Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

Question

Level 1

0 points

Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

I'm running OS X 10.4.11 on an Imac G5. It's been running a little slow for the last 6 months at least. Today it froze; this happens occasionally. I had to force it to shutdown by holding the power button. When I started it back up, it never made it past the gray screen (Apple logo with the spinning gear). Multiple force-quits and restarts did not help. I've been following these instructions in an attempt to correct the problem. Sadly, I've had to continue to the second-to-last step after I was unable to repair the harddrive from the installation cd. I am now trying to do an archive and install from the cd but my harddrive does not appear in the 'select a destination' screen (nothing does). Of course I don't want to format the drive and lose the work I've done since my last backup. What are my options?

iMac

Posted on Nov 24, 2012 6:31 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 24, 2012 7:16 PM in response to Dr. Benway

The internal hard drive has failed. What backups do you have?

Reply

Answer 2

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 25, 2012 11:10 AM in response to Linc Davis

I've backed up most of the important stuff. Some recent work I've done, as well as some miscellaneous items have not been backed up. Is there anyway to retrieve them before doing an erase and install?

Reply

Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 25, 2012 12:20 PM in response to Dr. Benway

There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.

1. Boot from your installation disc. Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in the support article linked below, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”

How to back up and restore your files

2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. Copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.

How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

3. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.

Reply

Answer 4

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 25, 2012 12:21 PM in response to Linc Davis

Also, to be clear, you're not going to do an erase and install. You're going to replace the drive, if not the whole computer.

Reply

Answer 5

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2012 9:57 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks, I'm comforted to read that I will be able to retrieve the new files I had not yet backed up. I am troubled to think that the harddrive may be beyond repair though. How can you be sure that I won't be able to do an erase and install?

Reply

Answer 6

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 26, 2012 10:13 AM in response to Dr. Benway

You may or may not be able to retrieve the files, depending on the state of the drive. If you manage to erase and install, you should expect the same thing to happen in short order. The drive is at least 7 years old and has reached the end of its life.

Reply

Answer 7

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2012 10:23 AM in response to Linc Davis

Is it worth replacing the drive on a machine of this age? I've done my best to take care of it and it has never left me wanting anything more. I'm also not in the financial position to be buying an entirely new computer though I'm disinclined to spend money on a refurbished drive (or can a new one be bought?) that would only last a short while. If I could get another year or two out of it, I'd be willing.

Reply

Answer 8

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 26, 2012 12:51 PM in response to Dr. Benway

If the computer is otherwise sound, you could get more use out of it. It's probably worth less than what a new drive will cost, including the labor to install it, but that's not really a valid comparison. There is no such thing as a refurbished drive that I've ever heard of. Hard drives are not repairable. You may be able to find one for less than $60, but someone qualified will have to install it for you.

Reply

Answer 9

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2012 1:16 PM in response to Linc Davis

Can the operating system by installed on an external harddrive that I could then run the computer from?

Reply

Answer 10

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 26, 2012 1:39 PM in response to Dr. Benway

Yes. It would have to be a FireWire 400 drive, I believe.

Reply

Answer 11

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2012 4:59 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks very much for your help Mr. Davis.

Reply

Answer 12

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 29, 2012 2:05 PM in response to Dr. Benway

Dear Mr. Davis, I'm sorry to report that I am unable to save a disk image of the internal drive of the non-working Mac to an external drive connected via a USB port. Disk Utility returns an "Input/output error" message when I try to do so. Would your second suggestion of connecting the computer to another Mac and booting it in target mode be a better alternative?

Reply

Answer 13

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Nov 29, 2012 2:33 PM in response to Dr. Benway

I doubt it. The drive is past the point where you can read from it by ordinary means. If the data is of high value to you, and you have no backups, you should send the drive to a professional data-recovery service such as DriveSavers. The cost will be in the four-figure range, maybe even more, and there's no assurance of success. You might be able to find a local shop that will do it for less, but that will be hit-or-miss.

Reply

Answer 14

Dr. Benway Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 2, 2012 12:29 PM in response to Linc Davis

Mr. Davis, I am now attempting to connect the non-working mac to an operating machine in target mode. The non-working mac enters target mode on startup but does not mount on the working computer. Can you suggest any ways to trouble shoot this problem?

Reply

Answer 15

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Dec 2, 2012 1:26 PM in response to Dr. Benway

That means the internal drive is dead. I'm afraid I have nothing to add to my last comment.

Reply