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Computer won't load past grey screen with Apple logo, even with OS Disc

I turn on my computer and only gets to the grey screen with the Apple logo and idling circle. After a while, it loads a small box telling me to restart, time and time again, no matter how many times I restart. I've tried holding "shift" to go into safe mode, it won't let me.
I believe it's originally a Tiger platform, and right now I think it's running on Leopard.
I just bought a Snow Leopard OS X Disc, and I inserted it and tried to let it load. It gave me the restart box. I held down "c" while starting up, got the restart box.
Held down "option", and selected the "Mac OS X install Disc"; it went back to the grey Apple logo screen to load, and gave me the restart box after several minutes. Repeated that and held down "c" while loading, still gave me the box.
Nothing I do with or without the OS X Disc is making a difference. I cannot load anything on my computer, period.
Can someone please suggest something for me to try?

macbook pro a1226, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jul 1, 2010 1:49 PM

20 replies

C.Batt

Level 1

0 points

Jul 2, 2010 4:09 PM in response to C.Batt

In addition to how much RAM is in your machine, what version of the OS is installed on it RIGHT NOW? Your signature indicates 10.5, but have you installed 10.6.4 ?

Message was edited by: C.Batt

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 2, 2010 4:44 PM in response to C.Batt

C.Batt wrote:
Oh god... I've been having the same problem. If only I knew how to make it stop. I've been going out of my head since June 30 trying to figure this out. Here are some of my related posts:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1916253&tstart=0&messageID=118 22729#11822729

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11822666#11822666

In my case, I "seem" to have fixed the problem simply by switching back to the original RAM (2 modules at 1 GB each). My new RAM passed all of the memory tests I threw at it over several hours, but it didn't reveal any problems. However, since switching back to my old RAM I've been running nice and stable for over 8 hours.

Quick question: how much RAM is in the failing machine?

Hi C,

It's always a good idea to read through all the posts in a thread; it might save you and others lots of time/effort. Any of the following look familiar? 😉

tjk wrote:
Faulty/incompatible/loose RAM can cause all kinds of startup issues. Is your RAM original Apple-supplied RAM? If not, it's a bit more likely to potentially be an issue. If you want to try something before bringing it in to a repair shop, pull one RAM module, try booting, switch RAM slots, try booting, repeat with other RAM module. You could also try running the Apple Hardware Test from the proper install disc, although it may not boot from that either. Aside from that, I can't think of anything else but to bring it in for testing, as Kappy has suggested (the usual diagnosis is bad logic board/big bucks).

C.Batt

Level 1

0 points

Jul 2, 2010 4:55 PM in response to tjk

It's true. No doubt. As I said in one of my posts to another thread, I fooled myself into going down the path of most resistance/agony rather than trying the simplest thing first. However, it's only been a short time with the original RAM and who knows, the problem may recur.

If my machine makes it through the night without an issue, I'll be pretty confident that it was indeed a problem with the memory. Then I'll test each of the newer RAM modules individually to try and figure out which, if any of them, has a problem.

Jul 2, 2010 8:14 PM in response to C.Batt

idk how much ram there is, but i installed snow leopard today. its still freezing though.

Jul 2, 2010 8:42 PM in response to repeatuntilfalse

im pretty sure that the ram is all original though.

Computer won't load past grey screen with Apple logo, even with OS Disc