Grey screen instead of log in

I have a Mac Mini (Mid 2011) with Lion which wont get to the login screen anymore. I just got a grey background instead. Heres the things ive been tested without any resault.
- Start with no external stuff, only power, keyboard and network.
- Safe start, holding shift.
- Reset Nvram with command + option + p + r (also 5 times after eachother).
- Start the recovery mode holding command + r
I succeded to start the AHT (apple hardware test) holding down D at startup, and run the long test for about 20 min. But it said all was ok.
I can also start it in firewiremode holding T, but since i dont need to backup anything i cant do so much more. I have run disk utilitys on the disk in fw mode and it still says everything is ok. I also run a long test with drive genius on all blocks and it didnt find anything.
I can also hold down option and choose from wich partition to start from, the system or recovery, but with just a grey background after again.
I can also restart with option + command + r and then i get the globe and timer going down in like 5 min, then just grey screen again.
I have tested different cables and screens. Shut down the power totally for long time then restart but no change.
Is there anything else i can do? The Mac Mini is 2,5 year and it feels **** that the hardware will break after that short time
Still i dont know if it is something with the hardware, since no test finds anything. Then its strange it wont start either from the system or the recovery partition.
Is there a way to reinstall Lion over firewire mode? I dont have so much to loose.
I have other macs here with Lion where i can make a usb recovery from maybe, but i read somewhere that its only working on the computer i made it from

Try resetting the NVRAM and SMC
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
About NVRAM and PRAM
Try removing one stick of memeory and then try with the other stick in place.
If still problem, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store since it appears you have a hardware problem.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

Similar Messages

My mac froze in an application so I shut it down by powering off with button, now when I try to turn it on I have a grey screen with Apple loge and the timer swirling but it doesn't get past this, please help!

I Shut down my Mac by holding in the power button after my iMac froze and now when I try to turn it back it on all I get is the grey screen with Apple loge and the timer and doesn't get any further. I have tried the diagnostic test but nothing was found.

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
To restart an unresponsive computer, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until the power shuts off, then release, wait a few more seconds, and press it again briefly.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, 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 that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.
b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
c. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
d. 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.
Step 2
If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 4
If a desktop Mac hangs at a plain gray screen with a movable cursor, the keyboard may not be recognized. Press and hold the button on the side of an Apple wireless keyboard to make it discoverable. If need be, replace or recharge the batteries. If you're using a USB keyboard connected to a hub, connect it to a built-in port.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 6
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
Step 7
If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 11. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
If you can start and log in in safe mode, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the startup process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 8
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select the startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then restart as usual.
Step 9
If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.
Step 10
Reinstall the OS. If the Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 11
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 12
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 13
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

G5 acting very strange and now will not get past grey screen with Apple log

Hi I have had my iMac G5 for a few years and it was working perfectly up until today ! When I switched it on and it started playing up. Every application I opened would randomly shut down. For instance, Safari would crash and mail would crash, as well as the finder refreshing itself. This settled after a short while. Therefore I thought things were fine until I pressed the < or > buttons in finder and the system would refresh itself ! Weird ! Fortunately I backed up all of my iTunes.
I can see the hard drive when I hook it up via firewire to my MacBook Pro.
The problem I have now is that the machine will not boot up ! It gets stuck on the grey screen and after a short while the fans kick in like the thing is ready for take off !
Any ideas ?????
Thanking you in advance !

Apple Discussions!
Which model G5 iMac do you have?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301724-en How to identify your iMac
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh355.html Getting information about your computer
Depending on your model, try one of the following:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301733 (Ambient Light Sensor), iMac G5 (iSight): How to Reset the SMU
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300341 How to reset the SMU on a Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) or Power Mac G5 (Late 2005)
If the above does not work, see if you qualify for one of the following:
iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Video and Power Issues
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.**
If you do not qualify for any of the above programs hopefully, you have AppleCare and/or your computer is still under warranty & you should contact Apple and/or your local AASP.
Good luck!

Grey screen is displayed when loading pdf file in Adobe 11

Hi,
PDF file is not loaded in the adobe reader 11. Some time I am getting the grey screen instead of the pdf file. Some time my application is displaying the message saying that It is stopped working. its happening sporadically. But if I downgrade the Adobe reader to version 9, I am not getting the above said issue. Is this the known issue with Adobe reader 11. If it is known issue, any work around is available for it. Many persons using our product got affected because of this issue. pls help me to resolve the issue. I have attached the screen shot of the issue.

Hi,
I am getting blank screen even If I try open the pdf file from local desktop in the browser. But when I open the local pdf file outside browser I was not able to recreate the issue. But from my application even if I open pdf file outside the browser also (meaning in the adobe reader), I am getting screen. I have attached the screenshot of error I am getting when I try to open the local pdf file. In my task manager I am able to see many process for adobe reader. Even I close the pdf file, the process is not closing.
Operating System: windows 7
IE version: 8
Adobe reader version: 11.0.3

Grey Screen in iPad Content Viewer when swipe through the last slides of the articles

Some of co-workers and clients reported and issue with the presentations and the viewer: some times grey screens appear when swiping in an presentation from article to article (reproducible only for the last slide of the article).
Pre-conditions:
1. Folio with several articles (3-4 is good).
2. Articles should have different number of slides.
Steps to reproduce:
1. Open folio on iPad and go to the last slide of each article.
2. Swipe from article to article (better from the first one article to the last one)..
Expected outcome: Last slide of the next article is displayed.
Actual outcome: Grey screen is displayed instead of the last article. Some times it's needed to swipe fast to reproduce the issue. Or at least on the last slide you'll see grey screen instead of the content.
Content will be displayed if you scroll up the page. Seems that new (additional) page is added after the last slide of an article and disappeared after scrolling the page.
Notes: Reproducible with the latest version of adobe viewer (i'm using v31(3.4.3.0.96281). NOT reproducible in iPad Content Viewer with version 3.2.1.3.85505.
Maybe somebody knows the root cause of this issue and how to fix it?

I can confirm that I've seen this happen but beyond that, I can't help.

If I click on an e-mail address link in a web page instead of a blank message opening I always get a pop up screen with a log-in for googlemail. I do not have and do not want a googlemail account. I just want to be able to send e-mails using Outlook.

If I click on an e-mail address link in a web page instead of a blank message opening I always get a pop up screen with a log-in for googlemail. I do not have and do not want a googlemail account. I just want to be able to send e-mails using Outlook.

OUtlook was already set as the mail client for FF, and is my operating system (XP)'s default mail programme. therefore problem not solved at all. what I get whenever I follow a link in a webpage to send an e-mail is a little pop up window asking me to sign in to gmail or open an account. any other suggestions?

Flashing grey screen and background pic when log in, can't access anything!

Please bare with me, this is a long one since I'm including every little detail in hope that it helps my desperate situation. I have been receiving "startup disk is full" messages for about a month now on the MacBook Air OS X Version 10.8.5 I bought new last summer. I am currently traveling throughout Asia with limited internet access, but am working from the road, which makes having a working computer critical. I checked online and followed all the advice I understood on how to clear up space: moved all my documents and pictures to Box/Dropbox, deleted unused applications, and emptied my general trash and iPhoto trash. This only stopped the startup disk full messages for a week before they started coming up again and again. I checked my storage and it said the "Other" was taking up most of the space. I realize that this could mean any number of things.I downloaded omnidisksweeper, but didn't want to risk deleting anything when I didn't what they were for. If I remember correctly, of the things I recognized, it said that my Mail was taking up a lot of space, but that made sense since I have 3 large accounts I work from. I deleted the couple files that were in the "recovered" file. Last week one of my email accounts kept resenting me the same 30 messages for a couple days. I couldn't figure out why. A couple days ago, I went to turn on my laptop after shutting it down the night before. I was able to log into my user, but once I logged in, my background picture and this blank, grey screen started alternately flashing. My dock on the bottom does not show up. In the top right corner it shows my Dropbox box icon (which I can click on and it says it's up to date, but nothing happens when I try to open it) but none of the rest (battery, Internet icons, etc). When I click on the apple in the leftmost corner nothing happens. In the top left corner the Finder toolbar shows up, but the drop down menus only open sometimes. When I click on anything from the drop down menus nothing happens. Sometimes a window pops up that says that "the last time you opened Finder, it unexpectedly quit while reopen ing windows. Do you want to try to reopen again?" The the meantime that grey screen is still flashing in the background. I have chosen "don't reopen" and "reopen" before, but nothing happens. I tried pressing down control, command, delete as suggested but nothing happens. I end up having to hold down the power button, and choose the shut down when the usual shut down, restart, sleep message shows up. I am able to access the Guest User account without problems and created a new User. However, the disk is, of course, still full, so I'm right back where I started, except that I'm unable to access my main user account that actually has all my stuff on it. I searched online and haven't been able to find anything similar to my situation. Please give me any suggestions you might have, I'm in Indonesia at the moment and have nowhere I can take it for help, but still need to work! I'm not very tech savvy (obviously), so please try to be specific! I've run the disk utility "Verify Disk" thing but it says everything's ok. I downloaded omnidisksweeper again onto the new user I created with the limited space I have available, but don't really understand what anything on it means! It says that most of the space is taken up as follows: 9.5GB private, 4.5 GB applications, 3.7 GB system, 3.6 GB library.
Is there anything specific I should be looking for? Is there anything I can do to get my original user account to work?

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
If you don't remember the password, you have to reset it. As you have a new MacBook, you are using OS X Mountain Lion, so follow these steps > http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4101

Wallpaper defaults to 'Galaxy' after log out + now stuck on grey screen

Hi all,
Hope someone can help with this one.
Basically, like many others, I've been trying to get around
the wallpaper problem that Lion has brought with it.
By this, I mean how if you change the wallpaper to a custom
image, as soon as you log out and back in it changes back
to the galaxy one from Lion.
So after searching the solutions on the forums I decided to
act on the following troubleshooting advice from a member
commenting on the problem... (advice I followed in bold)
(Originally posted by member: Ahmed21788)
One basic solution for this is to save your wallpapers in the HDD where you've installed the MAC OS X..
but I didnt want to save all my wallpapers in Native Mountain Lion HDD, so i figured out my perfect fix..!!
This is how i fixed..
I found this file in my Lion install drive.. autodiskmount.plist
Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/autodiskmount.plist
If you can't find it on your OS X Install Drive then you can make one by typing
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="0.9">
<dict>
<key>AutomountDisksWithoutUserLogin</key><true/>
</dict>
</plist>
rename ur txt file to autodiskmount.plist
save this in your MAC OS X HDD
Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/autodiskmount.plist
restart your system..
So... after following this advice I haven't been able to get my machine back on!
It just gets to the grey screen with apple and spinning wheel and goes no further.
It won't even safe boot.
However I did manage to get to repair disk permissions via cmd+option+p+r.
But when I restarted it still wouldn't go any further than the grey screen/spinning wheel.
Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Ben.

Hi keithos27,
I have a macbook pro early 2011 15" like you, and unfortunately something identical happened to me: "... the computer went black and an audio was stuck on a loop over and over..." - "...grey screen on for a few minutes and eventually the computer's fan spins up and runs at full speed".
I followed the article mentioned too, but nothing solved the problem.
Eventually I took the mac to the local authorized service provider. It turns out that the problem is due to the notorious GPU failure of the 2011 macbook pro.
It means that unless I replace the entire logic board, I end up with a marvellous piece of aluminium...
This is my experience, I can't say that's 100% your case. I hope it isn't. Try to check at an apple store.
Good luck!

When I have finished working on an image in Photoshop and I hit the save button it goes instead to the "save as" screen. This never happened in previous Photoshop versions. When I get to Lightroom, I have a grey screen the says "File could not be found."

When I have finished working on an image in Photoshop and I hit the "save" button, it goes instead to the "save as" screen. This never happened in previous Photoshop versions. When I get to Lightroom, I have a grey screen the says "File could not be found." I then have to go to "locate" to get the image. When I select the correct image, I get a message that it is not the same file name but I am eventually able to access the image. Needless to say this is having a negative impact on workflow!

The problem with write permissions for the OneDrive folder only shows up in Lightroom 6's export dialogue, that's why it's to irritating. Lightroom 5.7.1 is not having that problem nor does the file explorer. The problem also exists on both of my machines. I will try to check for other problems with the OneDrive troubleshooter though: Running the OneDrive troubleshooter - Windows Help

Apple Macbook 13.3" Laptop-Black 2008 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo will not boot up and instead I get a grey screen with a folder and a question mark over it.

My Apple Macbook 13.3" Laptop-Black 2008 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo will not boot up and instead I get a grey screen with a folder and a question mark over it. I've tried Option key, and Control S keys and it still will not boop up. Can anyone help?

If you are running Snow Leopard:
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
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 Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
If you are running Lion or later:
Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks without erasing 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
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 then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Mountain Lion or Mavericks
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it isthree times faster than wireless.

MacBook keeps rebooting, grey screen and unable to get a log in screen

Have no idea what has happened! Looking through mail yesterday, nothing else. When I went to log in last night it started rebooting and then shut itself off. Every time I try to turn it back it on it has grey screen, apple icon and begins to reboot itself and then simply turns itself off again. Cannot even get to log in screen. Any advice on how to get my log in screen back and stop this process?

Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

Can't turn on my MacBook Air. Grey screen shows but instead of Apple logo a folder with a "?" appears. Help

Hello,
As I was using my laptop it suddenly died on me. I tried turning it on several times but I couldn't get passed the grey screen with the Apple logo on it and a loading bar underneath. At this time I could access the Recovery Disc Assistant or the Mac OS X utilities (not sure what it is called). I partintioned the Hard Drive into one partition and ran a disc check. Everything was OK so i rebooted the laptop. The grey screen showed up, but this time instead of getting an Apple logo i got a blinking folder with a question mark on it. I could no longer access the Recovery Disc Assistant and I'm stuck. What really ***** is that I have IB exams tomorrow and some of my crucial notes are on this laptop... Please help.

If you partitioned the drive, you deleted all the data on it. Restore from your most recent backup.

NetInstall - Grey screen after logging in for user created during install

I am creating a NetInstall of 10.8 for mass deployment in my workplace. I am currently having difficulty with a user account that was created by a script that runs in place of the Setup Assistant.
I am trying to skip the Setup Assistant, and as such, the script touches the /var/db/.AppleSetupDone file (which doesn't exist at this point).
This works, with the installation progressing straight on to the login screen where the user 'administrator' has been created, and is available for login.
However, when the user logs in, they are presented with a grey screen & the mouse cursor. No dock, desktop, no finder menu bar.
I am at a loss as to what is going wrong as this had worked perfectly fine in the developer preview.
The script is as below: (certain sections have been removed for security purposes)
Any pointers would be much appreciated.
#!/bin/sh
############# SET VARIABLES ###################
. /etc/rc.common
#set primary network interface
interface=`netstat -r -f inet | awk '/default/{print $6}' | head -1`
#set server address for packages
pkgserver='macimaging.blah.qld.edu.au'
#Get default route's interface's ip address
ip=`ifconfig $interface | grep "inet 10." | sed -e 's/^.*inet 10/10/' -e 's/ netmask.*$//'`
#get version number of Mac OS X
macversion=`sw_vers | awk '/^ProductVersion/{split($2, MINOR, "."); print MINOR[2]}'`
############# CHECK ADMIN PASSWORD ###################
shadow=blah
i=0
# initialise variable
passwd=""
# if machine is set to automatically image
if [ `nvram -p | grep -c reimage-key` -eq 1 ]; then
# remove verbose boot arguments from nvram
nvram -d boot-args
# collect admin password
passwd=`nvram reimage-key | awk '{print $2}' | openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -pass "pass:Aut0mat1cR31mag3" -a -d`
# check it was successfully decrypted
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
osascript -e beep
echo "Automatic imaging key failed. Press enter to continue."
read
passwd=""
fi
# remove key from nvram
nvram -d reimage-key
fi
# if the admin password wasn't successfully collected
if [ "$passwd" = "" ]; then
#clear the screen
clear
say -v Victoria "Please enter the Administrator's password"
while [ $i = 0 ]
do
    echo "Please enter Administrator's password: (Note: Input is hidden)"
    #read password from stin but don't show
    stty_orig=`stty -g`
    stty -echo
    read passwd
    stty $stty_orig
    hash=`echo $passwd | shasum -a 512 | awk '{print $1}'`
    if [ $shadow = $hash ]; then
        #password is correct; continue with setup
        i=1
    else
        echo "Incorrect. Please try again"
    fi
done
fi
#clear the screen
clear
echo "Log:"
############# SET EFI PASSWORD ###################
echo "Setting EFI password"
#to create a new EFI password, initially set it on a test machine with the GUI utility, then extract its value with: `nvram -p | awk '/security-password/{print $2}'`. Put that value in this command (also replacing our admin password) to generate hash for below: `echo "pass_from_nvram" | openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -pass "pass:ourcurrentadminpassword" -a`
nvshadow=`echo "blah" | openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -pass "pass:$passwd" -a -d`
nvram security-mode=command
nvram security-password=$nvshadow
#reset running variable for security
nvshadow=""
############# GENERATE RC SHADOW FILE ###################
#if you don't know how the following lines work, get a pillow ready for screaming into
#the admin key (which is decrypted below) is used to decrypt publicly distributed packages to change the admin account's password (without having the password in the package in clear text)
decypted_admin_private_key=`echo "blah" | openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -pass "pass:$passwd" -a -d`
admin_private_key_hash=`echo "$decypted_admin_private_key" | shasum -a 512 | awk '{print $1}'`
echo "$admin_private_key_hash $decypted_admin_private_key" >> /var/root/RC_admin_private_key
chmod 600 /var/root/RC_admin_private_key
#this keeps a record of the administrator password set on imaging
RC_admin_pass_hash=`echo "$passwd" | shasum -a 512 | awk '{print $1}'`
RC_admin_pass_encrypted=`echo "$passwd" | openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -pass "pass:$decypted_admin_private_key" -a`
echo "$RC_admin_pass_hash $RC_admin_pass_encrypted" >> /var/root/RC_admin_shadow
#a few security measures
chmod 600 /var/root/RC_admin_shadow
RC_admin_pass_encrypted=""
decypted_admin_private_key=""
############# SETUP PARTITIONS ###################
echo "Updating file system table to mount data partition on boot for user accounts"
#Find if Home or Data partition exists (N.B. If Bootcamp is used the following awk commands need to be modified to only look for [Hh]ome and not [Dd]ata)
partname=`diskutil list | awk '/([Hh]ome)|([Dd]ata)/{print $3}' | head -1`
partdev=`diskutil list | awk '/([Hh]ome)|([Dd]ata)/{print $6}' | head -1`
#If a Data partition exists
if [ "$partdev" ]; then
     #Mount it on boot to /Users
     echo "LABEL=$partname      /Users   hfs     rw" > /etc/fstab
     #mount Data drive to /Users
     diskutil umount /dev/$partdev
     mount -t hfs /dev/$partdev /Users
fi
############# CREATE ADMIN ACCOUNT ###################
echo "Creating Administrator account"
#create administrator account
dscl . create /Users/administrator
dscl . create /Users/administrator RealName "Administrator"
dscl . create /Users/administrator PrimaryGroupID 20
dscl . create /Users/administrator UniqueID 501
dscl . create /Users/administrator NFSHomeDirectory /Users/administrator
dscl . create /Users/administrator UserShell /bin/bash
dscl . passwd /Users/administrator $passwd
dscl . append /Groups/admin GroupMembership administrator
dscl . append /Groups/_lpadmin GroupMembership administrator
dscl . append /Groups/admin GroupMembership administrator
dscl . create /Users/administrator picture "/Library/User Pictures/Sports/8ball.tif"
dscl . delete /Users/administrator jpegphoto
#reset running variable for security
passwd=""
############# SET blah NETWORK LOCATION ###################
echo "Setting up blah network location"
networksetup -createlocation blah populate
networksetup -switchtolocation blah
echo ""
############# SET HOSTNAME ###################
sleep 10
dhcphostname=`host $ip | sed -e 's/^.* domain name pointer //' -e 's/\..*blah.*$//' -e 's/-wstudent$//' -e 's/-wstaff$//'`
#while [ $? -ne 0 ]
#do
# sleep 5
# dhcphostname=`host $ip | sed -e 's/^.* domain name pointer //' -e 's/\..*blah.*$//' -e 's/-wstudent$//' -e 's/-wstaff$//'`
#done
echo "Setting host name"
#set host name from dhcp
scutil --set HostName "$dhcphostname"
scutil --set LocalHostName "$dhcphostname"
systemsetup -setcomputername "$dhcphostname"
############# SET TIME ###################
echo "Setting time zone"
#set time zone
systemsetup -settimezone Australia/Brisbane
#set system's locale
echo "Setting system's locale"
defaults write "Apple Global Domain" AppleLocale "en_AU"
echo "Syncing with time server"
#sync time with local time server
ntpdate ntp.blah.qld.edu.au
############# INSTALL FTP CLIENT ###################
echo "Downloading and installing ftp client"
curl -O ftp://$pkgserver/install/ncftp.tar.gz
tar -xzf ncftp.tar.gz -C /usr/bin/
rm ncftp.tar.gz
############# INSTALL POLICY MANAGER AND UPDATE POLICY ###################
echo "Downloading and installing Policy Manager"
#download and install policy manager
echo 'get -R "pool/Policy Manager.pkg"' | ncftp $pkgserver; installer -verbose -target / -pkg "Policy Manager.pkg"
rm -R "Policy Manager.pkg"
echo "Downloading and installing Update Policy"
#download and install update policy
echo 'get -R "pool/Update Policy.pkg"' | ncftp $pkgserver; installer -verbose -target / -pkg "Update Policy.pkg"
rm -R "Update Policy.pkg"
############# INSTALL MAC UPDATE COMBO ###################
echo "Downloading and installing most recent Mac update combo package"
#download and install the most recent combo update
echo "get -R pool/MacOSXUpdCombo10.$macversion.Latest.pkg" | ncftp $pkgserver
chmod -R u+x MacOSXUpdCombo10.$macversion.Latest.pkg
installer -verbose -target / -pkg MacOSXUpdCombo10.$macversion.Latest.pkg
rm -R MacOSXUpdCombo10.$macversion.Latest.pkg
############# INSTALL ADDITIONAL PACKAGES ###################
echo "Downloading and installing additional post install packages"
mkdir postinstall
cd postinstall
echo "get -R postinstall/common/*" | ncftp $pkgserver
echo "get -R postinstall/10.$macversion/*" | ncftp $pkgserver
chmod -R u+x *
# save and change IFS
OLDIFS=$IFS
IFS=$'\n'
# read all file names into an array
fileArray=($(ls))
# restore it
IFS=$OLDIFS
# get length of the array
tLen=${#fileArray[@]}
#install each package
for (( i=0; i<${tLen}; i++ )); do
    installer -verbose -target / -pkg "${fileArray[$i]}"
done
cd ..
rm -R postinstall
############# FINISH SETUP ASSISTANT ###################
#load Policy Manager LaunchDaemon to run on boot
launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/au.edu.qld.blah.policymanager.plist
#give time for policy to load
sleep 2
#set flag so OS X knows not to run Setup Assistant on next boot
echo "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">\n<plist version="1.0">\n<dict>\n <key>Address</key>\n <dict>\n <key>CountryName</key>\n <string>Australia</string>\n </dict>\n</dict>\n</plist>" > /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
#set flag so blah Updater knows this machine's just been imaged
echo "setup done" > /var/root/blahSetupDone
#remove self
rm /var/root/setup.sh
echo "\nI will now reboot; please wait"
say -v Victoria "I will now reboot; please wait"
reboot

mattn wrote:
(1) You cannot run the installer program while booted into your primary partition; you must boot into the DVD. Restart the computer while holding down the C key until the DVD boots.
This isn't true. The retail Snow Leopard DVD is designed to start the install procedure while started up normally. When you do this, after performing some checks on the target partition it writes some pre-install files to it before restarting automatically from the DVD. This speeds up the install procedure.
(2) You cannot install Snow Leopard on this computer from a DVD that came with another computer; you must use, as it were, a free-standing commercial Snow Leopard installer DVD.
The exception is, as Xian Rinpoche correctly surmised, a Mac model released after the currently available retail Snow Leopard DVD became available. The newest Macs require a later version of the OS than what is included on the retail DVD, which is why it won't work with the new i5 & i7 models. (See Don't install a version of Mac OS X earlier than that which came with your Mac for more about this.)
As a general rule, use either the installer that came with the Mac on its grey system discs or a retail disc released after that Mac model was released. You can also refer to this handy chart of the OS version that ships with each Mac model.

Restore Mac from Time Machine, after grey screen

I'm working with an iMac running Mountain Lion from 2011 with Intel chip
The computer keeps loading up to grey screen. I was able to get to the screen where I get to choose
Restore from Time Machine
Reintsall OSX
Get help online
Disk Utility
I try to restore from Time Machine but after i " select a backup" date it keeps seacrhing for disk and stays stuck on page that says Select a Destination.
This is my fathers Mac and I'm trying to help him fix it. Any help would be greatley appericated
Thanks

Most likely, some folders were inadvertently excluded from your backups, and as a result you can't restore your data in Recovery, Setup Assistant, or Migration Assistant.
Starting from a fresh installation of OS X, set up a new administrator account and log in. You should now be able to enter Time Machine and restore your user data from a snapshot.* I suggest you do this in two stages. Quit all applications except the Finder before you begin.
Restore all the visible items at the top level of your home folder.
Hold down the option key and select Go ▹ Library from the Finder menu bar. Enter Time Machine and restore all items in the Library folder. Log out and log back in as soon as the restore is complete.
Any other invisible folders or files at the top level of your home folder that you want to preserve will have to be restored separately. For most users, that isn't necessary.
You'll have to reinstall all third-party applications from scratch, or restore them from another kind of backup, if you have one.
You'll have another problem if this is a new computer, or if you erased the startup volume: Time Machine won't continue your previous snapshot series, but will instead try to begin a new one, starting with a full copy of all files. There might not be enough space on your backup volumes for that. There are different ways of dealing with that situation, depending on your needs. The easiest way is to set your backup drives aside, if possible, until you're sure you'll no longer need the data on them, then erase them and start over. Meanwhile start a new backup on one or more empty storage devices. If that solution isn't workable for you, ask for instructions.
*If you don't see any snapshots in Time Machine, exit the time-travel view and then hold down the option key while selecting
Browse Other Backup Disks...
from the Time Machine menu, which has an icon that looks like a clock running backwards. Select the backups of your computer by its previous name. If you don't have the Time Machine menu, open the Time Machine preference pane in System Preferences and check the box marked
Show Time Machine in menu bar

PowerBook G4 1.67GHz Won't Boot, Doesn't Get Past the Grey Screen

The other day I was attempting to Safe Boot, and during the grey screen with the rotating cog, I could hear the hard drive spin down, the the display would turn off. The computer worked fine for the next few days, and now when I attempt to boot it (with nothing in the disc drive as well), it does the same thing. It simply shuts down before getting to the "Log In" screen.
When I used the Tiger install disc (note that it was a Tiger disc that came with our iMac Core 2 Duo, my other disc is at my parents' house), and held the C key while booting, I experienced my first kernel panic. I restarted and ejected the disc, but the computer still won't boot. I tried resetting the PRAM by restarting and holding CommandOption+PR, and I've even let it cycle a few times with no luck. I also did what was suggested on an Apple support page, where I remove the AC adapter plug, remove the battery, hold the Power button for 5 seconds, re-insert the battery, reattach the AC adapter, and try starting that way, and that didn't work either.
I have no idea what the problem is, I've never had an issue with the computer before at all. Any suggestions?
(I tried posting this in the Tiger forums, but it was suggested that I post here instead)

Ah, I believe I do have the a TechTool CD that came with my old iBook, perhaps I'll give that a shot.
I first noticed the issue when trying to Safe Boot because I was attempting to install the Flash 9 player. Apparently many people are having issues with it, and it was suggested to me on the Adobe forums that I try installing it in Safe Mode (the install software hangs at "Items Remaining to be Installed: 4").
I'll bring my PowerBook to my parents' house this weekend and see if I can give it a shot with the correct disc. I'll try to post back here to let you know if it worked out!

Grey screen instead of log in

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