IMac freezes at apple screen with spinning wheel.

Last night my iMac crashed. When I started it back up, it just stuck at the apple screen with the little spinning wheel. I took it to the Genius Bar and he said to just do a full OS reinstall.
Does anyone have any other suggestions? I just want to make sure I've covered all the bases before I delete all my stuff. I've run disk utility (from the install disk) and I've also run the Hardware check program from the install disk. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

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2012 MB Pro 13" came with Lion - nearly new, second owner. Stopped responding yesterday in the middle of work. Forced quit, booted up single user, ran fsck -fy, mount -us /, reboot. Stuck on grey apple screen with spinning wheel forever now. Please help

2012 MB Pro 13" came with Lion - nearly new, second owner. Stopped responding yesterday in the middle of work. Forced quit; reboot stuck on grey apple screen. Booted as single user; ran fsck -fy; mount -us /; reboot. Still stuck on grey apple screen with spinning wheel.
Any advice please?
Thanks

Run through this list of fixes, your solution is there
Step by Step to fix your Mac

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.

My MBP 15 inch can't switch off (freeze at blue screen with spinning wheel)

Whenever i try to "shut down" my MBP, it will freeze at the blue screen with the spinning wheel (that keeps spinning like 'eternally')! Any idea how to solve the problem?
I tried booting from the installation disk and repairing disk with "disk utility" but to no avail. Have also tried repairing disk permissions... Any idea how else should i tackle this problem?
Currently i can only switch off my MBP by holding the power button (forcing it to shut down)...
Please help Thanks!

Launch the Console application by entering the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search, and select "system.log" from the file list. Enter "BOOT_TIME" (without the quotes) in the search box. Note the times of the log messages referring to boot times. Now clear the search box and scroll back in the log to the time of the most recent boot when you had the problem. Look for error messages in the minutes before that time, and post them here -- the text, please, not a screenshot. Edit out excessive repeats, if any. Do the same with kernel.log.
If the logs don't go back far enough in time, scroll down in the Console file list to /private/var/log/system.log.0.bz2 and /private/var/log/kernel.log.0.bz2. Search those archived logs, and if necessary the older ones below them, for the same information.
Also in Console, look under System Diagnostic Reports for crash or panic logs, and post the most recent one, if any. For privacy’s sake, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if present (it may not be.) Please do not post shutdownStall or hang logs -- they're very long and not helpful.

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.

My imac is stuck in gray screen with spinning wheel

My iMac is stuck in gray screen with spinning wheel. I'm running Mountain Lion, any idea how to fix it. Pls help.Thx.

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Press Shift key on boot and check that the computer starts. Finally, restart

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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

IMac has gray screen with spinning wheel, but cannot login

After power failure last night, iMac has gray screen with spinning wheel when turned on, but does not go to login screen.

Having the same problem myself. iMac locked up and I had to hold the power button to turn it off. Ended up with the apple logo screen and spinning wheel. I tried the disk repair and got the same message as yourself, in that it couldn't repair it.
I linked up an external hard drive and installed OSX on it and booted from it. I was able to recover some files, but most I couldn't. I'm currently giving it a one pass erase in the hope (long shot) that a complete pass through the hard drive will show up any faults. Has anyone had this problem and been able to continue using the same hard drive? I really don't relish the thought of having to send it off to be replaced :-/
Assuming that the erase goes well I plan to put OSX back onto it and then run disk utility from directly on the drive and see if any faults show up. I'm kicking myself for not taking advantage of TimeMachine, but we live and learn.

MAC OSX 10.3.6 having Boot Problems(Gray Screen with Spinning wheel all the Time) ,How to restore all the files without Mac Startpup Disc,still is not possible i want to download full CD from Apple Site, Is It Possible to Download!

Hi Frnds,Small Favour for me,...
MAC OSX 10.3.6 having Boot Problem(Gray Screen with Spinning wheel all the Time) ,How to restore all the files without Mac Startpup Disc,still is not possible i want to download full CD from Apple Site, Is It Possible to Download!, Windows 7 is working perfectly , can i restore any files in MAC OSX 10.3.6 through Windows 7, or i need the MAC OSX 10.3.6 Bootable Files i need to enter the MAC OSX....

Hi Frnds,Small Favour for me,...
MAC OSX 10.3.6 having Boot Problem(Gray Screen with Spinning wheel all the Time) ,How to restore all the files without Mac Startpup Disc,still is not possible i want to download full CD from Apple Site, Is It Possible to Download!, Windows 7 is working perfectly , can i restore any files in MAC OSX 10.3.6 through Windows 7, or i need the MAC OSX 10.3.6 Bootable Files i need to enter the MAC OSX....

Mac won't boot, starts with white apple screen and spinning wheel. Also has grey loading bar which disappears after loaded then stays at white apple screen.

Mac won't boot, starts with white apple screen and spinning wheel. Also has grey loading bar which disappears after loaded then stays at white apple screen.

Hi cybertoof,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like you're seeing a startup issue with your Mac, it's booting to a gray screen with an Apple logo. Try the suggestions in the article linked below, they will resolve most issues related to starting up your Mac.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
I hope this helps.
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I Mac won't start -- we get apple logo with spinning wheel, question mark that disappears and then a blank blue screen

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When we turn it on, we get the Apple logo with spinning wheel for awhile, then a question mark briefly and then a sky blue blank screen. Is there any hope of getting this to work? This computer is out of warranty. Does it seem that if we reinstall the Operating System we might find old data?

First try restarting with the original install disc an run Disk Utility to repair the drive. If you have to re install the OS make sure you select archive and install or else everything will be lost.

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it's an 15 inch macbook pro. since I bought this computer was working fine about last year. Somehow, start of this year, the problem begins. Everytime when i opened microsoft word 2011 on mac or Photoshop cs5, and quit the software as normaly. When i try to shut down the blue screen with spinning wheel apears. this spining wheel is endless. But funny thing is that after use other software such as games, web browser (safari) etc. and quit them. when i shut down there was not a problem. only word 2011 for mac and adobe photoshop cs5. Any solutions?

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.
Step 1
Select "system.log" from the file list. Enter "BOOT_TIME" (without the quotes) in the search box. Note the timestamps of those log messages, which refer to the times when the system was booted. Now clear the search box and scroll back in the log to the last boot time when you had the problem. Post the messages logged during the time something abnormal was happening. That time might be before or after the boot.
For example, if the problem is a slow startup taking three minutes, post the messages timestamped within three minutes after the boot time, not before. If the problem is a system crash or freeze, post the messages from before the boot time, when the system was about to crash or was failing to shut down. In either case, please include the BOOT_TIME message at the beginning or the end of the log extract.
Post the log text, please, not a screenshot. If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don’t post many repetitions of the same message.
If the log doesn't go back far enough in time, scroll down in the Console file list to /private/var/log/system.log.0.bz2. Search that archived log, and if necessary the older ones below it, for the same information.
Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Edit it out by search-and-replace in a text editor before posting.
Step 2
Do the same with kernel.log.
Step 3
Still in Console, look under System Diagnostic Reports for crash or panic logs, and post the most recent one, if any. In the interest of privacy, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if present (it may not be.) Please don’t post shutdownStall or hang logs — they're very long and not helpful.

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
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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.

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I tried holding both home/off for 10 sec, 20 sec, 2 min nothing.... Itunes can't read my iphone and nothing happen to the phone....
I saw somewhere to wait for a flash pf the apple logo on screen every 10 min and reboot but after looking at the screen for 30 min non stop, no apple logo....
Please help because I don't want to change my iphone right now because i'm waiting for the iphone 5....

i refirmated all teh drives and started over three months later one of the two drives died completely.. M

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.

IMac freezes at apple screen with spinning wheel.

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