My macbook pro 2011 has a grey screen on start up.

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Level 1

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My macbook pro 2011 has a grey screen on start up.

I was running OSX lion when it went blue and grey. so I restarted it, and there was still a grey screen. Then I shutdown the system and pressed command +r and power to get to osx utilities and repair the disk and erase. after I had erased it, I then Downloaded lion and updated it to OSX Yosemite. The system was working flawlessly in Yosemite, I even restarted it a couple time to make sure. I was done for the day and I put sleep on and then noticed that it had froze. I shut it down then restarted it and now its just a apple logo with a progression bar, after the bar get 1/3 the way through it goes all grey. Cannot enter safe mode or recovery mode like before. I have reset SMC and pram/nvram. still no fix. In verbose mode( command + v), it says a couple of warnings like:

Warning: couldn't block sleep during cache update.

Warning: proceeding w/o DiskArb

GPU hardware vm disabled

Is this a hardware issue or an OS issue?

I don't have a reinstallation disk

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 26, 2015 1:39 PM

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Answer 1

May 7, 2017 9:52 AM in response to hunterw96

Hey there, did you happen to ever find a fix for this issue?

I recently replaced the HDD after the MacBP took a fall and reinstalled the new OS, and now I'm having the exact same issue. I ran in Verbose mode and it gave me the exact same errors as you.

Same model MBP, 17", passes a Hardware diagnostics test, so I don't think anything besides HDD was damaged in fall.

Let me know what you ended up doing! Thanks.

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Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Mar 26, 2015 1:52 PM in response to hunterw96

What is the EXACT model/year MBP that you have?

Have you tried a safe boot?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Ciao.

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Answer 3

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 26, 2015 1:59 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

MacBook Pro 17-inch, Late 2011

Safe boot does not work even if I use the terminal in Single user mode(command + s). It just takes me back to the progress bar and then goes grey. A few minutes later it will shut itself down.

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Answer 4

John Galt

Level 10

140,942 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:09 PM in response to hunterw96

Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup

You will most likely need its original System Install DVD. Obtain a replacement from Apple.

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Answer 5

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:12 PM in response to John Galt

My MacBook pro late 2011 did not come with a installation disc. I bought it brand new, NOT used.

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Answer 6

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:16 PM in response to hunterw96

Try this:

Boot the MBP with the OPTION + COMMAND + R keys.

If successful, you should see a revolving globe.

If you follow the instructions you will be connected to the Apple servers.

You will see a 4 option menu that will allow you to select Disk Utility and try to repair the HDD. You also will have the option to reinstall the original OSX that your MBP came with, Lion.

You will need a solid Internet connection.

If no success, make an appointment at an Apple store genius bar for a FREE evaluation.

Ciao.

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Answer 7

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:33 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

well, I got the globe to pop up and I connected to the internet, after the loading bar was finished, its still staying grey.

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Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:40 PM in response to hunterw96

That is most unfortunate. An Apple store genius bar appointment is now your option.

The only thing I would try is installing a new HDD in the MBP and following the procedure that I just outlined. I suspect your current HDD has been taken by the grim reaper.

Ciao.

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Answer 9

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 26, 2015 3:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

I was really hoping that the HDD wasn't the problem. My MacBook did crash before I updated to Yosemite and it did crash when I went to re download IMovie and Garage band. Is there anyway to erase the disk using single user mode? using fsck -fy doesn't help.

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Answer 10

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 26, 2015 7:20 PM in response to hunterw96

UPDATE:

I somehow managed to get to the disk utilities and erase the disk and fix it. nothing was wrong.

I used these commands in single user mode: Sudo rm -rf/

I think I typed a bunch of random stuff before and after this command^

The command somehow forced it into recovery HD and remove or erase Macintosh HD.

I still think the hard drive is bad though. It gave me a blue screen when I tried to reinstall Yosemite.

This has to be a hardware issue right?

Its downloading Yosemite right now. Might crash again

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Answer 11

Mar 26, 2015 7:24 PM in response to hunterw96

has it been checked for the logic board problem? just had mine fixed. spontaneous shutdowns and finally wouldn't restart?

just asking, since it's a sore subject for me (and many others)

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Answer 12

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 26, 2015 7:35 PM in response to defiantone

Not sure if that could be the problem, my mac doesn't shut down randomly.the screen just goes blue or the screen is grey on start up. Occasionally it will go in a loop of restarts

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Answer 13

spudnuty

Level 5

7,116 points

Mar 26, 2015 8:00 PM in response to hunterw96

"the screen just goes blue or the screen is grey on start up. Occasionally it will go in a loop of restarts"

OK that sure sounds like this:

Apple Recall:

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

Especially:

"Distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen
No video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on
Computer restarts unexpectedly"

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Answer 14

Mar 27, 2015 2:16 AM in response to spudnuty

that's what i was saying...

i think the loop of restarts is a Yosemite thing. mine did not do that prior to the upgrade. would just turn off. after i upgraded it would turn off then attempt to restart itself over and over.

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Answer 15

hunterw96 Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 27, 2015 7:34 AM in response to spudnuty

Thanks for you answer, but I don't think that's the problem with my MacBook. Just got my mac to work last night and the video and picture quality is fine. Does not randomly restart. I will definitely keep the apple recall in mind.

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