IMac won't shut down?  Blue screen w/ spinning icon?

I bought my iMac in 2010 and I've had absolutely no problems until recently.
My problem:
Every time I click "Shut Down," the applications quit and the screen turns to light-blue with the "spinning icon."  It looks like it will eventually shut off, but it never does.  The light-blue screen just stays there and the icon just keeps spinning.  Every time this happens I am forced to hold the power button until it shuts off.
Does anyone have any solutions?  Thanks.
Snork Maiden

Try the suggestions in Apple's Gray screen appears during startup. Those would be:
1. Dsconnect EVERYTHING from the iMac and try to re-start normally.
2. Reboot in Safe Mode.
3. Reset the PRAM
4. Run Disk Utility from the ORIGINAL Install Disc that came with the computer.
5. Check all connecting cables
6. Remove third party parts including RAM.

Similar Messages

  • Imac won't shut down, blue screen with spinig wheel is on and computer never shuts until I hold the power button down and shut it manualy..

    Imac won't shut down,
    blue screen with spinig wheel is on and computer never shuts until I hold the power button down and shut it manualy..

    This is the instruction article for Intel-based Macs:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
    Your profile does not indicate the type of Mac you are using.
    Barry

  • My iMac won't shut down.

    My iMAC won't shut down.  I get a gray screen with the spin wheel and simply stays in that mode forever until I hold the on/off button down long enough to kill the machine.  What's up with that?

    My iMAC won't shut down.  I get a gray screen with the spin wheel and simply stays in that mode forever until I hold the on/off button down long enough to kill the machine.  What's up with that?

  • Ipad won't shut down, blank screen

    Ipad(gen2) won't shut down,  Blank screen and shows working only

    While the iPad is on hold the Home button and Power button at the same time for 10 seconds or so until the iPad powers down and then powers back up.  Sometimes it won't power back up and you have to hold the Power button until it comes back on.
    This resets the iPad and is usually one of the first things to try when troubleshooting issues like this.

  • IMac won't shut down after using Time Machine

    Here is the thing: My iMac (late 2009, 24", 8 GB RAM) won't shut down when I use my external HD for Time Machine. After the back up I try to eject the external HD but the icon won't disappear on the screen, it only gets blank and is not clickable anymore. It is still visible in the menu of the Finder but with no ejection sign anymore. Programs that were open before won't close even if I use the forced shut down function. But it seems like they are closed as they don't appear on the list anymore. When I then try to shut down the whole system the screen goes black and the wheel turns for hours! So that I finally have to shut it down manually.
    This happens only after using the external HD for the back ups and when I then try to eject it. If I don't eject it everything goes normal. If I don't connect it everything goes normal. Sure, you might say, hey leave it plugged in then. But as it is a 3 TB HD I also use it for my MBP so I have to eject it
    Is this a known issue or a bug in the system of Yosemite? With Mavericks everything worked really well - no problems at all. On the MBP (late 2011, i7, 8 GB RAM) it also works well. So I am kind of annoyed the I always have to shut the iMac down manually which can't be that healthy for the system.
    Any insights on that issue are highly appreciated - thanks a lot!
    Birgit

    Okay, just realized that the same problem occurs with the MBP after rejecting the external HD
    Icon gets blank, cannot be clicked anymore, while shutting down the MBP normally the screen goes black and the wheel is turning forever but nothing else happens. So I have to force it to shut down.
    It seems to be a general problem with connecting an external HD once in a while for doing a time machine back up regularly and then eject it. So the question is: who has the same problem or does everybody have their HD permanently connected to their Macs for Back ups? Either by USB or WLAN? It never was a problem wit Mavericks and I don't want to permanently back up my system every hour - once a week is good for me BUT this cannot be adjusted in the time machine settings which would be a very good idea.
    Any solution is still highly appreciated !!
    Thanks a lot,
    Birgit

  • Mac Pro suddenly takes very long to boot and won't shut down... just spins

    My Mac started taking very long to boot up... maybe 10 minutes before the icon bar becomes available.
    Also, it won't shut down... it just spins. I've waited 30 minutes with no results.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated

    CBuss,
    The long boot cycle points to preference corruption. And not the kind that can be corrected with re-boots etc., Check Hard Drive>Library>Preferences to see if the listings make "visual" sense. If there are a lot of letters with circles over them and numbers interspersed, you are skating out on thin ice.
    Back up everything now, then do a clean install of your current OS. Do not to an "archive". That will probably archive the corruption as well. Go up to Snow Leopard if you can. Add your data back manually as well. If you keep going with these lingering start ups, you will shortly get the "?" at startup instead of the Apple/ Chime and the long, expensive, recovery (by somebody else) will begin.
    As for the 'shut down" issue.. I am still in the dark. Something is still "running" and canceling the shut down cycle.
    Cheers
    Toby

  • IMac won't shut down or go to sleep - keeps rebooting or turning display back on. Is there any way to fix this?

    A friend's iMac (2010 - Snow Lepord - 27" display) won't allow them to shut it down or put it into sleep mode. The system continually reboots itself when using the Apple > "Shut Down..." command.  Similarly, it continually turns the display back on when using the Apple > "Sleep" command (even when no additional movement or action has taken place).
    The only way to turn this monster off is to press and hold the power button behind the screen (lower-left).  Does anyone have any ideas as to why this might be happening and how to fix it?
    Many thanks in advance!

    Have you tried an SMC reset?
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964 scroll down and select the instructions for iMac.

  • Using Photoshop random shut downs/blue screen

    I have a new iMac and moved everything over form my G5. Everything is fine (except for the F12 on the keyboard) but when using Photoshop, 4 times in 3 weeks the machine just shuts off to the blue screen. It only happens when using photoshop, so I'm not sure if that makes it part of the issue. I do have OWC memory installed, but other than photoshop I don't have the shut down issue.

    Which version of Photoshop are you running? Did Photoshop get migrated from your G5? You also might want to update your signature to reflect the current operating system you're running.
    Two things to check:
    1) Open up Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility select your hard drive on the left and under the First Aid tab click Repair Disk Permissions then when that is finished click Verify Disk. If the Verification fails then you will need to boot up to your install disk and run Repair Disk from the disk.
    2) Insert your original gray iMac install disk, restart and hold down the "d" key. This will load Apple Hardware Test. Run the Extended test. If you have the time set it to run in loop mode and run the Extended test over night.
    George

  • Macbook pro does not shut down, blue screen and turning wheel appears

    My mac book pro 2011 does not shut down especially after using illustrator or photoshop. It shows a blue screen with an never ending turning wheel. What do i do?

    My mac book pro 2011 does not shut down especially after using illustrator or photoshop. It shows a blue screen with an never ending turning wheel. What do i do?

  • IMac won't shut down or restart

    My iMac 10.6.4 has been working fine until a couple of weeks ago. It will not shut down or restart unless I push the power button. The little wheel just keeps spinning on the blank screen. I'm not sure but I think shutting down with the power button may not be good for the machine. I do know that when I do start the machine it takes longer than usual. Watching the progress bar, it almost seems to be resetting. I have not installed any major apps prior to the problem beginning. I've run Disk Warrior, Drive Genius, and Tech Tool but none of them have found any problem. I've also have repaired permissions several times (although I have found one exception: "Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired." I'm not sure how important it is or if it's even needed. I don't know how it was modified). Sorry for the long explanation but I'm hoping someone can help. Much appreciated, thanks in advance.
    Bob

    Hi - you mention OS X 10.6.4 but your profile shows 10.6.5. If you did update to 10.6.5 using software update try downloading the combo installer: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1324 and re-applying the update. It seems to fix all kinds of strange behaviour. Worth repairing permissions before and after the update.

  • 10.8.1 won't shut down, grey screen

    Fresh clean install on 2009 Nehalem Mac Pro with upgraded Kingston SSD drive.  Everything was working flawlessly for 3 weeks. 
    1) Shut Down Dialogue
    2) Desktop disappears
    3) Computer hangs in a light grey screen, remain powered on.  Mouse movements accepted.
    I ran Cache Cleaner, repaired permissions... problem persists.  Any help much appreciated.

    Try downloading the Trim enabler app - (google OSX trim Enabler) and enable TRIM - by default and for some ridiculous reason that I cant figure, Apple dont support Trim on any after-market SSD - however if your drive is Trim capable having trim switched off can indeed result in some strange delays and hangs. It will also shorten the life of your SSD.
    When ever you update OSX - you need to re-enable trim as the enabler works by patching a file. This is also how I know that the symptom you decribe is probably trim related - because I had this exact symptom when I upgraded to 10.8.1 and lost the trim patch that I had orginally loaded in 10.8.0

  • Imac won't shut down - asked to force quit programs

    Hi Everyone,
    I've had my iMac for about a year now. No issues until now. Recently when I try to shut down from the apple menu it doesn't do anything for a minute or so, then I get a pop up that asks to to quit a certain program or programs that are open. It asks me to force quit them. It seems to be anything I had open, like mail or safari. This never happened before. It would always just shut down. So, if I go back and quit all the open programs I think are open, then try to shut down, it still doesn't shut down. I then have to manually hold the power button to force it to shut down. When I quit all the programs, I don't get an task bar at the top to pick the apple icon to then shut down as well. Can anyone help with why this might be doing this recently and how to fix it? No new programs of any kind have been installed recently. I'm not real good at computers but I know something is not right with this now as it always would just shut down from the apple menu with no issues.
    Thanks in advance for your help!
    JB

    Thanks Kiraly...Here is a list of everything activity says is running...I don't know what this stuff means but I quit everything and do not have anything else that I opened up.
    2718 Activity Monitor JoeBoyne 1.2 6 15.25 MB 832.78 MB Intel
    76 AirPort Base Station Agent JoeBoyne 0.0 2 2.69 MB 747.92 MB Intel
    280 AppleSpell.service JoeBoyne 0.0 1 5.75 MB 602.05 MB Intel
    85 ATSServer JoeBoyne 0.0 2 4.59 MB 626.45 MB Intel
    1600 DashboardClient JoeBoyne 0.0 9 55.41 MB 861.41 MB Intel
    86 Dock JoeBoyne 0.2 4 11.42 MB 790.36 MB Intel
    2245 helpdatad JoeBoyne 0.0 2 5.92 MB 601.70 MB Intel
    119 iTunes Helper JoeBoyne 0.0 2 2.32 MB 732.13 MB Intel
    72 launchd JoeBoyne 0.0 3 492.00 KB 585.74 MB Intel
    23 loginwindow JoeBoyne 0.0 4 7.25 MB 806.81 MB Intel
    2701 mdworker JoeBoyne 0.0 4 7.49 MB 605.70 MB Intel
    83 pboard JoeBoyne 0.0 1 344.00 KB 586.63 MB Intel
    80 Spotlight JoeBoyne 0.0 2 2.11 MB 732.21 MB Intel
    2714 SyncServer JoeBoyne 0.0 2 3.96 MB 597.98 MB Intel
    87 SystemUIServer JoeBoyne 0.0 8 7.60 MB 781.84 MB Intel
    81 UserEventAgent JoeBoyne 0.0 3 1.75 MB 599.15 MB Intel

  • Mac mini will not complete shutdown-closes desktop, goes to blue screen, and spinning icon just spins forever, so  must power off to reboot.

    Recently, My Mac-mini will not complete the "shutdown" or "restart" routine; it closes the desktop screen, goes to the light blue screen, but then the spinning indicator (not the "wheel of death") just keeps spinning forever with no shutdown (I've let it spin for >2 hrs.).  Have run disk/permissions verifications and repairs from applejack, disk utility, Mactuneup.app & all report ok.  Any suggestions, please?
    Doug

    Have you tried with
    Control Option-Command-Eject

  • G5 Quad won't get passed grey screen and spinning icon

    Hi,
    I can't seem to get my G5 past the grey start up screen. I hear the drive making a similar noise over and over again. I tried booting from CD and works but disk utility doesn't work on it. I slaved it to my laptop and it shows up but then I get an error of failure and then it's de-highlighted.
    Any suggestions is appreciated

    Hi, sounds like the HD is dying.
    I tried booting from CD and works but disk utility doesn't work on it.
    Meaning the HD doesn't show up there, or what?
    I slaved it to my laptop and it shows up but then I get an error of failure and then it's de-highlighted.
    Do you know what the error said exactly?

  • Yosemite OS X 10.10.2 won't shut down

    I have a 2011 iMac (2.8 GHz, Intel Core i7)
    I recently updated to 10.10.2.
    Things were working fine, but now my iMac won't shut down.
    I go to the Apple in the upper left corner... Click on "shut down"... but then nothing happens.
    Normally, there is a little prompt window asking if I really want to shut my computer down, or something, but that window has stopped popping up. 
    And that's it. My Mac just stays on. I then have to hold down the power button to get it to shut down.
    And, now, my screensaver won't come on. Not even if I try to force it on. It just refuses to come on.
    Any ideas on what happened and how to fix it??
    Thanks!

    Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:
    1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
        b. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
    2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
    Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities 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.
    3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
    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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
    4. Reinstall Yosemite: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu, and click on the Continue button.
    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
                because it is three times faster than wireless.
    5. Reinstall Yosemite 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.
    How to Clean Install OS X Yosemite
    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
                because it is three times faster than wireless.

Maybe you are looking for