MBP Stuck on Gray Screen

So I closed my laptop one night and the next morning it was shut down. I go to turn it on and it was stuck on the apple logo screen with a spinning wheel. I turn it off and unplug it from the wall and then the spinning wheel disappeared. The next time I tried it's just a plain gray screen now. Everytime I turn the MBP on the computer is stuck on this gray screen.
I've done tons of research and reset the PRAM/NVRAM after not being able to go into safe mode - resetting didn't work. I don't have any printers or other devices ever connected to it. I don't have the disc that came with the computer either. Do the logic boards on the MacBooks have a battery on them like the desktops do, if so I have no issue with tearing it apart to replace? However if it's the entire logic board needing replacing then I'm screwed. I'm stuck and am unsure what to do.
Please help!

If you have the 10.5.x Install Disc(s), all should be fine, you'll likely have to Format it though.
How to format your disks...
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html
(To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)
Thanks to Pondini, Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks...
http://Pondini.org/OSX/DU.html

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Early 2011 MBP stuck on gray screen, verbose mode shows SMC error too

Hi!
I have and early 2011 MBP, running on OS 10.7.5 is continuously stuck at grey screen upon start-up.
I tried the steps as mentioned in Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup - Apple Support article apart from reinstalling OS X. The laptop started after every step, but then stopped again. I tried SMC update, that also worked for once, and on the second start up I ended up with a blue screen. During a later attempt, it worked again for a while, but ended with a distorted graphics after 15 mins. AHT (short version) doesn't show any hardware errors. Now the laptop doesn't go further than grey screen at all, and after a minute or so there's a heavy fan activity. The verbose mode also shows and SMC error, smc: : smcinithelper error: mmio regmap ==null - fall back to old smc mode (AHT Shows SMC version as 1.69f4)
What do you advise?

Try this:
Reset the SMC and the NVRAM:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
Then try a safe boot:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
Any success?
Ciao.

Boot stuck at gray screen

I have a 24" silver iMac. Boot gets stuck at gray screen with gray apple showing and wheel continuously spinning. Never gets to blue screen. I have tried booting from system CD and running disk repair and repair permissions. They are fine. I have tried zapping PRAM. I have tried booting with everything disconnected except keyboard. (all recommended elsewhere in these discussions.) So, for the THIRD time in the 5 months I have had this iMac, I am in the process of reinstalling the system from the CDs. THEN, as you know, I'll have to do all the updates. I AM GETTING TIRED OF THIS! (My G4 and MBP don't have these problems (I shouldn't have said that.)) Anyone else having these problems or have any other ways to deal with this? I wonder if it has anything to do with my trying to install, via software update, the latest update for QT. It wouldn't install, saying I didn't have permission or authority or something.

I hate to disagree, but I have had this happen at
least 4-5 times.
1. Happened (Before) I had an external HD attached, as Well as (After.)
(so HD not the issue.)
2. I had only the bare essentials installed on Tiger OS 4.10, B4 buying leopard.
(No other Software Installed, and NOTHING from 2nd install disk. No Optional Programs)
(Makes me rule out Quicktime.
3. I also Had same Grey Screen, Tried Disk Utility from cold boot (DVD)
Removed 1 Simm Chip And reset Pram. (Yes, I waited for 2nd chime.)
No Other OS or ANY Windows Products on this system.
Tried Cold Boot With DVD,
(made sure Active Boot Drive was DVD, NOT HD)
In Addition, Booted While Holding;
a. Shift Key - (Safe Boot)
b. Opt Key - ( I've forgotten )
c. C - Key (Password Change - No Help)
d. D - Key (verify/repair disk or permissions useless.)
Two recurring questions seem to be raised by level 2 Phone Support
to help me recover access, Without Formatting. I refused to do it, and insisted
they walk me out of this problem.
One suggested the Parse file was corrupted. Another Seems to feel that having
once forgotten firmware & or Master Password was the problem.
I disagree, I was able to recover that time by dropping to unix prompt, once I
got in, created root user, deleted My User Account,
then Recreated it, using Same Name ) Then deleting Root Account. (for Safety)
I no longer set Firmware or Master Password, It HAS Happened since.
I'm inclinrd to believe the corrupted Parse image, for all the reasons above.
It can be recovered, without Format Or Time Machine Restore. However several different
methods were used by different tech support people, so I have Messy notes on
what the actual steps were. Due to so much back tracking & Holding, And Different
methods used by different Phone Guys. NEVER attempt to try with level 1, INSIST
on level 2 support or you will not recover. Solution seems to have been successful
Most often, after working at unix prompt, and executing various commands.
If I find the Most Efficient notes, I kept from the 1st guy, who was Very Good.
I will post them. Sorry I couldn't be more specific on the recovery steps.
I remember running: fsck -?? & mount -???? , navigating to root, and not mush else.
Good Luck
PantherSherry

Stuck in gray screen

Im stuck in gray screen at startup with a spinning gear. Dont have a os disk, worried because i have tons of pics that are not backed up. :"O(

HI
My Macbook Pro also struck in gray screen at startup . I have Mavericks OS on the MAC. Don't have OS Disk.

Mac Mini Stuck at Gray Screen

Hi, I have an Intel based mac mini running 10.4.6 I believe what ever is the latest tiger version. Upon restarting after installed updates computer can not go past the apple logo with the spinning wheel underneath it. I have restarted and tried all of the different key combinations the only one it will recognize is the option key. I have used the option key to select the c drive where the operating system is installed but it goes right back to being stuck at gray screen. I have used the option key to also let me use the install disc to run disk utility and repair the disc which said volume is verified and repaired and good to go. Only thing I haven't tried is firewire boot but at this point I don't think thats the right answer. Im thinking its hardware issue any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help me out- Ryan

Will it start up in Safe mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
If it can start up in Safe mode, that would point to a problem specific to your account, and probably a Login Item given that it hangs the way it does at the gray screen with spinny wheel. In that case, take a look at this procedure, too.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/21210.html

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.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Press Shift key on boot and check that the computer starts. Finally, restart

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.

MBP stucks on blue screen on login, even after complete reinstall

Hi everyone!
This is REALLY driving me nuts. Three days ago, I found one of my MBP apparently on sleep but with fans running full speed and unable to wake up. As usual, when this happens I just force it to turn off but this time after the Apple logo (OS loading) I got stuck on a blue screen before the login window.
*What I already have DONE trying to solve this (please read)*
- PVRAM reset
- SMC reset
- Full check with Disk Utilities (no problems)
- Started on verbose and single-user mode and done almost everything there (fsck, checking console.log, etc…)
- FULL OSX REINSTALL, erasing every partition (even "zeroing" the disk) and installing from external drive (installing from DVD didn't seem to work, but the optical drive is fine). Still same problem.
*Other symptoms*
- After waiting like 5-10 minutes on the blue screen, it shows the login window just fine and I can login. From there everything seems to work OK. I can use my computer "fine"
- OSX loading (gray screen with the Apple logo) takes forever
- Mac doesn't wake up from sleep
- It runs quite hot
- I can boot in safe mode, but the auto-check at the start of that mode doesn't solve the problem
- When it is stuck on the blue screen, no cursor is shown. If sleep mode kicks in, the computer freezes on the login screen, can't do anything.
At the beginning I said that one of my MBP was affected. Well, one day after the EXACT SAME happen on my OTHER MBP, EXACT same symptoms. (MBP 4,1 and 3,1 both on 10.6.6)
I think this could be a corrupt firmware (remember this happens even with the complete reinstall) or a really weird hw failure or something beyond the OS.
As you can read, I can use my computer (both). I'm writing this on it in fact. But I can't fully fix it and I have spend almost entire days on backups, possible fixes, forum browsing… really this makes my days a living **** (not kidding!)
Please help me! Thanks in advance (And sorry for my english and the long post!)

nachX00 wrote:
HD is almost empty. 10 GB out of 320 used.
Retail SL
Well, neither of those should be the issue.
Can't check the FW ports, as I don't have a FW cable (they are somewhat hard to find on my city)
The reason I ask is because there have been a few cases here where the initial boot process was searching and searching for a FW port, but the port was dead, and it caused long delays similar to yours.
No, no new HD or RAM, but is not stock HW (upgraded RAM and HD several months ago, never a single problem on either computer).
RAM may be suspect. Have you updated software recently? Some RAM can be compatible with an earlier OS, but then out of spec after an update. If you have the original RAM, I would put it back in and see if that's the issue. If issue persists, try removing one of the modules and booting; if that doesn't work, swap the module into the other slot. Repeat with other RAM module. This will troubleshoot the RAM and both slots.
There also seem to be a growing number of issues with non-Apple-branded HDs, so I'm not sure that can be ruled out. If you have original HD, and the time to put it in, and you want to get to the bottom of this, you may want to give that a try.

MBP stuck on grey screen

This morning my MBP, mod 6,2 (8GB, 500GB), started acting strange (would not minimize Word, Safari would crash and re-crash on restart...)
so I decided to reboot it. Never came back.
The system sits on the grey screen forever. In many attempts, once or twice it went to the login screen, and after I entered the password, got stuck on that screen removing the cursor.
So far I have:
- booted ML in recovery mode, checked and rechecked the HD (verify disk, check permissions....) - all ok
(recovery mode runs fine, I can browse the web, run disk utility....without any problem)
- reset PRAM and SMC (even if the problem does not appear related)
- booted the AHT disk and passed the brief test (am running the extended one now)
- booted in verbose mode and learned that the system gets stuck in these steps
Com.apple.launchd          1 com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow                       #          stopping job
Com.apple.launchd          1 com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow                                #          Sent Job SIGKILL
Com.apple.launchd           1 com.apple.universalaccessd                                           #          stopping job
Com.apple.launchd            1 com.apple.universalaccessd                                                    #          Sent Job SIGKILL
Com.apple.launchd            1 com.apple.helpd                                                               #          stopping job
Com.apple.launchd            1 com.apple.helpd                                                                        #          Sent Job SIGKILL
Com.apple.launchd            1 com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication   #          stopping job
where # is the process ID, which keeps increasing. The first time it appears, reads 249, then works its way up constantly.
Any clue on what could be wrong?? I'm mostly interested in backing up the last few days of work before doing anything
drastic with the system, but need to get in the system to do that.
Thanks in advance

If you want to preserve the data on the boot drive, 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 unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
1. Boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in the support article linked below, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
How to back up and restore your files
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 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.
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode
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.

Help =( Mac got stuck on gray screen

Hi
Update went ok a couple of days ago.
Tonight it suddently got "stuck" and after rebooting it, it is now stuck on a gray screen.
Impossible to reboot from the installation disk or from my Lacie disk or from the HD.
When attempting to reboot from the Leopard installation disk, I then get a message telling me that the Mac needs to be restarted, but when I restart, I get stuck again on the gray screen with the Apple logo in the middle.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
Help, please!!! I am now on a friend's computer to access help. So a quick response from someone would be fantastic.
Anyone?

update on current situation:
i took my macbook to be repaired first thing this morning.
it is apparently a small part that is damaged and therefore preventing the macbook to reboot.
hence why the hardware test indicated that it found no problems and that when attempting to reboot from a disk or a drive, it finds them, but cannot reboot from either.
the part should be here tomorrow afternoon and i should get my macbook back either tomorrow or thursday.
apparently, it is nothing serious and no loss of data should occurr.
but they will only know this for sure once the part has been replaced and they can actually reboot it. they say this is not linked with the leopard update.
just sheer bad luck from a defective part.

Stuck with gray screen during update (firmware)

Today I completed the routine software update (firmware) on my macbook pro. During the update all I can see is a gray screen with no progress bar. It appears "stuck". Please advise!

See https://discussions.apple.com/message/24334963#24334963
Hold power button down 5-10 seconds. It will restart and all should be fine.

Bash update stuck on gray screen

I received a notification to install the new bash update for Mavericks. I clicked the button and the install process began by rebooting my laptop to a light gray screen with nothing but the cursor.
The software update did warn that it would reboot to a grey screen for a bit before rebooting back into the OS. However its been stuck on this grey screen for over an hour. The screen is completely unresponsive - I can't move the cursor and nothing happens when I press some keys on the keyboard.
Any advice on what to do next? I'd like to just power the thing down and reboot it myself, and perhaps try the update again later, but worries this will effectively "brick" my laptop. What can I do?

One more detail. I unfortunately had my FitBit dongle connected to the laptop during the update.
I've removed the dongle; can I try rebooting with dongle unplugged? Will rebooting from this state possibly mess up my laptop?

MacBook Pro won't start up. Gets stuck in Gray Screen

Ever since two days ago when I did a regular systems update of iLife, iWork and a bunch of other updates to my MacBook Pro, the thing wouldn't restart. It gets stuck in the gray screen and no apple symbol shows up.
Just on a chance, I turned the power off and the MacBook Pro continued to start up, and was fine. I'm wondering if because I didn't update to Leopard yet, there might be a conflict due to my recent updates, or maybe one of my peripherals is causing it to stall in start up? I have my iPhone dock, External Hard Drive, Apple LCD Screen, Mac Mini Style Hub, and HP printer plugged into the MacBook Pro.
This has ONLY started to happen when I recently updated in systems updater. It's happened 2-3 times. After I send this I will check it again, but I think I will have to AGAIN start using only the battery source and not plugged into the outlet.
Maybe installing Leopard will fix this problem? I am getting it fedexed in a day or two.
What could it be?
Help!!
Thanks,
Lainey

I haven't received Leopard yet, so haven't tried to install. It's when I use Software Updater. the last update is what I think is causing the stall.
I tried something though. When it stalled this last time, I pressed the LCD on switch on my 17 inch monitor, and then the start continued. Is there maybe a driver update needed for the 17 inch monitor now that I updated some softwarevia Software updater, or is that just me being paranoid?
Maybe the software updater installed stuff that needs Leopard to run properly. Once I install Leopard, I'll let you know how it goes. MEanwhile, I am going to try restarting a few more times.

Lion won't boot. Stuck on gray screen

Was trying to work with HP support to troubleshoot a problem communicating with the scanner portion of an HP OfficeJet 6500a E710 bought at an Apple Store. They had me run the HP uninstaller to remove all HP software in scrub mode. They then asked to run verify disk permissions. Then reboot.
Upon reboot I get the gray screen with the spinner, and it sits there forever.
Any ideas what could be wrong or how to get around it?
I've used Command-V to get verbose output during boot. Last thing it says is that its running fsck_hfs. But I see no other messages after that. The CPU fan is spun up as if the CPU is busy.
I've booted using the recovery image and checked the disk. Everything checks out ok.
I've booted into single user mode and run fsck and fsck_hfs. Both ran fine.
I tried to startup in safe mode verbose. I let it sit for hours and after 3 hours it booted. But then I rebooted and it got stuck again.
Any suggestions appreciated. This is a machine I use for work and income. Neither of which are happening right now.
I've been trying to research how Lion starts up to see where it invokes fsck_hfs, but I haven't found any reference online to describe how Lion starts up. All references I've found refer to Tiger or earlier which has a very different boot sequence.
Thanks

Call Apple. Seriously.

Mack Book Pro Stuck on Gray Screen

My Mac Book Pro is stuck on the gray screen. I have done the following
-Start computer using shift- nothing happens
-Started computer with option + R, when asked where I want to instal the Mac OS Lion it gives me two options Mac HD and Recovery HD but I cant click
on either because they say they are "locked"
-Started my computer by pressing option- attached a recovery disk I created- clicked recovery disk- clicked reinstall- clicked disk where I want it installed and it says- this disk does not use GUID Partition Table Scheme. Use disk utitlity to change the partition scheme. I CANT ACCESS DISK UTILITY!!!!!!
FYI I did create the utility disk using my MAC that has mountain lion on it.
HELP!!!!!

Vivian1220 wrote:
My Mac Book Pro is stuck on the gray screen. I have done the following
-Start computer using shift- nothing happens
Safe Mode is not working, thus it's not a thrid party kernel extension file problem.
-Started computer with option + R, when asked where I want to instal the Mac OS Lion it gives me two options Mac HD and Recovery HD but I cant click on either because they say they are "locked"
You mean command option r and that's Internet Recovery and it installs the OS X version that came on the machine, in your case it's 10.7, not 10.8, this is why you get the "Locked"
Obviously you can't install a older OS X version over a newer one or it's RecoveryHD partition without first erasing the ENTIRE drive (and losing all your programs and files)
this disk does not use GUID Partition Table Scheme. Use disk utitlity to change the partition scheme.
FYI I did create the utility disk using my MAC that has mountain lion on it.
You didn't correctly format the drive to be bootable first.
OS X can only be hold option/alt key bootable from GUID and OS X Extended Journaled formatted drives, then if OS X is installed by a OS X installer or cloned there to "bless it" to make it bootable.
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MBP Stuck on Gray Screen

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