[pookie]

hi guys so i'm away at school and my macbook decided to give me problems today... when i turn it on it stays at a gray screen blank gray screen... but it boots up because when i hit certin keys it chimes the hard drive is spinning without clicking or anything... so i was wanting to know what i should do?

[analogika]

Try booting it from the Install Disk (stick the disk in, turn on the machine, and hold down the "C" key). Does that work? (If you don't have the Install Disk with you, try to borrow one from a fellow student with a same-generation MacBook - you should *always* have an install disk at hand for emergencies.)

Does it show the internal hard drive when you boot it up and hold down the "Option" (alt) key?

[pookie]

i can tell it did some thing but the screen is still gray

[analogika]

Wait: You have been trying to BOOT this thing, right? Not simply wake it from sleep?

If the screen is gray and nothing happens, you need to turn off the machine by pressing and holding the power button. Then press it again to start up the machine.



If that is in fact what you've been doing, I doubt this will work, but:

Stick in the original Install Disk that came with your Mac, restart the machine, and hold the "D" key. This should boot the Hardware Test.

Run that if you can.

Frankly, it sounds like there is nothing we, or you for that matter, can do to help the situation.

Take it in for servicing.