No Startup chime and grey screen only

Hi,
I have a 15" Powerbook G4 1.5Ghz (Tiger), it has no startup chime (just the click, whirr of the hard drive spinning up) and it goes to a light grey screen and nothing else.
if I connect it to an external monitor then I see my desktop on the external monitor but still nothing on the laptop screen. I replaced the screen and the LVDS cable and it is still the same result.
I tried resetting PRAM but since there is no chime and the external monitor comes on last I can't really tell if that did anything. I also tried booting into open firmware (to reset NVRAM) but again it doesn't seem to work since the external monitor powers up last in the startup cycle.
Any suggestions?
PRAM battery? (which is almost certainly dead).
Thanks

I'd try resetting the PMU also:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

Similar Messages

At startup I get grey screen and a folder with a flashing question mark. How do I reset my MacBook Pro to the manufacture defaults?

At startup I get grey screen and a folder with a flashing question mark. How do I reset my MacBook Pro to the manufacture defaults?

Click here and follow the instructions. If the computer originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, when you reach step 5, insert its original disk, restart with the C key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the internal drive, and install a fresh OS.
(113954)

Grey Screen Only - I've Tried Many Remedies

Last night, all seemed well with my computer when I shut down.
Now, on startup, there is a short delay, the Mac chime, and then grey screen. No cursor. No mac symbol of any sort. It will not go past grey screen only.
I only need to hold the power button for a moment to shut down after the grey screen. From what I've read it sounds like some people may have to hold it longer, but I don't.
I've tried the following remedies, shutting down after each to look for some sort of change.
1) I've unplugged all devices except for the keyboard and one monitor and restarted. No change on restart.
2) I've attempted a Safe Boot, holding shift while starting. No change on restart.
3) I've reset the NVRAM / PRAM, and the second chime rings out as it should. After letting off cmd-opt-P-R, it goes back to grey screen. No change on restart.
4) I attempted to use Disc Utility from the Install Disc. Starting up holding the mouse down didn't open the optical drive, so I opened it with a paperclip. I inserted the install disc. I shut down and started again holding C, and it wouldn't start from the disc. No change.
5) I've checked all cables. Unplugged and plugged back in. The computer and monitor have power, and the computer at least momentarily recognizes the keyboard long enough to perform a PRAM Reset, but doesn't respond to any other startup shortcuts that I know.
6) I have no third-party ram or internal hardware to remove.
7) I cannot start up off a disc, so I cannot perform an Archive And Install or an Erase And Install.

Thank you for the prompt reply!
I have 2 backups. I have Time Machine running in the background to one external drive, AND I occasionally (especially after doing extremely important work) clone all my internal drives to dedicated external drives using Carbon Copy Cloner.
I started up from my cloned OS drive. It works just fine. I then re-installed the old OS drive, and it's back to grey screen. Does it sound like drive failure to you?
I could use just a little more feedback.
My cloned OS that functions is not as up to date as my latest Time Machine backup. I haven't needed to use Time Machine yet, so I'd like a suggestion. At this point, should I try to restore individual files, or should I startup on the installer disc and "Restore System from Backup"?
If I was more confident that my original problem was just drive failure, then doing a full Restore System from Backup would sound fine. If it could have been corrupted files of some sort I'm wary of doing a full Restore, as I'd be Restoring over what is currently my only working copy of the OS.
Suggestions?

Repeatedly getting stuck on spinning wheel and grey screen, even after multiple re-installs of the OS

Ok, so running Lion on a MacBook, (2010 i think) and the OS got corrupted(stuck on spinning wheel and grey screen on boot)
Tried to repair the disk via disk utility using an install CD, no go, couldn't repair, so, did a clean install.
New install went fine, computer worked for about 3 days and then stuck on the spinning wheel again.
suspecting physical damage to the harddrive, I installed the OS to an external, and booted from there. Worked for a couple days and then stuck on the spinning wheel.
I have repeated the process 5 times now, each time it works for a little and then craps out again.
What's going on?
as a note, when I say it gets stuck on the spinning wheel, I have left it for 12 hours trying to boot to no avail.

The Apple Hardware Test doesn't always detect all errors.
Next time you get the gray screen/spinning wheel, try booting into the Safe Mode to see if it will boot.
Shut down the computer and then power it back up. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
Safe Mode
Safe Mode - About
Startup Gray Screen
Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)
Startup Issues - Resolve (3)

Macbook Pro mid 2009 13 inch suddenly freezes and grey screen appears stating press key to restart

Macbook Pro mid 2009 13 inch suddenly freezes and grey screen appears stating press key to restart. Here is my recent crash report. Please help me.
Anonymous UUID:
714EBD8C-083D-E200-A9BD-6F925A8F8F14
Thu May 29 22:30:04 2014
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff80026dbf5e): Kernel trap at 0xffffff80026d1197, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0xffffef8022f973c8, CR3: 0x0000000089778000, CR4: 0x0000000000000660
RAX: 0x000000000000001c, RBX: 0x00000000e00002c2, RCX: 0xffffff8002abb7d4, RDX: 0xffffef8022f973c0
RSP: 0xffffff800d2cb6a0, RBP: 0xffffff800d2cb6a0, RSI: 0x0000000000000001, RDI: 0xffffef8022f973c0
R8: 0x0000000000000001, R9: 0x0000000000000001, R10: 0xffffff8014ea65e8, R11: 0xffffff809b3160f0
R12: 0xffffef8022f973c0, R13: 0x0000000000000001, R14: 0xffffff800d2cb6ec, R15: 0x0000000000000001
RFL: 0x0000000000010202, RIP: 0xffffff80026d1197, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0xffffef8022f973c8, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff800d2cb330 : 0xffffff8002622fa9
0xffffff800d2cb3b0 : 0xffffff80026dbf5e
0xffffff800d2cb580 : 0xffffff80026f3456
0xffffff800d2cb5a0 : 0xffffff80026d1197
0xffffff800d2cb6a0 : 0xffffff80026afd0e
0xffffff800d2cb6d0 : 0xffffff8002abb751
0xffffff800d2cb710 : 0xffffff8002abb54f
0xffffff800d2cb760 : 0xffffff7f8413fd2f
0xffffff800d2cb7a0 : 0xffffff7f84188b21
0xffffff800d2cb7e0 : 0xffffff7f841708d2
0xffffff800d2cb850 : 0xffffff7f84170fc8
0xffffff800d2cb890 : 0xffffff7f8413dfea
0xffffff800d2cba10 : 0xffffff7f8416d940
0xffffff800d2cbad0 : 0xffffff7f8413cad9
0xffffff800d2cbb20 : 0xffffff8002acea56
0xffffff800d2cbb40 : 0xffffff8002ad0051
0xffffff800d2cbba0 : 0xffffff8002acdabf
0xffffff800d2cbcf0 : 0xffffff80026b66a8
0xffffff800d2cbe00 : 0xffffff8002626bf1
0xffffff800d2cbe30 : 0xffffff80026139f5
0xffffff800d2cbea0 : 0xffffff800261e043
0xffffff800d2cbf20 : 0xffffff80026c975d
0xffffff800d2cbfb0 : 0xffffff80026f3a28
Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.apple.GeForceTesla(8.2.4)[24ED915E-02F3-3A31-8502-6AA41FFCA420]@0xffffff7f84 12b000->0xffffff7f841f5fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[244D4E48-78E6-3369-8D76-285C66EF9BF4]@0xffffff 7f82cbe000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.4.1)[B93BBFC9-9ED5-3DDD-8CED-5EDA081BB997]@0xff ffff7f8324b000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[B889D3AB-CCC0-3FCD-A83E-D2E3E4CB537B]@0 xffffff7f83208000
dependency: com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(8.2.4)[6EB3FF52-A4F6-3496-AE9C-D89B00F DE504]@0xffffff7f8325b000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Skype
Mac OS version:
13D65
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 13.2.0: Thu Apr 17 23:03:13 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2422.100.13~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: ADD73AE6-88B0-32FB-A8BB-4F7C8BE4092E
Kernel slide:
0x0000000002400000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8002600000
System model name: MacBookPro5,5 (Mac-F2268AC8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 60200033152435
last loaded kext at 44797399467641: com.apple.filesystems.smbfs
2.0.2 (addr 0xffffff7f84b15000, size 335872)
last unloaded kext at 15796237223278: com.apple.macos.driver.AppleUSBEthernetHost
7.0 (addr 0xffffff7f84b15000, size 20480)
loaded kexts:
net.telestream.driver.TelestreamAudio
1.1.0
com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt
0.0.97
com.apple.filesystems.smbfs
2.0.2
com.apple.filesystems.ntfs
3.11
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor
1.9.5d0
com.apple.driver.AGPM
100.14.15
com.apple.filesystems.autofs
3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver
124
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA
2.6.1f2
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver
2.6.1f2
com.apple.GeForceTesla
8.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient
3.5.13
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC
1.60
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet
1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager
4.2.4f1
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X
7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess
1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight
170.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl
1.1.12
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport
4.2.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU
2.0.4d1
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin
1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC
1.7.0
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor
3.0.4d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons
240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard
240.2
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless
1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib
1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache
35
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController
325.7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader
3.4.1
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient
3.6.6
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter
404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage
2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331
700.20.22
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI
5.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub
666.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort
3.0.0
com.apple.nvenet
2.0.21
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI
656.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI
660.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager
161.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC
2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET
1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons
2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS
2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC
2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC
1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient
217.92.1
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall
153
com.apple.security.quarantine
3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement
217.92.1
com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl
3.5.26
com.apple.kext.triggers
1.0
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib
2.6.1f2
com.apple.vecLib.kext
1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController
2.6.1f2
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily
2.6.1f2
com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla
8.2.4
com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla
8.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily
1.9.7fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib
1.14
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface
91.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily
10.0.7
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily
4.2.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert
1.0.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController
1.0.11d1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport
4.2.4f1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP
2.2.6
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy
1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI
1.0.12d1
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily
5.7.0d11
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport
2.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily
2.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC
3.1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch
240.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver
660.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub
650.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice
3.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily
1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily
1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily
1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI
2.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family
630.35
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily
4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient
660.4.2
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily
2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily
3.2
com.apple.driver.NVSMU
2.2.9
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM
2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime
2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily
2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily
1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox
278.11
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch
1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet
7
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore
2
com.apple.driver.DiskImages
371.1
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily
23
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore
28.30
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass
3.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite
656.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice
3.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily
1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily
3.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily
677.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform
2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily
2.9
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily
1.4
com.apple.kec.pthread
1
com.apple.kec.corecrypto
1.0
System Profile:
Model: MacBookPro5,5, BootROM MBP55.00AC.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.53 GHz, 6 GB, SMC 1.47f2
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, PCI, 256 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x830B, 0x4E54344743363442384842304E532D434720
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333235533642465238432D48392020
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8D), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)
Bluetooth: Version 4.2.4f1 13674, 3 services, 15 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: TOSHIBA MK3255GSXF, 250.06 GB
Serial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-868
USB Device: Built-in iSight
USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
USB Device: IR Receiver
USB Device: Wireless Optical Mouse
USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Thunderbolt Bus:
Model: MacBookPro5,5, BootROM MBP55.00AC.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.53 GHz, 6 GB, SMC 1.47f2
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, PCI, 256 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x830B, 0x4E54344743363442384842304E532D434720
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333235533642465238432D48392020
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8D), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)
Bluetooth: Version 4.2.4f1 13674, 3 services, 15 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: TOSHIBA MK3255GSXF, 250.06 GB
Serial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-868
USB Device: Built-in iSight
USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
USB Device: IR Receiver
USB Device: Wireless Optical Mouse
USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Thunderbolt Bus:

riyazfrombangalore,
your 13-inch Mid 2009 MacBook Pro requires 1066 MHz RAM, but you have 1333 MHz RAM installed. Try replacing the 1333 MHz RAM with 1066 MHz RAM — Macs can be picky about the RAM which they find acceptable.

When using my iMac the screen turned blue and so I turned the compute off. When I turn on again power does get to the computer but there are no chimes and the screen remains black. Any advise please. David

When using my iMac the screen turned blue and so I turned the compute off. When I turn on again power does get to the computer but there are no chimes and the screen remains black. Any advise please. David

Hello DJJOC,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
To start troubleshooting this issue where your iMac's screen will not illuminate, please reset your SMC by following the information outlined below.
Resetting the SMC for Mac Pro, Intel-based iMac, Intel-based Mac mini, or Intel-based Xserve
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: For Intel-based Xserve computers that are not responding, you can shut down locally, or by using remote commands, or by pressing and holding the power button for five seconds.
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support
Take care,
Alex H.

HT1455 imac wont start up and grey screen with spinning wheel appears

imac wont start up and grey screen with spinning wheel appears

See this Apple note on steps to take.

Startup Disc is full and now the laptop opens to a grey screen only.

I was downloading a large amount of photos onto my MacBook last night, I was aware I was running out of space but didn't realize I was that close. During the second download the process just stopped and I got messages that the startup disc was full. I had to Force Quit iPhoto as it was frozen. When I returned to iPhoto after working with other iPhoto libraries on an external HD I could not open the iPhoto on my MacBook - I got some message saying that I needed to check my permissions to (make changes?) something like that. Everytime the same message. I restarted my computer and now when it powers up and I log in it takes me to a grey screen and stops there. The only thing I can do is move the cursor. I left that up overnight just to see if it needed time and woke to the same grey screen.
I'm getting a bit panicked as all my documents for work and photos are on this laptop. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get back into my files so I can remove photos to free up space on the startup disc?
Many thanks,
Bob

Try a Safe Boot;
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564?viewlocale=en_US
That may free up enough space to access the HDD and delete data from the drive.
If that does not work, you will have to connect your MBP to another Mac to access the internal HDD.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
Also do not forget to empty trash when you delete data. Only then is space allocated for new data.
Ciao.

Startup shows grey screen only.

PowerMac G4 dual 1.25 GHz.
Pulled all HDDs from machine so only the original combo drive is left. Attempt to boot Tiger install disc and I get a grey screen with the Apple logo. I boot the supplied hardware test disc and it boots up and runs the tests in a loop for several days and doesn't report any errors.
Any ideas on what I can try?
Thanks,
-Mark

When I boot from a HD (which I put back into the machine):
Darwin Kernel Version 9.2.0...
(I have to type all of this in since I can't copy it so please excuse typos, I'll try not to make too many)
MAC Framework successfully initialized
using 6553 buffer headers and 4096 cluster IO buffer headers
ApplePlatformExpert::getGMTTimeOfDay can not provide time of day RTC did not show up
mbinit:done
Security auditing service present
BSM auditing present
rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 8E7E87B0....
Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClasss</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string.<dict>
Still waiting for root device
Still waiting for root device
(this message repeats)
==========================================
When I boot from the Tiger install DVD:
standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
vmpagebootstrap: 316273 free pages
migtable_maxdispl = 70
Copyright notice
using 3276 buffer headers and 3276 cluster IO buffer headers
Extension "com.appe.driver.KeyLargoATA" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleDACAAudio" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.Apple02Audio" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.Apple02DBDMAAudio" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.Apple02DBDMAAudio" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleTexasAudio" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.Apple02Audio" has no kernel dependency.
Extension "com.apple.driver.Apple02DBDMAAudio" has no kernel dependency.
========================
Original 10.2.3 software and install disc that came with the machine:
standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
vmpagebootstram: 315704 free pages
migtable_maxdispl = 64
COLOR video console at 0x9c00800 (1600x1200x8)
IOkit Component Version 6.3
Wed Jan 8 19:08:03 PST 2003; root(rcbuilder):RELEASE_PPC/iokit/RELEASE
_cppInit done
IODeviceTreeSupport done
Recording startup extensions.
Copryright notice
using 3276 buffer headers and 3276 cluster IO buffer headers
we have cy2213
ATIRadeon8500: using AGP
ApplePlatformExpert::getGMTTimeOfDay can not provide time of day RTC did not show up
devfs enabled
IOKitBSDInit
From path: "/pci@f2000000/mac-io@17/ata-3@20000/disk@0:9,/mach_kernel", Waiting on <dict ID="0"...
Still waiting for root device
(and this last message repeats)
=================================================
I had to type these in on a different machine so please excuse the typos - I didn't put in the Copyright notice and I just noted the repeated messages.

Imac starts, then chime, then apple, gear and grey screen

Have an iMac running 10.4. Turn on, chimes, then I get the apple and rotating gear and then just a grey screen. I've booted into single user mode and didn't find any issues. Ran extended hardware diagnostics and they were all ok. Disk utility does not find any permission or problems on the disk.
Ideas?
Thanks,
Pam

Usually means a problem with system files. Reinstall OS X:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) 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. Now restart normally.
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. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

Kernel panics and grey screen on startup

Hello savvy bunch,
I recently acquired a wonderful little Core Solo mini. My plan was to
run it starting up from a 400GB hard drive in an external FW enclosure
that has another 200GB drive I was going to use for backups. Long
story short, the 400GB drive starting giving me weird Finder problems
and such. Booting from the internal HDD in the mini fixed everything.
Then it started having sudden kernel panics at random moments (I could
be writing an email, browsing on Safari, whatever), after which upon
restart I get an empty grey screen that lasted forever. I tried
several fixes, and the only one that worked was unplugging the FW
enclosure. I erased and fixed both external HDDs, and things calmed
down for a while, but I just had another kernel panic-grey screen
episode, which I solved turning off the FW enclosure.
I remember now that I had similar problems before with the same
enclosure/HDDs and my Quicksilver. Could the problem be the enclosure,
or the hard drives themselves?
TIA,

Oh, don't worry, I know and use all the right protocols for mounting and unmounting FW drives. They only get turned off AFTER they are dismounted. Of course now I realize that you wouldn't think so the way I described what I was doing. (That was some lazy writing, I guess.) I also have several external drives in use with several other computers. It's this particular enclosure that seems to be trouble.
As far as brands go, this is some kind of generic two-drive enclosure I got from OWC on a big sale a while back. I cannot find a brand name for the life of me (and I have looked all over it). I have not had a lot of luck with two-drive enclosures. This is my second (the first one was I think a Newertech or some other OWC brand, which died very quickly on me. The HDDs survived and are still in use.)
As for Lacies, Smokerz, you are completely right. My first FW enclosure ever was a Lacie, and it's still going strong. I have my eye on a Lacie 1TB enclosure that's in Newegg for $99...

Mac mini and grey screen at startup

ok, so last night we come home and my mom tries to turn on her mac mini, but it just freezes on the grey screen in the startup process. i tried booting from the disk but it didnt work (no the disk is stuck in the drive cuz i cant start up the computer to eject it) i tried booting into a version of osx on my external hd by holding down option at startup, but nothing showed up not even the internal hd. none of the startup commands work (firewire target,single user,safe mode, holding mouse to eject cd) none of those worked, any ideas?

First off, why can't you insert the original install
DVD that came with your mini?
The drive won't take the disk at all. I tried other disks as well, and it won't take any of them in either. The drive is pretty much non-responsive.
Secondly, if you leave the mini on the grey screen,
what happens? Does it keep going however long you
leave it, or does it show a flashing questions mark
after maybe 15 minutes?
It remains on the gray screen for however long I leave it on.
Thirdly, since the mini was running for a couple of
days after the 10.4.8 update, the problem seems
unlikely to have been caused by that. What were you
doing the last time the mini was in use? How did you
shut it down?
Browsing the web, email, and listening to music for the most part. I put it to sleep for the night, and then when I came back the next day to activate it, it froze on me. Pointer wouldn't move, it was locked up. First time that has ever happened to me. After that I ended up turning it off by holding the power button down for five seconds. When I turned it back on, I got the gray screen.
Fourthly, what model of mac mini is it?
It's the original basic model. 1.25 G4 processor, 40 GB hard drive, and 256 MB RAM.
Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Intermittent double beep and grey screen on startup

I just installed new third party RAM for my iMac (2008), because it was on sale. The initial RAM they sent me caused a kernel panic (forced shutdown) so I assumed they were faulty and sent them back. I just received my second set of RAM modules - which appear to work -- kind of. I have not had the kernel panic screen and no problems once the computer is booted, however about every second or third time I restart the computer I get the grey screen and a series of double beeps (which I have found out means incompatible RAM on startup testing). The hardware testing utility on my OSX Disc tests the RAM as being OK. I found a free app called rember which reports RAM errors. My question is: have I got a second set of faulty RAM - should I be looking at getting another brand (the one I have is "Add-On" and was specifically marketed as being for the aluminum intel based iMacs).
Thanks in advance,

Hi Machaon42
Welcome to Apple Discussions
That sounds like incorrect or incompatible RAM, double check the spec's of that RAM compared to either your User's Guide or > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1760
Then compare OWC's price, it is iMac tested and highly recommended by forum members.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/IntelCore_2_DuoPC2-6400
Dennis

What happens between the chime & the grey screen on boot?

Hi,
My Mac Pro has recently started taking up to 30secs to reach the grey screen when booting. The chime happens shortly after (re)starting, and then there's a significant pause, where nothing seems to happen (even the Apple Display stays in stand-by mode), before the HDD starts reading and the grey screen appears. I tried using Verbose mode, but the data it prints to screen doesn't start until after the long pause, so…
Anyone know what the Mac Pro could be doing? I've no other problems with the machine.
Thanks,
S.

Hi,
My issue has been solved, apparently by a combination of a PRAM reset and re-selecting the startup disk in System Preferences. My machine now moves from chime to Apple logo almost instantaneously
The AppleCare representative was thorough and walked me through various steps that narrowed down the issue, and his hesitant conclusion was that somehow, as hatter suggested, the Mac was taking its time to find the appropriate boot device - possibly as a result of a change I had made in my BootCamp partition (Windows 7) or as a result of a previous PRAM reset (as hatter suggested).
Case closed! Yay!
S.
EDIT: So, Japamac, it was presumably the "system selection" part of the post-Chime process that was causing the delay. Didn't see your post till I returned to respond with this post, but thanks for the effort anyway
Message was edited by: SiRGadaBout

All I get at startup is a grey screen

I Have a macbook pro and only get a grey screen at start up

Go step by step and test.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
Startup Manager to select Startup disk.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
Repair Disk Section: "Try Disk Utility".
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203176
Reinstall OS X.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18872

No Startup chime and grey screen only

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for