Resolved Strange bootscreen with gray progressbar @ SSD failing?

[m4v3r1ck]

Hi,

After updating to Cuda 6.0.37 and installing Nvidia Webdrivers 331.01.01f04 I could not boot OS X again as the restart, needed after installing the webdrivers, never closed properly (gray circle) and recycled to a proper reboot. Then suddenly, after three times in a row I had to hard-reset my MP with the power-on/off button, I got a reboot with the following screen. The gray bar never ended it's process leaving me with a

I then re-booted with my Carbon Copy Clone external back-up/clone and used Disk Utilities to verify my OS X SSD:

Strangely the second Verify and Repair - nothing then a trial-and-error - was successful and I rebooted in OS X as expected. Cuda and Nvidia webdriver installed.

1. What was causing this and better how to prevent it?
2. How can I verify that my SSD has survived its ordeal in good health.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your tweakend all.
.

 

[Spacedust]

This progress bar is an EFI update. Please check SMART of your disk with this tool: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24875/smart-utility

 

[h9826790]

I think boot into safe mode will show up the same progress bar as well.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

This progress bar is an EFI update. Please check SMART of your disk with this tool: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24875/smart-utility

What is the EFI updating to and how long can it take to finish? Glad to report back that the SSD seems ok!

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Usually not more than a few minutes. EFI is a modern BIOS.

 

[ScottishCaptain]

That's not an EFI update.

EFI updates don't have a spinner underneath them, just a progress bar.

The only time you'll see a progress bar with the spinner above it is when Mac OS X is performing a filesystem check via fsck. Usually this means that some kind of filesystem damage has occurred.

Either your SSD is failing, or the HFS+ volume is broken somehow. Disk Utility might be able to repair the disk (if the SSD is fine). If Disk Utility can't repair the disk, you might want to try repartitioning the SSD and restoring your data to it. If that still doesn't work, then your SSD probably has a hardware problem and should be replaced.

Again, this has nothing to do with EFI updates. You get the same progress bar when OS X is running fsck during boot, and that only happens when OS X has detected something wrong with your HFS volume.

-SC

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Usually not more than a few minutes. EFI is a modern BIOS.

But the EFI was updated already way back in 2008

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL95

Boot ROM Version:	MP31.006C.B05
SMC Version (system):	1.25f4

So perhaps it was indeed a safe boot due to 3 hard reboots with the power button?

----------

That's not an EFI update.

EFI updates don't have a spinner underneath them, just a progress bar.

The only time you'll see a progress bar with the spinner above it is when Mac OS X is performing a filesystem check via fsck. Usually this means that some kind of filesystem damage has occurred.

Either your SSD is failing, or the HFS+ volume is broken somehow. Disk Utility might be able to repair the disk (if the SSD is fine). If Disk Utility can't repair the disk, you might want to try repartitioning the SSD and restoring your data to it. If that still doesn't work, then your SSD probably has a hardware problem and should be replaced.

Again, this has nothing to do with EFI updates. You get the same progress bar when OS X is running fsck during boot, and that only happens when OS X has detected something wrong with your HFS volume.

-SC

Thanks for your clarifications here, very helpful to share what the different gray bootscreens mean! Indeed I could verify and repair the SSD (see screen #2) although the first time DU told me it could not be done. Just ran V&R again and voila, the SSD was booting fine.

Cheers