Powerbook won't start up past grey screen

PB G4 17inch
10.4
Did a software update and now powerbook won't restart.
Stops at grey screen with Apple on it (no spinning icon underneath)
Here's what I've tried :
Inserted Tiger upgrade DVD
Started up holding down option
Both DVD and Hard Drive show up - I selected DVD and finished starting up
I ran Disk Utility / Repair Disk
At first it found a problem with a Cache count (didn't get the exact message)
It continued and fixed the problem
I repaired permissions
Tried restarting - stopped at same point
I ran the installer and reinstalled the OS
Still wouldn't start and stopped at same point
I have repeated the Disk Utility process several times - it obviously sees the hard drive, but won't start up from it...
Any ideas ?

I would not trash anything. Instead I would backup everything you can see to another hard disk. Once you have done that, let us know, and we can proceed with better troubleshooting methods. Some methods may be risky with data, but if successful then you won't have to recover anything.
It is important to always remember to backup your data:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
Disclaimer: Reference to links I make to my Macmaps.com website are a for your information only type reference. I do not get any profit from this page, and it is open to the public.

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Attn: macbook pro won't start up past grey screen NO MATTER WHAT

my macbook pro won't start up past the grey screen, NO MATTER WHAT I DO. i've searched all the discussions on this, and NOTHING WORKS. nothing caused this either - i was just browing the internet and using ichat, and my computer shut down, and that is when this started.
I am EXTREMELY disappointed with this bullstein. My computer works great, etc., and I support mac and apple to the nth degree, but then some stupid crap like this happens and I can't use my computer at all. I have to use my sister's **** ibook g3 to even do this.
PLEASE HELP. do NOT post what you have already posted in the other discussions, and i've already been welcomed to the boards. I can't go to an apple store because i'm on vacation in new mexico for the summer, and there no stores anywhere near here. is there any real advice around here? I need to use my computer. That is why I spent close to $4,000 for it with upgrades and software.

where can i get an install disc for the macbook pro?
You really need to use the one that came with your MBP. If you don't have it, a retail Tiger OS X disc should work.
also, could an archive/install potentially free up some harddrive space on my computer?
No, it will actually use more space, so you will need at least 6G of free space. To clean your hard drive, use WhatSize.
WhatSize >>
-Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
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Powerbook G4 won't start up past grey screen

Hello. I'm a little worried about my mac.
It doesn't start up past the grey apple screen. I hear the start up sound, and I hear the hard disk start spinning, but after a while the only thing I hear is the fans. The longest I've let it try was about an hour, and still nothing. I've tried resetting the PRAM and resetting the PMU. I don't have the OS 10.5 install disc with me at the moment, so I can't use that.
Some events that may have led up to the problem:
I installed the latest software update last night. Installation was sucessful, and I restarted. Everything was fine on restart, so I put the computer to sleep for the night. Today when I woke it up, one of the toolbars in the Finder was open (probably not a problem, but unusual). Everything seemed fine and then I opened Text Edit. It was bouncing in the dock for about a minute, so I tried to force quit, and after a while it eventually stopped bouncing. Then I tried a restart, and I got a message saying it was unsuccessful because Text Edit failed to quit, but there was no marker under it in the dock. Tried again, and I ended up having to do a ctrl-command-power. After that, I haven't been able to get past the grey start up screen.
PLEASE HELP Thanks!

If that's the case, then what I would do next is to use TDM to clone the contents of your problem drive onto an external FireWire drive using either SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner to make sure you have a backup of everything. Once done make sure you test the backup by restarting from the external drive.
Next thing I would do is run DiskWarrior (sometimes it can be a directory issue that might be causing problems) to check that everything is still OK on the drive. It might be worth running DW on the external backup whilst you are at it. If DW finds nothing wrong then I would consider reformatting the drive and installing a fresh copy of OS X onto it to test if everything works fine. On the other hand if DW finds problems, it might be able to fix them so that you can restart properly.
If after all that everything works then you can try cloning everything back from the external drive onto the PowerBook's internal drive.

MacBook pro won't start up past grey screen

Ive tried a PRAM reset four or five times- nothing. Won't boot into safe moDe. Tried the command line with fsck-fy and it says there is no problems with my had drive but still won't load up.
it shows the grey screen with a clear spinning cog, then a blue screen, then the grey screen again, then blue, then grey before it goes to blue and stays there. I can move the cursor
any help would be appreciated. I can't get a Genius Bar appointment for a week :/

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

MacBook Pro won't boot up past grey screen! Help!

Long story short, my Mac was working fine yesterday and then it froze. I held down the power button and didn't think twice about it. Now it won't start up past the grey screen. Actually, I just recently held down the "d" key before it started up and now I'm at Apple Hardware Test but I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do. My hardware is testing for something. Does anybody have any troubleshooting things I could try to help make it come back? I am very depressed it's not working. I tried calling Apple Support but the guy only sent me an e-mail telling me how to fix it.

AHT test can take up to 4 hours...
Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test
You can also try Disk Utility (fsck)
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Mac won't start...grey screen with timeout on 0xfd

My iMac is pretty new, a couple of months old...
I just started it up when I got home and I get a grey screen with something saying "Found a transaction past the completion deadline on bus 0xfrd, timing out! (Addr: 3 EP: 2)". I have no idea what any of this means, at the top theres some sort of 0xfrd code. Also "Process 1 of exec of sbin/launched failed errno 8.." I don't get it as i'm no computer expert...can someone please help? I have no idea whats going on...if it helps I have got an audio interface plugged in via usb, and a usb synth, but thats it, and it's been fine...until now - but I have noticed it slowing down slightly over the last few days....
I need my mac for tomorrow...
Thanks again,
Harry

I tried this but it didn't work. I think it is my keyboard because even when I turn the computer on the green led on the caps lock button doesn't light up. I even tried a regular USB keyboard and I had the same result.
I guess I will have to find my leopard CD.
Is it possible to just restore system settings from the leopard cd so that I don't lose all my data?

Mac mini won't start up. Grey screen with apple just freezes.

Mac mini won't start up. just get a grey screen with the apple and it freezes. Please help.

Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)
If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.
If 10.7.0 or later...
Bootup holding CMD+r, or the Option/alt key to boot from the Restore partitirion & use Disk Utility from there to Repair the Disk, then Repair Permissions.

My hard drive crashed. Replaced my hard drive. Installed Yosemite. Restored from Time Machine most recent backup before hard drive crash. Now laptop won't start up. Grey screen with circle and slash through it.

How to start up laptop from grey screen with circle and slash through it?

After you installed Yosemite and prior to restoring from the backup, were you able to start the Mac?

Macbook won't start up, white/grey screen appears folder and question mark.

My macbook was freezing up, so i pressed the power button to shut it down and it won't restart. It just goes to the blank white/grey screen and a picture of a folder with a question mark on it shows up. What should I do?

I am going to try and explain this.
When you purchase a Mac, that machine comes with a license to run the current Mac OS at the time of purchase. The license resides with the computer, not with the installation media. Therefore, if I purchased 3 iMacs, at the exact same time, and they were the same model, I could use the install media from one on any of the other machines (and don't tell me it won't work, because I have done it before). This does not violate the EULA. Do you really think that a company that purchases hundreds or even thousands of computers would keep the install media for each one? The media is not tied to the computer; it's the license for OS X that is bound to the computer. Consider when you purchase a family pack of Mac OS X, you don't get 5 discs, you get 5 licenses, and one disc.
What the EULA is stating, is that you cannot have one license running or installed on two computers. It does not say that you cannot use the same install media on different computers (assuming you have the proper number of licenses). You are also wrong in saying that you can uninstall Mac OS X from one Mac, and then use its restore discs on another computer legally. That is only legal for "Retail" copies of OS X. I believe the restore discs are the equivalent to an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer in the PC world of computing) version of OS X. I am almost positive they are non transferable.

MacBook won't start - gets to grey screen with clicking noise.

I think I know the answer to this one - my hard drive is fried. But before I head to the Apple Store I'd thought I'd see if anyone else had any ideas of what I can try.
I was happily surfing the web when my computer froze. I could move the mouse cursor, but everything else was unresponsive. Opt-Cmd-Esc would not work, so I had to force a restart with the power button.
The computer restarted, I got the Apple chime, but then all I could hear was a clicking. I've tried restarting several times, but to no avail.
I've also tried:
Attempting to boot into a BootCamp partition.
PRAM reset.
Boot into safe mode.
Boot from my Leopard disk (spins up, but then ejects).
Boot from my original MacBook disk (spins up, but then ejects).
Boot into target mode.
The best I've got is a flashing folder with a question mark, mostly I'm just getting a grey screen.
Can anyone else offer any ideas to try?
And, assuming I have to return it (it's under a year old), what is the story? Do I just get a replacement, or is it sent off for repair? Do I need my receipt, or can they verify ownership from my credit card/serial number? Do I need a Genius Bar appointment, or do I just show up?
Sorry for all these questions, this is the first real problem I've had with a Mac and it's come at exactly the time I need to have a laptop!

That happened to my macbook too!!!!
I emptyed my trash can, it had over 1000 items there and it took a really long time to erase all of them. Eventually it was done. I turned it off, went to bed, next morning, my reliable Macbook would not start! Grey screen, apple logo, a spinning wheel. i can hear some clicking mechanical sound.
I loaded my installation cd, pressed C key while starting. It did loaded the cd, followed the screen of installation... It failed the first time, aborted half way. I had to do it again. Second time, it did go through without issue. But now, it always takes WAY long to boot, the system is very slow, very unresponsive, I am very scared to shut down the system, i dont know if next time it will reboot again.
My macbook has been very stable and reliable, compared to my PC and Dell notebooks. It is only 1.5 year old, It is not under warranty anymore. I guess it is hard disk problem most likely. There is not even one Apple Store in Idaho. Should I go out of state to fix it? how much will it cost? I have been a long time PC user and i can fix it myself if it were a PC, I love apple but really have no idea when it has problems.

NOT POSSIBLE TO START UP PAST GREY SCREEN, WOULD A NEW HARD DRIVE HELP

I have attempted all the different ways to startup past the grey screen but with no success, would a new hard drive rectify this problem?

What model MacBook do you have? What operating system is installed on it? Specifically, what things have you tried so far?
While installing a new hard drive would very likely fix this, it is probably overkill. It may be that all you need to do is reinstall the operating system.
Do you have an install DVD that came with the computer?
Best of luck.

Macbook Pro won't start up past blue screen

I'm running OS X 10.5.7 on my MBP, along with a boot camp partition. My superdrive has been playing up for the past few months, and upon learning that the 2.1 firmware update could be responsible, I obtained the update and attempted to re-flash the firmware myself. To do this I had to edit a system file and spoof my version number to 10.4.9; I couldn't flash the drive otherwise.
I used textwrangler to edit the file /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist - I had to unlock the file to do this. I saved it, used the flashing utility and rebooted as instructed, and then encountered the issue. The screen turns from grey to blue, and the "loading" indicator appears briefly before disappearing again - this happens repeatedly until I power my computer off.
I started up in single-user mode and performed a fsck - this repaired some filesystem issues I wasn't aware I had, but did nothing to fix the problem. Running in single user mode, however, did reveal that the loginwindow.app was crashing repeatedly, and crash reports were being saved in a log directory.
Attempting to start in safe mode results in it sitting on the loading indicator at the grey Apple logo screen for upwards of twenty minutes with no results (save my computer getting increasingly warm).
I've long since mislaid the discs bundled with my MBP as well as my Leopard disc.
Windows XP still boots with no problems.
What exactly is the cause of this issue? I wouldn't have thought the file I edited and not being able to get past this blue screen were connected. Is there any way I can restore it?
I also have a Macbook at my disposal - are there any feasible solutions which would involve booting another machine in target disk mode?
Message was edited by: fnool
Message was edited by: fnool

Is there any way I can restore it?
Did you make a backup of the file? Always a wise thing to do when messing with system files.
Not sure if pico works in SUM but it would be worth a try to edit the file again to revert it to its proper version. If that fails, you will need to get your Leopard disc for an Archive and Install. Might be able to get a replacement one from Applecare at little cost.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
Edit:
Just saw you have another Macbook available. If both machines were running same OS you might be able to copy the file from one computer to the other. I would do this as root though then run a Permissions Repair in Disk Utility afterward
Message was edited by: theonlydean

My iMac won't boot past grey screen and it didn't come with a os x disk

My iMac won't boot past grey screen with apple. I've tried booting in safemode but that didn't help and my iMac didn't come with a os x disk.

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.

My macbook 2007 won't start up past the logo screen.

My macbook 2007 won't start up past the logo screen. I've tried to boot the computer off the install dvd that came with it but it comes up with a box saying that Mac OS X can't be installed on this computer. It has a yellow triangle over a hard drive in the box. What do I do?

You need to start the MacBook with the original DVD that shipped with the MacBook. then run disk utility on your hard drive to repair it, also repair your permissions.

My computer won't start up past the gray screen

My computer won't start up past the gray screen and then shows up with the forbidden sign where the apple logo should be. I have tried booting in safe mode and PRAM and neither works. Any suggestions on what I should do next? Or any idease of what might be wrong?

I had the same problem, I believe it is called a kernal panic. They had to replace my hard drive. I did have apple care or it would have cost $450. The guy at the genius bar did some tests to see if he could fix it, he couldn't, so I had to have the hard drive replaced.

Powerbook won't start up past grey screen

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