Grey Login Screen

I get a grey login screen instead of the blurry background, when I turn on or restart my computer. Also get a loading bar after typing in my password before it boots to my desktop. this only happens on my MacBook Air late 2012.  My 2014 Mac Mini does not have this issue.  Already tried reinstalling OS X, No Luck.

I wish you that you solved your problem and that was just it!
As I've told you in another thread, I've had a similar problem, except no amount of moving the mouse around will show any way to login... and no amount of "cmd-this" or "shift-ctrl-that" did anything.
The problem appeared after a HDD change (SMART was failing), so I thought that was the culprit, but after bringing the unit back to Genius 2 more times, they switched the HDD (unless they lied...?) and it's still a problem, altough not just the grey screen.
And, of course, all the permissions were verified and repaired (many times) as well... and before the clean installs, all login-startup apps were turned off so that nothing would launch at start up. To no avail.
RAM was changed and upgraded too (by me), OSX 10.8 was installed from scratched 3 times (once importing everything, the second time importing everything but the preference files... this time nothing at all).
I have NOT had the grey screen problem yet... but the other symptoms have re-appeared, which are Finder being buggy, SBBOD, slow moments, having to force quit apps (even though I have almost nothing running and almost no apps installed, with no files either).
Last time I tried to restart, I first had to force quit iPhoto, then had to shut the unit down with the button because it was stuck on the white screen!
Did you have any other problems before you got the grey screen? Did it happen after wake-up or restart?

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