Stops at gray apple logo screen.

I turn on my mac mini and it goes to the gray apple logo screen. The pinwheel starts spinning below the logo. This is all normal. Then, it take way to long and nothing happens. The computer just restarts and the entire process starts over again.
What do i do?

i've tried putting in the hardware test cd and holding down 'c' but i just get the gray screen without the pinwheel.

Similar Messages

  • Stuck on Gray Apple logo screen, Gear keep spinning.

    I have macBook. I was preparing m self for iPhone Development.
    So i was installing the reference libraries. I click 2 or 3 library to get download, window become irresponsive. I was little impatient to know what has happened that what happened to my computer, I did powered it OFF, just form the next booting, my mac book is getting stuck on the gray screen with apple logo, gear is keep spinning.
    I googled and read several article about the stucking of aaple product. but got nothing, just new combination of keys then new style of booting.
    I came to know about the single user mode, I did that it went to single user mode
    I did
    fsck -fy and mount -uw /
    it checking the root file system and told that file system modified.
    then after typing the exit it start doing something and screen scrolls up.
    then it just stuck on this mDNSResponder line...
    (com.apple.mDNSResponder153): posix_spawnp(„/usr/sbin/mDNSResponder“, ….): No such file or directory
    it not able to find it and keep trying for it. it seems this will run forever,
    Can someone please suggest something that might fix this?
    what is the procedure to restore from the install DVD, will it overwrite the all data which id in the Mac HD, or will just over write the system files.
    But I want to keep this a last option, when everything is failed.
    Any assistance would be greatly appreciated and I will love if something can tell me about the problem also

    Try the following:
    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.) 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, then quit DU and return to the installer.
    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.

  • Gray Apple Logo screen after Mavericks Install

    Tried twice to migrate from Lion to Mavericks on a Macbook Pro 2009 vintage. Both cases the final reboot hung after a successful install msg....waited 1.5 hours, still a screen with a cursor and the grey screen with Apple logo.
    Had to CMD  R to reinstall to try again and it failed a second time. Repeated CMD R to reinstall Lion from Time Machine. After 6 hours, I am back to before the install..  Need ideas, suggestion before trying again... Have the latest Lion updates installed etc...
    Thanks in advance!
    Tony

    See my post on the other thread.. I was able to solve this without loss of data by running this script and fixing the partition. It seems this problem may be happening quite often.
    http://steelpangolin.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/invalid-bs_jmpboot-in-boot-block-0 00000/

  • MacBook Pro takes a long time to start up or hangs at gray apple logo after minor fall

    I upgraded to Mavericks a few days ago. Everything was working fine until yesterday, when my MacBook Pro started taking a really long time to start up or restart.
    Before upgrading I had some directory problems which I fixed with DiskWarrior. I then upgraded to Mavericks. There was also a fall that I took, which resulted in the MacBook Pro hitting on one corner and getting a minor dent (It was inside a padded messenger bag when I fell). It worked fine for a whole day, but the next day it started slowing down and getting stuck.
    I run DiskWarrior again and there was more directory problems, which were fixed again. When I start the MacBook Pro from an external HD with Mac OS X 10.8, there is no delay in starting up. When I switch to the internal HD, then I get very long delays (5-10min) or hangs at the gray apple logo screen.
    DiskUtility did not report any problems, neither did SMART report.
    Could it be that the HD got somewhat damaged and gets stuck intermittently? Is it possible to start up OK some times and others to get stuck?
    How can I check the HD? Shouldn't the SMART report indicate a problem?
    Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is my main work computer!
    Chris

    I think that my Mac was shutdown when it fell, but I am not 100% sure.
    I did perform both SMC and PRAM resets. I will also try to run maintenance scripts. Thanks for the suggestion.
    It keeps on taking around 10min to restart now, but it has not frozen yet.
    The other very strange thing that happens  (and this was the first sign I had when it started acting up) is that Mail.app cannot connect to my IMAP servers (a host provider and Google), even though my Mac connects to the internet. I have the MacBook Pro on the same ethernet network as my home iMac, and I get mail without a problem on the iMac! So something is blocking the mail on the MacBook Pro.
    This happened for the first time on Friday and after that I kept having the long delays in startup or freezes I mentioned before.
    Could those two be connected?
    When I use an external HD as as start up I can get mail fine.

  • All of a sudden my iPod stopped playing and a dark gray Apple logo came up.

    I was listening to my iPod nano for about 30 minutes but 20 minutes into playing, it all of a sudden stopped and an Apple logo against a dark gray background popped up. I held down the center and menu button to perform a reset and it has been working fine ever since but I am worried that this might signal a premature death to my iPod.
    What caused this? I never fiddled with any menus or buttons while playing my music so it didn't occur by me inputting anything. What does that screen mean? I've had my iPod for 3 months and always listen to it in one hour intervals (since I commute to work in the city) and this never happened before.

    Some people have told me something similar a few years ago... they said that they didn't do anything for a few days then their iPods resurrected (lol)... don't know if this can happen to these new iPods too, I haven't experienced this. So you should wait for a few (4-5 days) and if nothing happens then bring it back to the shop.

  • Why is my G5 is stopping on the grey+apple logo screen when starting up?

    My G5 is stopping on the grey+apple logo screen when starting up and fans run faster than usual after a couple minutes. I have read many of the posts related here, but it seems none are exactly what I am experiencing. Here is what I have done:
    +Disconnected all peripheral devices (except for keyboard and mouse).
    +Unplugged power cord and plugged back in.
    +Unplugged ethernet cable.
    +Removed added memory.
    +Reset the SMU button on the logic board.
    +Reset the PRAM by pressing Command-Option-P-R keys. It makes its second start up chime but I still get the grey screen.
    +After opening the disc door with a paper clip, started up while pressing "C" with Hardware Test CD which found no problems.
    +However, also started up with Systemworks disc and ran Disc Doctor, but I get an "unexpected problem, Error found: disk error" while "Checking Directories: Catalog Structure". When trying to run Speed Disc, my hard drive doesn't even show up in the window to select it. Nor does it show up in Disk Viewer.
    I have not tried to start up from the original Mac Startup or installation disc that came with the computer. I am not at my G5 right now (having to use the internet at work). If I start up with that disc, will I loose any work (if I haven't already) that I haven't backed up?
    Also, the G5 manual suggests replacing the lithium battery inside the tower if I am having problems starting up. I have not read to do this anywhere else except in the manual. It mentions having problems with the date and time which I haven't so I doubt it's the battery.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks,
    Tony
    G5 Power Mac   Mac OS X (10.0.x)  

    First and foremost you should never use Norton Utilities Disk Doctor or Speed Disk. They will corrupt your hard drive. NUM is not compatible with modern Macs and is no longer supported by Symantec. I highly recommend you uninstall it. You will find instructions here.
    You should do the following:
    Boot from your Tiger DVD. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button, then select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu . After DU loads select your OS X volume from the list on the left, 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 shutdown the computer for a couple of minutes and then restart normally.
    If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (3.0.3 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.1.1 for Tiger) 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.
    If this does not fix the problem, then it's possible your system files have been damaged in which case you may need to reinstall OS X. You can do this by an Archive and Install which does not require erasing the hard drive. However, the hard drive must be verified as OK per the preceeding intructions.

  • I just got an eMac G4-1Ghz/256/80/SuperDrive/56k/220v the problem is, it's stuck on theLoading Screen everytime i turn it on it wont go any further it's stuck on the Gray Apple logo with whiteBG and the loading icon that keeps circling any ideas?

    i got this emac from my uncles friend, and they said it's still working so i was likeok lemme see. and when i turned it on i was like "nice it really is working" but right after it went to the loading screen (Gray apple logo with a whiteBG and the loading icon that keeps circling) it wont go any further.. it just stays like that forever.. OMG any ideas???? thanks

    Hello, do you have the Install Discs for it?
    "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.

  • White screen with gray Apple logo.

    Could anybody help me? i bought my MacBook, about 3 months ago and never had any problems with it, 3 days ago i want to restart it after i tried to make an actuallitation... so when i did it just appears a white screen with gray apple logo, and no timer going... i look for help here in the apple discussions, and some guy seem to have the same problem... i did just what the other user recomended, i insert the original cd, while press the C key, and went to disk utilities on the bar on top, and clik on Repair Disk. When i did it appears a list of things that says:
    Verify and Repair volumen “Macintosh HD”
    Checkin Journaled HFS Plus volume
    Checkin Extents Overflow file
    Checkin Catalog file.
    Checkin multi-linked files.
    Checkin Catalog hierarchy
    Checkin Extended Attributes file
    Checkin volume bitmap
    Checkin volume information
    The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK. (Font in green)
    Then i didnt know what to do so i restarted and after that it appears the same White screen with gray Apple logo.
    If somebody can help me, i will apreciate it, Thanks.

    Your system info shows you are using OS 10.1. How is that possible if your Macbook is only 3 months old? You will need to correct the information if incorrect & insert the correct information.
    After disconnecting all periperals try Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM. If that does not work try Apple Portables: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
    Since you are still under warranty, you can contact Apple about the problem if the solutions do not work.

  • My 2011 IMac will not boot up past the White apple logo screen with the whirly circle

    My 2011 IMac will not boot up past the White apple logo screen with the whirly circle. I have tried various commands but to no avail. does anybody have any advice?

    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.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.
    b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
    c. 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.
    d. 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 the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d 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 11. 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
    If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.   
    Step 10
    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 11
    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 12
    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 13
    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.

  • IMac randomly frozen at grey Apple logo screen.

    Hi Guys,
    I need your help.
    My iMac randomly freezes at startup, at the grey Apple logo screen... some vertical black bars appears, the image is unclear and doubled. The round icon showing that the system is loading freezes. Some times, a black screen appears asking for the computer to be restarted.
    I need to power off the iMac for 7-8 times and then it comes to normal till the next boot.
    One time, a month ago, the same happened when I was already in leopard, but since then nothing. Now, in the last week, it's happening in 80% of the startups.
    Any idea?
    Thanks !!!
    Andrei

    1. Have you installed any third party RAM? If so try removing the third party RAM and install the Apple original RAM for testing.
    2. Disconnect all external devices during testing. This means hard drives, ipods, printers, scanners, and hubs.
    3. Boot to your install disk. Insert the install disk and hold down the "c" key at startup. Once it boots up select your language but instead of going through the install process go to the Utilities menu at the top select Disk Utility. Select your hard drive/Mac volume on the left then under the First Aid tab click Repair Disk. If that passes/repairs successfully Repair the Disk Permissions. Once this is finished go back to the Utilities menu, select Startup disk, choose your Mac OS X volume and click restart.
    4. If you are still having issues insert your original gray iMac install disk, restart and hold down the "d" key. This will boot you to the Apple Hardware Test. Run the Extended test.
    George

  • Size of Gray Apple Logo on Startup

    When I start or restart 10.6.2 on this 24-inch Intel iMac, I have noticed
    two different white screens with the gray apple logo. One has smaller
    gray Apple logo than the other. Can someone explain the difference?
    I am talking about the screen that appears and stay up while the
    turning gear does its thing.

    No, it just means that the resolution saved in the PRAM was not the resolution that you set. This can be caused by anything that results in loss of the PRAM content. Then the system returns to the default resolution. If you play games at lower resolutions and the game alters the PRAM but does not restore the old resolution then this also can happen.

  • My iMac (intel based early 2008) turns itself off after the gray apple logo and spinning wheel

    The other day was using my mac normally. Later on I noticed a pixilated horizontal black stripe on the desktop screen so I restarted. The screen ended up stalling at the gray apple logo with the spinning gray wheel. After a minute or two the Mac just turned off and I can never get beyong this point after restarting a bunch of times. I tried plugging in the power cord at another outlet with same result. Boot up disc did give me option to reinstall Mac OS X but then I'd lose my data (which is stupidly not backed up). Is this a power issue, or something else?

    Hello
    try use apple hardware test if is possible , 2 ways to launch AHT ( depend on your mac and system version )
    1-  hold on just after start up sound "D" key on key bord
    2- boot from AHT dvd com from your mac , hold on "D" key on keyboord
    see if aht report any error
    HTH
    Pierre

  • Stuck on Apple Logo Screen

    Had my ATV for a couple of weeks and it's been working fine then tried to play some music yesterday and it wouldn't accept any commands from the remote.
    It felt pretty hot so I unplugged it and left it until today to cool down then plugged it back in and now it gets as far as the apple logo screen then stops, with the led flashing orange.
    I tried 'menu -' on the remote and that didn't seem to have any effect. Is my ATV now bricked?
    Thanks

    If I purchased my ATV on line, thru Apple on line Store, and my does essentially the same thing (get incredibly hot, then render a black screen despite restarts and system restores) would it be possible to return the device to an Apple Store retail outlet for replacement?

  • My 27inch iMac has been stuck on the Apple logo screen.

    My 27inch iMac has been stuck on the Apple logo screen which the spinning wheel stuck for a few days now and I've tried everything. I've tried com s fsck repair, option boot from a dvd and still nothing please help.

    Please be specific, saying "I've tried everything" doesn't tell us a thing. I'd recommend starting by using what Apple says in Gray screen appears during startup.

  • IPhone 4s updated to ios 6 and now hangs on apple logo screen! Any ideas please?

    Hi, my friend has updated her iPhone 4s to iOS 6 a week ago and since then it just randomly crashes and she's left with just the apple logo screen flashing on and off. After several attempts to restore the iPhone it's finally restored as a new phone and was working fine until she switched the phone off. When switching it back on its got as far as the logo screen and again it's just flashing on and off and has been for the last 30 minutes.
    As the phone was absolutely fine before installing iOS 6 we have assumed its a bug with that rather than a problem with hardware.
    Has anyone else had this problem after installing iOS 6 or do you think it's a coincidence and it in fact the phone itself that needs looking at?
    Any useful suggestions would be much appreciated.

    Yeah think she's going to take it back to the shop as its not even a year old yet! It eventually stopped flashing on and off the apple logo and the whole screen went blue! Rebooted it and it's again back to the flashing apple screen.
    Hopefully they can fix or replace it.
    Thankyou for your reply, much appreciated.

Maybe you are looking for