MacBook 2008 or 2009(?) stuck on grey boot screen with Apple logo and rotating gear under it.

See now, the real problem is that I can't even try Disk Utility because I don't have the original disks seeing as I bought this MacBook off of Amazon. I tried Safe Mode, Single User Mode, & resetting the PRAM. Basically everything I can do without the original disks. How do I do this?! Please help for I'm desperate.

Sounds like you've already read this Apple note. No bootable external backup hard drive? You might call Apple support to see if they still have the original OS X disks for your system, or you can buy OS X 10.6 from the online Apple for $20, which would be an upgrade, assuming you have at least 1GB of memory. Otherwise, take it into an Apple store for assistance.

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My MacBook Pro is stuck on grey loading screen with apple logo and spinning wheel.

PLEASE HELP - Tried to start up my MacBook Pro and I get grey screen w/ apple logo & spinning wheel. It's stuck on this screen. Safe mode didn't help but reveled this: smc read key action error, BOOS key failed, BOPS key failed. Consider rebuild of prelinked kernal com.apple.kext triggers triggered rebuild. IOBluetooth host controller USB transport Suspend Device. I ran verifications/repairs in Disk Utilities, but nothing came back wrong on the reports. I'm a bit panicked, as I use this computer for work and have no other computer to use in the meantime. I should also note that I have very little technical knowledge, so if you can lend your help please keep that in mind when responding. I'd be over the moon if anyone can help.

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I have snow leopard installed as an OS. When trying to reboot a MacBook Pro I am getting stuck on grey screen with apple logo and rotating symbol. What can I do?

I have snow leopard installed as an OS. When trying to reboot a MacBook Pro I am getting stuck on grey screen with apple logo and rotating symbol. What can I do?

Maybe this might help.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

Start up screen stuck on grey screen with apple logo and spinning gear

Start up screen is stuck on grey screen with apple logo and spinning gear. What should I do?

See this thread with dominic23’s suggestions: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5783326?tstart=0

MacBook will not start. I have restarted with original CD. I have used Utilities and "no problem" with hard drive. I have reset PRAM. I have tried safe boot. Nothing is work. Gray screen with Apple logo and rotating wheel. Thanks for any suggestions!

MacBook will not start. I have restarted with original CD. I have used Utilities and "no problem" with hard drive. I have reset PRAM. I have tried safe boot. Nothing is work. Gray screen with Apple logo and rotating wheel. Thanks for any suggestions!

Snow Leopard is a Mac OS X version. You say that it's the version you have in your Mac (10.6.8). Do a back up of your files, format the hard drive (using Disk Utility) and reinstall again

MBP stuck at gray boot screen with apple logo, loading wheel, and loading bar

Today i was using my mac book pro and it was working just fine, and i shut it off and when i tried to use it later I get stuck at this screen. I have never seen this loading bar and it doesnt seem to do any thing because it only goes as far as it is in the picture then it dissapears leaving me stuck at the apple logo and the loading wheel.
Sadly i cant get my warranty information since i cant get past boot up, and the serial number in the battery area is to small to read (the letters or numbers are literaly blobs)
I have tried holding shift at boot and it does nothing and holding alt during boot only shows the hard drive icon, but when i click it im back to stage 1.

Spaghettipopsicle wrote:
Today i was using my mac book pro and it was working just fine, and i shut it off and when i tried to use it later I get stuck at this screen.
Your Mac is attempting to fix your drive and it's not succeeding, you can let it go for some time and see if it clears up.
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS3148
Do these steps.
If on 10.6 stick a clean and polished 10.6 disk into the computer and reboot holding the c key down.
If on 10.7 hold the command and r keys and boot, you'll enter Lion Recovery Partition.
Under the Utilities Menu is Disk Utility, use it to Repair Disk (note any failures!) and Repair Permissions (ignore list)
See if your computer boots, if not repeat the above steps and use Disk Utility to format a blank external drive, Partiiton Tab, Option: GUID, format OS X extended (J) and click apply.
Next quit and install 10.6/10.7 onto the external drive, when that completes, hold the option key down and you can boot from it. Retrieve your files off the internal drive to the external.
If you cant' see your internal drive in Disk Utility, it's likely failed.
Sometimes you can software like Data Rescue, installed on another Mac or a external boot drive and "read" the failed drive for any salvagable data, provided it's still working mechnically. Good thing about DataResue supposedly is you don't pay unless it's sure it can recover some of your files. I never used it as I make many backups, or bootable clones.
Mechanically failed drives data can only be recovered by platter dissection, a very expensve process.
There is several ways to read the drive, take it out and place it in a enclosure or use a IDE/SATA to USB adapter cable with another Mac or PC (with MacDrive) or use another Mac and Firewire Target Disk Mode (hold T on the sick Mac)
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
If the drive works and you got your data off of it, you can erase it (use the Zero option, GUID/OS X Ext.J) and reinstall OS X, same user name as before, update, (Repair Disk from disk if on 10.6.8) install programs and return files last (and in that order exactly) your machine will be as close as possible to the way it was.
Lastly, consider making a clone, this way you can simply option boot and use that.
http://www.bombich.com/
If the above is too much for you, please let a local Mac/Pc specialist assist you to prevent data loss.

IMac gets stuck at grey screen with Apple logo and spinning gear

I have tried everything listed at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570 with no avail. Also, I have tried fsck from SUM, nothing. It will not boot to the CD either, even with the Hard Drive pulled from the machiene. Any ideas?

MrTuRtLe03 wrote:
I have tried everything listed at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570 with no avail. Also, I have tried fsck from SUM, nothing. It will not boot to the CD either, even with the Hard Drive pulled from the machiene. Any ideas?
The last step is to take it in for service at your local Apple Store or AASP, are you saying you did that and nothign occured?????????????????
Additional Information
If the issue persists after you follow the above steps, you may wish to make an appointment with a Mac Genius at an Apple store, contact AppleCare via phone, or contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider for assistance.

Macbook Pro (2011) froze while working, forced shut down, now won't turn on. Grey screen with apple logo and spinning wheel for hours. Help?

Macbook Pro (2011) froze while working, forced shut down, now won't turn on. Grey screen with apple logo and spinning wheel for hours. Help?
Unfortunately do not know the operating system since I never updated anything and I can't get in to it.
Thanks for your assistance.

If you want to preserve the data on the boot drive, and it's not already backed up, 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, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is not fully functional. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
1. Boot from the Recovery partition or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
2. 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.
3. 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.

Hi my iMAc 27 inch starts up to the grey screen with apple logo and loading bar underneath it loads halfway then freezes up and shut down after a while please help

Hi my iMAc 27 inch starts up to the grey screen with apple logo and loading bar underneath it loads halfway then freezes up and shut down after a while please help

Try the tips listed here Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup - Apple Support

HT204347 Hi my serial number on bottom of my mac is W8*******66E when l try to try the computer on it is just going to grey screen with apple logo and spinning wheel i have tried starting in safe mode and a few other suggested solutions and they have not

Hi my serial number on bottom of my mac is W8******66E when l try to turn the computer on it is just going to grey screen with apple logo and spinning wheel i have tried starting in safe mode and a few other suggested solutions and they have not worked?
<Edited by Host>

What other solutions have you tried?
This may help you:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3353
Ciao.

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.

Imac wont boot - i get a white screen with apple logo, and it loads to about 10%, then screen goes black

imac wont boot - i get a white screen with apple logo, and it loads to about 10%, then screen goes black

Hey there mtriest,
It sounds like you are unable to boot the iMac successfully as it keeps shutting down when you try to boot. I suggest the troubleshooting from the following article named:
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Disconnect, test peripheral devices and network cables
Note: "Peripheral devices" refers to external devices other than what came with your Mac, such as hard drives, printers, or hubs that you connect via a USB or FireWire cable.
Shut down your Mac. If necessary, hold your Mac's power button for several seconds to force it to power down.
Disconnect all peripheral devices such as external hard drives or printers (leave only the display, a keyboard, and mouse connected).
Disconnect any Ethernet cables.
Start up your Mac.
If you can start up this way, one or more of your peripheral devices (or installed software related to the device) is probably causing the gray screen issue. Connect one device, then restart your Mac to test for the issue. Repeat the process until you locate the device at issue. Make sure the device is powered if it needs to be to operate correctly. Check with the manufacturer of the device for support or possible software driver or firmware updates that may be available for the device. Try a different cable with the device if possible (such as a different USB or FireWire cable).
Note: If you have multiple peripheral devices and the issue only occurs when they are all connected, but not when each device is the only peripheral connected, see the Additional Information section below.
If you are using a desktop Mac with a third-party keyboard and/or mouse device, and the issue still occurs, try starting up with an Apple keyboard and mouse connected instead. Try starting with no keyboard and mouse connected, then connect them after start up. Also, try a different USB port on your Mac.
If the gray screen issue persists with no devices connected, go to the next section (with the peripherals still disconnected).
Perform a Safe BootSimply performing a Safe Boot may resolve this issue.
Shut down your Mac. If necessary, hold your Mac's power button for several seconds to force it to power down.
Start your Mac, then immediately hold the Shift key. This performs a Safe Boot. Advanced tip: If you want to see the status of a Safe Boot as it progresses, you can hold Shift-Command-V during start up (instead of just Shift).
Note: A Safe Boot takes longer than a typical start up because it includes a disk check and other operations.
If your Mac starts up as expected, immediately try restarting.
If the Safe Boot does not work, or the restart after a successful Safe Boot does not work, go to the next section.
There is additional information in the article with further troubleshooting if needed.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Sterling

My macbook pro 2011 shows grey screen with apple logo and want start

i was just using my macbook pro and it freezed for a while not responding and i turned it off by pressing the power button. afterwards, i turn it on and it shows a grey screen with apple logo but want start pls somebody help me because am having "my life" on the machine

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 Recovery by holding down the key combination command-R at the startup chime, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Release the keys when you see a gray screen with a spinning dial. 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 by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. 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
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 3
Boot in safe mode.* The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click Log in.
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.
*Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode. Post for further instructions.
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 damaged and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to step 5.
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 4
Sometimes a boot failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 5
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 6
Boot into Recovery again. When the OS X Utilities screen appears, follow the prompts to 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.
Note: You need an always-on Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to use Recovery. It won’t work with USB or PPPoE modems, or with proxy servers, or with networks that require a certificate for authentication.
Step 7
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 backup.
Step 8
A dead logic-board battery in a Mac Pro can cause a gray screen at boot. Typically the boot failure will be preceded by loss of the startup disk and system clock settings. See the user manual for replacement instructions.
Step 9
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested.

Startup screen with apple logo and grey loading bar, then unexpectedly shuts down

Hey, I have a MacBook Pro from 2010 I believe with iOS Maverick installed. (MacKeeper is also on there, which I just found out is apparently malware)
So three days ago I was watching Netflix, the image froze, but the audio kept going. Figured my internet was slow, so I waited a little, nothing happened. pressed escape to leave the full screen mode, but nothing happened. None of the keys would do anything, not even the sound or brightness keys. So I did a force shut down by holding down the power button.
I waited a little, then decided to turn it back on. Start up sound played, white screen with grey apple logo and loading gear appeared together with a grey loading bar. I figured that this meant it had to repair something. But after about a minute or two it just went to a black screen/ shut down. I left it off for a day, tried it again, same thing. Next day I tried booting it up while holding the shift key to do the safe boot (I knew it wouldn't work since I already had the grey loading bar anyways), same thing happened.
Any suggestions? (note: I thought I had posted this yesterday, but apparently I didn't even register as a user, weird. So if this gets posted twice, I apologize)

If your disk cannot be repaired, your only options are to call the disk dead and order a new one or to try and erase and reformat the disk and try to install a system on it.
The latter is just something you can try - I doubt that it will work.
Boot into your Recovery partition once again and select Disk Utility. You should see your boot volume (usually named "Macintosh HD") in the left column of disks. Select the Erase tab and format the disk using "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". If the disk will format, then you can go back to the main Recovery screen and try installing OS X.
If that doesn't work - and you'll probably know when trying to format the drive - you'll need a new drive.
Clinton
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS Mavericks 10.9.3, 16GB RAM, 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

My macbook 13' (older version) starts only to white screen with apple logo tried to rebooot by pressing shift at the opening but it didn't finish starting before stopping please help anybody please

is anbody there how does this work never done it before my macbook won't start past white screen with apple logo any ideas ?

Are you using a 10.6 Snow Leopard Install DVD? If yes, you can erase and install following these directions: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3910
You'll know whether or not it is a hard drive issue when you get to step 8 under "Part One: Erasing the hard drive". If you do not see your hard drive in the list on the left side of the Disk Utility window then you know the Mac isn't seeing it—could be a loose cable, but more likely hard drive failure.
If you can see it on the left, click on it and look at the bottom of the Disk Utility window. If you see something like "S.M.A.R.T status: failing" that is definitely a hard drive issue. Otherwise, you can just follow the directions for an erase and install!
Might be worth fixing depending how much a repair would cost. Genius Bar could at least diagnose it for you and give a repair estimate. I'd look at what a new or refurbished one with your same specs would cost though to see if the price differential is worth it...

MacBook 2008 or 2009(?) stuck on grey boot screen with Apple logo and rotating gear under it.

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