Grey loading bar/spinning wheel when booting up

I have no idea. And, from what you say, neither do Apple.

Do you have a complete backup?

If so, why not doa clean install of OSX and transfer your files over with setup assistant? That way you know where you stand.

Grant

These Apple Support documents apply:

Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

Though it refers only to Snow Leopard, the following is worth reading because it specifically addresses the grey progress bar in your photo:

Mac OS X v10.6: Gray progress bar appears under Apple logo during startup

The last resort mentioned in the first document is to perform an "erase and install". Unless the disk cannot be repaired by using Disk Utility, that will work, but you will want to exhaust all the other alternatives first.

If Disk Utility fails to repair the disk, try it again, as many times as you are willing, until you determine further attempts will be pointless. Replacing the hard disk drive yourself is tedious but not terribly expensive.

John,

I'm not the OP, but reading between the lines you seem to have jumped to the conclusion that thsi is not software corruption, but rather a failing drive.....?

Might want to make that clear if you are saying so.

G

Grant Lenahan wrote:

John,

I'm not the OP, but reading between the lines you seem to have jumped to the conclusion that thsi is not software corruption, but rather a failing drive.....?

Might want to make that clear if you are saying so.

G

HexicDragon wrote:

... when the computer starts up to bring up some basic disc utility thing and i tried clicking repair disc, and i'm not 100% sure what it said but it had a error message that came up saying something like it coulden't be repaired and try re-installing mavericks or something.

The HD has failed and requires replacement. The only question is whether or not it can be sufficiently repaired so that its data can be salvaged. Any "repair" will be temporary.

I understand the money problem. Retrieve your necessary files first, they're irreplaceable and can be lost forever without a backup. A replacement HD itself can be purchased for as little as $50. Apple will charge closer to $400 for the entire repair.

Study the following to determine if it's a repair you are willing to perform:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2544+Hard+Drive+Replacement /16729

In all likelihood your work files are intact, and if you're fortunate the only corruption is affecting the portion required to boot OS X.

Since you have no other options you might as well try the following. I have no reason to believe it will do anything that Disk Utility does not do, but all it will cost you is some more time.

Boot single user mode and at the root# prompt type

fsck_hfs -rf /dev/disk0s1

followed by the Return or Enter key. Substitute your boot device name for /disk0s1 in the above.

To see a list of devices, type ls /dev

It may take a long time to complete and may not be able to repair the disk. If and when it eventually finishes with ***** REBOOT NOW ***** it means what it says. Just force it to shut down.

Remember it will take a long time, perhaps an hour or more, and may not be successful. If you are concerned your system has become unresponsive just press the Return key. A blank line should appear. When fsck finishes the root# prompt will reappear and pressing the Return key will result in another root# prompt.

...and while we all understand money problems, an external drive -with a full botting image of everythng, can be had for $80-$100. Worthevery penny.

Good luck, get your essential files first.

Grant