Gray Screen of Death (moving from Java 1.1 to 1.4)

I am in process of moving my applet from Java 1.1 to modern Java 1.4 with Swing. My concern is that users on MS IE with the ancient MS JVM will get the "gray screen of death" and no hint that something is wrong. The best option I've found so far seems to be this:
http://www.chaingang.org/code/util/AppletLaunch.html
where you have one applet start up, check the version, and then either report "you need a new version of java" or launch the next applet. I'm not sure whether this will work when the first applet is compiled for Java 1.1, and the second is for Java 1.4 (they use different class file formats).
What are the recommendations for dealing with this situation? I've seen that Sun has some very complicated stuff about using OBJECT, EMBED, and APPLET tags:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/plugin/developer_guide/contents.html
Also stuff about "Java Web Start Applications":
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/JavaLP/javawebstart/AutoInstall.html
I've also seen something about the "HTML Converter".
This is all looks way complicated!! As long as I can tell users "go update your java" and direct them to the java install web page I'm happy... I don't want to try to get their install started automatically. And I'd rather keep my HTML code simple and clean if possible.
Thanks in advance...

1. Write an applet in 1.4 that simply displays a small image.
2. Place the image on the webpage beside the applet.
3. Put a line of html beside or under the image and the applet saying "If you cannot see this image here (as in applet loaction) then you must download the 1.4 jre here"
Yahoo provide an applet as a means of editing ones geocitys website. This is how they ensure the user has the required jre. Crude but very effective and without complication.

Similar Messages

Gray screen of death ... macbook boot failure

Three weeks old and getting the gray screen of death. Power up works but MacBook just keeps trying to read a video disk I left in the ROM drive. Gray screen with nothing else (no processing circle, no apple logo, just a plain gray screen). I could hear the rom drive cycling.
I worked with support via telephone and their solutions failed also:
1. power up, hold down the eject button (nada)
2. power up, hold down the mouse button (nada)
3. power up, hold down the apple key, the cntl key, the P and the R keys for two chimes (got the two chimes but nada)
Now it chimes when i start up but still sits there cycling the cdrom which has a movie disk in it.
The support rep asked me if there was a small extraction hole by the drive. HELLO: are you really Apple ??? On the new macbook?
The MacBook was delivered with 10.4.8. Wanting the large 10.4.9 update on CD for any future need, I downloaded the 10.4.9 intel combined update (larger than the other choice) and went with that not knowing which to use. However this was three weeks ago and the computer has been perfect. my session yesterday was perfect but I did 'brag' on the new macbook when a friend saw me using it. why does bragging cause boot failures? Murphy?/??????// HELP.
Black MacBook intel core 2 duo 120gb drive 2 gb memory Mac OS X (10.4.9)

My apologies to everyone if I raised an alarm. The hardware (i.e. the MacBook) is fine and the problem was that I am a new user. I have to say that Apple Support was unprepared to address the issue but I did resolve it myself by accident. Here is the resolution:
I looked up the SMC reset instructions on the Apple Support site as a next step and the instructions said to try 3 things before doing the SMC:
1. Force Quit (Option - Command - Escape)
2. Restart (Control - Command - Power)
3. Force Shutdown (hold down pwr button for 10 seconds
As a new user I could not know that the key with the Apple was the Command key, but I guessed since the words control and option were called out, it had to be the Apple key with the Squiggle.
I did each step but nada. I did get a different alert tone (lower pitch) after doing step 3. Each time I turned the computer off.
I then started over and tried again turning on the macbook from being off each time. I did step 1 and turned the machine off and then did step 2 and the computer came alive.
The system is just like I left it and the rom drive works fine. Again, my apologies to all you macbook users for raising any alarms. We are new to using Apple and have much to learn. I did not have any cheat sheets to work from so it took time. Many thanks for the responses.
Black MacBook purchased in March 2007 Mac OS X (10.4.9) I love this MacBook

Gray screen of death on third-gen iPad...

I'm caught in a bit of a circle and am needing a little help re if/how to get out of it. Hoping the community here might be able to help - or confirm that I'm out of luck.
My third-gen iPad gave me the gray screen of death this morning, while downloading an app from the app store. I'm unable to reboot from the iPad itself (more gray screen, before shutting off). Based on the advice provided in the archives, my next step was a restore. Unfortunately, iTunes wants the passcode - which, of course, I'm unable to enter.
Is there a workaround for this that anyone has found to get past this particular challenge?
Not that I'm looking for an excuse for an updgrade....

NPMaven wrote:
Unfortunately, iTunes wants the passcode - which, of course, I'm unable to enter.
Why are you unable to provide the passcode? You are using the computer's iTunes, aren't you?
If you're unable to do the Restore, go into Recovery Mode per the instructions here.

Gray screen of death at start up

Hello all,
Today when i was downloading the latest updates for my mac and iTunes my system froze while trying to access my BAD hard drive. So i restart my mac and after the apple logo appeared the gray screen of death showed up. I tried every thing from PRAM reset to disk and permission repair. So please help me with this problem.
Thank you

If you are on Mountain Lion you can boot from the Recovery Disk that is installed hidden from your internal HD. You can Use the Disk Utility from there to repair disk and you can also use that on OS re-installation of your ML.
"OS X Lion or OS X Mountain Lion includes a built in set of utilities in the Recovery System. Restart your Mac and hold down the Command key and the R key (Command-R), and keep holding them until the Apple icon appears, indicating that your Mac is starting up. After the Recovery System is finished starting up, you should see a desktop with a OS X menu bar and a "Mac OS X Utilities" application window."
Check this link
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718

Gray screen of death.... Please help.

Wife's 27" iMac is giving us the gray screen of death. I tried everything I could:
Command + Option +P + R
Holding Option at boot to try Recovery
Command + Option + R (Internet Recovery)
Holding shift to get to Safe Mode
Inserting install disc while holding "C"
Installed Mountain Lion on my Flashdrive to try to boot from that….
ALL FAILED. Any ideas, guys? Please help. This Mac is just a little over a year old. just out of the one year warranty.

Thanks for telling us everything you did. However, you haven't given us any information on what the computer did. So there's not much to go on except a gray screen. Assuming the drive has not failed:
Install or Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion from Scratch
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard 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.
Erase the hard drive:
1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
2. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the
      left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on
        the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass. Click on
      the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.
If you are not able to perform the above then the drive has most likely failed and will have to be replaced. Take the computer in for service..

IMac won't boot! (gray screen of death?)

Hello,
I just had a kernel panic on my main iMac computer, so I had to restart it...
When it logged in automatically, it restarted again (by itself)...
Now, once it booted, I'm staring at the horrendous Gray Screen of Death/Doom...
No apple logo, no loading wheel, nothing... just a blank gray screen.
Please help! I have no idea how to fix this!
Thank you. All help is greatly appreciated.

Hi mik.e245
Pop in the Install Disk 1 that came with your iMac and run disk repairs as described in the articles below:
http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=3810
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=DiskUtility/10.5/en/duh1018.html
Not always, but many times Kernal Panic's are associated with a ram issue's. If a ram module was recently added it may have become partially dislodged/unseated and needs to be reseated.
If your still having trouble run the Hardware Test from the same install disk as per this article.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303081-en
Dennis

Kernel Panics, Gray screen of death, and hard drives, oh my!

Last week, while performing multiple tasks on my G4, Safari froze up and completely locked up the entire computer. I rebooted by manually pushing the glowing power button the front of the tower. During reboot, I got the gray screen of death with the "you need to restart your macintosh... by holding down the power button for several seconds" message.
After a couple tries and getting that exact same gray screen of death, I started to worry about all my data.
I took both drives out of the G4 Quicksilver - one, a 500gb Barracuda Seagate (Master/bay 1), the other a 200gb Hitachi (slave/bay 2). I hooked them up to an older G4 and ran DiskWarrior and DiskUtility on both of them. The master drive had serious (>34%) fragmentation, which has since been cleaned up. The slave drive was relatively fine.
here's my current problem:
When I hook up:
1. Just the Master with no jumper pins, the drive runs fine, no problems, all settings and prefs are there, etc.
2. Just the Master with the correct pin settings, I get the kernel panic screen of death
3. The Master with correct pin settings and Slave with correct pin settings, kernel panic screen of death
4. If I swap the Master and Slave, and make the correct pin settings, the booting process starts and then I get a light gray screen with the "ghostbusters/do not enter" circle.
I put the original Slave drive in an external HD firewire enclosure, and it will mount on the desktop after the original Master drive has booted up - BUT - if I have the external drive powered up before I boot the Master, I get a gray screen with nothing on it - no message, nothing but grayscreen.
I've backed up my critical data, but would like to get these two drives back into their normal operating Master/Slave relationship that served them well for the last couple years.
Any help greatly appreciated.

New wrinkle:
This morning trying at boot up, the Mac chime sounded, the gray screen w/the apple logo appeared, and then the machine sounded like either the main fan or one of the two drives spun down. Shortly thereafter, I got the prohibitory sign again.
I rebooted and then got something completely different: a black screen with a small blinking vertical rectangle in the top left of the screen, with nothing else happening for a long time, so I manually rebooted and tried to boot into safe mode.
Trying to boot into safe mode gave me the chime, the apple logo, and then the sound of either the fan or drive spinning down and leaving me at the prohibitory sign once again.
Finally I option-booted to the slave drive and upon startup, received the following crash report, which might as well be in Swahili as far as my being able to make sense of it:
Sat Apr 11 09:59:48 2009
Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x300 - Data access DAR=0x0000000003DFFF70 PC=0x000000000032F68C
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x2d409780)
PC=0x0032F68C; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x03DFFF70; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00287A40; R1=0x2D3BFDD0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x2D3BFE20 0x00287AA0 0x00288658 0x0030C5AC 0x000B34C8 0xFFFFDFFF
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2d409780)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x24459500)
PC=0x93091180; MSR=0x0000D930; DAR=0x00100AE4; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x000067FC; R1=0xBFFFED50; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: launchd
Mac OS version:
9G55
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.6.0: Mon Nov 24 17:39:01 PST 2008; root:xnu-1228.9.59~1/RELEASE_PPC
System model name: PowerMac3,5
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0003): 0x300 - Data access
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x0009BCF0 0x0009C694 0x00029EA0 0x000AFA90 0x000B32F8
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2d409780)
PC=0x0032F68C; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x03DFFF70; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00287A40; R1=0x2D3BFDD0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x2D3BFE20 0x00287AA0 0x00288658 0x0030C5AC 0x000B34C8 0xFFFFDFFF
Exception state (sv=0x24459500)
PC=0x93091180; MSR=0x0000D930; DAR=0x00100AE4; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x000067FC; R1=0xBFFFED50; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: launchd

Gray Screen of DEATH?

i just got a GRAY screen of DEATH for my iphone today. i was wondering what can i do to fix it other than restoring? have anybody got this before? tyvm for your help!

i just got a GRAY screen of DEATH for my iphone today. i was wondering what can i do to fix it other than restoring? have anybody got this before? tyvm for your help!

Gray screen of death on boot-up

I have a 2.1 GHz MacBook with a 120GB hard-drive that I bought last November. I've been doing a lot with video and music and I keep running out of disk space. So, I keep deleting files that I thought I didn't need. Unfortunately, I must have deleted something important (for the OS) yesterday, and now, when I try to boot the machine, I get the "gray screen of death". And, to make matters worse, I cannot find the boot-CD that came with the MacBook. I don't have back-ups for many of my files and am hoping that I'll be able to recover my files. So, I've just bought an external hard-drive (which I should have done before). Any ideas how I can get the MacBook to boot and repair the problem without the original boot-CD? Will I have to erase the hard-drive to repair the problem, and if so, will I be able to save the files first? Thanks!

Hi MB-GSofD,
Without the disc(s) that came with your machine, I'm afraid your options are extremely limited. You can try to startup the machine in Safe Mode (Hold Shift immediately on startup, until you get to the login window) but based on what you deleted out of the /System or /Library folders, you might just be dead in the water.
Are you near an Apple Store? Do you have access to another Mac, say a family member, friend, roommate, co-worker, etc? There is Target Disk Mode if you can get access to another Mac and a Firewire cable.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Gray screen of death....after 3 reinstalls!!!

Ok so i have the infamous gray screen of death after installing snow leopard but i think mine is slightly different. I don't have the circle going round and round. I only have a gray screen. For some odd reason the first time it happened i held the mouse button, then the cd drive (empty) came out and then it booted up (odd). Then i reinstalled, still happened, and i held the mouse on restart and again it worked. But now this time i reinstalled again, obviously it isn't starting up but even if i hold the mouse button it still won't load. Any ideas?

If you can get it to start, go into System Prefs and check your startup volume...

Can't boot on hard drive or CD/DVD - grey/gray screen of death

A few weeks ago my PowerPC G5 Dual Processor running Leopard OS X froze while the screen saver was running. I hard-powered-off the computer --> held down power button for ~10 seconds. When I tried to start up again, I got the "gray/grey screen of death" with the Apple logo. The screen hung there and then fans starting ramping up to full speed with no sign off boot up. I know others have posted similar issues, but I wanted to start a new thread.
Basic Specs:
PowerPC G5 Dual 2.5 Hz Processors
4 Gb memory (recently upgraded form 2 to 4) ***
Bought in early 2005 (I think)
Here's a summary of what I've tried:
DOES NOT WORK
- booting up holding down C (for drive) --> straight to kill screen
- booting up from original discs for G5 (from both C mode and Option mode)
- booting up from 10.5 Leopard disc (from both C mode and Option mode)
- booting up holding down Option-Comman-P-R --> straight to kill screen
DOES WORK
- connecting to secondary computer using target mode (holding down T) - I can see both of my hard drives
- booting up holding down Option - I can select either my main drive (secondary is not present there but there is no OS on it) or CD/DVD in slot
- booting from Apple Hardware Test (AHT) disk from Option menu
-- I ran disk checks, had errors. I ran Disk Warrior from secondary computer in target mode and repaired the drive, running the AHT test again shows no errors
- ran disk repair from secondary computer to fix errors (using disk utility and disc warrior)
OTHER THINGS I'VE DONE
- replaced backup battery on motherboard that was weak at only ~70 mV with fresher battery at ~3.6V
- held down PMU (not SMU) reset button for 30 seconds
- (main fans were cleaned a few weeks before issue)
- two weeks before issue I installed more memory (from 2 Gb to 4 Gb with two new 1 Gb cards)
- backed up data - so I can delete drives if needed
THOUGHTS
- I'm concerned that under CPU it shows 158950.77 GHz - shouldn't it be showing two CPU?
- the drives look healthy when looking at them in target mode
- issue is occurring between power up and drive selection (since CD/DVD is also not viewable)
- maybe the new memory caused local over heating to the motherboard?
- I may be able to replace the heat sink, but the spare computer I have access to has different looking hardware. It's probably a different model of the G5. My computer has one metal case cover and the extra one has a split case cover.
NEXT STEP
- I need to back up secondary drive fully first
- pull out new memory sticks
- pull out all memory except originals
- pull out secondary drive
LAST RESORT
- buy external case for drives and cry about how no one will buy my dead desktop
Because this is a long description, I will post updates in the comments and a final comment here:
(Coming Soon)

The final lines in the log were all iTunes, but I think it's a hardware issue that's preventing me from booting.
Here is the line that includes the world "fatal" and a few lines before and after (it was the day before the crash):
Oct 9 02:05:50 Rys-Big-One com.apple.SystemStarter[28]: kextunload: unload kext /System/Library/Extensions/CiscoVPN.kext succeeded
Oct 9 02:05:51 Rys-Big-One kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : unloading cisco ipsec kernel module.
Oct 9 02:05:50 Rys-Big-One com.apple.SystemStarter[28]: Stopping Adobe Version Cue ...
Oct 9 02:05:50 Rys-Big-One vpnagent[88]: Termination reason code 7: The agent has been stopped.
Oct 9 02:05:51 Rys-Big-One kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : detaching from interface: en0.
Oct 9 02:05:50 Rys-Big-One vpnagent[88]: Function: getDownloaderMessage File: MainThread.cpp Line: 964 Invoked Function: CVpnMgr::processEvents Return Code: 0 (0x00000000) Description: fatal error, stopping service
Oct 9 02:05:51 Rys-Big-One kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : interface en0, filter has been safely detached.
Oct 9 02:05:51 Rys-Big-One vpnagent[88]: Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client Agent stopped, version 2, 4, 0
Oct 9 02:05:51 Rys-Big-One com.apple.SystemStarter[28]: Using CATALINA_BASE: /Applications/Adobe Version Cue/tomcat
Here is the last lines in the log:
Oct 10 15:59:53 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: MuxSendToClient send failed for 0x1-ef497a0f0338225857a1061ea364e83ba6c46aa7@0x4b400000:64988->0x20da60-iTunes/ com.apple.iTunes:336: 32 - Broken pipe
Oct 10 15:59:53 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20da60-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:00:08 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20e4d0-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:00:09 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20da60-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:00:09 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20da60-AppleMobileDeviceHelper/com.apple.SyncServices.AppleMobileDeviceHelper using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:00:09 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20d740-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:00:20 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20e4d0-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:00:50: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
Oct 10 16:01:20 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20e4d0-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:02:20 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20e4d0-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:03:20 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20e4d0-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:04:21 Rys-Big-One com.apple.usbmuxd[26]: HandleUSBMuxDictionary client 0x20e4d0-iTunes/com.apple.iTunes using library usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:10:00, running usbmuxd-211 built on May 16 2011 at 00:14:52
Oct 10 16:04:23 Rys-Big-One iTunes[146]: _NotificationSocketReadCallback (thread 0xa03d1820): Unexpected connection closure...
Oct 10 16:04:23 Rys-Big-One iTunes[146]: AMDServiceConnectionSendMessage (thread 0xa03d1820): Could not send message size: Broken pipe

Gray screen of death has prolifered upon upgrading to Leopard

I upgraded to Leopard a few days ago, and since then, I've gotten the "grey screen of death" (not sure what the technical term is), about 8-10 times. Before posting this I got it 3 times within a half hour. The last several times, it was while using Firefox (the most recent update), but not all of them were.
Any ideas as to what might be causing it?

One guess you upgraded to Leopard but never repaired your hard drive or permissions before upgrading. Result is a dysfunctional system. The technical term is "kernel panic." (Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on diagnosing kernel panics.)
My suggestion is:
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.

Gray Screen o' Death

I have a 2-yr old Intel-based iMac. I am not too computer savvy and I really haven't kept track of what version of the OS I'm using (I think 10.6.4). Last night, I got a gray screen that curtailed over the internet video I was watching and said something like "Please restart your computer" in a bunch of different languages.
I have since learned that it was a Panic feature common to the OS. But at the time, I figured no big deal and restarted by holding down the power button on the back of the computer. When it restarted, the white screen came up and the rotating circle continued like normal, but when it loads the login screen, the screen goes black (backlight still on) and stays that way. I even can type my password in at that point and I can tell from the sounds/fan noise that I can still login. But the screen stay black. Becuse of this, I cannot pull up my panic log and see what originally caused the issue/if they are related.
Anyone know what I should do/what's wrong with my computer? I don't have install disks nor does safe mode work.

You suffered a Kernel Panic. These can be caused by many things however what happens most frequently is something related to the RAM. RAM can become unseated or fail, I'd start by removing your RAM (extremely simple to do if you look in your owners manual) and reseating it. If it still fails then remove attempt to figure out which stick went bad by a system of elimination.
You can do some additional reading and troubleshooting at the following sites:
Resolving Kernel Panics
Avoiding and Resolving Kernel Panics
Kernel Panic FAQ's
Roger

Gray Screen of death after kernel panic

Hi guys,
Today I got a kernel panic and after restarting my macbook pro (early 2011) it stucks at a gray screen (without the Apple logo).
I tried a SMC-reset and also a NVRAM-reset but this doesn't help. Furthermore I tried to do a hardware test and booting from my Snow Lepoard DVD but this doesn't work too. When I start while holding c key the gray screen appears but nothing happens.
I removed the harddisc and connected to my server for getting all my files. This worked so the harddisc seems to be ok. In Addition to that I replaced my 8 Gb RAM to the original 4 Gb but this doesn't heller einher.
Has anyone suggestions what I can do?
Regards robert

If you can get it to start, go into System Prefs and check your startup volume...

Gray screen of death on shutdown

Grey screen of death on shutdown. Force quit and boots fine. Disk warrior didn't fix. Ideas?
Thanks in advance...

These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.
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.
Step 1
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
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 started. Now clear the search box and scroll back in the log to the last boot time after you had the problem. Select the messages logged before the boot, while the system was unresponsive or was failing to shut down. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V. Please include the BOOT_TIME message at the end of the log extract.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don’t post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. In most cases, a few dozen lines are more than enough.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.
Step 2
Still in Console, look under System Diagnostic Reports for crash or panic logs, and post the entire contents of 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 any other kind of report—it will be very long and not helpful.

Gray Screen of Death (moving from Java 1.1 to 1.4)

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