Help =( Mac got stuck on gray screen

Hi
Update went ok a couple of days ago.
Tonight it suddently got "stuck" and after rebooting it, it is now stuck on a gray screen.
Impossible to reboot from the installation disk or from my Lacie disk or from the HD.
When attempting to reboot from the Leopard installation disk, I then get a message telling me that the Mac needs to be restarted, but when I restart, I get stuck again on the gray screen with the Apple logo in the middle.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
Help, please!!! I am now on a friend's computer to access help. So a quick response from someone would be fantastic.
Anyone?

update on current situation:
i took my macbook to be repaired first thing this morning.
it is apparently a small part that is damaged and therefore preventing the macbook to reboot.
hence why the hardware test indicated that it found no problems and that when attempting to reboot from a disk or a drive, it finds them, but cannot reboot from either.
the part should be here tomorrow afternoon and i should get my macbook back either tomorrow or thursday.
apparently, it is nothing serious and no loss of data should occurr.
but they will only know this for sure once the part has been replaced and they can actually reboot it. they say this is not linked with the leopard update.
just sheer bad luck from a defective part.

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Mac Mini Stuck at Gray Screen

Hi, I have an Intel based mac mini running 10.4.6 I believe what ever is the latest tiger version. Upon restarting after installed updates computer can not go past the apple logo with the spinning wheel underneath it. I have restarted and tried all of the different key combinations the only one it will recognize is the option key. I have used the option key to select the c drive where the operating system is installed but it goes right back to being stuck at gray screen. I have used the option key to also let me use the install disc to run disk utility and repair the disc which said volume is verified and repaired and good to go. Only thing I haven't tried is firewire boot but at this point I don't think thats the right answer. Im thinking its hardware issue any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help me out- Ryan

Will it start up in Safe mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
If it can start up in Safe mode, that would point to a problem specific to your account, and probably a Login Item given that it hangs the way it does at the gray screen with spinny wheel. In that case, take a look at this procedure, too.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/21210.html

Mac mini stuck at gray screen HELP!!!!!!!!!

Hi,
i have my mac mini stuck at a gray screen can you help me

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a boot failure is to secure your 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 your last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Boot into 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.”
b. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot 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.
c. 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
Sometimes a boot failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 3
If you use a wireless keyboard, trackpad, or mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. The battery level shown in the Bluetooth menu item may not be accurate.
Step 4
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 5
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to boot, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can boot 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.
If you've booted from an external storage device, make sure that your internal boot volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Step 6
Boot in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot 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 your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you boot 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, your boot volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 6.
If you can boot and log in now, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on your boot 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 reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the boot process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 7
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select your 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 reboot as usual.
Step 8
Reinstall the OS. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 9
Repeat Step 6, but this time erase the boot volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically reboot into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer your data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 10
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 boot 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 11
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.

Help Please.. Mac is stuck on gray screen

I am tring to install tiger and when I put the disk in the only thing that happed is, the gray screen and the spinning thing. It won't let me get the disk out or any thing. I have tutned the mac on and off but it seems to just get stuck there. What can I do to by pass this?

It would be helpful to know which Mac model (specifically) you are trying to install Tiger on. Please provide as much information on the computer to identify the specific model, amount of installed RAM, size of hard drive, what OS is currently installed, if any.

Non-booting Mac mini (stuck at gray screen with no Apple logo or others)

We've got a G4 Mac mini whose motherboard was recently replaced. I've put it back together carefully following the instructions on pbfixit.com, but I can't get it to boot.
When powered on, the chime sounds normal, and the screen comes on after a few seconds with a gray background--no Apple log, no spinner, no error, no flashing icons, nothing.
I've already zapped the PRAM 3 times using OptCmd+PR, no go.
I'm able to get into OpenFirmware using OptCmd+OF and have done reset-nvram and reset-all, restarting the machine, but no luck. The system date remains current also, indicating perhaps it's not resetting the PRAM either way somehow.
The disc drive won't accept a boot CD or DVD as if it's unpowered, but it's snugly connected.
I'm unsure what to test next. Suggestions? Thanks.

Greetings,
I just had the exact same problem with a Mini. Would only boot to a gray screen no matter what I did. Booting into the OpenFirmware did help, booting into the Startup utility (by holding "T" down at startup showed no hard drive and no CD/DVD drive.
Hold on to your hat . . . .
The issue was the battery. These guys have a Lithium battery that allows them to boot up, a battery that can be purchased anywhere that sells those kinds of thing. I bought 2 for $3.50, it was more time and trouble to get into the case and get at the logic board but once the battery was replaced everything works like a dream.
Here is an excellent step-by-step tutorial about getting into the case http://www.sterpin.net/uk/ddMacMiniuk.htm. Just make sure that doing so doesn't void any warranties.
Good Luck!
Gail

Mac Pro stuck on gray screen after installing software for a new keyboard

I am having a huge issue with my very important work computer! For a few weeks, my Mac has been freezing on the gray screen during start up. Since I had two external hard drives plugged in, I would unplug one of them and the Mac would always restart correctly once one was unplugged. Well today I was installing software for a new keyboard and the mac prompted me to restart. Once I restarted, the gray screen came up again and no matter what I did it would not start up correctly again. I tried unplugging everything except the keyboard and monitor and nothing works. I tried ejecting the crash-causing CD with the keyboard using all of the commands I found on this forum board and nothing worked. I saw forums about manually ejecting the CD by pushing a pin-hole but I cannot find that pinhole anywhere! Then again, the CD might not even be the problem but since the computer gave me the gray screen of death right after using the CD I am thinking that it is the problem. I use this computer for editing a TV show and creating websites so there is a ton of files on it and I need to get it up and running again ASAP. Any suggestions would be appreciated and I am sure by now you can tell that I am not a Mac expert so please dumb it down for me. Thank you!!

I would start by breaking your thoughts and sentences out from one long paragraph.
Start at the basics.
Always have backups.
One at least that is a spare boot system you can use.
Clone your system. SuperDuper does a great job for only $29
Boot from another hard drive or last OS X DVD
Repair your drive with Apple Disk Utility along with 3rd party disk maintenance and repair
Hold Option key until the boot manager, then hold mouse to open optical drive.
You can hold mouse on startup and it will eject also.
Hold and continue to hold Shift key during startup to repair the boot drive in minimal fashion.
What device and driver? hint: never use CD, just go online as the CD is usually out of date anyway.
Fill in Mac OS X version and more about hardware would help in posts and in your profile signature.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/harddrives/index.html#d12aug2010
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior

Mac mini stuck on gray screen with spinning icon

I can't startup from either the hard disk or even a CD (pressing down the C key while restarting) now on my Mac mini. I tried reseting the PRAM, the PMU and multiple other restarts. I also did the command-V restart and get the following as the last lines of text:
Feb 26 19:12:55 launchd: /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow port /dev/console exited abnormally: Trace/BPT trap
Feb 26 19:12:55 launchd: getty repeating too quickly on port /dev/console, sleeping
After a few moments, it continues to loop through these same messages again but with updated times by about 30 seconds.
My Mac is dead and it's afterhours and I can't get tech support. I'm typing this from my Sony Vaio... Can someone help?
Thanks

too old to remember how resolved, replace the Mac mini with something else

Need help installing Leopard. Stuck with Gray Screen with looping circle!!!

I currently have Mac OS X 10.2.1 installed in my G4. Never upgrade since i got it. I purchased Leopard and tried to install it.
After I put the DVD in and clicked Install it restarted my computer. Then it started the installation process. 10 minutes later it stopped and said installation failed. Disk is dirty. I finally got the DVD and and tried again but all i got was the gray screen with the looping circle.
I tried re-installing 10.2.1 then try Leopard again. After asking me to restart my computer nothing happen. No installation process. Just a gray screen with the looping circle for over 10 hours. (left it over night)
What should I do? Can this be fixed? How can I install Leopard??????
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get out your Jaguar installer disc and boot from it. After the installer loads and you select your language the menu bar should appear. Select Disk Utility from the File menu. After DU loads select your hard drive from the list on the left then click on the First Aid tab. Click on the Repair Disk button. Wait until the repair process is completed. If any errors are reported that have been fixed, re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported and the disk is pronounced OK. If DU is unable to repair the drive, then you will need something like Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro to repair the drive. Once your drive is properly prepared boot from the Leopard installer DVD. When you get to the point of selecting the destination drive click once on your hard drive then click the Options button. Select the Archive and Install option. Do not select the option to preserve the user folder and network preferences as these may be damaged. Click on the OK button and complete the installation. Be sure to use the same username and password that you use now for the admin account.
Your hard drive will not be erased and your old system will be saved in a Previous System Folder located at the root directory of your hard drive. You should then be able to transfer your personal data from the PSF to the newly installed system.
BTW, repairing permissions will not fix your problem.

Yesterday for the first time i turned on my macpro 2011 model and i got a crazy gray screen with lines all over it ,so i held down the power button and turn off then restarted and all was ok could someone help me with this,what caused this shut down. werd

yesterday for the first time i turned on my macpro 2011 model and i got a crazy gray screen with lines all over it ,so i held down the power button and turn off then restarted and all was ok could someone help me with this,what caused this shut down. werd

Are the lines like psychedelic herringbone? If yes, I had that happen once, it was something serious, like the
Logic board. The good news is that it was fixed without any loss of data on the hard drive. Take it in to have Apple look at it ASAP. I took it to TekServe at the time, they are very nice about preserving your data and user library when possible.
Good luck and don't panic.

I brought an iphone 4 factory unlock and it is linked with an icloud id of previous owner, i dont even know id of icloud , 1 week ago i restore my iphone 4 n got stuck in activation screen, please help me out please?

i brought an iphone 4 factory unlock and it is linked with an icloud id of previous owner, i dont even know id of icloud , 1 week ago i restore my iphone 4 n got stuck in activation screen, please help me out please?

If you are trying to activate an iPad or iPhone and it is asking for the original owners Apple ID and password, you have encountered the Activation Lock. This is a security feature that prevents thieves from setting up and using a stolen or lost iPad or iPhone. You have no alternative. No must contact the original owner to get permission to use the device. If you cannot contact the original owner return the device to where you bought it and get a refund. You will never be able to activate the device and no one can help you do it.

TS3694 i was trying to update my iphone 5 but it got stuck on itune screen. whenever i try to restore it says error (1669) what can i do. please help

i was trying to update my iphone 5 but it got stuck on itune screen. whenever i try to restore it says error (1669) what can i do. please help

Try these troubleshooting steps.
If that Article did not resolve it... then perhaps a Visit to an Apple Store or AASP (Authorized Apple Service Provider) is required..
Be sure to make an appointment first...
Note:
That error message may be indicative of the Device being Hacked / jailbroken.... If this is the case then you are on your own.
Unauthorized modification of iOS...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3743

Mac Pro Stuck at Grey Screen, then will only boot into OS X Utilities.

My Mac Pro is stuck at Gray Screen. When I reset PRAM, it loads the OSX Utilities screen, prompting me Restore from Time Machine, Reinstall OS X, Get Help, or Disk Utility. I ran Disk Repair and Repair Premissions, same thing.... stuck at grey screen.
What will happen to the data on my HD if I choose to Reinstall the OS X? IS that the best choice? Thanks.

Off hand I think your drive may be bad. But to find out you need to erase the drive, so you will need to have a recent, bootable backup.
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
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If this does not work, then you need to replace your hard drive.

Boot stuck at gray screen

I have a 24" silver iMac. Boot gets stuck at gray screen with gray apple showing and wheel continuously spinning. Never gets to blue screen. I have tried booting from system CD and running disk repair and repair permissions. They are fine. I have tried zapping PRAM. I have tried booting with everything disconnected except keyboard. (all recommended elsewhere in these discussions.) So, for the THIRD time in the 5 months I have had this iMac, I am in the process of reinstalling the system from the CDs. THEN, as you know, I'll have to do all the updates. I AM GETTING TIRED OF THIS! (My G4 and MBP don't have these problems (I shouldn't have said that.)) Anyone else having these problems or have any other ways to deal with this? I wonder if it has anything to do with my trying to install, via software update, the latest update for QT. It wouldn't install, saying I didn't have permission or authority or something.

I hate to disagree, but I have had this happen at
least 4-5 times.
1. Happened (Before) I had an external HD attached, as Well as (After.)
(so HD not the issue.)
2. I had only the bare essentials installed on Tiger OS 4.10, B4 buying leopard.
(No other Software Installed, and NOTHING from 2nd install disk. No Optional Programs)
(Makes me rule out Quicktime.
3. I also Had same Grey Screen, Tried Disk Utility from cold boot (DVD)
Removed 1 Simm Chip And reset Pram. (Yes, I waited for 2nd chime.)
No Other OS or ANY Windows Products on this system.
Tried Cold Boot With DVD,
(made sure Active Boot Drive was DVD, NOT HD)
In Addition, Booted While Holding;
a. Shift Key - (Safe Boot)
b. Opt Key - ( I've forgotten )
c. C - Key (Password Change - No Help)
d. D - Key (verify/repair disk or permissions useless.)
Two recurring questions seem to be raised by level 2 Phone Support
to help me recover access, Without Formatting. I refused to do it, and insisted
they walk me out of this problem.
One suggested the Parse file was corrupted. Another Seems to feel that having
once forgotten firmware & or Master Password was the problem.
I disagree, I was able to recover that time by dropping to unix prompt, once I
got in, created root user, deleted My User Account,
then Recreated it, using Same Name ) Then deleting Root Account. (for Safety)
I no longer set Firmware or Master Password, It HAS Happened since.
I'm inclinrd to believe the corrupted Parse image, for all the reasons above.
It can be recovered, without Format Or Time Machine Restore. However several different
methods were used by different tech support people, so I have Messy notes on
what the actual steps were. Due to so much back tracking & Holding, And Different
methods used by different Phone Guys. NEVER attempt to try with level 1, INSIST
on level 2 support or you will not recover. Solution seems to have been successful
Most often, after working at unix prompt, and executing various commands.
If I find the Most Efficient notes, I kept from the 1st guy, who was Very Good.
I will post them. Sorry I couldn't be more specific on the recovery steps.
I remember running: fsck -?? & mount -???? , navigating to root, and not mush else.
Good Luck
PantherSherry

TS2570 My Mac is stuck on grey screen what's wrong with it and am I going to lose everything

My Mac is stuck on grey screen what's wrong with it and am I going to lose everything

Hopefully you have a backup, but...
Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)
If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.

Stuck in gray screen

Im stuck in gray screen at startup with a spinning gear. Dont have a os disk, worried because i have tons of pics that are not backed up. :"O(

HI
My Macbook Pro also struck in gray screen at startup . I have Mavericks OS on the MAC. Don't have OS Disk.

Help =( Mac got stuck on gray screen

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