When I restart my Mac, the grey screen appears like usual. But it takes more than 40 minutes (more) for it to load to finish restarting the Mac. What should I do?!

When I restart my Mac, the grey screen appears like usual. But it takes more than 40 minutes (or more) for it to load to finish restarting the Mac. What should I do to fix it?!

Disconnect all devices from your computer if you have not already done so. Restart again. If the problem has been resolved, you had a peripheral conflict. You will then have to reconnect the devices one at time, restart, to locate the culprit.
Login Items is another culprit. Check your login items.
System Preferences>Accounts>Login Items
Delete/disable all you do not need or want.

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My iPhone 4s (bought today) won't get past the activation screen. It says 'it may take a few minutes to activate your iPhone' and then skips to another screen saying 'activation failed - try again'. Any solutions?

my iPhone 4s (bought today) won't get past the activation screen. It says 'it may take a few minutes to activate your iPhone' and then skips to another screen saying 'activation failed - try again'. Any solutions?

Apple's activation server is down.
I called Apple and the support team had the same issue.
All you can do is be patient.

What do I do when only the grey screen appears on my Mac desktop?

When turning on computer it will only get to grey screen after the chime.

update your profile to reflect mac model and OS more clearly.
You might want to search out for the OS X and iMac Communities.
Mac OS X Forum
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=discussions
The more backup sets you have the better. And some basic knowledge of system maintenance.
Mac OS X Help
http://www.apple.com/support/macbasics/
Isolating Issues in Mac OS
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1388
https://www.apple.com/support/osx/
https://www.apple.com/support/quickassist/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/help/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/tour/
Get Help with your Product
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304725
Apple Mac App Store
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_app_store/using_mac_apple_store
How to Buy Mac OS X Mountain Lion/Lion
http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/
TimeMachine 101
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine
Mac OS X Community
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os
Recovery Mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
ExpressLane
https://expresslane.apple.com/
Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT131
Startup Key combination: here is the old list:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343
Startup Key combinations new list
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367
Clone your system:
How to Clone a Volume
Using Cloning as a Backup Strategy
See also Erasing a Drive, How and Why to Partition a Drive, RAID.
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7032/carbon-copy-cloner
Using Cloning as a Backup Strategy
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone.html
Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393
What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X) - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
Isolating issues in Mac OS X
Creating a temporary user to isolate user-specific problems:
Isolating an issue by using another user account
Identifying resource hogs and other tips:
Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used
Starting the computer in "safe mode":
Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
To identify potential hardware problems:
Apple Hardware Test
General Mac maintenance:
Tips to keep your Mac in top form
How to install OS X on a new or faulty HD without Internet recovery
Corrupt and new disks might not have a working Recovery partition, but there are still ways to access one and reinstall OS X, if needed.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57594422-263/how-to-install-os-x-on-a-new-o r-faulty-hd-without-internet-recovery/

I-MAC has the grey screen on start up, then shuts down after trying to load (bar shows 30%).

Shutdown my I-mac and next morning the grey screen appears with a loading bar which gets to 30% and then i-MAC shutsdown. Went into Utilities and it shows my files etc. but the verify and the repair disk have not corrected the issue(s).
What else can I do before I take it to the apple support. I live in Brunei and past history suggests that the Apple Support will just erase everything on the drive and I will lose the lot. I just want the photos and my own CD loaded music.
Any suggestions would be welcome.

Look at this: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570

What happens between the chime & the grey screen on boot?

Hi,
My Mac Pro has recently started taking up to 30secs to reach the grey screen when booting. The chime happens shortly after (re)starting, and then there's a significant pause, where nothing seems to happen (even the Apple Display stays in stand-by mode), before the HDD starts reading and the grey screen appears. I tried using Verbose mode, but the data it prints to screen doesn't start until after the long pause, so…
Anyone know what the Mac Pro could be doing? I've no other problems with the machine.
Thanks,
S.

Hi,
My issue has been solved, apparently by a combination of a PRAM reset and re-selecting the startup disk in System Preferences. My machine now moves from chime to Apple logo almost instantaneously
The AppleCare representative was thorough and walked me through various steps that narrowed down the issue, and his hesitant conclusion was that somehow, as hatter suggested, the Mac was taking its time to find the appropriate boot device - possibly as a result of a change I had made in my BootCamp partition (Windows 7) or as a result of a previous PRAM reset (as hatter suggested).
Case closed! Yay!
S.
EDIT: So, Japamac, it was presumably the "system selection" part of the post-Chime process that was causing the delay. Didn't see your post till I returned to respond with this post, but thanks for the effort anyway
Message was edited by: SiRGadaBout

I didn't close my mac air down properly and when i tried to use it, the screen was frozen. I turned it off and restarted it, and the grey screen with the apple logo appear and the circle just keeps spinning. Can you advise?

i didn't close my mac air down properly and when i tried to use it, the screen was frozen. I turned it off and restarted it, and the grey screen with the apple logo appear and the circle just keeps spinning. Can you advise?

Try resetting the SMC
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

When my Mac battery dies and I turn it back on, it always crashes on the grey screen with the progress bar, then it restarts (taking forever) and does not remember any of the programs I was running. MacBook Pro 13 inch running Mavericks

When my Mac battery dies and I turn it back on, it always crashes on the grey screen with the progress bar, then it restarts (taking forever) and does not remember any of the programs I was running. MacBook Pro 13 inch running Mavericks

http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/17/os-x-yosemite-installation-stuck/
also use the Command-L to view logs during installation

My computer shows the grey screen that says i need to restart when i tray and boot from an external hard drive

It shows the grey screen that i need to restart when i try to boot from an external hard drive. both drives have snow leopard

Kernel Panics? Don't panic too!
"You need to restart your computer" (kernel panic) message appears (Mac OS X v10.5, 10.6)

HT4904 I need to repair my start up disc so I have to start up from installation disc. In doing so, my computer restarts, I hear the mac sound, then a grey screen and then turns off and goes on in this cycle endlessly. Why can't I restart from disc?

I need to repair my start up disc so I have to start up from installation disc. In doing so, my computer restarts, I hear the mac sound, then a grey screen and then turns off and goes on in this cycle endlessly. Why can't I restart from disc?

Booting From An OS X Installer Disc
1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple
logo appears.
5. Wait for installer to finish loading.

Hello my Mac Air is frozen on the grey screen (with the apple symbol, sleeping mode, restart-and off button), once you turn it on.

hello my Mac Air is frozen on the grey screen (with the apple symbol, sleeping mode, restart-and off button), once you turn it on. I Can`t press any button.My Mouse still works. Battery is charged. Alt-cmd-escape doesn`t work It even after a forced shutting off, the problem is the same.   what should i do? Thank you for your help.

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 boot failure is to secure your 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 your last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
     a. Boot into the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
b. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
c. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to boot, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can boot 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.
If you've booted from an external storage device, make sure that your internal boot volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Step 3
Boot in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot 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 your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you boot 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, your boot volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 5.
If you can boot and log in now, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on your boot 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 reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the boot process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 4
Sometimes a boot failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 5
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select your 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 reboot as usual.
Step 6
Reinstall the OS. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 7
Repeat step 6, but this time erase the boot volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically reboot into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer your data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 8
This step applies only to older Macs (not current models) that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery. The battery is distinct from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a gray screen at boot. Typically the boot failure will be preceded by loss of the startup disk and system clock settings. See the user manual for replacement instructions.
Step 9
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested.

When I restart my iMac it is stuck in the grey screen with spinning circle

When I restart my imac (less than 1 year old) it won't start up. I get the grey screen and spinning circle and it never moves beyond. A few times in the past, I've tried to reset the PRAM and that has worked. However, its not working this time. Nothing seems to restart the computer.

Hi,
The Recovery HD I believe is the Internet Recovery feature found in most 2010 and 2011 Macs. Another poster in this topic suggested taking a look at an Apple support article regarding this issue. A solution may be found there that may work for you. If all else fails, I'd recommend you contact AppleCare. Unless you are within 90 days of your purchase (which isn't the case for you) you'll either need to have the AppleCare Protection Plan to call AppleCare over the phone, otherwise I'd suggest taking your iMac to an Apple Retail Store. Could be inconvenient doing that, though, considering the iMac is not exactly portable. However, the Apple technician will (presumably - just guessing) do various initial hardware tests on the machine and hopefully resolve the issue for you.
By the way, the Internet Recovery feature (Recovery HD) allows you to restore Mac OS X in the event you have misplaced your installation discs, for example. The Internet Recovery feature can also be activated at boot up by pressing the Command (Cmd) key and the R key afterwards (while keeping the Cmd key pressed down).

My problem started when system preferences was unresponsive and would not force quit. I tryed to restart and got the grey screen, but it never restarted. I closed the lid and now the screen is blank. Has anyone had a similar problem after Lion?

My problem started when system preferences was unresponsive and would not force quit. I tryed to restart and got the grey screen, but it never restarted. I closed the lid and now the screen is blank. Has anyone had a similar problem after Lion installation?

No, as I have yet to be convinced on Lion.
Did a permissions repair help from the install DVD?

When I start up my Mac it won't go past the grey screen. Any suggestions?

When I start up my MAC it won't go past the grey screen. Any suggestion?

Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

My Mac won´t load. When I turn it on, I type the password, then it starts to load, but nothing happens. It gets stuck on the grey screen with the apple logo. I can´t go to an Apple store since I´m working in Bolivia. Thanks

When I turn it on, I type the password, then it starts to load, but nothing happens. It gets stuck on the grey screen with the apple logo. I can´t go to an Apple store since I´m working in Bolivia. Thanks

RhysWills1,
which model MacBook Pro do you have, and which version of OS X is installed on it?

TS2570 when i turn on my computer it stays on the grey screen and then turns off by itself. How can I fix that?

when i turn on my computer it stays on the grey screen and then turns off by itself. How can I fix that?

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

When I restart my Mac, the grey screen appears like usual. But it takes more than 40 minutes (more) for it to load to finish restarting the Mac. What should I do?!

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