Powerbook will turn on but won't get past grey apple screen

My powerbook will turn on but it will never get to the operating system screen where you enter a password. I don't know what to do and sometimes it will get to the all blue screen but not past that... Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, is there anyway to get my files off of the laptop regardless? There are 3 weeks until my final exams and I have all my notes on my laptop. Any help is greatly appreciated.

If you can boot off the installation DVD, then your computer's fine, and there is something broken with the system software.
You could try re-installing Mac OS X (not a clean install, or an erase-and-install, but just an upgrade of the existing OS), but that may lead to having your apps broken, which may be more work for you.
Another thing to try is to hold the Shift key down whilst you are booting into the login screen. Doing this will disable the startup of some system extensions and daemons (StartupItems), which may get you going. However, if you can go to the login screen without too much trouble, try logging in with the Shift key down. That will stop Mac OS X from starting up items in your "Login Items" list in the Accounts system preferences.
This is the most useful tips I can offer short of re-installing Mac OS X on your computer.
Cheers!
--tonza

Similar Messages

Start Up won't get past grey Apple screen

Trying to start my computer for first time in 6 days. When turning on it gets to Grey Apple logo screen and then a bar appears underneath, the bar doesn't fill and then the computer powers down. Please help.

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.
Restart your computer when done.
If you make it to the desktop, repair permissions-http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751

MacBook Pro will turn on, but won't go past the gray screen.

Earlier today, my MacBook Pro took a small tumble to the ground. I did not shut off, but it was working a bit slower. I decided to do a restart on it and now it will turn on, I can hear the CD drive is still operational, but it gets to the gray screen with the Apple logo and the spinner at the bottom and sits there. Any suggestions or thoughts?

Use Target Disk Mode:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
You will need a Firewire cable.
Another option is to extract the HDD from the MBP, place in an enclosure and then connect it to the iMac.
Ciao.

Macbook won't get past grey apple screen

So my computer was being stupid so I had to manually shut it down. When I went to restart, it would never get past the grey screen with the apple logo. It didn't even get the spinning wheel thing. I don't have the discs for it, but I do have them for a white macbook (early 2008). I tried clearing the PRAM etc but to no avail, and instead of booting from the disc it seems to just do the exact same thing, only sometimes it turns off, back on, and does the same thing. When I started it holding cmd v it gave me stuff saying it couldn't find file (insert many file names here)
Help!

I went to the mac store and they told me it could be two things 1. need an archive update or 2. need a new hard drive. It ended up being the hard drive is shot. It seems many people are having this problem even though it hasn't been out for long, so if you are having trouble restarting it (error reading 0x7 or any error reading driver messages) you should take it to the mac store.

My iMac starts, but won't get past the loading screen?

My iMac starts up, but won't even get past the white screen with the Apple logo.
It kept giving me black screens, and would not start in safety mode. After command + option + p + r, the black screens stopped coming, but it still won't get past the loading screen, if I let it load long enough the Apple logo is replaced by a "denied" symbol but that is the only thing that happens. By hitting command + d, I was told nothing is wrong. When pressing command + r and going to disk utility, it found an issue while verifying and repairing. At first it stated "invalid journal" but now it only says to reinstall everything and that the problem couldn't be solved. I cannot mount the harddrive, and Time Machine just searches for copies without getting anywhere. When I try installing OS X (Mavericks) again, the harddrive doesn't even show up. What do I do?

The HD sounds like it has crashed, take it into your local Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), if you bought AppleCare this will be covered. If you don't have an Apple Store in your area and don't know of any AASPs then please click https://locate.apple.com/country to begin finding one.

G4 won't boot past grey apple screen

Hi. I have been having the same issues with my G4 15". I'm frustrated. The whole thing started with stalling during applications. So I decided to reinstall my OS X 10.5. After reinstall, I copied my saved files from my "My Book" drive back to my hard drive. Stalling issues returned. I reinstalled again. still had some stalling issues, so I performed disk utilities. I repaired permissions. SMART status is verified. System still ran extremely slow. So, I followed directions on apple support for resetting the PRAM and NVRAM. After I did this, the computer won't boot past the grey apple screen. I have reset the PRAM and the NVRAM again. Still nothing. I rebooted up from OS install disk. I performed disk utilities repairing permissions and repairing HD. I did this for both my drive and the computers drive. I choose restart and again the grey apple screen. I have been trying to get this thing going for a week now. I'm near tears. Cornelius or anyone, can you help me? It says no errors are found, SMART is verified. But I can't get the computer to boot unless it is from the CD. Is the computer confused on where to boot from? Or is it shot? HELP ME PLEASE, before I play frisbee with my dear beloved mac!!!! It seems like this ALL started happening after I installed the update 10.5.8. I had ZERO problem prior to any software updates!!!

There have been report of some external drives/enclosures that do not work as a boot device. Not sure if the MyBook is in that category or not, just make sure that there is nothing else plugged into the Powerbook then try again.
Does the WD need its own power to be plugged into an AC power source? Try the other firewire port
I have one more question for ya... You were able to load OSX on this EHD using the OSX install disk in the Powerbook? And the installer saw the EHD with no problems?
If non of the above works try booting while holding down the x-key, this should force it to look for an OSX volume, not sure if it works the same on an EHD but worth a shot.

Another G5 iMac won't boot past grey Apple screen!! HELP!!!

Last night I tried to put my iMac to sleep. it took about 3 times, and it finally went to sleep. Today I tried to wake it up but I got the little spinning disk, and it would not wake up. I could not restart it from the screen, so I pulled out the power cord as I have had to do a few times in the past with no problems. Today when I plugged it back in it got to the grey Apple screen, but no little progress circle. I waited & waited, nothing happened so I cycled power again. This time I got the progress timer circle, but again after about 20 minutes nothing happened. I then put the install disc in and booted from that. Tried verify disc, but it failed saying it could not un-mount the volume. Tried verifying permissions, but it seemed to get stuck with just a fraction left on the progress bar, so I quit & tried again (basically where I'm at now). I have also noticed that if I choose the "start up disc" (while running from the disc) the only thing that shows in a network icon. My HD does not show up as an option. For about the past 5 months I have noticed my HD has been a bit noisy. Kind of a whirling sound that seems to get louder then quiet down & repeat....not real loud, but loud enough so I have noticed it. I have been worried that something like this might happen.
update: while repairing permissions I just got a "Disc utility error" says Disc utility has lost it's connection with the disc management tool and cannot continue. Please quit and relaunch Disc Utility. This is the same message I got the last time I tried to run it. I also have an OSX Leopard install DVD...should I be starting from that disc, or the install disc that came with it? If I should be using the newer disc, how would I get the other disc out of the machine?
So....am I up the creek with out a paddle, or is there anything I could try?
any advise would be greatly appreciate as ALL my data is on my iMac and not this POS PC I have to use now.
Thanks,
Jeff

Using Target Disk Mode is an excellent, idea, you should be able to drag your data on to the new machine.
Let us know how you made out,

2007 MBP won't get past grey loading screen

I had been using my MBP running Snow Leopard to play movies and music through a TV/stereo and brought it with me when I moved to do the same, but now it won't start it. I kept it asleep as I brought it on the plane, then when I got to my new apartment, it was frozen. I shut it down, then tried to turn it back on but it get stuck in the grey loading screen with the Apple logo.
I've tried starting in safe mode (it will bring up the safe mode loading bar, then that disappears and it gets stuck on the normal gray loading screen).
I've also tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM.
Then, I tried to start it up from a friend's OS X install disk (but it came with his MacBook from the same era, so idk if it only works for MB and not MBP), but that doesn't work either (selected it as the startup disk by holding Option when booting up, then selecting it. It then goes to what it does normally except it will turn itself off instead of gettting stuck.)
I don't know what else to do. I'm assuming something is seriously broken. I'm hoping it might just need a reinstall or maybe a new hard drive, which I could do if it's not too expensive. Thanks for any help or ideas of what I could try next!

I tried this from another post:
Boot holding down Apple/S and don't let go until you see scrolling text.
When that stops and you see a root#: prompt enter
fsck -fy
Let it run through all the checks and repairs.
If it fails first time, at any time, or finds and fixes a fault - run the command again and keep doing so (some fixes can take several passes) until it says "Appears to be OK" then enter
But when "Checking catalog file" it says
disk0s2: I/O error.
Invalid node structure
(4, 3620)
The volume Internal could not be verified completely.
/dev/rdisk0s2 (hfs) EXITED WITH SIGNAL 8
Tried this again, but same thing over again a few times.
I'm now guessing my HD is dead.

MacBook Pro won't get past the apple screen on startup

The laptop won't startup. I get to the Apple logo and a spinning gear. I've tried starting it 3 times with the same result.

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
b. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
c. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use either of the techniques in Steps 1b and 1c to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 4
If you use a wireless keyboard, trackpad, or mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. The battery level shown in the Bluetooth menu item may not be accurate.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 6
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
Step 7
If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 10. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
If you can start and log in in safe mode, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the startup process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 8
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select the startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then restart as usual.
Step 9
Reinstall the OS. If the Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 10
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 11
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 12
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

Startup problem - won't get past grey apple

I have a G5 2.3DP here that refuses to startup. You get a startup chime, then the dark grey apple on light grey background and nothing more - no indeterminate progress indicator (spinning wheel) or anything. This is true for trying to start it from the internal drive, install DVD or even external FW drives so implies a hardware problem.
It will start up into the Hardware Test on the original install DVD, but running the test (even on extended) reveals no problems.
I have also changed the PRAM battery just in case.
Also, starting in verbose mode reveals it doesn't get past 'DART Enabled', whereas another G5 starting in verbose mode goes on to deal with the firewire ports. And was is DART anyway?
Any thoughts/suggestions most welcome
Message was edited by: chiff

severe damage to the directory, can cause and prevent booting from any drive or device until you unplug the drive.
put it in a fw case and don't turn on until the system is up, then run Disk Warrior or TTPro or Drive Genius 2.
hum... no idea what DART is about though. but have seen corrupt directory block booting. Worse, if the journal is damaged and need to disable it first and then reenable, but boot from another drive first to do so.

MacBook Pro won't get past grey startup screen

I have a late 2011 15 inch MacBook Pro running Mavericks. Around a month ago, maybe more, it began to sometimes completely freeze or just turn off while Inwas using it. Sometimes it would start up again, sometimes it wouldn't and would beep three times. Eventually it wouldn't start up at all and would just beep. I started it up in recovery (holding command +R) and ran a disk repair, it said the disk couldn't be repaired. I had it backed up on Time Machine so I replaced the HD and restored from Time Machine. It was fine for a couple days after that, then the old symptoms returned. I took the RAM out and replaced them with some RAM of the same size (2 chips, 2GB each) taken out of a Windows laptop that I had. Again, it was fine for a few days then started turning off and beeping. Then it would turn on but not boot up, i.e. get stuck on the grey screen with the spinning circle. I tried booting in recovery, booting into safe mode, holding option and choosing a disk; in all cases it would just stay stuck on grey screen with the spinning thing. I tried PRAM and SMC reset, no result. At one point, it got through boot up in safe mode but took like an hour to do so. I restarted from safe mode and it took another hour and booted up normally. Then it turned off again and wouldn't turn back on. I opened it up, reseated the RAM and cleaned he fans, which were filled with dust and build up. It turned on and ran normally for a couple days in which I wasn't doing much on it, just watching stuff on VLC or reading, so not really using it and clicking and stuff. Next day, I open it (from sleep, it hasn't been shut down at all since I got it to run again), and try to open Firefox and actually work; it keeps freezing and being incredibly slow, to the point where it was totally frozen and I couldn't force quit or anything. So I held the power key to shut it down; since then it's back to not getting past the grey screen, even when I leave it for over an hour. No idea what to do, anyone have an idea? Thanks in advance.

You have to use Mac specific RAM chips.
You have to buy new RAM modules, I guess.
If you have extended AppleCare, contact Apple.
Best.

My iMac won't get past little apple screen icon

When I turn on iMac, it never goes past the white apple screen and the little wheel just turns and turns for hours if I let it. I turn it off, unplug it, turn it back on...but nothing! Any ideas?
Thanks

Have you tried booting from your install disc? You should also have a disc with Apple Hardware Test on it, try and see if you can start up from that and run the test.
It would be helpful to know which model you have (how to identify your iMac).
Also, see if anything here helps: won't complete startup.

Mac starts up but won't get past the blue screen and the rainbow wheel

I had this problem before a couple of years ago. The hard drive had to be replaced. Now I'm just trying to start it up so I can back up data. I reinstalled OS 10.4 last week, it started OK a couple of times. Now it won't go to the log-in screen again.
I know I can reinstall OS 10 again but isn't there a command key I can hold down while it's starting up that will let me log in?
Also it makes that long BEEP sound when I start it up. What does that mean?
Finally, I do not have an emergency troubleshooting guide. I don't think I ever had one. Can I download a .pdf of that somewhere?

Hi spiffyhere, and a warm welcome to the forums!
I know I can reinstall OS 10 again but isn't there a command key I can hold down while it's starting up that will let me log in?
Possibly...
Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.
Option key on bootup will show which devices you can boot from.
Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...
/sbin/fsck -fy
Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.
(Space between fsck AND -fy important).
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Also it makes that long BEEP sound when I start it up. What does that mean?
Bad sign, and likely the source of the problem...
How many beeps?
Beep_Codes">https://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/wiki/LIS/AppleComputer_BeepCodes
The Beeps may be a Hardware problem, see if this helps...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

Safe Boot OK -- but can't get past grey/blue screen

Hello,
Macbook Pro - early 2010. HAs been working flawlessly but today, screen turned "static" and then on re-start Macbook hangs on a gray or blue screen after the spinning startup wheel. I can boot int safe mode fine. I get the same results trying to boot from two different external bootable backups (hangs at blue screen in full mode - boots fine in safe mode).
Have tried: SMC reset, NVRAM reset, permission repair, disk repair (via disk utility in safe mode). No joy. I have a commercial version of Snow Leopard which lets me perform a hardware test on the Macbook: "no apparent hardware problems found".
Unfortunately, I cannot locate the original OS disks, so I have not been able to test whether it would boot from those.
Any suggestions as to what I could try next? I could do an erase and re-install from one of the backup disks (but not the original system disk). Is that likely to succeed if those backups don't work externally?
Any help appreciated!

Clinton,
you say:
"You can call Apple and, with your serial number handy, order a set of the machine-specific discs that shipped with your model. Cost is about $20 + shipping & taxes."
Do you know a phone number for this? I have called Apple tech support and the first tech claimed that Apple does not sell disks - his supervisor told me that he will sell me a disk but I have to pay $150 charge for consierge service first becasue the Macbook is out of warranty! Seems ridiculous to pay $170+ for a disk when I don;t even know it will solve my problem!
Is there any other way to get my hands on a disk?

MacBook Pro OsX won't get past loading apple screen?

I have tried all the steps besides reinstalling. This is what I think may be the problem at startup:
It says "Bug: launchctl.c3817....." and about 30 lines of similar code then it gets to "bootcachecontrol: could not unlink playlist..." and "launchctl: please convert the following to launched: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist" then it goes "launch_msg(): socket is not connected" followed by "bootcachecontrol: could not create temporary playlist file: invalid argument" and finally it says "bootcachecontrol: could not write playlist." that is where it stops loading during the start up. Any ideas of what to do?
Thanks!

I have tried all the steps besides reinstalling. This is what I think may be the problem at startup:
It says "Bug: launchctl.c3817....." and about 30 lines of similar code then it gets to "bootcachecontrol: could not unlink playlist..." and "launchctl: please convert the following to launched: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist" then it goes "launch_msg(): socket is not connected" followed by "bootcachecontrol: could not create temporary playlist file: invalid argument" and finally it says "bootcachecontrol: could not write playlist." that is where it stops loading during the start up. Any ideas of what to do?
Thanks!

Powerbook will turn on but won't get past grey apple screen

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