Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Why do I get a grey screen and a loading bar every time I open my laptop?

For the past 2 days, every time I've opened my laptop after a few hours or so my laptop would make a whirring noise, turn translucent grey, and have a loading bar. Then when the bar was fully loaded, the screen was back to normal, but I'd have to wait a few seconds to type in my password or move the mouse. I've only had this laptop for about 3 months now. What's going on?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 15, 2012 1:07 PM

Reply
32 replies

Nov 16, 2012 10:19 AM in response to skim712

Is the battery OK?


By default, when you close the lid on a MBP, two things happen: the whole memory contents get saved to disk into the hibernation image and once that is done the system goes into the low-power sleep mode. When you open the lid, the memory is verified: if no errors appear, the Mac awakens normally. If errors occur, it falls back onto hibernation mode: this means the saved image is copied over to memory before the Mac comes back online. What you're seeing is precisely this loading of the memory from the hibernation image.


Apparently your Mac is eschewing sleep mode and going always into hibernation. This can be either cause the battery is bad and memory is getting corrupted while asleep OR cause the Mac was set not to sleep, just hibernate.


Besides the command-line instructions for Terninal, to set or reset this, there are a number of utilities that offer a graphical alternative. I recall one called SafeSleep, used to be free but the developer recanted recently. MacPilot is another one (amongst a zillion other things it lets you do) but it's shareware too.

Nov 16, 2012 10:42 AM in response to skim712

For all these arcane settings and adjustments there's always a command you can type in Terminal. However, for the sleep/hibernate dealings I have absolutely no clue what it is. Maybe Google helps, or asking in the Unix side of this house (i.e., mac_os/mac_os_x_technologies).


Or ask a Genius at the Bar. But I get the feeling we're trying to avoid having to go there if possible....

Nov 17, 2012 11:02 PM in response to skim712

I have the exact same problem, new MacBook Pro 13", non-retina. I bought the computer in July, and I think it's been going on now for a little less than a week... possibly since the last firmware update. I find that it happens only when I haven't used the computer for an extended period... which is usually in the morning after I've woken up. At night, I've only ever had the computer plugged in. Please fix this problem, Apple! It's not a horrible bug, but it makes many question whether their computers need to be repaired.

Nov 23, 2012 2:44 AM in response to heatwaveo8

Here is what happen here : my MbPro (late 2012) is closed and in charge - i just unplug the power cable and ear the "going in stop" mechanichal sound. When i'm opening the MbP it is freezed -> it just resume after some seconds. In the whorst case it is completely "greyed".

Please Apple do something : it was fine till the firmware update.

Dec 25, 2012 3:11 PM in response to Anton

K sounds good. I've gone ahead and issued a bug report as well. Here's my experiences with this, after keeping the computer asleep for more than 4 hours:


1. If I don't use the charger during sleep, it works like normal.


2. If I leave the battery plugged in the whole time and open it with the battery plugged in, I get a semi-transparent screen, as though the battery had died, with a loading bar. After the loading bar goes away, I see my content. The time goes up 4 hours from when I put the computer to sleep, and a couple of seconds later, the time becomes correct.


3. If I leave the battery plugged in the whole time and unplug the battery charger, the computer makes a noise as though it's awaking from sleep. Then when I open the computer, I get a gray screen for a couple of seconds, and then it loads my content and updates to the correct time.

Dec 26, 2012 12:04 AM in response to heatwaveo8

3. If I leave the battery plugged in the whole time and unplug the battery charger, the computer makes a noise as though it's awaking from sleep. Then when I open the computer, I get a gray screen for a couple of seconds, and then it loads my content and updates to the correct time.


Same here since i cant manually remove the battery.

C'mon Apple fix it you can doit !

Why do I get a grey screen and a loading bar every time I open my laptop?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.