MacBook Pro won't go past grey screen with loading bar and wheel

My screen went to gray as I was starting up. Tried re-starting several times. Nothing got past the gray screen. Earlier in the week I had remembered seeing the warning that my disk space was almost full. Taking this lead, I tried entering my computer in SAFE MODE (clicking SHIFT right after you hear the chime). This worked and allowed access to my computer. I then gathered 30GB of video I had in my MOVIE file and put it on an external hard drive. Restarted the computer, crossed my fingers, and sure enough, no gray screen. It started right up as normal. Hope this helps. Easy fix.

I've had the same problem with my MBP. Hanging on the gray screen at start up. I tried everything suggested and nothing seemed to work.

I reset the PRAM, SMC, installed new RAM, ran disk utility, ran Apple's diagnostic/hardware test. - Didn't seem to help.

When I did get my MBP to boot (seemingly by chance) I made sure to do a complete backup. I pretty much figured it was a "goner" at that point.

Next I updated EVERYTHING. Brought the OS up to El Capitan and updated every application I had to its current version.

Didn't help.

I then ran Disk Warrior and much to my surprise it seems to have worked!

So that's my two cents on this problem. Hope it helps.

So as an update -

With all the diagnostics, repairs, updates, clearing PRAM, putting new RAM, clearing SMC, running disk warrior, disk utility, etc. The problem persists. I believe it is the famous "Discrete Graphics Card" problem showning up in early 2011-2013 MBPs.

I've made an appointment with the Apple Store for repairs. They have extended the "free" repair to Feb 27th, 2016.

If you want to tackle this yourself there are youtube videos to show you how. It's not for the technologically squeamish.

I tried all, safe mode, recovery mode, etc. The last thing i did was Command and V, and it worked! Thank you! Do not call Apple service; you will be talking to a rep for 20 minutes and they have no clue. Just search on the internet and fix it by yourself!

I have the same computer - late 2011 mbp and got the same problem during work on a music program.

I tried some of the suggestions here without success.

I took the computer to a nearby apple store and after a system diagnosis they did using a network cable they found that my graphic card was damaged (I believe it was overheated as a cause of hard work).

Anyhow, they are going to replace the whole motherboard without cost (unbelievably... I don't have any guarantee but this is how they treat apple customers I assume 🙂

So if you have the same problem, don't hesitate, try the local Apple Store

How do u get ur MacBook in command v mode ?

Hi how it going.. am having the same issues as you was.. do you remember what command work I am trying all off them none off them work.. can you give me a few tips..

I've tried recovery, booting from disk, repairing drive.. but the videos seem to be freezing (sometimes with the time still ticking down usually not) still, everything takes forever to load

I have done everything suggested here but not getting success