Update failed... Now I have grey screen with flashing icons. Please help!

I was installing an update for Leopard and I wasn't connected to a power source. I thought it would be ok because I had a full battery. The screen was half closed over also so it may have switched off during update. Whatever happened, now my MacBook Pro won't boot up. I get a grey screen with a series of flashing icons one at a time (apple logo, circle with line through it and a folder with a question mark).
The other problem is that my system disks are in my friend's house a thousand miles away so I can't boot up from my system disks. Can anyone offer any advice please? I'm desperate!

If you can start up in target disk mode, connect your computer that works to the one that doesn't. (I'm assuming you have another computer since you can't get to the Apple Discussion Forums with a computer that won't start up!)
Use the computer that doesn't work as an external drive to the one that does.
Go to this part of the Apple Downloads website and find the update you were installing. Download it as a standalone installer, and try to install onto the external HD. If it works, problem solved!
If it doesn't work, you'll need to follow Alexandre's advice and go to the Apple Store to get working installation discs. However, you can have access to your important files whenever you want them by simply using Target Disk Mode.

Similar Messages

My MacBook Pro won't start - it just displays a grey screen with flashing icon of a folder with a question mark in the middle. Help.

It started while I was using Adobe InDesign, and that program froze, then crashed. When I tried to reopen the program, the error message I received was simply "Error: 16".
I tried to take a screen shot of the error message for reference, and it gave me a message saying I couldn't because I didn't have access to the files where it would normally store the shot.
Attached to my computer at the time was my Seagate Free Agent Go-Flex for Mac backup drive.
So, I closed any open applications, and restarted my computer. But it wouldn't restart. It only displays a grey screen with a flashing icon in the middle of a folder with a question mark on it.
I have no idea what happened - I wasn't using the machine any differently than usual, and it only had a few basic applicaitons open in addition to InDesign (like Preview, Text Edit, Microsoft Word, iCal).
I have MacKeeper on my MacBook, and I keep it clean.
Does anyone out there know what this flashing icon indicates, and if there is anything I can try on my own to fix it?
Thanks.

ali har wrote:
It started while I was using Adobe InDesign, and that program froze, then crashed. When I tried to reopen the program, the error message I received was simply "Error: 16".
I tried to take a screen shot of the error message for reference, and it gave me a message saying I couldn't because I didn't have access to the files where it would normally store the shot.
For the Error: 16
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/827/cpsid_82744.html
Seems a uninstall and reinstall of CS is in order.
Attached to my computer at the time was my Seagate Free Agent Go-Flex for Mac backup drive.
May or may not be a contributing factor, may have kicked in at a wrong time or running root code.
So, I closed any open applications, and restarted my computer. But it wouldn't restart. It only displays a grey screen with a flashing icon in the middle of a folder with a question mark on it.
Computer can't find a bootable volume.
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
I have MacKeeper on my MacBook, and I keep it clean.
Well that explains it, MacKeeper is almost malware.
http://applehelpwriter.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malware/
Search the forums here for "MacKeeper" they will tell the whole story, crapware.
Disconnect all drives, follow the "Grey Screen" instructions and hold Shift key down while booting, if you get into OS X , immediatly backup your files to another drive and disconnect.
In my opinion you should first check to make sure you have a backup of your data, then just erase the entire internal drive (hold c boot off the 10.6 disk, use Disk Utility), reinstall OS X, same user name, update to 10.6.8, c boot off the 10.6 and Repair Disk (to fix a update error) install your programs and finally return files from backup into the same main user folders like before (Music, Docs, Pictures etc.)
A pain it is, but you've hosed your system and in the process you might as well rebuild everything and have a fast machine again. So happens to clear MacKrapper, uninstall CS5 and any other junk in your system at the same time. Fresh, clean, lean and mean.
Learn to Carbon Copy Cloner to a external drive that new pristine boot drive, you can hold the option key and boot from it (even update it), which is a real bacon saver when something like this happens. Also it's free to use, donations accepted.
http://www.bombich.com/
Note: if anything above I've mentioned is too complicated or your not sure, seek the services of a local computer specialist.

Booting problem (grey screen with spinning wheel) PLEASE HELP!!

I have and ibook G4, i shut it down the other day and whent to school, when i got home, i tried booting it up, but its just goes to the grey screen with the apple logo and the spinning wheel, and doesnt go any further. i can hear the computer thinking, it that helps at all, but the weel just keeps spinning and it never gets to the login screen. Whats the problem? What can i do to fix it? somebody please help!!!

Hi,
Try starting in Safe Mode by holding the shift key as you start. Release it when you see the logo and spinning progress indicator. If successful restart normally.
If that doesn't work please post the version of OS X you are using (Panther,Tiger,Leopard) for more trouble shooting suggestions.
John

IPod stuck on screen with iTunes icon, please help!

So, a lot of people may have had this problem already, so please help me. When I turn on my iPod touch 4g, a picture pops up with the usb pointing to the iTunes icon, basically meaing I have to connect to iTunes. My computer doesn't detect or cnnect to my iPod, niether does iTunes. Does anyone have ANY solutions?
If so, reply back. Thank you very much.

Try to connect in recovery mode, explained in this article:
iOS: Unable to update or restore
If still not recognized, check here:
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows

After update Mac Pro boots to grey screen with Kernel Panic. Help please.

It would be great if someone can help me out. Yesterday I did a software update of iTunes and osx (it said to ease update to Lion) and now my Mac Pro tower (MacPro3,1) boots to a grey screen, kernel panic, telling me that I need to power down and restart my machine. I can boot into osx via the safe mode but unfortunately I don't have an install disk to repair the system disk. What are my options?
The machine appears to work in safe mode. I have tried resetting the PRAM. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
In safe mode, I get this error report.
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 2403 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          4
Anonymous UUID:                    2F681FF9-168D-42D2-865B-C00AD4C8FA30
Thu Oct 27 14:29:21 2011
panic(cpu 7 caller 0x560821): "getPhysicalSegment() out of 32b range 0x3f10000000, len 0x0, class IOGeneralMemoryDescriptor"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1504.15.3/iokit/Kernel/IOMemory Descriptor.cpp:1594
Backtrace (CPU 7), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x840b3cc8 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x840b3cfc 0x223ce1 0x0)
0x840b3d18 : 0x560821 (0x5e6dfc 0x10000000 0x3f 0x0)
0x840b3d68 : 0x55d2df (0x15d9fd80 0x0 0x0 0x16a4f580)
0x840b3d88 : 0x55ceee (0x16a4f580 0x0 0x0 0x10000)
0x840b3da8 : 0x8e7ee97e (0x16a4f580 0x0 0x0 0xffffffff)
0x840b3e18 : 0x543f60 (0x8eb44000 0x15c68b00 0x1 0x506b76)
0x840b3e78 : 0x542137 (0x15c68b00 0x8eb44000 0x16abd180 0x51a1b0)
0x840b3f28 : 0x5426e9 (0x15c68b00 0x16aba8c0 0x0 0x516766)
0x840b3f78 : 0x5443d5 (0x15c68b00 0x8 0x840b3fac 0x1)
0x840b3fc8 : 0x2a179c (0x15858690 0x0 0x2a17ab 0x15f17904)
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
         com.aja.iokit.kona3(8.0)@0x8e7c0000->0x8e806fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily(10.0.3)@0x84130000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x84082000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.8.3fc2)@0x8e635000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2)@0x8e6b2000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Mac OS version:
10K549
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacPro3,1 (Mac-F42C88C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 22607847366
unloaded kexts:
(none)
loaded kexts:
com.aja.iokit.kona3 8.0 - last loaded 22387593921
de.novamedia.driver.NMSmartplugSCSIDevice 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 428.42.4
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.1
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.AppleRAID 4.0.6
com.apple.BootCache 31.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 142.6.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 1
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.12
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 142.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.3fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 320.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.10
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d5
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard 141.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 141.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.6
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.3
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.6
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
Model: MacPro3,1, BootROM MP31.006C.B05, 8 processors, Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 3 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 1.25f4
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 5770, ATI Radeon HD 5770, PCIe, 1024 MB
Memory Module: global_name
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x88), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.42.4)
Bluetooth: Version 2.4.5f3, 2 service, 19 devices, 0 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en2
PCI Card: pcif1d0,c0ff, sppci_video, Slot-2@3,12,0
PCI Card: ATI Radeon HD 5770, sppci_displaycontroller, Slot-1
PCI Card: ATI Radeon HD 5770, ATY,HoolockParent, Slot-1
PCI Card: pcif1d0,c0ff, sppci_video, Slot-3@10,12,0
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0, 1.82 TB
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0, 1.82 TB
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0, 1.82 TB
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD5002ABYS-01B1B0, 465.76 GB
Parallel ATA Device: OPTIARC DVD RW AD-7170A
USB Device: Keyboard Hub, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x1006, 0xfd100000 / 2
USB Device: Apple Keyboard, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0221, 0xfd120000 / 3
USB Device: Kensington Expert Mouse, 0x047d (Kensington), 0x1020, 0x1d200000 / 2
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8206, 0x5d200000 / 2
USB Device: HASP HL 3.21, 0x0529 (Aladdin Knowledge Systems), 0x0001, 0x3d200000 / 2
FireWire Device: built-in_hub, Up to 800 Mb/sec
and here is my system software overview once I have booted into osx in safe mode.
System Software Overview:
System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)
Kernel Version: Darwin 10.8.0
Boot Volume: System
Boot Mode: Safe
Computer Name: qdise’s MacPro3,1
User Name: q2dise (dty61)
Secure Virtual Memory: Not Enabled
64-bit Kernel and Extensions: No
Time since boot: 16 minutes

There's no point in reinstalling the same driver. It hasn't changed. It's incompatible with the OS update. Contact the device manufacturer to see if there's a driver update. In the meantime, you should physically remove the device so the driver doesn't load. If you uninstall the driver and leave the device installed, that might also cause a panic.

3 app updates failed, now i have grey icons

see here:
when you press and hold to "get them wiggling," there's no delete x on them. i'm doing a restore from backup... we'll see if that helps.

ebthorne wrote:
How do you restore?
right-click on the iphone icon in the left-hand column of itunes and choose "restore from backup." this preserves all your settings and apps (assuming you've been backing up the phone, of course)

Downloaded OSX Mountain Lion on MacBook now stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel HELP?!?!

Downloaded OSX Mountain Lion on MacBook now stuck on grey screen with spinning wheel. What can I do, will I loose everything on my laptop?

ashg23 wrote:
Thank you, I have restarted but it is still stuck at the grey page with the spinning wheel? Any idea?
Have you started up holding down Command + R and attempted to install again?
Pete

HT4946 will my voice mails be lost if my phone froze trying to update itunes? I have the screen with the USB and the itunes circle. phone completely dysfunctional.

will my voice mails be lost if my phone froze trying to update itunes? I have the screen with the USB and the itunes circle. phone completely dysfunctional.

as ar as I know, voicemails aren't stored on your iPhone, your carrier saves them.
To solve the problem you're having, use this: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808
Using his article will erase everything on the device, so make sure you have a backup!
Good luck
Message was edited by: jesterwylde

My iMac is stuck with a grey screen with a icon of a lock.

My iMac is stuck with a grey screen with a icon of a lock.

You enter Target Disk mode by launching the iMac with the "T" key held down or by the method you used. It's used so another Mac connected to it can access the files as if it were another external HD. This document describes the process: Target Disk Mode, Transferring files between two computers using FireWire

My macbook pro doesn't bootbeyond the grey screen with apple icon and spinning wheel.

My macbook pro doesn't boot beyond the grey screen with apple icon and spinning wheel. I used the "Option" button to access the Disk Utility function and run Repair Disk and Repair Disk Permissions. Should I restart my computer?

The following support article is somewhat outdated. Where it refers to booting from an installation disc, you should boot from your recovery partition (if running 10.7 or later) by holding down the key combination command-R at the chime.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

I charged my account 50$ so I update my iPad now idont have any mony in my account please help my

I charged my account 50$ so I update my iPad now idont have any mony in my account please help my

Hi,
You have posted this in the Garageband forum. Please redirect to the appropriate forum if you want an answer.

I dropped my iphone 3gs and the screen has gone blank now showing a white screen with no icons can anyone advise me how to fix it?

I dropped my iphone 3gs and the screen has gone blank now showing a white screen with no icons can anyone advise me how to fix it?

Tim is correct.
But, first step with 3GS white screen and most iPhone problems is Reset, hold both home and power buttons until iPhone begins to restart itself, usually about 10 seconds of holding both buttons. If still white screen.
Next step would be Restore the iPhone Firmware with iTunes on your computer. If still white screen.
Next step would be to follow Tim's advice, if you had not already.

Installed tiger (formerly panther) now show only grey screen with apple. What should I do?

My Mac mini was 10.3.9 and I recently found that I no longer can view videos. I have a full version Tiger 10.4 so I installed it on the mini. Now it start with the right sound, the grey screen with apple comes up and that is it!! What do I do now?

You can try several trouble shooting steps are described in apple's trouble shooting article
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
1) disconnecting all peripherals, including the ethernet cable
2) power on system
1) power off system
2) restart holding down the shift key until the apple logo appears
1) resetting pram
2) hold down command, option, letters p and r and press the power button. Wait until you hear two chimes
There are more ideas in the trouble shooting article above

Hi.have a g5 mac,dual core 2.3 unit.i bought it with no hard drive.have got hard drive,formatted for mac.i am trying to load osx.i get a grey screen with a small box in the centre with 2 character faces,and then grey apple with loading icon spinning.help?

hi.have a g5 mac,dual core 2.3 unit.i bought it with no hard drive.have got hard drive,formatted for mac.i am trying to load osx.i get a grey screen with a small box in the centre with 2 character faces,and then grey apple with loading icon spinning.nothing is loading tho.

I see 10.6.3 in your profile---is tthat what you are trying to load? If so, it won't work. No PowerPC Mac like your G5 can run a Mac OS version higher than 10.5.8

HT4623 I started an update and now I have no screen?

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Youre basically in recovery mode. This could have been caused by an error or data interruption. Youll have to restore the phone.
Force Restore http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808?viewlocale=en_US

Update failed... Now I have grey screen with flashing icons. Please help!

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