Mac won't boot up. Sits at gray screen

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Level 1

4 points

Mac won't boot up. Sits at gray screen

When I boot, I get to the gray opening screen with the gray apple logo and the spinning gear. Then the fans get louder and faster over the next 2 minuts or so. It sound like a jet getting ready to take off.
What's wrong? It was running slow so I went to reboot it and this is what I got.
What can I do? Help!

Duel G5, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Oct 27, 2007 4:38 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 28, 2007 3:49 AM in response to Todd Coffman

First thing: boot it from the install disk and use Disk Utility to do a disk repair.

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Answer 2

Todd Coffman Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2007 5:12 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

I've found out now that the computer will actually boot up. It takes about 7 minutes for it to boot all the way up and it is about 1 minute between the click of the mouse and I see the result of the click.
I have tried holding down the shift key to boot into safe mode but that doesn't work either. Are there any special key commands to boot from the disk? So far nothing has changed since I was able to get the install disk in the computer.

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Answer 3

Oct 28, 2007 5:46 AM in response to Todd Coffman

With the disks in, restart and hold the C key down until it boots off the install disk (this is quite slow, so don't worry). Don't start an install: I think Disk Utility is under the Apple Menu. Do a disk repair and repair permissions. Restart.

Allow it to reboot: go to System Preferences>Startup Disk and make sure it isn't set to boot from a Network Volume. If necessary select your normal startup disk.

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Answer 4

Todd Coffman Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2007 10:39 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Great, I'll try that. I'll let you know what happens.
Thanks.
Todd

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Answer 5

Todd Coffman Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2007 4:26 PM in response to Todd Coffman

Well I reformatted twice and in am able to boot up and the computer works but everything is still at a very slow pace. It takes 8 minutes to boot up and I have nothing installed except the OS and the OS update which I downloaded. I'm suspicious of my hard drive and I'm considering replacing it. Do I have to buy a Mac specific hard drive or can I buy one that meets my current type (SATA 3.0 Gb/s)?
I noticed the HD's at the mac site are considerably more expensive than at say NewEgg or somewhere like that.
Any advice would be appreciated.

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