Mac G5 Freezes on gray screen on startup.

Question

Mac G5 Freezes on gray screen on startup.

I've been noticing a problem of a freezing computer on the gray screen on startup in the last month. I simply re-start my computer, and it goes back to normal and boots up fine. I've not installed and programs, utilities, or new hardware. My computer still has over 200 gig of free space.

Is this an indication of a worse problem? If not, is there something I can do to fix this? I regularly used the Disk Utility program to check and fix permissions, so that should keep it somewhat clean.

2x2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 22, 2013 11:57 AM

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Answer 1

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Jan 22, 2013 12:25 PM in response to Michael DiGiorgio

Maybe some help here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

82,841 points

Jan 22, 2013 12:26 PM in response to Michael DiGiorgio

You can't have a G5, if you are running 10.6. Please double check which machine you actually have?

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Answer 3

Jan 22, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Michael DiGiorgio

Update your os. Your profile confirms you still using OS 10.6.6! You should be using OS 10.6.8 the last version of SL.

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

82,841 points

Jan 22, 2013 12:55 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Upgrading a frozen system rarely resolves a freeze. First let us find out what is freezing.

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Answer 5

a brody

Level 10

82,841 points

Jan 22, 2013 1:41 PM in response to Michael DiGiorgio

Is your data bscked up? Freezes can be just as much due to dying hardware, as bad directories, and nonessential or out if sync system utilities which are either too old or too new for the system in question. Without backing up, we csn't guarantee it isn't the worst case without worsening the condition if it is.

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Answer 6

Jan 22, 2013 6:00 PM in response to a brody

I'm pretty much backed up, and I do have 10.6.8.

I'm not sure if I should be very worried. Is this something that should never happen unless there is something awful looming? Is there no other more benign reason, like some sort of corruption?

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Answer 7

a brody

Level 10

82,841 points

Jan 24, 2013 8:06 PM in response to Michael DiGiorgio

Boot off your 10.6 installer disc with the Startup Manager. Get the installer to the point you see the Utilities menu. Select Disk Utility. Select First Aid. Select the hard disk, and select Repair Disk. Do not repair permissions. If repair disk can't find anything wrong, we know the directory is at least in good shape, if it can't repair the issue, you may need to buy Alsoft Disk Warrior. Tell us how you fair.

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Answer 8

Jan 25, 2013 5:41 AM in response to a brody

Thanks so much, I'll try it! My machine hasn't done it in a few weeks, but better be safe than sorry!

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Answer 9

Jan 29, 2013 7:00 PM in response to Michael DiGiorgio

OK- this is getting weird. It's still hanging on the gray screen, even after using the Disk Utility First Aid from the system disk. It didn't find anything wrong?

Also, it's starting to have the flashing question mark with the folder. I restart it, and go to preferences and re-select my system hard drive, and then restart. I then check it again, the the lock is unlocked and the system disk I chose has a question mark on it?

Question, how is it that my system is not remembering my startup disk? And how is the lock getting unlocked?

I think this problem is at the heart of my gray screen problem.

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