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.

Similar Messages

  • Shuts down after start tone and grey screen with pin wheel...!???

    Hi all, first time here so please bear with me,
    even though i have had my imac for so long now, i have only in the last three to four months started playing around with it, i really am a newcomer to macs, and pc's come to that! so far i have only connected up to the internet and put a couple of home video's onto dvd, and play music.
    i have been reading a lot of the other posts and frankly i'm lost!
    it is about 20 months old and was bought in the uk, i live in cyprus and for that reason i did not purchase an apple plan.
    we do not have an apple store here although there is an apple dealer, however they are not soley apple and over here service leaves a lot to be desired! so i am reluctant to take it to them as they are likely to just keep replacing parts and eventually present me with a huge bill!!
    anyhow this is the problem:
    several times the screen went dim and froze, with a message saying to "push the power button to switch off and and then switch on again", it seems this happened each time when i opened azureus? after this happened a few times it would no longer open the desk top, it would load normally,ie. grey screen with pin wheel followed by blue progress bar and then just a blank blue screen, the blue tooth mouse however was still connected as the cursor would move. it has now changed again! start up tone and grey apple screen with pin wheel for about 30secs or so, then the fan seems to go into turbo mode for a few secs before switching off....i feel sick!! i was really getting to like my mac.
    i did recently install tiger, but there were no problems at all with that and it is running on a friends apple with no problems at all, more recently i added more memory which coincided with when i started using torrentspy and azureus,
    i did read in another forum something about possible memory probs, so i followed the tip to remove the memory and the back up battery and leave the computer unplugged for 24hrs, i replaced the battery but not the memory, i'm still getting exactly the same shut down result.....
    can anyone shed some light on this pleeease? i'm feeling rather desperate right now.....thanks.
    imac G5 20inch Mac OS X (10.4) airport card fitted, 1.25gig mem.

    Hi ino,
    My suspicion is that you have serious hard drive directory corruption caused by the crashes when using azureus.
    First step is to see whether you can boot up from your Mac OS X DVD . Put it in the drive while its on, and start up the computer again while holding down the "c" key. The computer should now start up from the DVD.
    Select the language you wish to use, and then choose "Disk Utility" from the menu bar (which menu it is in depends on which version of OSX you are using).
    Your HD should appear in a panel on the left hand side of the window which opens. Select it and then click on the "repair disk" button in the right hand section of the window.
    If Disk First aid is able to complete the repair now click on the "Repair permissions" button.
    Once this process has been completed try restarting the computer.
    If it still doesn't work, you may have to try an "archive and install", while booted from the OSX DVD.
    Be very wary with software like "azureus".
    Cheers
    Rod

  • My iMac wont go past the grey screen with Apple Logo and question mark  a caution mark

    My iMac wont go past the grey screen with Apple Logo and question mark  a caution mark

    You may find this support article helpful:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
    Ciao.

  • 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.

  • Imac 2008 stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel no discs I lost them

    HI, I have a imac 2008 24" someone help please.stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel after 5 minutes mac just restarts again.I have no restore dvds as I borrowed them out and never got them back thanks

    If you are in the US call Apple Customer Support 1-800-767-2775, provide the Serial Number and specifications of the Mac, and for a reasonable fee, they will supply a replacement set of system discs (if available).
    The discs will be for the original version of the OS that was pre-installed when the Mac was manufactured.
    If you are in another country:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
    Useful article here on the causes of the Spinning Beach Ball and how to troubleshoot it:
    http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177479/Troubleshoot_the_spinning_beach_b all?taxonomyId=89&pageNumber=1
    and also this:
    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/sbbod.html

  • Downloaded OSX Mountain Lion on MacBook now stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel HELP?!?!

    Downloaded OSX Mountain Lion on MacBook now stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel. What can I do, will I loose everything on my laptop?

    ashg23 wrote:
    Thank you, I have restarted but it is still stuck at the grey page with the spinning wheel? Any idea?
    Have you started up holding down Command + R and attempted to install again?
    Pete

  • Mac pro grey screen with spinning wheel

    mac pro grey screen with spinning wheel

    Gray screem appears during startup:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570?viewlocale=en_US

  • Old iMac won't start up and stuck in grey screen with spinning wheel

    Hi, I have a very old imac which I purchased back in 2005, and has been working fine. I have left it in storage about 1 and 1/2 years ago.
    Just now I try to restart it, the screen is forever stuck in the grey screen with the spinning wheel.
    I tried many times off-on, hold down the apple function key but none worked.
    I no longer have the rebooting CD with me. I wonder whether the computer can still be saved?
    I have already backed up the contents so it doesn't matter if fixing the computer requires me to delete all my old files.
    Thanks
    If I am not wrong, I think it's tiger or earlier that it's using.

    Do you have the Install Disc to try to boot from?
    Might be time to replace the PRAM Battery, 4 years is close to their lifespan, far less if ever without AC power, & can cause strange startup problems...
    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/BAA36VPRAM/

  • Intel-based iMac stuck in grey screen with spinning wheel. SMC::smcReadKeyAction ERROR THOP kSMBadArgumentError(0x89)

    Hi guys,
    since yesterday my Intel-Based iMac doesn't boot normally, its stuck in grey screen with a spinning wheel.
    Its an Intel-based iMac 21.5'' purchased in 2011, and i recently (2 months ago) upgraded it to Mavericks.
    -2 weeks ago, i installed smcFanControl app
    -Tried start up in Safe Mode by holding Shift but its not working. i think i hear fans are working more than they were before the problem occurs.
    -entered Single User Mode and i get an error
    SMC ::smcReadKeyAction ERROR THOP kSMCBadArgumentError(0x89) fKeyHashTable=0x0xffffff8029fa1000
    -followed some instructions found online, but can execute the correct commands in SingleUserMode
    tried to remove FanControl as explained here: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110667/errorr-kernel-smcsmcreadkeyactio n-in-console
    any ideas what may caused this and how can i fix this?
    Thanks in advance

    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 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, boot 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 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 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, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or 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 10. 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
    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 10
    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 11
    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 12
    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.

  • Grey Screen with Spinning Wheel

    Hi Community,
    I have a late 2006 MacBook Pro that will not load the desktop and will not get past the Grey Screen with the Spinning Wheel. I have read other forums, which have been very helpful.
    This is what I have tried:
    1. Safe Mode boots to black screen with login prompt (Used the shift key. Tells me all of my login attempts fail, despite using a correct password. When I tried with the option key I saw the two drives (Mac HD and the Bootcamped Windows), but then nothing.
    2. Reset SMC
    3. Reset PRAM
    4. Loaded installation disks. Ran Disk Utility with no problems reported. Ran Harware test with no problems reported. Will not boot from the installation disk.
    5. Tried the Control-Apple-Power start and nothing happened.
    Is there anything else I can do? I have a pretty good back up, but would really love to get into to my hard drive one more time if possible to transfer some last minute work I had done. Would Firewire Target mode be an option (altough I am not sure I can find a firewire cable...I am at a research station in Costa Rica)? If that is not an option or not possible, is there another option to access my files before I erase and reinstall?
    I am assumuing that my hard drive is failing. Also, I recently installed an external modem that perhaps caused the failure? My drive is almost full, which I am sure makes my older macbook pro sad And, it is bootcamped...how will all of this affect my windows side? Should I be concerned for my files on it?
    Can I perhaps purchase Disk Warrior, would that help?
    Thanks so much. I know this is a common post question, but I decided I would seek personal attention from you wonderful experts!
    Regards, Chule

    Try Using OS X Tiger and MacBook Pro forums.
    http://www.apple.com/support/

  • Booting problem (grey screen with spinning wheel) PLEASE HELP!!

    I have and ibook G4, i shut it down the other day and whent to school, when i got home, i tried booting it up, but its just goes to the grey screen with the apple logo and the spinning wheel, and doesnt go any further. i can hear the computer thinking, it that helps at all, but the weel just keeps spinning and it never gets to the login screen. Whats the problem? What can i do to fix it? somebody please help!!!

    Hi,
    Try starting in Safe Mode by holding the shift key as you start. Release it when you see the logo and spinning progress indicator. If successful restart normally.
    If that doesn't work please post the version of OS X you are using (Panther,Tiger,Leopard) for more trouble shooting suggestions.
    John

  • Both my backup drives show up, but fail to boot, staying in grey screen with spin wheel.

    I did some maintenance, copying lots of files, running Cocktail for the first time (failing to note exactly what I did) and after running Disk Warrior on both my bootable external drives (one OWC, one LaCie) they both hang in grey Apple screen with spinny wheel and never boot up, though both did earlier in the day, and have never failed to boot in years of service. Both appear on the desktop, show vertified in Disk Utility and booted up fine one day before all the maintenance. I don't know what Cocktail may have done, but it may have created a (now solved) problem for Photoshop 7, which crashed thereafter while loading, something that's only ever happened twice in six years. I managed to track down a TWAIN plug-in that had always been in Photoshop, something to do with scanning, but was now causing the crash. Anyhow, Photoshop is now working again, (after just removing that plug-in) but neither backup will boot up. Please don't suggest a system archive and install. I'm hoping for some miracle little file that once removed will restore the booting of the two externals. Your help is greatly appreciated. Please assume I am brain damaged and spell things out for the simple-minded. Thanks in advance.
    I hope BDAqua sees this.
    I only have one iBook, and it's less than half full; couldn't figure how to edit below that I'm now on 10.4.11. See what I mean?

    Since you are using your two external drives for booting, do you have clones on them?
    If so, why not simply update the clones? I'll bet they'd boot for you if you do that.
    I'll put out a call for BDAqua.

  • Macbook stuck at start up white/grey screen, no spinning wheel, nothing. Safe booting won't work.

    it was working fine this morning, but i opened it back up about an hour ago after it had been asleep. screen was black and frozen so i resetted it using the power button.
    now each time i start up all i get is a plain white screen, not even with a spinning wheel like everyone else seems to have. any ideas on how to fix this? safe starting doesnt work at all. brand new macbook bought in october 2013, never been dropped or anything

    angie2711,
    have you tried resetting your MacBook Pro’s System Management Controller?
    have you tried booting into Recovery mode and running the disk verification tool within Disk Utility there?

  • Mac mini shut down on its own, will not restart, grey screen, spinning wheel. Unplugged everything, will still not restart. Did safe boot, will not restart after safe boot, only grey screen with spinning wheel.

    Mac mini shut down on its own. Could not restart, chime, grey screen and spinning wheel. Unplugged everything but monitor, still only chime, grey screen and spinning wheel. Started in safe boot, shut Down, will not restart.
    This happened a couple of months ago, unplugged everything and it restarted, now that won't work.

    Hi BDAqua,
    I just did the repair as you suggested. T ran the disc repair, and twice it cam back, the volume macintosh seems ti be okay, I also ran the verify and permissions repair, both came back okay.
    I was actually hoping that they would find something, so they could repair. I shut the computer down, and restated with out holding a key, and I started up great. I'm baffled.  I have moved 20 GB to an external hard drive, as I only had 10% open space.
    I have Tech Tool 6, would you recommend to run a repair check on that, or just leave well enough alone.
    I agree with you on the new Mac's, I have problems with no disc for back up, until they realize their mistake I will stay with Snow a Leopard. This is the first problem I have experienced, so I can't complain. Their last programs are not as perfected as under Steve, prior to his handling over the reins, hope this is not going to be the future we can expect from Apple.
    I will wait to here back as to your suggestion regarding the Tech Tool check
    Thanks for all your help.
    Gratefully,
    Cheri

  • Has anyone encounter a Grey Screen with spinning wheel stuck (frozen waited more than 5h) in after running Lion Installer from SL?

    Hi
    I've tried almost everything on my Macbook Pro 8,2 (i7 2.0Ghz).
    Wipe/Erase the SL partition.
    Burned the ESD dmg to a DVD.
    Reset SMC,PRAM and NVRAM many times.
    Run Repair Disk. Passed OK.
    Run Hardware Test. Passed OK.
    Download the Lion Installer 4 times. MD5 Passed.
    Everytime I've tried to install lion it give me this Grey screen... The mouse wheel start spinning and it then stops, and nothing happens from that point. (Also rebooted many, many times same result).
    SL Install disk runs fine, even installing it from Zero. I've setted up time machine. (The restore to definetly works also the SL installation too)
    I'm a little far away to send my Macbook to a customer service.
    What else should I try?
    :S
    VR

    Thank you very much William
    I ran the installer and saw the same screen stuck... After I used Shift to boot in safe mode, I got the 3 beeps with grey screen apple logo. So then I rebooted into Single User do the 'nvram boot-args="-x -v"' and voila the installer continued with no issues I've turned back de 'nvram boot-args=""' and everything seems to be working fine.
    Really weird beahviour of the installer with my Mac.
    Thanks.

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