Stuck with gray screen during update (firmware)

Today I completed the routine software update (firmware) on my macbook pro. During the update all I can see is a gray screen with no progress bar. It appears "stuck". Please advise!

See https://discussions.apple.com/message/24334963#24334963
Hold power button down 5-10 seconds. It will restart and all should be fine.

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MacBook stuck at gray screen during start up

Lately my 2008 model MacBook has been freezing up. When I shut it down, it starts up just fine, however, the last two times I've shut it down, it gets stuck at the gray screen during start up. The first time, I was unsuccessful with a Safe Boot, however I was successful using CommandOption+PR to reset my NVRAM/PRAM. It has been working fine for the past two days, but it froze again this evening. I tried Safe Booting, removing peripherals, resetting the NVRAM/PRAM and I even was able to repair the disk and the permissions, but still, I am unsuccessful during a start up.
When I did try to "Perform an Archive and Install installation of Mac OS X", it said my computer was not able to install 10.5 (I run 10.6) because it did not meet the system requirements.
As a final effort, I tried doing another SafeBoot, this time viewing the status. It has been stuck at a console screen that reads "disk0s2: media is not present...." for about ten minutes now, if that helps at all.
Any advice on how to fix this would be highly appreciated. And yes, I have read the Gray screen article
Zach Irwin

Your hard drive may be damaged or requires reformatting. You might try this to start:
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
If you still are unable to restart or if DU cannot repair the drive or the SMART status is not "verified" then you can try reformatting the drive to see if that fixes the problem, otherwise you will have to replace the drive.
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
And, you cannot do an Archive and Install of Leopard over a Snow Leopard installation. You have to reinstall using the Snow Leopard installer.

Need help installing Leopard. Stuck with Gray Screen with looping circle!!!

I currently have Mac OS X 10.2.1 installed in my G4. Never upgrade since i got it. I purchased Leopard and tried to install it.
After I put the DVD in and clicked Install it restarted my computer. Then it started the installation process. 10 minutes later it stopped and said installation failed. Disk is dirty. I finally got the DVD and and tried again but all i got was the gray screen with the looping circle.
I tried re-installing 10.2.1 then try Leopard again. After asking me to restart my computer nothing happen. No installation process. Just a gray screen with the looping circle for over 10 hours. (left it over night)
What should I do? Can this be fixed? How can I install Leopard??????
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get out your Jaguar installer disc and boot from it. After the installer loads and you select your language the menu bar should appear. Select Disk Utility from the File menu. After DU loads select your hard drive from the list on the left then click on the First Aid tab. Click on the Repair Disk button. Wait until the repair process is completed. If any errors are reported that have been fixed, re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported and the disk is pronounced OK. If DU is unable to repair the drive, then you will need something like Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro to repair the drive. Once your drive is properly prepared boot from the Leopard installer DVD. When you get to the point of selecting the destination drive click once on your hard drive then click the Options button. Select the Archive and Install option. Do not select the option to preserve the user folder and network preferences as these may be damaged. Click on the OK button and complete the installation. Be sure to use the same username and password that you use now for the admin account.
Your hard drive will not be erased and your old system will be saved in a Previous System Folder located at the root directory of your hard drive. You should then be able to transfer your personal data from the PSF to the newly installed system.
BTW, repairing permissions will not fix your problem.

My retina display mbp is stuck on gray screen during latest update

. No progress bar. Is this normal, how long does it take to update?

If it's stuck there more than 15 minutes I would suspect a problem, likey with a third party at boot kernel extension file.
You can reboot holding the Shift key down (wired or builtin keyboard) and that will enter Safe Mode minus the outdated kext files.
A better option would be to do the #8 Reinstall Just OS X + Software Update method here.
..Step by Step to fix your Mac
Once you machine is booted, check for any third party software that fails to run, then check for updates/issue on the developers site and when to expect a update before reinstalling the non-working programs.

4s bricked after trying new update, stuck with black screen with apple logo how can i fix this

Update bricked my 4s
phone , stuck with black screen with apple logo ..
how can I fix this

Greetings r1042,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
I understand that your iPhone is not booting up past the Apple logo. In this situation, I would recommend working through the troubleshooting steps located in the attached article.
If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch doesn't respond or doesn't turn on - Apple Support
If your device gets stuck during startup
When starting up, you might see the Apple logo or a red or blue screen for a long time, or your device might restart again. Try these steps:
Make sure that you have iTunes 12 or later on your computer.
Put your device in recovery mode.
When you get the option to restore or update, select Update. This will reinstall iOS without erasing your data.
Have a great day,
Joe

My imac is stuck in gray screen with spinning wheel

My iMac is stuck in gray screen with spinning wheel. I'm running Mountain Lion, any idea how to fix it. Pls help.Thx.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Press Shift key on boot and check that the computer starts. Finally, restart

Boot stuck at gray screen

I have a 24" silver iMac. Boot gets stuck at gray screen with gray apple showing and wheel continuously spinning. Never gets to blue screen. I have tried booting from system CD and running disk repair and repair permissions. They are fine. I have tried zapping PRAM. I have tried booting with everything disconnected except keyboard. (all recommended elsewhere in these discussions.) So, for the THIRD time in the 5 months I have had this iMac, I am in the process of reinstalling the system from the CDs. THEN, as you know, I'll have to do all the updates. I AM GETTING TIRED OF THIS! (My G4 and MBP don't have these problems (I shouldn't have said that.)) Anyone else having these problems or have any other ways to deal with this? I wonder if it has anything to do with my trying to install, via software update, the latest update for QT. It wouldn't install, saying I didn't have permission or authority or something.

I hate to disagree, but I have had this happen at
least 4-5 times.
1. Happened (Before) I had an external HD attached, as Well as (After.)
(so HD not the issue.)
2. I had only the bare essentials installed on Tiger OS 4.10, B4 buying leopard.
(No other Software Installed, and NOTHING from 2nd install disk. No Optional Programs)
(Makes me rule out Quicktime.
3. I also Had same Grey Screen, Tried Disk Utility from cold boot (DVD)
Removed 1 Simm Chip And reset Pram. (Yes, I waited for 2nd chime.)
No Other OS or ANY Windows Products on this system.
Tried Cold Boot With DVD,
(made sure Active Boot Drive was DVD, NOT HD)
In Addition, Booted While Holding;
a. Shift Key - (Safe Boot)
b. Opt Key - ( I've forgotten )
c. C - Key (Password Change - No Help)
d. D - Key (verify/repair disk or permissions useless.)
Two recurring questions seem to be raised by level 2 Phone Support
to help me recover access, Without Formatting. I refused to do it, and insisted
they walk me out of this problem.
One suggested the Parse file was corrupted. Another Seems to feel that having
once forgotten firmware & or Master Password was the problem.
I disagree, I was able to recover that time by dropping to unix prompt, once I
got in, created root user, deleted My User Account,
then Recreated it, using Same Name ) Then deleting Root Account. (for Safety)
I no longer set Firmware or Master Password, It HAS Happened since.
I'm inclinrd to believe the corrupted Parse image, for all the reasons above.
It can be recovered, without Format Or Time Machine Restore. However several different
methods were used by different tech support people, so I have Messy notes on
what the actual steps were. Due to so much back tracking & Holding, And Different
methods used by different Phone Guys. NEVER attempt to try with level 1, INSIST
on level 2 support or you will not recover. Solution seems to have been successful
Most often, after working at unix prompt, and executing various commands.
If I find the Most Efficient notes, I kept from the 1st guy, who was Very Good.
I will post them. Sorry I couldn't be more specific on the recovery steps.
I remember running: fsck -?? & mount -???? , navigating to root, and not mush else.
Good Luck
PantherSherry

Mac Mini Stuck at Gray Screen

Hi, I have an Intel based mac mini running 10.4.6 I believe what ever is the latest tiger version. Upon restarting after installed updates computer can not go past the apple logo with the spinning wheel underneath it. I have restarted and tried all of the different key combinations the only one it will recognize is the option key. I have used the option key to select the c drive where the operating system is installed but it goes right back to being stuck at gray screen. I have used the option key to also let me use the install disc to run disk utility and repair the disc which said volume is verified and repaired and good to go. Only thing I haven't tried is firewire boot but at this point I don't think thats the right answer. Im thinking its hardware issue any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help me out- Ryan

Will it start up in Safe mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
If it can start up in Safe mode, that would point to a problem specific to your account, and probably a Login Item given that it hangs the way it does at the gray screen with spinny wheel. In that case, take a look at this procedure, too.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/21210.html

Mac Pro stuck on gray screen after installing software for a new keyboard

I am having a huge issue with my very important work computer! For a few weeks, my Mac has been freezing on the gray screen during start up. Since I had two external hard drives plugged in, I would unplug one of them and the Mac would always restart correctly once one was unplugged. Well today I was installing software for a new keyboard and the mac prompted me to restart. Once I restarted, the gray screen came up again and no matter what I did it would not start up correctly again. I tried unplugging everything except the keyboard and monitor and nothing works. I tried ejecting the crash-causing CD with the keyboard using all of the commands I found on this forum board and nothing worked. I saw forums about manually ejecting the CD by pushing a pin-hole but I cannot find that pinhole anywhere! Then again, the CD might not even be the problem but since the computer gave me the gray screen of death right after using the CD I am thinking that it is the problem. I use this computer for editing a TV show and creating websites so there is a ton of files on it and I need to get it up and running again ASAP. Any suggestions would be appreciated and I am sure by now you can tell that I am not a Mac expert so please dumb it down for me. Thank you!!

I would start by breaking your thoughts and sentences out from one long paragraph.
Start at the basics.
Always have backups.
One at least that is a spare boot system you can use.
Clone your system. SuperDuper does a great job for only $29
Boot from another hard drive or last OS X DVD
Repair your drive with Apple Disk Utility along with 3rd party disk maintenance and repair
Hold Option key until the boot manager, then hold mouse to open optical drive.
You can hold mouse on startup and it will eject also.
Hold and continue to hold Shift key during startup to repair the boot drive in minimal fashion.
What device and driver? hint: never use CD, just go online as the CD is usually out of date anyway.
Fill in Mac OS X version and more about hardware would help in posts and in your profile signature.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/harddrives/index.html#d12aug2010
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior

Hang on I Tunes screen during update IOS 8

My Iphone 5 hang on connect Itunes screen during update IOS 8 for more than 3 hours, please assist.

Hi Ann1_86,
If you are having issues with the iOS 8 update getting a "Connect to iTunes" screen on your iPhone, I would suggest that you troubleshoot using the steps in this article -
If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Brett L

My iPhone 4S is stuck in recovery mode during Update to 5.0.1

As above, my iPhone 4S is stuck in recovery mode during Update to 5.0.1
The itunes software just keeps cycling and trying to restore then restore failed, iPhone is stuck with the sync to iTunes symbols, and I don;t seem to be able to get it out of recovery mode.
Almost wish Ihad my old HTC back ..
Any one any ideas please?

Hi there try restoring ur ifone using a different PC.
i did face similar problem using my old ifone4. and no sooner did i try recovering using my office laptop.. it did work fine
try it out

Stuck in gray screen

Im stuck in gray screen at startup with a spinning gear. Dont have a os disk, worried because i have tons of pics that are not backed up. :"O(

HI
My Macbook Pro also struck in gray screen at startup . I have Mavericks OS on the MAC. Don't have OS Disk.

Apple Hardware Test Stuck with white screen

hy every one..............
i am unable to start the apple hardware test ,i've done anything ,holding d at start up with inserted installation disk,also with holding c........
also inserted application cd....
apple logo appear and after some time with spinning wheel it stuck with white screen....What that means
please help me out....
what can i do???

If you are still using Snow Leopard -
Shut down your computer and disconnect all peripherals (keyboard & mouse if pertinent) from your computer. Now reboot.
If the Mac starts up normally, shut it down again and then plug in one of the peripherals (keyboard or mouse first) and start up your computer again. If it does so successfully repeat the process, adding one peripheral at a time until your Mac acts up. At that point, disconnect the last peripheral you added, reboot your Mac and search the peripheral vendor's website for an updated driver.
If no driver exists or the problem remain after installing the new driver, try a different cable or a different port on your Mac.
If none of the above works, again disconnect all peripherals from your Mac, hold down the "shift" key to start up in "Safe Boot" mode.
If the Mac starts up correctly, restart without pressing the "shift" key.
If your computer still does not start up properly, shut it down and restart it while holding down the Apple+Option-P-R keys; keep holding "all 4 keys" down until you hear the startup sound "twice."
If none of the above work Disconnect all peripherals from your computer. 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.
(If Disk Utility cannot repair, you will need a stronger utility (3rd party) - Diskwarrior or Techtool PRO)
Restart your computer when done.
Repair permissions after you reach the desktop-http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751 and restart your computer.
Remove any 3rd party ram.
Reinstall Snow Leopard - This will install a "fresh" copy of Snow Leopard without archiving old system files but leaves the rest of your files in place.
If your computer is still under warranty or you have Apple Care, take full advantage of it by letting tech support deal with your problems. It's what you're paying them for.
Out of warranty - take the computer to an Apple store or an AASP. Whichever is more convenient for you.

Stuck with black screen with Apple and download bar approx 1 quarter done. Downloading Yosemite. It has completely stopped. I can't access anything. Please help

Stuck with black screen with Apple and download bar approx 1 quarter done. Downloading Yosemite. It has completely stopped. I can't access anything. Please help

You should really read the manual.
"How do you restore from backup? "
Restore. When given the choice, choose to use backup.
"And how can I check to see if the pics and videos are on my computer somewhere first??"
They would only be where you put them. What program did you use to import them? Pics/vids taken with ipod are not part of the sync process at all. You should be importing them just as you would with any digital camera.
If you did not import them, then they are not on your computer.

TS3274 My iPad mini retina is still having random reboots with blue screen after updating to iOS 8.0.2.i also did reset my iPad.But the problem still persis

My iPad mini retina is still having random reboots with blue screen after updating to iOS 8.0.2.i also did reset my iPad.But the problem still persists

Could you add your problem here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6569052? This makes sure the discussion and in one place and we can attract more attention from Apple.

Stuck with gray screen during update (firmware)

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