My Powerbook doesn't load past the grey apple screen

my powerbook doesnt load past the grey apple strart up screen, after that it sais I need to reboot my computer.
I've tried to boot from my install disk to get disk utillity to run, but the computer will crash again at the gray screen, before it starts running from the cd.
I've also tried to reset PRAM and NVRAM and PMU, it all won't work, and crash on the gray screen.
I dont care about loosing stuff, cause its just been formatted 3 days ago, it started crashing first when my laptop was in the middle of its software (maybe firmware) update.
help! is there any way to get life back to my laptop?
thank you.

sorry, a correction
my computer does start up from the instal disk (finally), and the Disk Utility program sais there are no errors, (in green).

Similar Messages

My powerbook won't load past the grey apple logo screen

I had been away on business for a few weeks and yesterday I decided to run the latest updates for my powerbook. In the middle of it the computer froze for what I think is the first time since I bought it 2 years ago. I ended up having to shut the computer down with the power button. When I turned it on it wouldn't and still won't advance past the grey apple logo screen with the progress indicator. It just sits there for hours on end if I let it.
So far I've tried the following, all to no avail.
Booting in safe mode I get the same result.
Zapping the Ram
Resetting the PMU
Reinstalling OS X, during which the computer either randomly shuts down or goes to sleep and then shuts down and requires me to reset the PMU in order to start again.
Running the hardware diagnosis. I did this once and it froze during the logic board test, 1 minute 6 seconds in to it.
Anyone have any ideas that don't involve spending 900 dollars on a logic board? Thanks a lot for any help.

joeuu, thanks for the reply. i checked the airport and the ram and both seem to be seated properly.
i ran the quick hardware diagnosis and it came back showing everything was fine.
when i ran the extended one i got more progress than i did the first time. it got to the RAM diagnosis (about 6:45 seconds in) and then froze - i let it sit like this for an hour and a half to make sure it was actually frozen.
i also tried to run the disc utility from the installation disc and it just sits there with the progress wheel spinning, but nothing else is going on.

My computer suddenly decides not to work and turns on but does not go past the grey apple screen with the loading wheel.. it will not go to my desktop. What should i do?

can somebody please help me fix this issue, i have been sitting at my computer all last night and this morning trying to figure it out. It could be the hardrive or anything really i just need to get it working. Alot of important things that need to be done using this computer and i am freaking out.
My computer suddenly decides not to work and turns on but does not go past the grey apple screen with the loading wheel.. it will not go to my desktop. What should i do?

Put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
Or if you are running 10.7 Lion, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7 partition.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

I can't get past the grey apple screen using mavericks

I can't get past the grey apple screen trying to boot up with Mavericks. I had been using Mavericks for about a month (only had issues of freezing occasionally). I read in one of the posts here that I should try holding command R down when booting. I did now I just get a grey screen without the apple. Any advise?
I have a Mac Mini

Hello ther cnickers,
It sounds like the initial install of Mavericks went ok, and you have been using it for a while, but now cannot boot to your desktop and are stuck at a gray screen with an Apple logo. I would recommend a couple of things here:
First, try performing a Safe Boot to see if that will load up for you. If so then leave Safe Boot and restart from the Apple menu to try and get to your deskop:
To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), follow these steps.
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key.
The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple logo and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
After the logo appears, you should see a progress bar during startup. This indicates that your computer is performing a directory check as part of Safe Mode.
To leave Safe Mode, restart your computer without holding any keys during startup.
From: Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564
If that works fine, I would next also verify and repair your disk if needed.
Disk Utility 12.x: Repair a disk
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
Print this help page so you can refer to it later. (You don’t have access to Disk Utility Help when you restart up your computer in the next step.)In the Disk Utility Help window, choose Print from the Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear).
Choose Apple menu > Restart. Hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys as your computer restarts.When you see a white screen with an Apple logo in the middle, you can release the keys.
Click Disk Utility, and then click Continue.
In the list at the left, select the item you want to repair. (Be sure to select an item that’s indented to the right in the list, not an item at the far left.)
Click First Aid.
If Disk Utility tells you the disk is about to fail, back it up and replace it. You can’t repair it.
Click Repair Disk.If Disk Utility reports that the disk appears to be OK or has been repaired, you’re done. Otherwise, you may need to do one of the following steps.
If Disk Utility reports “overlapped extent allocation” errors, two or more files occupy the same space on your disk, and at least one of them is likely to be corrupted. Check each file in the list of affected files. If you can replace a file or recreate it, delete it. If it contains information you need, open it and examine its data to make sure it hasn’t been corrupted. (Most of the files in the list have aliases in a DamagedFiles folder at the top level of your disk.)
If Disk Utility can’t repair your disk or it reports “The underlying task reported failure,” try to repair the disk or partition again. If that doesn’t work, back up as much of your data as possible, reformat the disk, reinstall Mac OS X, and then restore your backed-up data.If you continue to have problems with your disk, it may be physically damaged and need to be replaced.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Sterling

My G5 shut down + when it restarted it won't go past the grey apple screen

here's a general rundown of how I got to this point...
last yr the hard drive on my '05 G5 went, so i had it replaced (6-7 months ago) and for the last 2-3 months i've had problems with involuntary shut downs (cut to black) it started happening once a day and then there were days where it would happen more often and then less often and eventually got to a point where it was happening every 5-20 minutes, so i brought it in to get looked at and was told that it was the power supply that was malfunctioning. I mentioned that I would likely be buying a new mac in the coming weeks ( i did yesterday) and was told that I should be ok between now and then without having it fixed and then when i did get my new computer they would transfer all of my old data onto the new computer and would be installing the new power supply before selling it to a local school. then, 3 days before I was going to get my new mac, it shut off yet again, but when it rebooted it never went past the grey apple screen. after 4 or 5 minutes the fan comes on and is amazingly loud and this is where it stays until i shut it off. i'm not sure if this is simply the power supply finally going going gone or if this has something to do with the very new hard drive or who knows what else; i just want to get my info from the old computer onto the new and hopefully get the couple hundred dollars that i was told my g5 was worth. is there something i can do to get past the grey screen before i bring it in?
thanks in advance,
Jeremiah

I doubt that your data have been lost, the hard drive should be fine. Too bad that you're going to sell it, you could have used the hard drive in an enclosure to back up your new computer to. Please remember to make frequent backups/clones, I use SuperDuper! and it works perfectly. I have used it to re-clone a drive from the external when things have gone bad, you can also boot from a SuperDuper! clone.
Anyway, let us know how things go, I'm pretty sure your drive will be fine.

My G-5 Won't go past the Grey Apple Screen......HELP HELP HELP

I have a G-5 PowerMac.
Its about a year old.
I have used it more than sparingly. I bought it for video editing and have no other programs installed on it that didn't come with the computer besides Final Cut Pro
I tried to turn it on this morning to edit a project i'm working on and the thing just wont get past the Grey Apple Screen.
I really need help here. My hardware warranty runs out on December 31st and I dont have money for the Applecare $250 is really steep.
Help me turn the thing back on and get my editing going please
Email me at [email protected] if you can help me out
thanks
Chris
Power Mac G5 Dual Processor Mac OS X (10.4)

Hey Cris
I just got thru the same problem. My G5 was only 30 days old. I contacted Apple and after many phone calls I ended up purchasing the Applecare.
The parts were on back order for two weeks and they ended up replacing the logic board and the processor.
Good Luck!!!

My G5 (non intel) starts up but does not go past the grey apple screen

My G5 (the non intel kids machine) starts up but does not go past the grey apple screen. It chimes, the grey apple screen comes up 20 seconds later with the rotating thing-ie, then the fan kicks on 1 minute 35 seconds later. It stays on that screen indefinitely.
I tried restarting without any cables connected to it with the same outcome. I tried to insert the OS X disc and pressing the "C" key and cannot get past the password page. I also tried to start it pressing the OptionCommand+PR keys with no results.

I am experiencing this problem as well. I had assumed it was a result of attempting to uninstall the Boot Camp drivers because I was getting a blue screen error every time I tried to startup with Windows. But I had also installed some updates for OS X at the same time so it could have been caused by that as well. I've erased everything now and I am trying to reinstall OS X but I'm three attempts in now because the installation has just been getting stuck in an indefinite loop at random points during the installation.

MacBook won't load past the gray apple screen, what do I do?

A few months ago my cat peed on my computer and despite the battery no longer working the computer its self continued working fine after letting it sit a few days.
A few weeks ago I accidentally unplugged it form the wall forcefully turning it off, when I tried to turn it back on it wouldn't go past the gray apple logo with the spinning pinwheel.
I've tried to troubleshooting it numerous times but even after letting it safe boot all night I came to no avail.
All the suggestions I've gotten on other sites say I sould re-install the OSX server, the problem being I don't know how, or which OSX I have, they also say the memory will probably be erased, I can't have this happen because I have many things I wrote on there that I have no where else. I bought this laptop in the first few days of 2009.
What do I do without erasing the memory?

Hello,
Could someone help me, please? I apologize for the long message but I want to be as detailed as possible.
My MacBook (purchased early 2006, white 13", upgraded to Leopard about a year ago with no problems until now) will not boot past the grey screen and spinning wheel.
Here' are the list of 6 steps I've followed so far and still is not working. Oh, and I do not have any peripherals attached to my MacBook:
1. Reboot in Safe Mode: tried pressing down the Shift key before the powering up sound AND after the sound. Could not get into Safe Mode. Did this several times, holding the Shift key for as much as a minute or two. Nothing but grey screen and spinning wheel.
2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM: CMDR+POption: Computer restarted but still goes into Grey Screen, spinning wheel and stays there forever.
3. CMD +S: I read this online. Gave me a black screen with a lot of information, but I don't know how to read the computer jargon, let alone know what to do with said info.
4. Disk Utility Repair Disk : Inserted my Leopard install disk. Went to Utility Disk. Performed a Repair Disk and I did get two error messages, something related to id 70000452 should be id 70000450 ( I'm sorry to say I cannot remember the exact error messages). But it showed as repaired. When I did a 2nd Repair Disk, I got the message that the volume appears to be OK. Turned off and on again, nothing but grey screen and wheel.
5. Disk Utility Repair Disk Permissions: got several error messages and this time some could not be repaired:
-Permissions differ on system/library/CoreServices/Front Row.app/Contents.... should be -rw-rw-r-- , they are lrw-rw-r--
I got this about 4 times.
-Permissions differ on System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskManagement.framework/Versions/a/Resources/ DiskManagementTool has been modified and will not be repaired.
-Permissions differ on System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DesktopServicesPriv.framework/Versions/A/Resou rces/Locum has been modified and will not be repaired.
-SIUD file has been modified and cannot be repaired also shows twice.
I've read that these messages can be ignored. Is this true? I verified permissions after that, rebooted and still the same grey screen and wheel.
6. FINALLY: I tried to hook a FireWire from my notebook to my sis, iMac, and see if my HD shows up on hers so I can try to copy and save my pics and music. I was then planning to Erase and Reinstall. But my HD doesn't show up. I turned off both Macs and turned on, pressing T on my Notebook so it acts as a drive, but nothing shows up on my sis iMac. What am I doing wrong here?
And if it cannot be repaired, what do I do?
I'm an amateur photographer and would like to save all my pics, as well as my iTunes music. Much of everything else is just docs, and I think I backed the docs up, but not iTunes or the pics lately (not enough memory available in my flash drive). It also means I do not have a lot of RAM available (I know, I should've bought an external hard drive :o) to perform an Archive and Install.
Can I save my pics and music? Is it all lost? Help please?
Thanks
Andy

G5, updated software and now it won't start up past the grey apple screen

Hello,
I'm in dyer need of help. I just purchased an old G5 from a friend and when I connected it the internet it said there were a few (7 or 8) updates available for the system. There was very minimal memory left on the system but I proceeded with the updates, it said the system was going to restart after the updates. The grey screen appeared with the apple logo and the circular loading graphic but right after that the screen went blank and now each time I try to start the computer up it does the same and shuts down after that screen displays.
Is there anything I can do?

I'm not able to do that without the proper install disc, am I correct?
Correct.
Is it possible for me to use that or am I in the same boat without the proper install disc?
Correct, you need an Install Disc.
Or will it try to install on my iMac?
Disconnect them to be sure.
Sooo, what is this Install Disc you're talking about? The iMac's Gray Disc? That won't work for the G5.
There's still a chance of repairing the HD, Your best bet is DiskWarrior.
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
BTW, you might enjoy these DiskWarrior review/recommendations...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9645801&#9645801
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10541019#10541019
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11918925&#11918925
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12684129#12684129
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12744794&#12744794

MBP OS Leopard update that now hangs at the grey apple screen

I ran software update for OS Leopard on my MBP yesterday and it has been in a continuous boot cycle that never gets past the grey Apple screen. The only sign of life is that periodically it will make the boot noise and the computer remains quite warm. I have tried shutting down completely and then rebooting in safe mode and also rebooting using the OS disk but I'm pretty sure the Leopard OS disk doesn't work as a boot disk. So my first issue is to try and fix the boot problem. The second is that clever me didn't back up before hand so I am looking at trying to connect by firewire to my iMac and try and recover some files... given the issue would this be possible?

See if it boots into Target mode...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
If so it should act like an expensive Firewire Drive for your other Mac.

My MacBook pro will not load past the grey screen with the spinning wheel. What do I do?

My MacBook will not load past the grey screen with the spinning wheel of death. Anyone have any solutions?

Invoke Safe Mode by holding down the shift Key as you restart. This will do a Disk Utility "Repair Disk" as it starts up (so it takes a few minutes longer) and then load with minimal extensions loaded, and request your login username and password, even if you normally do not use them to log in.
Safe Mode runs the screen using simple, unaccelerated commands. Most things are available in Safe Mode, but things that rely on extensions will not be.
Acomputer that works in Safe Mode, but fails again after you restart, often implicates your extensions and add-ons.

G5 dual 2.7GHz refuses to get past the grey apple logo screen no matter what I do!

Hoping that someone might be able to help, as I think I have tried pretty much everything and I’m running out of ideas now!
It’s a G5 dual 2.7GHz that refuses to get past the grey apple logo screen no matter what I do!
everything passes the extended apple hardware test (2.5)
3GB of RAM (2x1GB brand new from crucial)
won’t start from a original OS 10.58 disk
passes disk utility when connected to another mac via FW target mode
nothing other than keyboard/monitor attached
all of this done; http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
tried alternative HDD’s without any joy
won’t safe boot
stays at the grey apple logo screen and the fans then start revving up excessively
Any other suggestions or advice very gratefully received!

BDAqua wrote:
Seems strange that it's trying to invoke "AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement" on a G5, but maybe it's all inclusive???
Though it exists on my Universal 10.5.8 Install, it does NOT appear to be a loaded extension....
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext
BD, is that showing up in your PM's extensions folder? I wouldn't expect to see it loaded in a PM, but I wonder why the installer loads it unless the 10.5 installer loads a system that could boot an Intel, too, when it installs on a PM. (I read somewhere this weekend that an Intel will actually boot from an APM formatted disc as well as a GUID formatted disc) Curious.
I recall seeing yesterday or Saturday on one of the discussion threads someone having that extension show up in a verbose boot on a PM that was having problems booting into Leo. I think I advised trashing the kernel caches and touching Extensions in that one, but it is puzzling that it shows up here as well.
This is the other discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/message/15161427#15161427

The Macbook Pro will not start past the grey Apple logo screen? Any help will be most welcome?

The Macbook Pro 13, late 2009 will not start past the grey Apple Logo screen? Any help will be most welcome? Thanks

Have you tried booting with the install disc that came with your computer?
Find it and then run Disk Utility to verify your hard drive. If errors are found, try to repair the disk.
It sounds as if the hard drive might be failing.
Clinton

IMac G5 Power PC won't boot past the grey apple and pinwheel

After everything froze and having to shut down (holding the power button), it won't boot past the grey apple and pinwheel. After a few seconds, the fans speed up and then nothing else.
*it won't boot into safe mode (holding shift)
*booting to OS on DVD works but then freezes after select language and hit "continue"
*disk utility shows the actual hard drive name but no disk image/partition is listed for me to repair or change
*running the system hardware diagnostic CD returns a list of "passed" for all hardware
I did have the logic board replaced during the extended warranty period a few years back and have not had any issues at all since.
Any thoughts, suggestions, tricks/tips?

Perfect diagnosis. I replaced the HD and reinstalled the OS. Back in business! Thanks!

I have a MacBookPro1,1 running mac os x 10.6.8. It keeps freezing whenever i use it, and often takes 5 or more attempts to turn on. It just stays at the grey apple screen, causing me to force shut down. Is there anyway i can fix this?

When i am using the mac. often it will suddenly freeze, only the coloured loading wheel still moving. I will leave it for hours to unfreeze but nothing. The only remedy is to turn it off by the button. Moreover, sometimes when i turn it on it gets stuck at the grey apple screen and i have to turn it off by the button and on again. This can happen up to 10 times until it turns on! What can i do?

Shut down your computer and disconnect all peripherals (keyboard & mouse if pertinent) from your computer. Now reboot.
If the Mac starts up normally, shut it down again and then plug in one of the peripherals (keyboard or mouse first) and start up your computer again. If it does so successfully repeat the process, adding one peripheral at a time until your Mac acts up. At that point, disconnect the last peripheral you added, reboot your Mac and search the peripheral vendor's website for an updated driver.
If no driver exists or the problem remain after installing the new driver, try a different cable or a different port on your Mac.
If none of the above works, again disconnect all peripherals from your Mac, hold down the "shift" key to start up in "Safe Boot" mode.
If the Mac starts up correctly, restart without pressing the "shift" key.
If your computer still does not start up properly, shut it down and restart it while holding down the Apple+Option-P-R keys; keep holding "all 4 keys" down until you hear the startup sound "twice."
If none of the above work Disconnect all peripherals from your computer. Boot from your install disc & run Repair Disk from the utility menu. To use the Install Mac OS X disc, insert the disc, and restart your computer while holding down the C key as it starts up.
Select your language.
Once on the desktop, select Utility in the menu bar.
Select Disk Utility.
Select the disk or volume in the list of disks and volumes, and then click First Aid.
Click Repair Disk.
(If Disk Utility cannot repair, you will need a stronger utility (3rd party) - Diskwarrior or Techtool PRO)
Restart your computer when done.
Repair permissions after you reach the desktop-http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751 and restart your computer.
If you are able to reach your desktop take note of how large your hard drive is and how much hard drive space do you have left?
Remove any 3rd party ram.
Reinstall Snow Leopard - This will install a "fresh" copy of Snow Leopard without archiving old system files but leaves the rest of your files in place.
If your computer is still under warranty or you have Apple Care, take full advantage of it by letting tech support deal with your problems. It's what you're paying them for.
Out of warranty - take the computer to an Apple store or an AASP. Whichever is more convenient for you.

My Powerbook doesn't load past the grey apple screen

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for