware test - No problem found
Safe Boot - ' volume Machintosh HD could not be repaired.'
' Run time corruption detected on Machintosh HD device'
What do you suggest aside from taking it to a apple store?
Thanks Stephen

Lion or Snow Leopard? If Lion, boot into your Recovery partition (hold down the Command and R keys whilst booting) and use Disk Utility to verify and, if needed, repair the boot volume.
If Snow Leopard, use the installation disc and use Disk Utility in the same manner.
Clinton

Macbook stuck on gray screen, apple logo, and loading symbol?

I just purchased my Mac a couple of days ago. Working fine for awhile, but now it "chimes", goes to a gray screen with the apple logo and the loading sign. It is stuck there and I am not sure how to proceed. Thanks for any help.

Disk Utility can repair the disk this way:
-Search your installation DVD's.
-Insert the disc 1 and sthut down your Mac
-Start your Mac again while holding down the C key
-Now your Mac should boot from the CD, this can take some time.
-After a while you will see a installation screen where you can chose a language.
-Chose English and continue.
-Then click some time's next and agree with the "Software Agreement".
-Open Disk Utility. Top menu bar --> Utilities --> Open Disk Utility.
-Select your hard disk in the list of disks and volumes on the left side
-Go to the First Aid (tab somewhere on the right).
-Click the button to verify the permissions.
-Then Click the button to repair the permissions.
-Click the button to verify the disk.
-Then Click the button to repair the disk.
-Exit the Disk Utility and the installer.
-Restart your Mac

Just the gray screen with logo and spinning wheel

Hello
my computer acted up funny while typing every 10sec or so i got the spinning wheel. i tried to restart but everything just stopped and just got the spinning wheel so i shut down the computer with the power button and now I am just in the grey screen. I used the installation disc and used disc utility I was able to use disk repair and it did something but i can not do anything on the permission they are grayed out. After the disk repair no change the computer just sits in the gray screen and nothing happens . any idea

You need to reinstall OS X. Do this:
Repairing 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.
If the drive was OK continue with the reinstallation. It's automatic and none of your files will be erased.

Mac won't boot after leopard install

hi - installed leopard on my imac but now my mac won't boot:
i have already tried the following:
1) safe mode - but won't boot
2) single user mode - ran fsck - said no issues
3) did target mode with firewire cbale to my macbook and ran disk utility - no repairs needed - and i can see all my files on original computer
4) reinstalled leopard from holding down options key - leopard installed again
but for all of abv - when i reboot i still get white apple logo screen and the spinning wheel...
any other way to get into safe mode - as that is only thing i have not been able to start....
thanks!
susan

tigerswim, welcome to Apple Discussions.
Did you already have Tiger installed or did you have Panther 10.3 installed? Tiger is not a free upgrade; you have to buy it & then update (for free) using the download updates from Apple. Also, you have to use a universal/retail install DVD (or CDs) to install Tiger. You cannot use the install DVD from another model Mac.

External HD keeps turning on and off after Leopard install

Since I've installed Leopard, my external HD seems to keep turning on and off at random times (i.e. the disk starts spinning for a little while, then stops, then starts again) when I'm not doing anything to access the HD. Any ideas if this is an issue with Leopard or something wrong with my HD? It wasn't an issue before Leopard.

Glad to know that I'm not the only one and that I'm not going crazy!
At least in my situation, TM has never been turned on. It might be Spotlight, but my guess is that after being installed for several days now, that most anything needing to be indexed would have been indexed. No virus checkers installed. Also, my external HD is only for backup (not saving stuff or autosaving stuff on the external HD).
I've noticed it a bit more when using Safari, but that may be purely a coincidence. The solution I've basically used has been to eject my HD and then re-mount it when I need to use it.
If anyone knows of anything, please let us know!

Screen occasionally shrinks then freezes after Leopard install

Running a Macbook Pro 15' . I installed Leopard and it seemed to go smoothly. Occasionally since then the screen shrinks and freezes. When I zap the PRAM it comes back fine and works OK for a while. I have run the updates but still am stymied.
Thanks

W.J., what kind of installation, an Archive and Install, an Erase and Install or was it the usual Upgrade (without Options)?
Try starting in the Single users mode (S key down) or a Safe Boot (Shift key down) and see if either works.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8475.html
Joe

Airport cuts in and out after leopard install

I installed leopard a couple days ago and since then, my ichat has constantly (about every 2-3 minutes) stops working and says it timed out. The same thing happens for firefox/safari/any other internet app, but not as often.

I am having the same issues with Leopard. It will work when I first open the clam shell on work book, but after about 2 minutes, airport will shut down. I have to shut it off and then start airport again for it to work properly.
It was rock solid with Tiger on the sam modem and wireless connection.

After prompted to update 10.9.1, my MacBook Pro updates and went thru restart but failed...I tried to start my book and gray screen, Apple logo both on, chime sounded, then went to progress bar, less than half macbook shuts down...did few times, same!!

After prompted to update 10.9.1, my MacBook Pro updates and went thru restart but failed...I tried to start my book and gray screen, Apple logo both on, chime sounded, then went to progress bar, less than half macbook shuts down...did few times, same!!
Go to system repair, there is a prompt that cannot repair live etc....I don understand!!! Help, I need the book for work tomorrow!!

Thanks clintonfrombirmingham...
After clicking "repair disk" it says DISK UTILITY STOPPED REPAIRING MACINTOSH HD, DISK UTILITY CAN't REPAIR THIS DISK. BACK UO AS MANY OF YOUR FILES AS POSSIBLE, REFORMAT THE DISK, AND RESTORE YOUR BACKED -UP FILES....
written in red: ERROR: DISK UTILITY CAN'T REPAIR THIS DISK,,,DISK, AND RESTORE YOUR BACKED-UP FILES.
how can I back up when I cannot even start my macbook? I am stuck here and have lots of important files in the hd... Please help me? Thanks you!

My Yosemite startup screen (grey mac logo and bar) has frozen after installing. The progress bar is stuck at halfway.

My Yosemite startup screen (grey mac logo and bar) has frozen after installing. The progress bar is stuck at halfway.
H

I've had the same issue and despite clearing the PRAM and powering on and off repeatedly this is what has (at least temporarily) resolved my issue:
I've done this 3 times and sometimes it works right off the jump other times I've had to wait a bit and try again or power off and try again, once the start up screen is frozen hit Command : Option : Shift : Esc and a window should pop up "You restarted because of a problem..." from there you can go to your desktop. I haven't found an actual resolution to fix the problem but this does get you into your computer.
Hope this helps!

I have an iMac from 2008. When I start I get gray screen with apple and turning gear. Next blue screen. Then light blue screen with turning gear. Back to blue screen. Now just back and forth blue to light blur

I have an iMac from 2008. When I start I get gray screen with apple and turning gear. Next blue screen. Then light blue screen with turning gear. Back to blue screen. Now just back and forth blue to light blur

Reinstall OS X:
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/.
Reinstalling Lion Without Erasing the 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 the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion: Select Reinstall Lion and click on the Continue button.
Note: You can also re-download the Lion installer by opening the App Store application. Hold down the OPTION key and click on the Purchases icon in the toolbar. You should now see an active Install button to the right of your Lion purchase entry. There are situations in which this will not work. For example, if you are already booted into the Lion you originally purchased with your Apple ID or if an instance of the Lion installer is located anywhere on your computer.

TS3148 my mackbook air starts up with a persistent grey screen, apple logo and spinning gear

my mackbook air starts up with a persistent grey screen, apple logo and a spinning gear. It will not show the login window

Press and hold the power button down to force a hardware shutdown (emergency use only!)
Next find the Shift key and hold it and press the power button, the machine will boot into Safe Mode.
Next backup your files to a external drive just in case.
Emergency backup procedure
Drag and drop copy your users file folders (music, pictures, documents etc) to a regular external powered drive as soon as possible.
Do not use, setup or trust only TimeMachine at this troubled time as it will copy corrupted data and we need just your users files safe just in case. TimeMachine cannot be used with a Windows PC.
Unmount and Disconnect all external drives once the backup process is completed.
Note:
If you have any over 4GB sized files, those won't copy to a standard formatted FAT32/MSDOS drive from the factory, if you need to save these 4GB+ files use another blank/empty drive and use Disk Utility to format it 1 Partition, Option: GUID, Format: OS X Extended Journaled (or the standard default one for older Mac's).
Mac's cannot copy to nor format a NTFS drive. ExFAT format to be used with a Windows machine must be right click formatted by Windows, not OS X (does it wrong) XP macines can install a free exFAT update from Microsoft. Vista-Win 8 can format exFAT.
Formatting a drive will erase all data on it.
Most commonly used backup methods
Your problem is likely due to a incompatible third part at boot kernel extension file that some program installed into OS X at some time.
If you can recall which programs you installed using your Admin password then that's a good place to start and update or uninstall those programs.
The next solution is a #8 Reinstall Just OS X + Software Update fully, this will replace OS X with a new copy, fix OS X if it's the cause and kick out ALL third party kext files out of OS X.
You also can manually drag and drop the third party kext files (if you know what they are) out of of the System/Library/Extensions folder and reboot.
..Step by Step to fix your Mac
Solving at boot kext issues in Snow Leopard

My Mac is producing gray screen at startup and crashes. I'm afraid that everything explode and disappear, and can no longer connect and work with my Mac. Can anyone help ?? Thank you.

My Mac is producing gray screen at startup and crashes. I'm afraid that everything explode and disappear, and can no longer connect and work with my Mac. Can anyone help ??
Thank you.
Problem description:
gray screen at startup and crashes
EtreCheck version: 2.1.1 (104)
Report generated 6 de dezembro de 2014 13:29:43 BRST
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2
1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core
4 GB RAM
BANK 0/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB
Color LCD 1440 x 900
Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB
System Software: ℹ️
Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549) - Uptime: 0:31:56
Disk Information: ℹ️
TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF disk0 : (698,64 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
- (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 749.81 GB (378.70 GB free)
MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple, Inc. MacBook Pro
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[not loaded] org.samba.winbindd.plist [Support]
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[running] com.babylon.activation.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist [Support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
[running] com.skype.c2c_service.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
iTunesHelper UNKNOWNHidden (missing value)
FaceboxPro Aplicativo (/Applications/FaceboxPro.app)
Safari Aplicativo (/Applications/Safari.app)
Octoshape Aplicativo (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Octoshape/Octoshape.app)
uTorrent UNKNOWN (missing value)
Dropbox Aplicativo (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Inkscape UNKNOWN (missing value)
RealPlayer Downloader Agent Aplicativo (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/RealNetworks/RealPlayer Downloader Agent.app)
HP Product Research Aplicativo (/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Customer Participation/HP Product Research.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [Support]
Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Support]
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.4.4.2 [Support]
RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.12 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
DivX Web Player: Version: 3.1.1.9 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.6.6
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.7
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.2 [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.12 [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 13.9.8 - SDK 10.6 Check version
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
npsf_uni: Version: sf 3.3.2.1 [Support]
OctoshapeWeb: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.8 [Support]
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
Searchme Adware! [Remove]
Skype Click to Call
iSkyDeluxe
TED HTML5 video playe
Audio Plug-ins: ℹ️
iSightAudio: Version: 7.6.6
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Flash Player [Support]
Flip4Mac WMV [Support]
Skype Click to Call [Support]
Tuxera NTFS [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Time Machine information requires OS X 10.7 "Lion" or later.
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
      5% WindowServer
      4% DivXMediaServer
      1% fontd
      0% RealPlayer Downloader Agent
      0% WebProcess
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
296 MB WebProcess
202 MB FaceboxPro
185 MB Microsoft PowerPoint
163 MB Safari
137 MB Microsoft Word
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
843 MB Free RAM
1.76 GB Active RAM
706 MB Inactive RAM
978 MB Wired RAM
577 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Dec 6, 2014, 12:58:24 PM Self test - passed
Dec 6, 2014, 12:23:11 PM Kernel_2014-12-06-122311_MacBook-Pro-de-...panic [Details]
Dec 6, 2014, 07:08:28 AM PluginProcess_2014-12-06-070828_MacBook-...crash
Dec 5, 2014, 05:24:39 PM WebProcess_2014-12-05-172439_MacBook-Pro...crash
Dec 5, 2014, 10:45:59 AM Kernel_2014-12-05-104559_MacBook-Pro-de-...panic [Details]
Dec 5, 2014, 10:18:14 AM Kernel_2014-12-05-101814_MacBook-Pro-de-...panic [Details]
Dec 3, 2014, 08:28:35 PM locationd_2014-12-03-202835_localhost.crash
Dec 5, 2014, 10:25:44 AM Kernel_2014-12-05-102544_MacBook-Pro-de-...panic [Details]

Startup - Gray, Blue or White screen at boot, w/spinner/progress bar
Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)

G5 turns on but display stops at gray screen+apple logo

Can someone tell me why my G5 turns on but display stops at gray screen+apple logo. The keyboard and the superdrive not responding. After a minute the fans kick in and grow louder and faster...?? I tried a reset with the P and R but keyboard N/S. USB have power. I do get the start sound then the gray logo+screen.
Thanks for the help anyone!!
G5 dual 2G Mac OS X (10.3.9) 2G RAM, 23" display

I was getting a similar issue yesterday, stuck on the
grey screen, then the G5 turned into mini turbine
engine. I'm not sure what fixed it, i took out the
plastic wind deflector and noticed three leds next to
the RAM slots were lit up.. with some quick googling
bringing me back to apple's support pages, it turned
out the lights came up because the deflector shield
wasn't in place. Anyway myabe it was slightly out of
place, but that coupled with unplugging the power
cable for some moments seemed to help, and i was able
to get past the logo screen etc..
but i was still getting intermittent issues, with
startup and programs, and getting plenty of crashes.
So i did the Apple Hardware Test, and after 3hrs it
turned out my RAM was at fault. I recieved the
machine only a week back, since then i've added new
RAM, which was the exact same Samsung RAM that apple
use, though one stick didn't share the exact same
serial, it was still the same spec.. anyway i've
removed the pair of 1GB sticks for the time being,
and since doing so, i've got my mac running to its
full strength.. i just hope i can sort out this RAM
issue and not have blown my money.
Thanks for the help but I tried the cable thing etc and nothing so I reformated the disk (clean install and I'm back to normal now...so the RAMS were not the problem in my case.
Also, I'm glad I backed up all my stuff frequently therefore, no losses...
G5 dual 2G Mac OS X (10.3.9) 2G RAM, 23' display

Gray Screen, Mac Logo and Gears after Leopard Install

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