Stuck on the gray screen with the Apple logo. Tried command+option+p+r, command+s, command+r. Older iMac over 5yrs old, it’s my son‘s so I’m not even sure what version he’s running.
iMac
About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support
“Progress indicator. After your Mac locates the System Folder on your startup disk, a progress bar or spinning wheel appears on the screen. This lets you know that your Mac is reading files from the macOS System folder.”
Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
Mac startup key combinations - Apple Support
“You can use safe mode to help resolve issues that might keep your Mac from completely starting up, or to isolate other issues related to your startup disk.”
It also does a tiny bit of cleaning/resetting, so sometimes issues are solved when back in normal mode.
Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support
More importantly than coverage here, it will tell you the year (and season) of the model, based on serial number. Something like: iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012). Other sites (*) can give more detailed reports based on serial number, including minimum and maximum OS version.
About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support
“Progress indicator. After your Mac locates the System Folder on your startup disk, a progress bar or spinning wheel appears on the screen. This lets you know that your Mac is reading files from the macOS System folder.”
Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
Mac startup key combinations - Apple Support
“You can use safe mode to help resolve issues that might keep your Mac from completely starting up, or to isolate other issues related to your startup disk.”
It also does a tiny bit of cleaning/resetting, so sometimes issues are solved when back in normal mode.
Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support
More importantly than coverage here, it will tell you the year (and season) of the model, based on serial number. Something like: iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012). Other sites (*) can give more detailed reports based on serial number, including minimum and maximum OS version.
Does your son have any idea what he did before this started?
Is there any important data on the system?
Being older than 5 years, it is possible it is too old for command-R.
You can try command-shift-R to see if that is possible to boot. If not, then you may have a dying hard drive, or you may need the original discs that came with the system.
Prosoft Data Rescue can recover data off a dying hard drive.
Stuck on the gray screen with the Apple logo. Progress bar will only load 1/2 way.
