[SOLVED] Mac OSX Boot Grey Screen Error

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chucklehead74

chucklehead74

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Dec 29, 2011
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I do local computer repairs, mostly PC/Windows, however, while I recommend they go through the proper Apple channels, I sometimes take a look at Mac's. I got this one this morning with a boot-up error. Does anyone recognise it? Client seems to believe that its probably a hard drive or logic board failure. Anyone had any experience with this particular error before? :)

1zwks5y.jpg


iMac Specs:

  • 24" 2007 Model
    Intel x86 (2.4GHz)
    4GB RAM
    320GB Hard Drive

 
Solution
Ry-Guy
Well first off its a kernel panic. Since it is a boot error and it hasn't even loaded OSX. It's not an OSX problem. These are a pain in the ARSE! Usually the problem will fall into four categories tho. First is CPU incompatibility. CPU could be incompatible with whatever OSX this client is using, i.e. AMD CPU. Second could be a graphics card initialization problem, like having an incomplete address. Third is DSDT problem. This is the main table in the ACPI part of the BIOS and also the interface to the systems firmware. The client may not be using the right revision for the BIOS setting, meaning the DSDT and BIOS setting don't match. Which brings me to the fourth, BIOS settings. A problem could be that it needs the setting set to AHCI...
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Ry-Guy

Ry-Guy

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Jul 12, 2013
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Well first off its a kernel panic. Since it is a boot error and it hasn't even loaded OSX. It's not an OSX problem. These are a pain in the ARSE! Usually the problem will fall into four categories tho. First is CPU incompatibility. CPU could be incompatible with whatever OSX this client is using, i.e. AMD CPU. Second could be a graphics card initialization problem, like having an incomplete address. Third is DSDT problem. This is the main table in the ACPI part of the BIOS and also the interface to the systems firmware. The client may not be using the right revision for the BIOS setting, meaning the DSDT and BIOS setting don't match. Which brings me to the fourth, BIOS settings. A problem could be that it needs the setting set to AHCI mode. Like I said it's a big pain in the arse to diagnose. If the client has a bootable USB drive or could get her/his hands on one you can follow this guidelines.

1. Set USB as your first boot device boot with USB
2. On installation screen click on Utilities and open Terminal
3. Change directory to your HDD OSX installation (/Volume/Lion)
4. Change directory to /Extra folder
5. Now rename org.chamelion.Boot.plist :
mv org.chamelian.Boot.plist org.chamelian.Boot.plist.bak
5. Rename smbios.plist :
mv smbios.plist smbios.plist.bak
6. Copy org.chamelian.Boot.plist and smbios.plist from /Volume/USB
cp /Volume/USB/Extra/org.chamelian.Boot.plist /Volume/Lion/Extra/
cp /Volume/USB/Extra/smbios.plist /Volume/Lion/Extra/
7. Now ‘ ’ to and make sure new files are there and close terminal
8. Open disk utility from utilities menu
9. Click on Lion Install partition and click repair permissions
10. Wait until it finish and then remove the USB and reboot
 
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Solution
Ijack

Ijack

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Jul 30, 2008
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Strange answer. It seems to assume that the OP is dealing with a PC when he clearly stated it is a Mac. AMD processor on a Mac - I don't think so. BIOS in a Mac - not in this universe.

The OP should try booting the computer from a USB stick or CD to see if it is a hardware problem or corrupt software. If the latter a simple re-install will cure it. If it's hardware then it's best left to a repair shop that is familiar with Macs.
 
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Ry-Guy

Ry-Guy

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"Clearly" I knew what he was dealing with. He stated he usually works with PCs. So I talked to him in PC language. Technically yes, OSX doesn't have a BIOS. They use EFI which is like a BIOS.
 
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Ijack

Ijack

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How do you set a Mac to AHCI in BIOS or even EFI (or how would you set it to non-AHCI)?

I don't personally think it is useful to use PC concepts when talking about Macs; it can only lead to confusion. (As for example talking about AMD processors - totally impossible in a Mac.)
 
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