Start up problems - blue screen

Hi there,
Our iMac is not starting up properly. It just stays on a blank blue screen. When I try to start it in Safe Mode it turns itself off. We don't have the start up disk anymore. I am not sure what to do next. I don't remember what OS it uses.
Any helpful advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

You will need to either find your original install disc or contact Apple and they will sell you a replacement for a nominal charge. It has Apple Hardware Test on it and that is the only way to get it. Otherwise you will need:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1411
Good luck,
Roger

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Start UP problems, blue screen, Imac (intel) 1.83 17"

I posted this Saturday in a different area. So forgive me if I did this incorrectly.
Imac DuoCore 1.83 (originall with 10.4 Tiger)
Upgraded to Leopard several months ago without problems.
Have the lastest updates.
Two days ago the following started:
1. Starts up-no chime
2. Apple logo is seen (grey)
3. light blue screen with progress wheel-not the pinwheel)
4. screen dims a bit, progress wheel dissappears then comes back and it does
the same thing.
I ran the Disk First Aide from the CD, performed verify and repair disc.
Came back with repaired completed. Everything seemed ok.
Restarted...but the problem persisted.
Next I reset the PRAM...
Chime came back on start up.
Ran the CD a few again. Said it was all ok.
Restarted....and back to blue
I ran hardware test from the original CD
all came back fine. Two items were repaired.
Restarted and back to the blue screen.
Tried Single user interface and ran /sbin/fsck -fy
Again 2 items were found and repaired.
Restarted.
Hardware and software seems to be fine acccording to this.
SO it seems it's the PRAM battery. I think. ANy other ideaS???
ALSO...this machine is out of warranty. Not afraid of cracking it open.
But, where is the praam batter located? Like to know what the part number is to have it on hand when I open it.
Any help appreciated.
RLM

I opened up my iMac and replaced the PRAM battery. No change.
I then took out the Hard drive and placed it in my G5 destop.
When i restarted it I could see the hardrive and it's contents. Both HD have
10.5.7 installed so I thought I could restart with the Imac HD
and then back it up. But it wouldn't start up and jumped to the
G5's HD. My question is:
1. Is the reason it would not recognize the iMac HD as a start up disk because
it's from a duo core intel mac?
2.Is it because the iMacs HD has some problems in booting up?
(as I wrote before I have run every test available with positive results
yet continue getting the blue screen)
And since I can read and see the imac drive in my G5, how can I back it up short of dragging everything to a new drive since I can't log into the individual users. Of primary importance are the pictures in iphoto in different user accounts.
Thanks for any help
Richard
Message was edited by: Richard Mora

HP Pavilion Entertainment won't start just shows blue screen

HP Pavilion Entertainment won't start just shows blue screen. Sometimes says missing operating system after changing boot order. I have seen error message 303. This happened after I couldn't stop coolncheap popups so I saved everything to another computer and did a complete restore. When I was in the process of getting it back to working order I allowed updates recommended and optional and then everything started.

Also pressing F11 won't take me to recovery

White Macbook has delayed start with a blue screen and will not wake when it goes to sleep

I have a late 2006 MacBook that I recently bought used. When I got it I was experiencing very long boot times. It would have the apple logo then go into a blue screen for about 5 minutes before loading to the OS. Nothing I did fixed the issue. I was told it was not a hdd or ram issue, but maybe a logic board issue. I then purchased a new hdd since that was the concensus online. After installing it I got the it to load right away when it booted from the install disc. However, after the OS was installed, it gave me the same problem. Also, when trying to update to Lion it would freeze on the apple logo with the spinning dots. I did not try to install Lion on the new hdd as I wanted to use the machine and it was working with minor inconviences. I then read about resetting the system by taking off battery, holding power for ten seconds, then replacing battery and restarting. This actually fixed the problem. I was able to install Lion and everything was working perfectly. I then replaced the topcase becuase the one on the computer was scratched and dirty. After I did that I was unable to load anything. It would not go into lion or anything else. I fiddled with the command lines and nothing. I had someone else who spoke unix fiddle with it and I was finally able to get it to boot from the install disc. After doing a clean install, from erasing and creating a new partition, I am back to square one with a long boot time and not waking from sleep. This time the battery trick is not working. I have done the PRAM reset and disc repair and permission repair. All to no avail. I know that it has the capacity to work because it did. Please help me, I really want this to work. Thanks.

It seems thst the MBP is not recognizing the internal HDD. Look at this link and probably the section 'Start from your Mac OS X Install disc; use Disk Utility' will be applicable:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
Ciao.

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

OS X 10.4.5 starts up to blue screen...and nothing more

I was in process of copying files from a 3rd Gen iPod when the iPod battery died--stalling the file copy. I attempted a force-quit on the Finder, which began causing issues. After attempting to reboot using the Apple menu, I rebooted by holding down the power button and restarting and now OS X 10.4.5 starts up to a blue screen with the pointer in the top left corner.
Any help would be great--this is just day 2 of the new computer.
Mac Book Pro Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Hi, j. Welcome to the Discussions.
A blue screen at startup generally indicates a damaged or incompatible Startup or Login Item. However, the hard restart you describe may have caused other issues.
1. I suggest you begin troubleshooting using the process specified in my "Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption" FAQ. Perform the steps therein in the order specified.
2. If that does not resolve the issue, see my "Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items" FAQ for steps that might help you with this problem.
3. If Finder continues to be problematic after the above, See my "Finder Issues? How to delete its preferences" FAQ.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Start-up and blue screen after boot

Hello members
Would someone of you be able to help me with the above problem.
I have copied/pasted from the console some of the potential problems with the start-up below.
The desktop seems to take quite long to load with a couple of changes in the blue screen colour first befor the desktop is loaded and my second screen takes longer then it used to.
Thanks
22/11/08 8:04:47 AM com.apple.coreservicesd[59] NOTE: Using non-mach-based version of client -> server communication, via direct function calls. 22/11/08 9:00:48 AM Terminal[159] .sdef error: Operation could not be completed. (NSXMLParserErrorDomain error 1549.)
22/11/08 8:55:27 AM com.apple.coreservicesd[62] NOTE: Using non-mach-based version of client -> server communication, via direct function calls.
22/11/08 11:39:50 AM com.apple.FolderActions.enabled[115] launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.FolderActions.folders
22/11/08 11:39:51 AM com.apple.coreservicesd[65]
NOTE: Using non-mach-based version of client -> server communication, via direct function calls.
null

Hi CPfreak
thanks for your reply!
Here the result.
IPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleICH8AHCI/PRT0@0/IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlo ckStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDriver/Hitachi HTS542525K9SA00 Media/IOGUIDPartitionScheme/Customer@2
BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2
AppleUSBMultitouchDriver: starting
Jettisoning kernel linker.
Resetting IOCatalogue.
GFX0: family specific matching fails
Matching service count = 1
Matching service count = 2
Matching service count = 2
Matching service count = 2
Matching service count = 2
Matching service count = 2
Previous Shutdown Cause: 5
E:[AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController][StartInterruptPipeRead] there is alredy a pending read, skipping.
BTCOEXIST on
wl0: Broadcom BCM4328 802.11 Wireless Controller
4.170.46.9NVDANV50HAL loaded and registered.
GFX0: family specific matching fails
GFX0: family specific matching fails
GFX0: family specific matching fails
vmmon: Loaded @ 0x68a4f152: Info 0x68a5dda0 Name com.vmware.kext.vmx86 Version 2.0.0 build-116369 at Sep 10 2008 18:47:35
vmmon: Service start
vmmon: Instrumenting bug 151304 without page information...
vmmon: Initial HV check: anyNotCapable=0 anyUnlocked=0 anyEnabled=1 anyDisabled=0
vmmon: HV check: anyNotCapable=0 anyUnlocked=0 anyEnabled=1 anyDisabled=0
vmmon: Cycles 0x00000000000000C8
vmmon: Fast clock thread started.
vmmon: Module initialized.
vmmon: Registering for power state changes
yukon: Ethernet address 00:1f:f3:5a:e4:39
AirPort_Brcm43xx: Ethernet address 00:1f:5b:c6:88:bb
vmci: Loaded @ 0x54ce3152: Info 0x54cec1e0 Name com.vmware.kext.vmci Version 2.0.0 build-116369 at Sep 10 2008 18:47:35
vmci: Initializing module.
vmci: VMCI: Driver initialized.
vmci: Module initialized.
vmioplug: Loaded @ 0x54cf2152: Info 0x54cf5d60 Name com.vmware.kext.vmioplug Version 2.0.0 build-116369 at Sep 10 2008 18:47:37
vmnet: Loaded @ 0x5b762152: Info 0x5b769020 Name com.vmware.kext.vmnet Version 2.0.0 build-116369 at Sep 10 2008 18:47:37
vmnet: Initializing module.
vmnet: VMNet_Start allocated gOSMallocTag
vmnet: Module initialized.
vmnet: VNetUserIf_Create: created userIf at 0x74c2300.
vmnet: VMNetConnect: returning port 0x74c2300
vmnet: Hub 8 does not exist, allocating memory.
vmnet: Allocated hub 0x743a000 for hubNum 8.
vmnet: VMNETSOBINDTOHUB: port: paddr 00:50:56:f3:6f:0a
vmnet: Hub 8
vmnet: Port 0
vmnet: VNetUserIf_Create: created userIf at 0x74c2000.
vmnet: VMNetConnect: returning port 0x74c2000
vmnet: VMNETSOBINDTOHUB: port: paddr 00:50:56:f3:92:ff
vmnet: Hub 8
vmnet: Port 0
vmnet: Port 1
vmnet: VNetUserIf_Create: created userIf at 0x758fe00.
vmnet: VMNetConnect: returning port 0x758fe00
vmnet: VMNETSOBINDTOHUB: port: paddr 00:50:56:fb:e3:99
vmnet: Hub 8
vmnet: Port 0
vmnet: Port 1
vmnet: Port 2
vmnet: VNetUserIfFree: freeing userIf at 0x758fe00.
vmnet: netif-vmnet8: Adding protocol 2.
vmnet: VNetUserIf_Create: created userIf at 0x758fc00.
vmnet: VMNetConnect: returning port 0x758fc00
vmnet: Hub 1 does not exist, allocating memory.
vmnet: Allocated hub 0x74a4800 for hubNum 1.
vmnet: VMNETSOBINDTOHUB: port: paddr 00:50:56:f2:21:7b
vmnet: Hub 1
vmnet: Port 0
vmnet: VNetUserIfFree: freeing userIf at 0x758fc00.
vmnet: netif-vmnet1: Adding protocol 2.
vmnet: VNetUserIf_Create: created userIf at 0x758f800.
vmnet: VMNetConnect: returning port 0x758f800
vmnet: VMNETSOBINDTOHUB: port: paddr 00:50:56:fb:e8:2f
vmnet: Hub 1
vmnet: Port 0
vmnet: Port 1
AppleYukon2: 00000000,00000000 sk98osx_dnet - recovering from missed interrupt
AppleYukon2: 00000000,00000000 sk98osx_dnet - recovering from missed interrupt
MAC AUTH succeeded
AirPort: Link Up on en1
vmnet: VNetUserIf_Create: created userIf at 0x75ff300.
vmnet: VMNetConnect: returning port 0x75ff300
vmnet: Hub 0 does not exist, allocating memory.
vmnet: Allocated hub 0x760c800 for hubNum 0.
vmnet: VMNETSOBINDTOHUB: port: paddr 00:50:56:fc:45:70
vmnet: Hub 0
vmnet: Port 0
vmnet: bridge-en1: got dev 0x749be04
vmnet: bridge-en1: wireless interface detected.
vmnet: bridge-en1: up
vmnet: bridge-en1: attached
vmnet: VNetUserIfFree: freeing userIf at 0x75ff300.
AppleYukon2: 00000000,00000000 sk98osx_dnet - recovering from missed interrupt

Start up problems and screen shake

Dear all
I have started experiencing problems when I start up my iMac. Prior to the Blue Apple Screen appearing on startup I get a fuzzy grey screen with thin lines moving up and down the screen. This lasts for about 5 seconds then clears when the Blue Apple screen comes on. It never used to do this.
Once I am logged in my screen tends to have a series of small dots (like pixels) forming short lines across the screen. These change each time I log on.
Also, when this has happened the whole screen goes 'fuzzy' for a few seconds before clearing again. This can re-occur at any moment.
This problem does not always happen but maybe three out of four start ups. If the problem at start up does not occur then I do not experience the fuzzy screen.
Any ideas? I am very concerned that something critical is up.
I have done the most recent updates.
ps I am not a computer whiz!
Regards
Adam

Hi Adam,
This is exactly what is happening to my iMac which will be repaired this week. It is critical but it is due to a known fault on some of the iMacs.
Go to http://www.apple.com/support/imac/repairextensionprogram/
Even if your iMac is out of the 1 year warrenty it will be covered for this.
bw's
Anne

Computer will not start up, get blue screen only

When I try to boot from a newly cloned and installed hard drive on my PowerBook, I only get a blue screen with progress wheel. I read in one of the forums that this may be caused by an incompatible Startup Item. There is one Startup Item listed that I am not sure about called "System Events." Is this necessary and can it be deleted? It is found in /system/library/core services/system events. Another is Iomega Driver, buried deep the system library. These items do not appear in the list on my G4 FW800. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Am using the latest version 3.1. Am really concerned as to the Startup Item "System Events." What is it, what does it do, is it a necessary Startup Item and can it be deleted from the list?
If all else fails, I will zero out the drive and try to re-clone. However, I just went through this on a WD 250GB drive and had nothing but problems. The clone went well, but after 2 weeks of running, folder icons started to disappear and finally the drive would not re-boot. Got many Kernel Panics. Testing the drive, I got and error message saying that the drive had "Invalid Key Lengths", "Volume Check Failed" and "The underlying task reported failed on exit." Don't have a clue as to what this means.
For this latest problem, I am using a Seagate 160GB ATA drive, purchased new.

Iphone 5s problem, blue screen of death

So recently my phone started to show visible vertical lines from the bottom of the screen, blue screen of death, white flickering ring around the edges and it freezes and goes through this loop of rebooting. At first I thought it was a bug so I got the phone to update 8.1 but the problem seemed to have gotten worse from then on. I did a factory reset sso there's no apps or anything on my phone. Does anyone know any at-homes because my AppleCare warranty just espired.

Hi,
1) Background Information
I am advising based on my similar experiences. I have the same problem and coupled with blue, red screens for the past days. And still trying to find a permanent solution to it. But at least i found a way to "wake" my phone up when it goes into "hibernation" mode! This reply is going to be long, my apology in advance.
2) My method to wake the phone up:
* take out the SIM card;
* leave it a side for about 10mins;
* plug the phone to charge;
* hold down the Power button till you see the apple logo, and leave it to re-start.
PS: if you don't see the apple logo, leave the phone again for another 5-10mins and try all the above again.
I hope someone has a better and quicker way to do it.
3) The methods i have tried so far to solve this problem:
a) Phone reset by holding the Home and Power buttons: It didn't work.
b) Tried "Recovery Mode"; to restore to factory settings and then restore iPhone with my latest backup: It didn't work.
c) Now, trying the DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. I hope this will work for me permanently.
4) Findings from the WEB:
a) Apparently, quite a substantial number of users facing similar problem. (Apple is still observing...no action. )
b) Some suggested that it may due to certain apps affecting this random iPhone re-boot issue or and it has a popular term in the web, "Blue Screen Of Death". Therefore try to remember what was the app you last used before it goes into reboot loop.
c) Some also suggested to remove/deactivate/bypass the auto lock screen function, and also to remove the iCloud syncing,.
Good luck!

Start-up problems, black screen or open firmware

My iBook G4 1.33GHz Dual USB, with 1 gb RAM memory has been troublesome lately. It's installed with the latest version of OS 10.4.9
When starting up the ibook, it will sometimes only show a black screen after the boot chime. Repeated force restart sometimes makes it boot up the open firmware (white screen).
Then I see the error message:
"Illegal instructions at: %SRR0:ff85e778 %SRR1:00081000"
When I continue on with "mac-boot", I get the blue screen with a question marked box. So it can't find the startup disk.
This usually only happens when I'm done working for the day and close the lid on my ibook without manually clicking on the sleep mode when I put in in my drawer,. I've seen several times that the screen is still on when I close the lid, so it will continue to burn battery time.
I've managed to get the ibook to boot properly after removing the battery and letting it "cool-down" for 15-20 min. Also, zapping pram, vram sometimes works, but I don't know how much that actually helped. It worked once when I typed in the reset-nvram in the open firmware screen too.
I'd rather not have this happen at all! Any suggestions? Is this the much-talked about RAM memory failure?
Any suggestions would be very appreciated.
Message was edited by: antony chen

HI,
*"I get the blue screen with a question marked box."*
That can mean several things. One, the drive is failing. Two, your iBook can't find a System Folder to boot from. Try booting while holding down the Option key which will prompt the Startup Manager window.
MemTest
Boot from your install disk and check the hard disk for errors.
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger and later) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility window open, look at the bottom of the window where you see Capacity and Available. Make sure there is always 15% free disk space. Not enough disk space can cause directory corruption.
If you cannot boot from your install disk, try booting in Safe Mode
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Carolyn

New iMac crashes, start up problems, flicker screen...

Purchased iMac four months ago. It seems to be a bit flaky – as a life-long and loyal user of Apple, not what I was expecting! Often have problems crashing or hard disc error messages at start up. Flickering screen.
Also not sure that I got everything that I requested at the store – I had asked for an additional back up drive in store when ordered and I've looked on my iMac and it doesn't seem to have this. Currently backing up to iCloud and on DVDs to make sure I don't lose anything if my computer gives up the ghost and dies!
Bit disappointed really. Never had problems with any Apple products before and saved up for quite a while to upgrade my very old G4 (which still runs like a dream, and only updated because it's operating system became incompatible with latest software updates) to a new iMac (which seems a bit buggy).
Asked around and a few people have found iMac to be less reliable than previous Apple computers. Anyone else have problems with iMac seeming less stable?

Contact Apple Service, iMac Service or Apple's Express Lane. Do note that if you have AppleCare's protection plan and you're within 50 miles (80 KM) of an Apple repair station, you're eligible for onsite repair since yours is a desktop machine.
You'll have to take up the missing backup drive with the sellers. The iMac doesn't come with one.

Graphic card problem - blue screen error

Hi
When I turn my computer on after it has been off for a long time, it comes up with a blue screen which says: "Your graphics card has got stuck in an infinite loop and your computer had to be shut down to prevent damage"
When I restart my computer it is fine, but I still want to change my graphics card, or at least fix he problem
Thanks

Hello
Download the graphic card driver from Toshiba download site. In device manager open graphic card properties. Chose please driver tab and use uninstall (advanced) option. After that restart the unit and install downloaded Toshiba driver.
I am pretty sure that it should work well again.
Bye

MacBook starts up to blue screen only....

Hope someone can help.
My MacBook will startup with the chime, present the grey Apple logo, then go to the blue screen where it remains, every 10 seconds or so it blinks to a different shade of blue, then back again.
I've tried mounting it to an older iBook, but if I click on the HD drive icon of the sick MacBook it freezes up the finder on the old iBook. I've been good about backing everything up via Time Machine, but cannot get it to startup from anything. Help!!!!!!

Hi,
Try booting from your install disk and check the hard drive for errors.
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger and later) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility app open, look at the bottom of the window. Look where it says: Capacity and Available. Never allow the free disk space to fall below 10 - 15% of the total drive.
If you cannot boot from your install disk, try booting in Safe Mode
Try the Apple Hardware Test
Carolyn

Won't start up.. blue screen

My wife did a software update last night, (her ibook G4 is on 10.4), and now the iBook won't start up. We get the grey screen and the Apple symbol then after a while it goes to a Blue screen, then just stays on a blue screen.
I've reset the PRAM and I connected to my MacBook and ran disk repair and permissions but still the same issue.
any help out there?

Checkout Mac OS X 10.4 Help: I see a blank blue screen when I try to start up my computer
and "You see an empty, blue screen. You might also see a progress indicator, which looks like a colored pinwheel or spinning disc".

Start up problems - blue screen

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