Macbook Air 2011 Stuck on grey screen

Hello All,
I have a 2011 Macbook air running 10.8.1 which won't successfully boot up. I press the power button, (i have to hold it a long time) and then it goes to a grey screen with an apple logo and a slowly filling status bar. Once the bar fills up after about 15-30 minutes, the computer turns off. Has happened maybe 10 times, always the same result.
I tried booting in repair mode, and I decided to reinstall OSX. The software said it would verify my computer with Apple. Despite having a completely legit computer purchased from an apple store, it says there is an error and I should try again. Again I've tried many times, and each time it won't let me reinstall OSX.
I reset the PRAM but it didn't make a difference.
What should I do to reinstall OSX or at least get the computer to a desktop again?
Thanks!
P.S.
If it helps, this is a link to an old discussion which was dealing with my computers previous issue of running merely very slow. Since this is a different problem (I can't even get it to turn on) I created a new discussion.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4386839

Take this Mac to a local Apple Store (make a genius bar apointment first) and they can boot off ethernet and run a program called "MRI" which will run a bunch of tests quickly without loading OS X. This can pinpoint if there is a hardware, RAM or disk problem.

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How can I find out what the problem was?
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Hi guys. I've already checked many threads in many forums, but I can't succeed in this problem.
I have a Macbook Pro8,2 (2011) that doesn't go beyond the boot screen, regardless of which disc you boot it from (tested with 4 different bootable partitions). Apple logo with spinning wheel, then grey screen with fast spinning fans. I tried everything: safe mode, netboot, single user mode, accessing recovery, resetting SMC and PRAM, Apple Hardware Test (it states it's all ok). I even took off the ram sticks singularly and unplugged the internal hard drive to realise if the SATA cable is faulty. Nothing has worked so far.
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ultraago,
You may have the problem that I, and scores of others, have had with the faulty GPU found in a number of 2011 models, as discussed here -> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?tstart=0.
Usually the problem begins with graphics glitches and then it's downhill from there. The AHT will not report any problems and neither will the tests that the Apple techs have available.
If you do have this problem, then having the GPU reballed is the least expensive, and longer lasting, 'fix.' Apple will want to replace your logic board - don't fall for that scheme (unless you're still under warranty). I had my logic board replaced because I have AppleCare until next year. But once my AppleCare runs out and the problems come back again, I'm going the reball route.
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My macbook pro is stuck on grey screen with apple symbol in center with the progress circle under it continusly spinning. After I had turned it on. Prior to turning it on I had to force close and shut down a few hours prior. Please Help?

My macbook pro is stuck on grey screen with apple symbol in center with the progress circle under it continusly spinning. After I had turned it on. Prior to turning it on I had to force close and shut down a few hours prior. Please Help I have tried everything I know to do

Unfortunately this means that there is a problem in the boot sector of your hard drive. It might be indicative of a fundamental corruption in the coding that allows your computer to boot your operating system from your hard drive. I had this problem twice and it resulted in me having to get a new hard drive and restore my data.
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Here is my advice: DON'T CALL APPLE TECH SUPPORT though they are kind and usually helpful it will take you an hour just to explain the situation and they will only tell you to do what I'm gonna say here.
First: Shut down your computer completely
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If after verification and repairs you still can't boot I sincerely hope you have apple care because you will need a new hard drive. Set up an appointment to come in to the apple store, they will tell you to go and get data recovery, just ask them to give you the old hard drive. Unless you have an up to date backup in which case you can just restore from that. If you're lucky the only issue is with the boot sector which means that if you ask them to give you the old hard drive, you can buy an enclosure and you have effectively been given a free external hard drive. It still works to store data just not to load an operating system.
If you have a back up drive bring it to the apple store and they'll do the whole thing right there, it should take around an hour and a half but may take longer.
Hope this helps, it's annoying but it's your safest bet.
All the best.

My Macbook Air 2011 got a white screen and a folder with a question mark. I tried to press option+r and try to install the OS X Lion but it didn't show the disk Macintosh Hd

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You are using Snow Leopard so you have no OPTION+R shortcut. You need to boot the computer from your Snow Leopard DVD or USB flash drive.
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Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
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My MacBook Pro fans were loud and unusual, so when I looked up what to do on google most of the results told me to reset the SMC. So I did that, expecting it to work, and now my MacBook Pro won't go past the Reboot screen! The strange thing is, it doesn't stay on the Apple logo like most people say. Instead, the apple logo changes into the "Restricted" Symbol and just stays there.
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Rieev wrote:
My MacBook Pro fans were loud and unusual, so when I looked up what to do on google most of the results told me to reset the SMC.
This is usually the remedy for out of control fans.
So I did that, expecting it to work, and now my MacBook Pro won't go past the Reboot screen! The strange thing is, it doesn't stay on the Apple logo like most people say. Instead, the apple logo changes into the "Restricted" Symbol and just stays there.
Ok, it's not booting up to OS X, which when loaded will control the fans to settle down, but the default if OS X doesn't load is eventually turbo mode.
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MacBook Air stuck on grey screen

My MacBook Air 2011 will not boot, as it gets stuck on a grey screen. Nothing works, not even any keyboard shortcuts.
What ive tried:
- Recovery Mode (Wont even change the screen, waited about 5 minutes)
- Resetting PVC or whatever its called (Just reboots the computer)
- Safe Boot (trying right now, told that it takes a while)
Taking it back to the apple store is my last resort, and I think im out of my warranty (no applecare).
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ANSWER
I totally understand this issue!
It's happened to me when I can't even move my mouse around. It's stuck on a grey screen and it's driving me nuts. i know this answer. This problem happened to my last night actually.
What I did was leave it be for as long as it needs. My screen was grey for 24 hours. When I woke up in the morning, the screen was back to normal, on the screen I needed to log on with. BY THE WAY, I prayed for my laptop. LOL! I really hope you don't end up with a "hunk" of $1000 dollars on you're desk. Maybe this will take longer than mine did, OR shorter amount of time.
QUESTION.
JohGoins wrote:
My MacBook Air 2011 will not boot, as it gets stuck on a grey screen. Nothing works, not even any keyboard shortcuts.
What ive tried:
- Recovery Mode (Wont even change the screen, waited about 5 minutes)
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Sorry about specs...i entered in drop box menu but realize doesnt show on thread:
MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 13" (SD/FW)
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Macbook Air 2011 Stuck on grey screen

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