Grey apple start up screen with spinning line

I have been running Leopard on my iMac flat panel for the last 4 months without any problems. The other day I had a software update notification which I think covered 4 applications I downloaded them and restarted my mac, however it has never restarted it tries to but does not get past the initial start up screen...... the Grey apple screen with the spinning line in the centre.
I haven't received any message to do anything no exclamation mark etc, so I take that as a good sign! I have Time Machine so I don't think I have lost everything if I have to do a reinstall. Is there anything that I can do other than take it into the Apple store?
Many thanks for any advice.

I am having a similar problem on a G4 flat panel (Luxo) iMac.
When my sister gave me her old iMac it still had 10.1.2 on it, so I reformatted the drive and installed a clean copy of 10.4 (Tiger) on it.
As I was going through downloading and installing the software updates, it seems to have choked on one of the security updates. Now it will not boot and sits there at the grey screen with the spinning 'gear' icon.
I tried resetting the parameter ram, no luck.
I rebooted holding down the mouse button to get the DVD drive door to open and inserted the 10.4 install DVD in an attempt to either use disk tools to troubleshoot, or to re-install the OS, but the machine will not even boot when starting up with the 'C' key depressed.
I've kind of run out of options in my trick bag.
Can anyone tell me how to get this machine to recognize my install disk so I can start over?

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Brand new MBP stuck on grey Apple start up screen

My new MBP 13" arrived today. I removed the SSD from my current Macbook and installed it in my MBP. I pressed the power button, and it got stuck on the grey start up screen with the grey Apple for 5 minutes. I shut it down and put the SSD back in the Macbook - worked perfectly. So I tried installing it again in the MBP, and had the same problem. It just stays stuck on the grey screen with the Apple.

Last night the electricity went out and my power surge protector was not working so my iMac just force shut downed.
So, when the electricity came back i turned on my Mac but it is *Stuck in the Startup/Boot Screen with a Grey Apple Logo,a Empty Progress Bar with stays for 1 or 2 minutes and a small Spinning Wheel which would Spin Forver! I Have tried the SMC and Pram reset but no use, i have also tried to insert my OS X Lion 10.7 Installation disk and it would not load if i hold the C Key in the Startup, I Have Managed to go to Disk Utility Through "Recovery HD" but the Volume "Macintosh HD" is Greyed out and Unmounted and i cannot repair it. There are some files that i'd like to Recover if there is a way to fix it without deleting files.
**PLEASE HELP ME FIX THIS!**
Details about the iMac:
iMac 21.5 Inch i think from Mid 2010,
OS X Lion installed maybe 10.7.2 or 10.7.3 (im not sure)

Apple start up screen keeps spinning

I can't get past the apple start up screen. It just spins and spins. I tried starting up with the shift key and nothing. I installed the leopard installer disc by holding down c. I ran repair 4 times through disk image and they all came out fine. When I wanted to created a disk image so that I can have a backup of my information, it gave me an error. I am now forced to reinstall leopard and have a previous folder with all of my previous items stored. Are there any other suggestions? How can I clean up my system so that I don't have multiple folders with the same things floating and taking up memory? How would I know which folders the system is actually using and which are just from the previous?
I recently lost my external HD with most of my work on it; I heard the 3 clicks. Then 2 weeks later my powerbook's HD died which I then had to replace the HD, again loosing everything that was on it. Please help me resolve this issue.
Thanks!

I take it you don't have a backup? with so many drives failing you should have figured out by now that backing up is a good idea. Having a backup would have saved you a LOT of trouble. so, get an external hard drive (buy one if you don't have it). also, to make a backup now you'll need another mac. reboot yours and hold "t" at the chime. this will start it in target mode. connect it to the other mac and the external drive. copy what you need from your computer to the external. the best would probably be to clone the whole drive using [CCCloner|http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html]. having done that you can do an archive and install and if that fails an erase and install. see [this post by kappy|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1582866&tstart=0] on doing an archive and install. after you make sure your new system works correctly you can delete the previous systems folder.
if an archive and install doesn't work, do an erase and install and migrate your data from the backup. that's likely has to be done by hand.

Help: iMac won't boot past Grey logo screen with spinning lines

My fiance's iMac (intel based) running snow leopard (upgraded from Leopard a couple months ago) will not boot past the logo and spinning lines. This started after at attempting to restart after installing updates to Safari and iTunes.
When booting in verbose mode I get these lines:
Launchctl: Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /Library/LaunchDaemons
Launchctl: Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /System/Library/LaunchDaemons
Launchctl: Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /etc/mach_inid.d
AppleYukon2: Marvel Yukon Gigabit Adapter 88E8055 Singleport Copper SA
AppleYukon2: RxRingSize <= 1024, TxRingSize 256. RXMAXLE 1024, TXMAXLE 768, STMAXLE 3328
Then it just stops and does nothing.
I've unplugged everything except the apple keyboard and mouse. Ethernet is not connected.
She doesn't seem to have the original disc that came with the computer, but I do have the Snow Leopard upgrade disc.
What do I do? It won't boot in Safe Mode either, freezes at the same spot.
I'm not a particularly savvy Mac user as I recently embraced them when we moved in together.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Repairing permission is not the first answer. Should try to run fsck and reset the PRAM
Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line.
Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
At the command-line prompt type:
/sbin/fsck -fy
Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found:
** The volume (name_of_volume) appears to be OKIf fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message:
***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****
Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
When fsck reports that your volume is OK, typerebootat the prompt and then press Return.
Your computer should start up normally and allow you to log in.
Resetting PRAM and NVRAM
Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
Your computer's PRAM and the NVRAM are reset to the default values. The clock settings may be reset to a default date on some models.

My ipad (64g wifi 3g) just turned its self off and when i finally got it back on it was just on the apple start up screen with the little thing spinning beneath it. Can an anyone help!!!!!!!!!

if anyone has ether had this happen to them can u tell me and if you no how to fix it please tell

Recovery Mode is how to start all over again on your iPad like new. It erases everything, even the operating system, and reloads directly from Apple. Once that is done, if you have performed a backup of your iPad in the past, you will be able to restore all of your configuration settings and preferences after the reload occurs.
To prepare for a recovery mode restore, have the following ready:
- Your computer (plugged in to power) ready with iTunes up and running
- Your iPad synch cable plugged into your computer but NOT your iPad
- Make sure your iPad is at least at 20% battery, preferably higher
NOTE: Do NOT touch the iPad once recovery begins. Make sure your computer doesn't suspend, sleep, or shut down while the process is going on.
Steps:
- Sitting next to your computer, take your iPad (which should NOT be connected to your PC) and hold down the sleep button (on the top of the iPad) and the home button (front of the iPad) at the same time
- After about 10-15 seconds, the unit will power off (do not do anything when the "slide to power off" screen appears, just keep holding the buttons)
- When the iPad turns back on, you will see the silver Apple appear on the screen. Continue holding down the home button but release the sleep button and immediatly plug the iPad into your computer running iTunes
- You should see a symbol appear on the iPad with a picture of a USB cable with an arrow pointing to the iTunes logo. iTunes will then say that it detected an iPad in recovery mode.
- Let iTunes restore the device. It will download a fresh copy of firmware, install it, and verify the SW.
NOTE: This may take a while. iTunes needs to download about 500MB from the Apple server, then it will start the loader on the iPad, and load the OS.
- After iTunes said that is successfully restored your device, you may get an error message saying the iPad isn't recognized and you're still at the screen with the USB cable and iTunes logo on the iPad. Don't sweat it. Unplug the iPad from the computer. Power off the iPad by holding the sleep button until you see the "slide to power off" - go ahead and slide to power off. Once it is shut down, push the sleep button again until it powers on.
- the iPad will come back to the familiar USB cable/iTunes logo. When it does, just plug it back into your computer and iTunes will activate the iPad.
- if you had previously backed up your iPad, iTunes will tell you there is a backup and ask if you would like it restored. If you wish to do this, accept the prompt. This will also take some time. Note it will NOT put your apps, music, movies, TV shows, etc back on your iPad, just your settings and preferences.
- once the restore is complete, iTunes should recognize your iPad and you can pick your synching options (apps, music, movies, etc, etc) and have a blast! The only thing I noticed it doesn't retain is the page layouts for your apps, so either screen capture them before you begin, or write it down.
I hope this helps

Non operational USB ports and stuck on grey apple start up screen

Two problems
1. USB ports are non operational. I believe I fried them by accident. When hooking up an external USB hub, I may have connected an incorrect power supply. Now the USB ports on the front and back of my tower are non operational/do not work. As a work around, I bought a USB pci card and installed it. This has been working for my keyboard, mouse and external hard drives but my iPhone will not sync. My ilok is recognized in system profiler but I cannot download anything to it.
Anyone know how to fix this? Is it possible I fried my main USB port?
2. I was reading different threads and a possible solution to the USB port problem was to reset my PMU. I have no clue why or if this would fix it but I gave it a try. Disconnected power supply and everything else after shutting down the computer. Found the pmu button on logic (or is it the motherboard or is it the same thing?). Pressed it, waited 20 seconds, put computer back together, connected power supply mouse and keyboard and tried to power up. The computer would not power up and the front power light was on but would not power up/boot. In a dumb panic, I opened up the tower and pressed the pmu button again without disconnecting the power. This seemed to work bcause my computer powered up! A red light on the logic board turned on and I got to the grey apple screen. This is where it froze. Hard reset, powered up, same problem. Unplugged power supply and tried again. Same problem. Tried pmu reset (unpluged power this time) and a repeat of the first pmu attempt. I tried starting up with cmd opt o p (I forget the exact letters but it was a reset with starting chimes), then I tried reinstalling with boot DVDs. It would get through the first DVD then restart and get stuck. Finally, I got it to accept second Boot DVD and finish installing and tried starting in safe mode. Got to safe mode and went to disk utility and checked first aid. No reported repairs necessary. Copied all files needed from HD and shut down. The computer did not shut down properly (this has been an ongoing problem before all these current problems and it has had problems booting fulling with hard resets needed once and a while). From here I tried restarting, pulling power supply, staring again and it keeps gettin stuck on grey apple loafing screen. The spinning wheel spins and then gets stuck, fans increase in speed and nothing. I can get back to safe mode either.
I'm very wordy I guess but more info the better, right?
The tower is very very very dusty. I will compress air it to clean it and attempt to clean connectors with alcohol. I will let it sit over night disconnected an then try powering it up.
What could the possible problems be? What can i do? Any suggestions on proper cleaning. I know how to ground properly and not to use a vacuum. I might have pressed the pmu button more than once. I'd the battery dead? Could it be a power supply problem. ****, I'm out of ideas and I really tried solving without posting but I'm poor and need my computer! Help!

Welcome to the forums. Lots of good information and help to be had here.
OK, first, let us know more specifically which of five flavors of Power Mac G5 you have. Find the serial number on the build plate on the inner bottom panel just below the CPUs and use this site to get the exact configuration:
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
In the meantime, assuming that you haven't replaced the PRAM battery in quite a while or ever, that would be a good thing to do.
Getting dust out of the system is a must. The power supply is especially prone to dust buildup. You might want to deal with that by taking the machine outside, as it can get pretty thick coming out.

Grey apple start up screen

when I try to start up my macbook i get a grey apple screen that starts to switch between that and a folder and a circle with a line through it

It means system files needed for startup are damaged or missing. You will need to reinstall OS X. Try 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.

Mac OS 10.8.2 failed to update. Can only see white screen with spinning lines. Help?!

I have just updated my Macbook Pro (Mid 2010) to Mac OS X 10.8.2. My computer restarted and now it won't load back up again. All I see is a bright white screen with a spinning/flashing lines that you get when Safari loads a new page. I've left it on for 20 minutes and still the white screen remains. Does this mean I have to book an appointment with the Genius Bar?

Same problem. My Mac Pro 2008 stops booting at the white Apple screen. I reinstalled after booting into Revocery, and have the same problem. I'm going to try reinstalling an earlier version. Wish I coipuld bill Apple for the missed work today... And tomorrow if tha doesn't work.

Grey Apple Start Up Screen, Then The Fans Go Mental

Subject title explains all really. but basically switching my iMac on go to the grey screen, apple pops up, then the spinning grey wheel, then the fans kick in relentlessly and OSX refuses to boot up. Any suggestions, cant really find anything on the discussion boards. Thanks

"cant really find anything on the discussion boards."
In that case, see if your model G5 iMac qualifies for the The 20-inch iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Power Supply Issues (Rev B)
**WARNING: DUE TO SECURITY REASONS, PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR COMPUTER'S SERIAL NUMBER ON THESE MESSAGE BOARDS.**
Also, see Knowledge Base Articles: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86817 iMac G5: Loose power cord could cause power loss
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301287 My computer stops responding during startup

Frozen on the blue start-up screen with spinning wheel -- HELP!

I'm posting this for my sister. She has an Intel iMac, 17"--the first group of Intel iMacs that came out, if that helps. She said that this morning she turned off the power to her house while they were working on some electrical wiring. She didn't power down her iMac before turning off the power to the house. When she went to turn on the iMac, she got a screen with a ton of techno language on it (like terminal-like dialogue--as you can see, I'm not very techie myself). She held down the power button to restart it, but now when it restarts it just gets to the blue screen with the spinning wheel and never gets past that. Any ideas? Keep in mind we're not super technical over here, and I'll need to try to explain all this to her over the phone.

Hi
Try doing a PRAM reset by restarting the computer whilst holding down -Option(Alt)-P-R keys. After the 3rd chime, release the keys. See if that helps?
Also read http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464#symp1
Steve

Mac won't start up; shuts down after grey apple start up screen :(

Well I have just recently came off a two week holiday from Mexico, and straight away I log onto my iMac, as usuall I try to update it as often as I can so I am upto date.
Well I did that, and I found that I had loads to update because I had been away. Soo as normall I allowed it to update. I left my iMac to its own devices for about 2 and 1/2 hours, so it can update, whilst I was on the PS3. Once I had finished on the PS3 I had came to find, that when the iMac automatically starts up to install/update software, that it had frozen.
So I left it for another hour, to see if it could sort itself out, but just my luck nothing happened.
So I held down the power button, until I forced shut down my iMac. When I came to start my iMac back up again, it chimed like usual, and went onto the grey startup screen like usuall, then it took ages to respond, the wheel thingy, just kept spinning and eventually it stop and my iMac shut down.
And it keeps on shutting down like that and won't boot up, but some how it has gone into Safe Boot Mode.
What shall I do, a go from here on, to get my iMac back to normal?
Many thanks to any posts in advance.

Think I have sorted it guys with a bit of searching:
Solution:
Reset System Mangement Controller (SMC)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543

TS2570 My 2010 MacBook pro gets stuck at the apple start up screen

I think I've tried almost everything possible and my computer gets stuck at the apple start up screen with the loading bar under every time I shut the computer down and restart it. I've tried all the resetting, trying to do the apple hardware test (which never worked), and so many other things that I can't even remember everything that I've tried. Could someone out there possibly help me?

Yes. I turn it on like I normally would. I hear the chime and everything. It looks like it wants to start up and it acts like its loading. Then it just gets stuck when the loading bar gets to right about the middle.

Hangs on grey screen with spinning wheel at start up

Power Mac g4 running tiger hangs on grey screen with spinning wheel (the wheel keeps going tho!) tried resetting the PRAM, PMU, changed the little battery thing on the main board, and starting from tiger dvd and os 9 dvd, dvds just keep ejecting. also tried starting in verbose and safe modes, still the same problem.
I can however access the hd through a network.
any ideas
Thanks

The only thing I know is to buy one. Not much help here. I have a collection of OS disks I bought to go along with all the Macs I've had and still have.
You said already that you had reset the PMU, but did you do that according to:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1939
If not, then this may help. The PMU seems to be a miracle part of the OS. You could then plug the HD back in and a miracle will happen. I've read several threads where people kept doing this and all of sudden everything was cured. I think the last one I read, the person recommended holding in the button for at least 15 seconds and then releasing it. I just go by the Apple tech sheets.

HT1455 imac wont start up and grey screen with spinning wheel appears

imac wont start up and grey screen with spinning wheel appears

See this Apple note on steps to take.

Grey Apple Start Screen with Grey 'bar' above, half thick, half thin

Hi
iMac G5 1.8 20" crashed, restarted holding power button.
Restarts with Grey Apple start screen and a 1/2 thick 1/2 thin bar above the Apple logo, fans on maximum, no further progress.
Any thoughts people ?
Thanks
Simon

HI Simon,
Have you tried booting from your install disk?
Insert the installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger and later) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
*(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)*
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
If you cannot boot from your install disk, try booting in Safe Mode
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

Grey apple start up screen with spinning line

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