Q: MBP Mavrick wont get past Grey Screen - need solid solution! thx

Try resetting the SMC.

Barry

I think I would take it in for testing/evaluation.

Barry

If Command+S works, then you should exit and both normally.

Having a second Mac can be used for Target Disk Mode, if necessary.

Does the "Repairing volume" complete successfully?

Do Command+R and Command+Opt+R work? You may not need to re-install, if Disk utility can repair your internal drive.

If you have/had Automatic Updates turned on and it failed, you may want to look at black screen with cursor (other solutions didn't work).

If you are running 10.9 and the disk verification/repair does not complete, machine will not come up. Try Command+R first, it starts local recovery (Recovery HD). If your Recovery HD is damaged, then Command+Opt+R will start Internet Recovery. You should be able to verify/repair your internal disk. If the disk is failing then that is completely different problem.

OS X: About OS X Recovery

What year/model is the MBP? You may also want to build a USB Flash drive with a minimal OSX installation (16GB USB will do nicely), in case you need an external boot - OS X: Installing OS X on an external volume.

The startup drive is failing, or there is some other internal hardware fault.

Back up all data on the drive immediately if you don't already have a current backup. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional—ask if you need guidance.

Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.

Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair

Apple also recommends that you deauthorize a device in the iTunes Store before having it serviced.

*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

Something everyone fails to mention when trying to diagnose crashing problems are the hard drives. We are trying to cram more and more into smaller and smaller sectors. ALL of today's drives have errors in them when new and a OS reinstall won't necessarily help. The bad sectors are still there. The nonsense of resetting PRAM and SMC won't help. These often are suggestions by "genius" want-a-bes. AND the "geniuses" at the poorly named "Genius Bar", for the most part have no idea what they are doing. If they did they wouldn't be working at the "Genius Bar", well, duh!

Hard drives are super cheap today. Installing one and reinstalling the OS is not a big deal anymore. First I'll use a hard drive repair program like "SpinRite".

To use it on a Mac hard drive, you'll have to remove it and use an external usb case, with a Windows machine. Ask a "genius" at an Apple store about SpinRite and most likely you'll get a blank stare.

I've had a crashing problem that SpinRite couldn't help because it had to do with Apple and their "Security Updates".

My early 2008 iMac has an ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB graphics card and Apple is CONSTANTLY replacing the original GPU drivers with updated AMD drivers that people have found don't play nicely with ATI gpus. (See: http://www.pauloamgomes.net/blog/fix-weird-os-x-freeze-imacs-late-2009) Apple says the update "Fixes stability and security issues". When I questioned why the graphics card .kext files were a "Security and Stability" issue, I found that:

"A local user can read kernel memory, which can be used to bypass kernel address space layout randomization", and BLA, BLA, BLA.

Well, isn't the "local user" me? I'm not going to do any of that stuff! Jeeze, I may not be a "genius", but I'm not stupid either! And besides I'm pretty careful about clicking on an email link and I don't go to questionable websites, like **** sites and such, so I've never had much of a problem with "Security".

My point here is, if you have a Mac and it was working fine before "Mountain Lion" and on up, I would first reinstall the original OS that came with the computer. Play with it and stress it out with video or something. If it works fine, then your problem might be with the upgrade to "Mountain Lion" and then "Mavericks" (Stupidly, I thought the upgrade to "Mavericks" would help). The non ATI .kext files just fried my graphics card and after I replaced it and I found the driver solution, I just reinstalled the 2600 .kext files that originally came with the iMac. I have to do this every time there is a "Security Update" before the thing starts heating up and crashing. So far so good, no FREEZING!

I'm pretty sure APPLE inc. already knows about this, so I didn't bother to "report the issue".

I think they're just trying to sell new computers, in my humble opinion...

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

Something everyone fails to mention when trying to diagnose crashing problems are the hard drives. We are trying to cram more and more into smaller and smaller sectors. ALL of today's drives have errors in them when new and a OS reinstall won't necessarily help. The bad sectors are still there. The nonsense of resetting PRAM and SMC won't help. These often are suggestions by "genius" want-a-bes. AND the "geniuses" at the poorly named "Genius Bar", for the most part have no idea what they are doing. If they did they wouldn't be working at the "Genius Bar", well, duh!

 

To establish if a specific piece of replaceable hardware has failed or not, some diagnostics are necessary, would you agree?

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

Hard drives are super cheap today. Installing one and reinstalling the OS is not a big deal anymore. First I'll use a hard drive repair program like "SpinRite".

To use it on a Mac hard drive, you'll have to remove it and use an external usb case, with a Windows machine. Ask a "genius" at an Apple store about SpinRite and most likely you'll get a blank stare.

 

There are many diagnostics tools. OP mentions Apple Hardware Test.

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

 

My early 2008 iMac has an ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB graphics card and Apple is CONSTANTLY replacing the original GPU drivers with updated AMD drivers that people have found don't play nicely with ATI gpus. (See: http://www.pauloamgomes.net/blog/fix-weird-os-x-freeze-imacs-late-2009) Apple says the update "Fixes stability and security issues". When I questioned why the graphics card .kext files were a "Security and Stability" issue, I found that:

"A local user can read kernel memory, which can be used to bypass kernel address space layout randomization", and BLA, BLA, BLA.

Well, isn't the "local user" me? I'm not going to do any of that stuff! Jeeze, I may not be a "genius", but I'm not stupid either! And besides I'm pretty careful about clicking on an email link and I don't go to questionable websites, like **** sites and such, so I've never had much of a problem with "Security".

It is good that you practice safe internet, while some others may not. The 'local user' may be "you" running a session from a web-site that is stealing information. Do you want your information stolen? You may want to read about Sand-boxing, if you care, https://developer.apple.com/app-sandboxing/

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

My point here is, if you have a Mac and it was working fine before "Mountain Lion" and on up,

The Drive can also fail on the "original" OS, don't you think?

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

I think they're just trying to sell new computers, in my humble opinion...

Yes, and the consumer needs to decide whether they want a new shining car in their driveway, or are happy with their vintage jalopy. There are newer features like Power Nap, Memory Compression, etc., which try and squeeze more out shrinking hardware footprints. I still use/run the original PPC Mac mini on 10.4.

That's ok, just trying to help someone. Obviously, you carefully read my reply and have none of the problems I mentioned. And, also don't understand what I was talking about.

"Apple Hardware Test" please, it only found that my GPU was overheating. Again, DUH!

"SpinRite" can and has brought back many, in the thousands I now imagine, "dead" computers and rescued many important files. Steve Gibson has made a nice living from "SpinRite" and I would imagine the naysayers are mostly the "File Recovery" businesses that charge $600 and up to retrieve important hard drive files.

"running a session from a web-site that is stealing information" Again you didn't read my reply very well. I DON"T GO TO SITES THAT CAN STEAL MY INFORMATION. Sorry for the "Shouting", but sometimes it's necessary.

I'm careful, understand? If you're careful you can use even Windows XP and still be safe.

So just my .02, nuff said about it.

Sorry, I guess I should have replied to the original poster with the problem. You obviously don't need any help...

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

"SpinRite" can and has brought back many, in the thousands I now imagine, "dead" computers and rescued many important files. Steve Gibson has made a nice living from "SpinRite" and I would imagine the naysayers are mostly the "File Recovery" businesses that charge $600 and up to retrieve important hard drive files.

You have a favorite tool, which is fine. Each product survives on it's own merit.

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

"running a session from a web-site that is stealing information" Again you didn't read my reply very well. I DON"T GO TO SITES THAT CAN STEAL MY INFORMATION. Sorry for the "Shouting", but sometimes it's necessary.

I'm careful, understand? If you're careful you can use even Windows XP and still be safe.

 

Neither did you read this sentence... "It is good that you practice safe internet, while some others may not." Do I need to shout?

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

So just my .02, nuff said about it.

 

I am happy to repeat the same sentence, if you like.

Rusty_Relic wrote:

 

Sorry, I guess I should have replied to the original poster with the problem. You obviously don't need any help...

You are welcome to tell the OP that you have used tool XYZ with success on 5 drives with a 100% success rate. Providing a link also helps.

The OP has been clearly asked if their drive was successfully repaired. You may want to wait for the OP and see what his results are.

Will try your other solutions this evening. but the updates weren't the issue - it just shuts down after the grey screen.

Me thinks, I have ruffled the feathers of a "genius"! Zounds!

Ok, in the words of that great philosopher, Lisa Simpson, "Meh, M, E, H, Meh!"

Just like to have some fun with you guys after I've has too much coffee. You're too easy!

Later