starbug

Q: Because of slow iMac boot-up, NVRAM reset, now grey screen, stuck!

Hi,

 

because of an ongoing slow boot-up sequence on my iMac (27", Mid 2011, Intel-based) I did an NVRAM reset successfully. Immediately during the next startup my iMac hung in the grey screen and is not booting at all since then, no apple logo, nothing, just the turn-on sound.

 

I tried to boot into recovery mode successfully once, did nothing there and since then I had no luck with any boot-up keyboard shortcuts.

 

I may have to mention, that I did manually upgrade my system with an ssd in addition to the hdd and created a fusion drive a couple month ago. All worked fine so far. Don't know wether this plays a role in regards to the keyboard shortcuts.

 

I also experienced bootup failures (system beeping) from time to time (very seldom). Typically it was sufficient to take off power and reattach it, afterwards the system was booting fine.

 

Does anyone has any idea what to do!?

 

Regards,

Starbug

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 21, 2013 6:44 AM

Close

Q: Because of slow iMac boot-up, NVRAM reset, now grey screen, stuck!

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Jul 21, 2013 9:33 AM in response to starbug
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Jul 21, 2013 9:33 AM in response to starbug

    starbug wrote:

     

    Hi,

     

    because of an ongoing slow boot-up sequence on my iMac (27", Mid 2011, Intel-based) I did an NVRAM reset successfully. Immediately during the next startup my iMac hung in the grey screen and is not booting at all since then, no apple logo, nothing, just the turn-on sound.

     

    I tried to boot into recovery mode successfully once, did nothing there and since then I had no luck with any boot-up keyboard shortcuts.

     

    I may have to mention, that I did manually upgrade my system with an ssd in addition to the hdd and created a fusion drive a couple month ago. All worked fine so far. Don't know wether this plays a role in regards to the keyboard shortcuts.

     

    I also experienced bootup failures (system beeping) from time to time (very seldom). Typically it was sufficient to take off power and reattach it, afterwards the system was booting fine.

     

    Does anyone has any idea what to do!?

     

    Regards,

    Starbug

     

    Check out  KB Articles:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11044 OS X Mountain Lion: If you see a gray screen at startup

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547 

    1 beep = no RAM installed

    2 beeps = incompatible RAM types

    3 beeps = no good banks

    4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)

    5 beeps = processor is not usable

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2ue5vgy.gif

  • by starbug,

    starbug starbug Jul 21, 2013 12:51 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 21, 2013 12:51 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Hi Baby Boomer,

     

    I did alread check both links, without luck in any direction. To be more precise: The only boot-up key which is "working" (or at least shows me a result) is the NVRAM reset. I do get the sound after some time and the system is rebooting. Neither of the other boot-up key combination generate any result.

     

    The error beeping in the past was referring to 3 beeps (no good banks), if I recall right. I already tried removing them and reinserting in different combinations. I never get any beeps nor other reaction.

     

    Without knowing it for sure, I do think that a lot of the boot-up key-combinations rely on a recovery or tool partition on the harddrive. Let's guess my fusion drive got corrupted, it should at least be possible to boot from another drive (hoping that the "c" during boot-up doesn't need any local stored data to work). But even this won't work. That brings me to the conclusion, that that there might be a HW issue I can't determine since the HW test tool from apple also relies on local stored files to work.

     

    Any other oppinion/guess?

     

    Regards,

    Starbug

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Jul 21, 2013 2:25 PM in response to starbug
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Jul 21, 2013 2:25 PM in response to starbug

    Other than reinstalling ML and/or doing the ML Recovery, I am out of suggestions.  Have you done the hardware test per KB Article http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11342 OS X Mountain Lion: Use Apple Hardware Test?

     

     

    If you have AppleCare, call them.  Let them deal w/it.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2ue5vgy.gif

  • by starbug,

    starbug starbug Jul 23, 2013 9:29 AM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 23, 2013 9:29 AM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Hi BabyBoomer,

     

    seems I'm out of luck, since I'm caught between a rock and a hard spot. Beside an NVRAM Reset none of the boot-up key-combos (HW Test, Boot Drive Selection, ...) work, therefore I can't do further analysis and I'm stuck in the grey screen without spinning wheel.

     

    AppleCare isn't given anymore, too. The iMac is more than 2 years old.

     

    I will give it a last try and take the system apart, deinstall the SSD and leave it with the original HDD. Maybe this makes any difference and the system is at least reacting during boot-up.

     

    I'm frustrated since everything started with a "voluntary" NVRAM reset hoping to speed up the slow boot-up process (otherwise the system was working fine). But maybe it was that kind of murphys law, HW defect combined with my NVRAM reset!?

     

    Cheers,

    Starbug

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Jul 23, 2013 11:40 AM in response to starbug
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Jul 23, 2013 11:40 AM in response to starbug

    starbug wrote:

     

    Hi BabyBoomer,

     

    seems I'm out of luck, since I'm caught between a rock and a hard spot. Beside an NVRAM Reset none of the boot-up key-combos (HW Test, Boot Drive Selection, ...) work, therefore I can't do further analysis and I'm stuck in the grey screen without spinning wheel.

     

    AppleCare isn't given anymore, too. The iMac is more than 2 years old.

     

    I will give it a last try and take the system apart, deinstall the SSD and leave it with the original HDD. Maybe this makes any difference and the system is at least reacting during boot-up.

     

    I'm frustrated since everything started with a "voluntary" NVRAM reset hoping to speed up the slow boot-up process (otherwise the system was working fine). But maybe it was that kind of murphys law, HW defect combined with my NVRAM reset!?

     

    Cheers,

    Starbug

     

    Should be more than 2 years of AC warranty.  Check your AC status Getting Warranty Info.

     

    Mine is for 3 years, not two.  I purchased AC 3/13.  Apple's warranty website has confirmed:  Estimated Expiration Date: March 16, 2016.  I registered AC over the phone.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2ue5vgy.gif