Big Boot Camp Problem

[VforVelveta]

Ok, here's the deal. I have a MBP C2D, and when I start it up, all I get is the grey screen with nothing on it, not even the Apple logo. Here's what lead up to this.

I downloaded Boot Camp, installed it, and everything seemed fine. I partitioned my HD with 15 GB for Windows and the rest for OSX, which was about 133 GB. I got to the point where I put in the Windows install disc, loaded it up, and things again seemed fine, until it asked where I want to install Windows. The included instructions said to use the partition labeled C:, however, according to Windows, the C: partition was the only one avaliable, and it was about 132 GB. Not wanting to install Windows over my OSX partition, I exit out of the installer to try and see what the problem is from the OSX side. Exit installer, computer restarts, grey screen with nothing.

Now, here's what I've tried so far.

I've tried holding the option key while it turns on, and I get the mouse pointer, but nothing else, and after about a minute the pointer freezes so I can't even move that around anymore.

I tried putting in the install disc and holding C, nothing happens.
Hold D, nothing happens.

I read that I can hold X or shift, nothing happens.

I've cleared the PRAM, it restarts, but again, nothing happens.

Also, at one point there was the flashing folder with a ? icon, but that's only happened once in the 30 times I've tried things.

So now I'm at a loss. I'm fresh out of ideas, so hopefully someone here will have a clue. As far as I can tell something went wrong with the partitioning and now the computer can't find the startup disc to use, and something is stopping it from running any of the install disc utilities, and if I leave it on the grey screen for a while the fans kick on and it gets pretty dang warm.

Help...

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Ok, here's the deal. I have a MBP C2D, and when I start it up, all I get is the grey screen with nothing on it, not even the Apple logo. Here's what lead up to this.

I downloaded Boot Camp, installed it, and everything seemed fine. I partitioned my HD with 15 GB for Windows and the rest for OSX, which was about 133 GB. I got to the point where I put in the Windows install disc, loaded it up, and things again seemed fine, until it asked where I want to install Windows. The included instructions said to use the partition labeled C:, however, according to Windows, the C: partition was the only one avaliable, and it was about 132 GB. Not wanting to install Windows over my OSX partition, I exit out of the installer to try and see what the problem is from the OSX side. Exit installer, computer restarts, grey screen with nothing.

Now, here's what I've tried so far.

I've tried holding the option key while it turns on, and I get the mouse pointer, but nothing else, and after about a minute the pointer freezes so I can't even move that around anymore.

I tried putting in the install disc and holding C, nothing happens.
Hold D, nothing happens.

I read that I can hold X or shift, nothing happens.

I've cleared the PRAM, it restarts, but again, nothing happens.

Also, at one point there was the flashing folder with a ? icon, but that's only happened once in the 30 times I've tried things.

So now I'm at a loss. I'm fresh out of ideas, so hopefully someone here will have a clue. As far as I can tell something went wrong with the partitioning and now the computer can't find the startup disc to use, and something is stopping it from running any of the install disc utilities, and if I leave it on the grey screen for a while the fans kick on and it gets pretty dang warm.

Help...

Try putting in the install disc and holding down Option. Also, disconnect all peripherals connected to your Mac before doing this - one time, I had a similar issue (MBP wouldn't boot, stuck at gray screen), and my iPod was the cause. Disconnecting it got it to boot normally.

 

[VforVelveta]

Try putting in the install disc and holding down Option. Also, disconnect all peripherals connected to your Mac before doing this - one time, I had a similar issue (MBP wouldn't boot, stuck at gray screen), and my iPod was the cause. Disconnecting it got it to boot normally.

No peripherals connected, unless the power cord counts. And I think I did try the hold option with the install disc in, still, nothing.

 

[jeremy.king]

I partitioned my HD with 15 GB for Windows and the rest for OSX, which was about 133 GB.

You used Bootcamp Assistant to partition your drive, right?

 

[CyberPrey]

reboot, hold down option, and choose to boot from the osx partition.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

reboot, hold down option, and choose to boot from the osx partition.

He tried that, but his computer won't even get that far... it's stuck on the gray screen.

 

[CyberPrey]

He tried that, but his computer won't even get that far... it's stuck on the gray screen.

I missed that part (dirty glasses!!)

I had the same problem when I first tried... resetting the pram seemed to fix mine...

 

[VforVelveta]

You used Bootcamp Assistant to partition your drive, right?

Yep.

I'm starting to think the only way out of this is to reinstall OSX, but seeing as how I can't access anything on the install disc, I don't even see how that's possible. Looks more and more like I'm going to have to go see one of these genius folks I've heard so much about. Sigh...

 

[pjarvi]

One other command found, although I don't know if it would do any good:

Command-Option-Shift-Delete = Bypass internal harddrive on boot

 

[jeremy.king]

You may want to give Single User Mode a try too, then fsck it

 

[Brecht Corneel]

Same problem

Hello,
I am having the exact same problem as described here.
Has anyone found a solution for this?
It's very urgent, I really need my mac for my job.
somebody? please?

 

[bmhkim]

I'm having this EXACT problem with my Santa Rosa MBP and an after-market upgrade 250GB hdd.

What I've Tried:
1. Zapping PRAM. This was the VERY first thing I tried when I didn't get the Apple in two or three minutes.
2. Inserting the Leopard install CD and holding down the 'c' button.
3. Holding down cmd-opt-shift-del
4. Holding down option
5. Inserting the XP install CD and holding down the 'c' button (recognizing this is really the same as #2, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway)
6. Holding down cmd-v
7. Holding down cmd-opt-o-f

Nothing gets me much of anywhere. When something works, it reboots and then exhibits the same gray screen (pre-apple). Or, when holding down option, a cursor appears on the screen. I can move it for a few seconds, an it then locks up.

Currently, the machine has been sitting on this screen for about 30 minutes, so I'm guessing that it's not something that I'm going to be able to wait out. Do I need to head over to my nearest genius bar?

Also, sorry to bump an old thread!

 

[bmhkim]

Well, I pulled my old drive out and looked at the partition table in Linux. What did I find? It's hosed! (kinda) I see a partition starting at block 1 and ending +128GB. I threw a spare drive in (zeroed out the first few megs) and it boots just fine. I'd imagine zeroing out the first few megs of the old drive ("dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/<device> bs=4096" for a few seconds) will be sufficient to get a time machine backup restored onto the drive. Thank god for TM!