White screen at start up --- HELP!!

Today my macbook was working just fine. I used it all day. I was coming home from school (and had it inside it's case inside my bag) and someone cut me off while I was driving. My bag fell from the passengers seat of the car onto the floor.
When I went to turn it on when I got home I got a white screen. I took out the battery and tried to restart it and got the same thing. I read on here that putting in the install disc could help diagnose the problem but now the disc won't eject.
Also when I shut it down it goes straight to the black screen right when I hit the power button then you can hear the hard drive making noise for a few seconds after that.
I do have the apple care plan, which is fine, but I am concerned about losing all of the photos on my hard drive. I really don't think this could affect my hard drive and I'm hoping it's something else.
Help?

Do you own a second Mac? Even without a working screen, you could put the MB in Firewire target mode and connect it to another Mac by Firewire and move all your sensitive data.

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I can't get past white screen when starting up, any ideas?

I Can't get past white screen when starting up, any ideas

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570 Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
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TS2376 i have multicolored vertical lines on white screen after start up

i have multicolored vertical lines on white screen after start up on macbook. how do i fix this?

i have the same problem with my iphone 4s, im just waiting for it to die from battery but try rebooting,restarting or charging it

HOW DO I CORRECT A WHITE SCREEN UPON START-UP?

HOW DO I CORRECT A WHITE SCREEN UPON START-UP?

Festus,
I'm getting you have a MacBook rather than an iMac, if so you may want to request to have your post moved to the correct forum. However please read Gray screen appears during startup to begin troubleshooting your problem.
Also when posting please do not type in all caps, it is considered shouting. We can "hear" you fine.

Does anyone know about a white screen upon start up?

My daughter has an older MacBook and we have upgraded software. She tells me that she has a white screen upon start up each time she turns on (boots up) the laptop. I tried to boot the machine up to see what IOS version she has but can't get past the white screen. I trried moving the mouse and pressing arbitrary buttons to no avail.

Try booting from an installer DVD. If that works OK, then reinstall OS X.

My computer has a white screen at start up and sits for hours. How can I fix my computer?

My computer has a white screen at start up and sits for hours. How can I fix my computer?

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 10. 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.

White screen wont start It sounds like a clock

white screen wont start It sounds like a clock

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Urgently need help: blank white screen at start with unusual symbol...

Hi guys,
I just turned on my 24 inch early-2008 model iMac, and it came up with a blank white screen, with a grey circle and a line through the middle of the circle. It doesn't say what this means in the manual. Recently, I have been having numerous troubles with my iMac, and I have seen the symbol of the grey folder with the question mark, but not this new symbol. I only just got off the phone to the Apple people when this happened.
What does this mean? Is my computer done for?

Have a read here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
For starters, start your Mac while holding down the Alt/Option-key until the Boot Selection screen is shown.
Choose to boot into OSX (usually the icon labeled Macintosh HD).
If succesful and you get into OSX go to System Preferences the Startup Volume and reset your OSX to be the default.
Stefan

White Screen on Startup - please help

Hi,
I'm having problems starting up the imac when i have an external usb hard drive connected. When I turn the computer on or restart, it will freeze on a white screen until i manually turn it off by pressing the "off" button.
I'm pretty sure its the USB drives, as this doesn't happen when I have them disconnected, but its really troublesome having to disconnect and reconnect everytime i want to restart.
I have the startup disk specified in preferences for the windows partition in the internal hard drive. (the external hard drives that are causing a problem are not being used to boot)
any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks

found out its te cdfs partition on the external drive

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Hi, and welcome to Apple Discussions.
Try booting into Safe Mode. This will take quite awhile longer than a normal startup because it does a file check and repair of the hard disk.
If this works you will see your normal desktop. Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally, and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click on the top hard drive icon in the left sidebar and note the S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom right of the pane. What does it say?
Select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless you've renamed it). What is the hard drive capacity and how much space remains available on it? Repair permissions on it.
See if you are able to do a little hard drive maintenance to help things out.

Flashing ? folder on white screen upon start up

i have a 2008 macbook unibody and when started up i get a white screen with a flashing ? folder. I have tried some suggestions i found here, like holding the c button as well as holding the option button. when i hold the option button i get a flashing spinning globe on a hard drive. nothing else happens, i cant choose a drive or only thing, but i get the cursor. someone please help. oh and i dont have the install/reboot discs either.

The flashing ? mark can mean several things.
One the starutp disk is failing or has failed.
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
You mentioned holding down the Option key. Theoretically, that would prompt the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk but if that didn't work, then you may be out of luck.
If the startup disk has failed, you wouldn't be able to repair the startup disk using your install disc anyway.

White screen upon start up

Hey sorry if this has been answered but im not in the mood to go scrolling through dozens of pages to find what im looking for.
So here goes. Today i decided it was time to set boot camp, however before i could do this i had to defrag as my imac is around 20mouths old and the drive looked a bit messy. (note : it worked absolutely fine) Defrag finished and my computer was back to normal use, i postponed setting up bootcamp for a day and shut the imac down. When i rebooted later the typical white screen appeared with the happy spinning wheel. HOWEVER underneath this was a loading bar that i have never seen before, this loaded to about 10% then went back to the start and got to about 30/40% before the computer shuts itself down.
WHAT IS GOING ON? please help im a university student a i desperately need tis to do my study.
PS i have tried the trick of unplugging (that is mentioned all over google) it didn't do anything.

Did you (or your defrag utility) verify the integrity of the drive before defragging? If not, sounds like your drive was probably damaged in the process. Try [repairing the hard drive with Disk Utility|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417]. Most likely this will not be adequate to get your computer back up and running - you may need to go so far as reinstalling the system - but it's a start.

Starts normally, white screen after start up

I connected it through HDMI cable to my TV and still, there is a white screen on my TV as well. It's a G61-409CA

Some windows files are corrupted or it contains a virus.
Try entering safe mode:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c03439317
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Macbook Pro stuck at white screen on startup. HELP!

Right when i turn on my macbook pro, it plays the startup sound and gets stuck on the white screen. I can hear it running my cd right when the computer starts up. no matter what i do, i cannot get out of the white screen. it just stays there. same thing every reboot. Whats going on???
HELP ME!

Hi, I had this exact same problem with my 15in mbp just before Christmas. I shut it down one afternoon, and then later in the day switched it back on. It wouldn't boot past the white/grey screen. It wouldn't even get as far as the apple symbol. I tried to start it up several times, but to no avail.
I called up apple support, and they had me run through various keyboard combinations at start up. Nothing worked. According to my observations and the apple telephone operator's knowledge, it was as if the keyboard wasn't booting up at all during the startup sequence, hence it was not responding to the key combinations. There was no fix available over the phone and the advice given to me was to take it to an Apple Store to have the keyboard replaced. Living in Prague Czech Rep, as I am, there is no apple store, only one reseller, which I resolved to take my mbp to the next day.
However, before the night was up, I decided to to do one more thing. According to my (less-than-Vulcan) logic, since I was taking it to be opened up, and knowing that since the dawn of time, hitting machines has seemed to give them a new lease of life, I decided to see what a sharp thump to the side of the computer might do. It wasn't overly forceful, just enough to make me feel satisfied. Would you believe it, the **** thing started up the next second I pushed the power button!
Well, I had many weeks of uninterrupted, blissful computer use until a few days ago. If you haven't heard, quite a few mbp users have been reporting cases of unresponsive keyboards and trackpads whilst running leopard, leading to kernel panics and I have now unwillingly joined their ranks. I am in no way an authority on computers (I think that's rather obvious from my repair technique mentioned above) but I have a suspicion that my little episode last Christmas is related to the current issue of the internal keyboard and trackpad becoming unresponsive, so I'd watch out for that in the future once you're able to get your laptop up and running again. There doesn't seem to be much information as to why this is happening, but for my part, I've found that it's more frequent if pressure is placed underneath the battery, and less frequent under Tiger than Leopard.
I really hope, you're able to get your mbp up and running again. I know how utterly frustrating it is when it's not working and you have no idea why.

At start up only white screen, At start up only white screen

Hello,
Yesterday my iMac would not boot up passed the dong and the white screen. How do I get passed this?

Try starting up the mac in verbose mode (command-v during startup)
This will show you everything the mac is doing during startup, and possibly show you where the mac is getting stuck
Also try an SMC reset (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964) and see if that helps
Another avenue to try is to hold option during boot and see if your mac can find any drives at all.
If you have one, try booting into your original disks that came with the computer, or a lion key. That will at least show you that the computer is able to boot
Failing all of that, your mac may need a hardware repair

White screen at start up --- HELP!!

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