Help: grey screen with progress bar at startup, no success repairing in disk utility

I got my MacBook pro in December 2011 and never had an issue with it until this same thing happened in February 2013.
Basically, what happens is the computer starts to run really slowly, so I forced shut down. When I tried to power it back on, I can't get past a grey screen with a progrerss bar that doesn't move for about a minute, and then the computer just shuts back off. I tried to some research to figure out how to fix it myself (grateful for my ipad as a back-up computer) but I'm afraid I'm stuck now.
I tried running disk utility from recovery mode to verify and repair disk, but I only got errors saying "disk utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed up files." When this all happened in February, I bought an external HD for the Genius Bar dude to back up my files and do whatever he did over the course of 3 days to repair my system. Apparently it was only a temporary fix. However, like an idiot, even with all of that hassle, I never set up Time Machine (I know, I know, spare the lecture. I definitely will this time around). I'm really not too concerned about the data on my drive because most of my important stuff is on USB storage/my work computer. However, there are pictures on there that I'd really like to salvage.
So, before I do the walk of shame back into the Apple Store, can anyone offer a guide for saving my stuff and repairing my hard drive myself? And, if I have a worst case scenario on my hands, how expensive will it be to buy/install a new hard drive?...or just how to prevent it from happening in the future? Thanks in advance.

Klt10415 wrote:
I can't get past a grey screen with a progrerss bar that doesn't move for about a minute, and then the computer just shuts back off.
The fsck drive check at boot is failing to fix your drive, gets stuck and the hardware shuts down the machine if a OS isn't loaded in time.
"disk utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed up files."
Yep, it will either have to be replaced or zero erased and completely reformatted and everything installed again.
Erase, formatting, OS X installs on Mac's
How to reformat a used Mac
I never set up Time Machine
However, there are pictures on there that I'd really like to salvage.
That's ok, the TimeMachine likely would have backed up the corrupted data and fail to properly restore anyway.
Since you can boot from RecoveryHD, that means you can install OS X on a blank external powered drive and boot from it and access the internal drive for your files. Or as a last restort install Data Rescue ($100) and that can read even deleted files off the drive bypassing the file system etc.
.Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive

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http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

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Hello:
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Question (?) Mark, Blinking Folder, or Gray Screen at Startup
These are related but not identical issues. Their causes are outlined in Intel-based Mac- Startup sequence and error codes, symbols. Solutions may be found in:
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Mac OS X- Gray screen appears during startup
In most cases the problems may be caused by one or more of these:
a. Problem with the computer's PRAM - See Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.
b. Boot drive's directory has been corrupted - Repair with Disk Utility.
c. Critical system files are damaged or deleted - Reinstall OS X.
d. The disk drive is physically non-functional - Replace the hard drive.
Note that the information I have provided is what Apple recommends, If other users suggest different solutions than found here, then be sure what they recommend does not impact on your warranty, if any, or ability to get continuing Apple service.
Please don't start removing drives or changing cables unless you know what you are doing and have exhausted other non-invasive alternatives outlined here. If you perform any work yourself that is unapproved by Apple, then you will void any warranty you may have and lose all further Apple Support.
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.
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The main difference if you are using Lion or Mountain Lion is that you must first boot from the Recovery HD. Simply boot from the Recovery HD to perform the above.
Reinstall Snow Leopard Without Erasing The drive
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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.
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Can't get past startup grey screen or progress bar.

Running late 2011 Mac Book Pro. Recently added a SSD which runs software and the HDD for user data. All was running fine with data migration etc. Running Yosemite all updated. 16GB Ram.
Was using photoshop and it grey screened. Have tried lots of different things-
Won't boot in safe mode or verbose mode.
Ran fsck -fy in single user mode.
Changed RAM and ports.
Won't boot from the HDD which still has the operating system or from OSX Install which is on an external drive.
Ran a recovery boot up with download from Apple.
Ran a hardware test (extended and normal) with no errors.
Cleared PRAM and SCM.
Won't give me the option to boot from time machine back up.
Tried to to boot from recovery partition.
Would not mount as an external drive but could only daisy chain through another hard drive so not sure if it doesn't mount or wouldn't when daisy-chained.
None of this has worked and leads to either a grey screen or progress bar stopping halfway.
Unable to get an appointment at the Genius Bar and don't want to take it to a premium reseller as would rather Apple look at it first.
I know it must be a hardware issue but don't know what hardware!
HELP!

Rwilliamt wrote:
Running late 2011 Mac Book Pro. Recently added a SSD which runs software and the HDD for user data. All was running fine with data migration etc. Running Yosemite all updated. 16GB Ram.
Was using photoshop and it grey screened. Have tried lots of different things-
Won't boot in safe mode or verbose mode.
Ran fsck -fy in single user mode.
Changed RAM and ports.
Won't boot from the HDD which still has the operating system or from OSX Install which is on an external drive.
Ran a recovery boot up with download from Apple.
Ran a hardware test (extended and normal) with no errors.
Cleared PRAM and SCM.
Won't give me the option to boot from time machine back up.
Tried to to boot from recovery partition.
Would not mount as an external drive but could only daisy chain through another hard drive so not sure if it doesn't mount or wouldn't when daisy-chained.
None of this has worked and leads to either a grey screen or progress bar stopping halfway.
Unable to get an appointment at the Genius Bar and don't want to take it to a premium reseller as would rather Apple look at it first.
I know it must be a hardware issue but don't know what hardware!
HELP!
Time Machine is not a bootable copy - that is normal.
Apple hardware test can miss issues, see if it can run in loop mode (cmd+L) if you want to try to provoke an error - sometimes they appear to be temperature related, so start cold & allow it to warm up.
I'm unclear on the external disks & bootable OS's you tried, try to check that these disks also boot another Mac. A 10.10 installer on a USB stick should work on other Macs, but occasionally they can fail to support booting so you need to rule that out if you have other USB sticks.
I think an Apple store would be a good idea, it seems like the Mac is failing to boot from any OS's on different media, normally indicating a fatal flaw on the mac itself.
Also see if it fits into any of these…
https://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/

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Am 10.07.2015 um 07:17 schrieb Lalit Solanki:
> Hi friend,
>
> I am create pure eclipse E4 application and trying to splash screen with progress bar and message.
>
>
>
>
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>
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Hi again ggt15,
You can find some more information about the Recovery Partition of your hard drive here:
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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
It sounds like you might be trying to reinstall your copy of the operating system. If that's the case, you may also find some helpful information here:
OS X Lion: Reinstall Mac OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH3878
Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issue or question you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://expresslane.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.
Cheers,
Braden

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Help: grey screen with progress bar at startup, no success repairing in disk utility

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