Stuck on start up screen

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Stuck on start up screen

Yesterday I updated my iTunes, Quicktime, and Security, and then was told I needed to restart the computer for the updates to take effect. So I restarted, but when my mac came back on it got to that start up screen after the chime. The screen that's gray, with the apple symbol in the center, and the little dotted circle that spins around under the apple. But it seems stuck there. It's not progressing to the status bar or the main screen. I've turned it off, and back on a few times, but the same thing keeps happening. Help please.

MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Sep 15, 2009 9:16 AM

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Answer 1

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a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Sep 15, 2009 9:43 AM in response to comowhite4

Is your data backed up?
If not, look at my FAQ*:

http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html

for possible data recovery steps.

If it is, try zapping the PRAM, and if that doesn't work, try starting in safe mode, and if that doesn't work, try repairing the directory and permissions.

Zapping your PRAM is described here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Starting in safe mode is as simple as holding the shift key down at startup.

Repairing permissions and directory is described on my FAQ*:

http://www.macmaps.com/directoryfaq.html

Let us know how far you are able to get.

- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

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Answer 2

Sep 15, 2009 10:25 AM in response to comowhite4

"But it *seems stuck there.* It's not progressing to the status bar or the main screen."

The installation process does take awhile. The !http://www.picvault.info/images/537045167_aquawheel.gif! will spin for approximately 5-7 minutes before it stops to enable the OS screen pops up. It appears you may have unintentionally interrupted the installation process.

A brody's suggestions should fix it.

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Answer 3

comowhite4 Author

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Sep 16, 2009 12:17 AM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Well it wasn't the first time I turned it on, I've been using it over a year now. And I've given it plenty of time to load or install. Much longer than just 5-7 minutes. I thought it might need longer so I started it and went to go run some errands, came back almost two hours later, and it was still on the start-up screen.

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Answer 4

comowhite4 Author

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Sep 16, 2009 12:52 AM in response to a brody

None of that worked. I do what you're saying, but it gets to the gray star-up screen with the apple symbol, and the dotted circle, and just gets stuck there. I certainly give it plenty of time to load. Over 30 minutes, but it never goes beyond the start-up screen.

One of the last things I did before turning it off, before the problem was an Apple update of Quicktime, iTunes, and a security update. Could these things be affecting my mac?

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Answer 5

a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Sep 16, 2009 6:11 AM in response to comowhite4

If you have a special Quicktime component like DivX, Perian, or other software, that may be impacted by the Quicktime update and not be compatible until that component is updated.

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Answer 6

comowhite4 Author

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Sep 16, 2009 9:30 AM in response to a brody

Well how can I fix any of that if I can't get past the start-up screen?

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Answer 7

a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Sep 16, 2009 9:37 AM in response to comowhite4

Take your Mac into Target Disk Mode that is having problems, and connect it to another Mac. Discover from the developers of the said components where they store those documents. Remove them.

Target Disk Mode is described here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Note, if your hard drive does not show up in Target Disk Mode, you may have a directory issue, which I discussed earlier.

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Answer 8

Sep 16, 2009 9:45 AM in response to comowhite4

Were you able to boot from your install DVD to repair your disk?

If none of the suggestions are working for you, take the computer to your local Apple Store or an AASP. Hopefully, you have AppleCare.

*Another possibility:* http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377 MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues is worth looking into.

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