Folder with question mark flashing n screen

HELP my son's mac bok pro is flashing a folder with a question mark. How do we fix this? He has a report due and he cannot get past this.
Thanks

10.8 Mountain Lion
One of these steps may be helpful.
1.  http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11046
2.  Use Startup Manager to select Startup disk.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
3. Repair Disk
   Steps 2 through 8
   http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
4. Reset PRAM.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405

Similar Messages

  • I powered up my macbook and there is a file folder with question mark on the screen flashing.  What does that mean?

    Powered up Mac book and screen showing file folder with question mark flashing? 

    A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
    Hope that solves your issue.

  • I installed the window 7 os in to my mac book pro. after that the partition is not supported and then the folder with question mark flashing on my screen. plaese helf me what to do next to resume the mac os x?

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    Assuming that you tried to install Win 7 in bootcamp.
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  • Switched on my imac 24inch intel based and all I get on screen is a folder with question mark flashing,I had backup on external hard drive but when I try to reinstall it can not find my mac hard drive

    Hi when I started my intel based imac this morning all I am getting is a folder with question mark in the middle flashing,I have external hard drive with backup,but when run disc utilities it does not show my mac hard drive.hope someone can help.(it's running mountain lion, well it was)

    Try starting up your Mac while holding down the Option key. That should prompt the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk then click Restart.
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  • Folder with question mark flashing.. help me

    sorry for my english ..
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    Reinstall the HDD.  The display is indicating that it cannot find a bootable HDD.
    Look at these support articles for additional information:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
    http://https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
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  • IMac won't boot and has flashing folder with question mark on gray screen

    I just bought a new iMac. I have been trying all week (with no success) to transfer files and apps from my previous iMac. The last time I tried to transfer, I used target mode on the old computer. It looked as if it was finally working, so I left with 2+ hours remaining on the transfer. When I returned, the computer was frozen and nothing would work. So I held the power button to turn it off. When I tried to turn it back on, there was only a gray screen with a flashing folder with a question mark. I feel like I have tried everything listed in other discussions. The only thing I am not able to try is to reinstall Lion because the new computer did NOT come with an OSX disc of any type. Any suggestions?

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  • White screen with file folder with question mark flashing?

    My iMac wont start. I get a white screen with a file folder. In the file folder is a ?, flashing.

    What operating system do you use? If you use Lion, boot in recovery mode (Command and R buttons) and open Disk Utility to see if your hard drive is detected, and if it's detected, click "Verify Disk". If you use Snow Leopard or early, boot from your install DVD, click "Utilities" and open Disk Utility to do the same as for Lion. It sounds like your Mac doesn't have a bootable device, so it could be a lot of things (hard drive broken or formatted, hardware error, etc.). If this doesn't work, reinstall your operating system

  • Blinking Folder with Question Mark on Gray Screen

    So I purchased my MacBook Pro this past August. It was completely find until today. I opened my laptop and the mouse wasn't showing up so I let it wait for a while, but since it wasn't working, I powered down my laptop, but when I turned it back on, there was a gray screen with a question mark in a blinking folder. I've tried the holding "Ctrl" and "R" but it makes me select a network and when I do, the globe stops spinning and it says apple.com/support. I've tried holding "Ctrl" "option" "p" and "r" but that just made my screen white, not gray. Is there any way I can save the work I have on my computer?

    There's something wrong with your hard drive, I would think. Try booting into your Recovery partition by holding down the command (not the control) and R keys whilst booting. Once there, first select Disk Utility and repair permissions. Then try verifying your hard drive and if you get red text saying that problems were found and that your disk needs to be repaired, try repairing the disk.
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  • Ssd can't boot from mainbay folder with question mark

    Hello I've searched for my problem but can't find anything same so I'm gona ask.
    first of  all I'm sorry for my English.
    I'm using MacBook pro mid 2012 with samsung 840 evo ssd 500gb.
    today it was working perfect it felt asleep and after wake up it  restarted and flashing folder with question mark appeared on screen.
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    How can I solve this problem.?
    again sorry for my English. And thank you for all your answers.

    Do not apologize for your English.  I assure you your English is better than what my facility with your language may be. 
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    A call to Samsung technical support may also be a good idea.
    Ciao.

  • I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

    I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

    Hello,
    That means it can find the Hard Drive, or can't find the things needed for booting.
    See if DU even sees it.
    "Try Disk Utility
    1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
    2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
    *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
    3. Click the First Aid tab.
    4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
    5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
    Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
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  • Flashing folder with question mark on screen

    flashing folder with question mark on screen

    This is the first time I have joined the support forum for MacBook - I tried the after Power Off - then while you turn it back on again your hold the "Command + R" - This has worked for some people - this was obtained on YouTube - see www.youtube.com/watch?v=flv2ebQMMtE.  This however, did not work for me.  I remember having a problem with my PC a few years ago - when I experienced something like this on it.  I fixed it by taking out the battery.  I was going to check the cable between the hard drive and the motherboard to make sure it was secure.  I removed the Battery on my MacBook - blew it off, and put it back in again and surprisingly it booted up normally.  Thanked the Lord for the quick fix.  Back to Normal. 

  • MacBook Pro flashes file folder with question mark and startup manager will not run

    My son's MacBook Pro won't boot (gets the flashing file folder with question mark).  When I try to open startup manager (holding "option" key during boot does not do it).  Other posts suggest inserting the install disk, but I am pretty sure that for Lion, there was no disk, it was just off the website through the App Store.  Any further suggestions?

    Reinstalling Lion/Mountain Lion Without Erasing the Drive
    Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
    Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
    When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
    Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Continue button.
    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

  • Flashing folder with question mark at Startup

    Here is what I know so far.
    - The computer was powered off by pushing the power button without shutting down.
    - The computer was then restarted and it was coming into the white screen with the Apple logo in the middle, but i noticed that it was skewed slightly (like someone took a 4:3 ratio screen and stretched it to a 16:9) and then it would show a circle slash icon and then the flashing folder with a question mark on it.
    - It would not come up in single user mode (Command + S) and it said that there was an error loading kernel 'mach_kernel'
    - It would not come up in safe mode (Shift)(The flashing folder came up again)
    - I reset the PRAM (Command + Option + p + r) and it seemed to fix the problem with the stretched screen but did not help the boot situation (still got flashing folder)
    - I did the start up where you can select the hard drive to boot with, it owed the HD and i selected it, but then i got the flashing folder with question mark.
    - It would not come up in Verbose Mode (Command V) Error loading Kernel again.
    - I bought a FireWire cable and hooked it to another MacBook Pro, and booted the faulty Mac into Target Disk Mode, the FireWire logo came up on the screen and bounced around like all forums said that it would, but the drive would not show up on my host. I checked the System Profiler on the host and it did acknowledge the Target Disk Mode was there, but the drive of the target would not show up on the host. I restarted the host, nothing. I checked all of the connections, nothing. I replugged all of the connections, nothing. I even reversed the FireWire cable, nothing.
    - I have DiskWarrior 4 if i can get the drive to show up in TDM, but nothing so far.
    Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Thanks for your help guys. I managed to get the computer started by holding down C at the Start Up with the Install Disc 1 in the computer. The disc was really kindof unnecessary, as the newest version of Mac OS X (10.4.10) became available via the hard drive.
    I then found out that the battery was not installed, so I reset the management system by removing the A/C power, the battery and pushing the power button for 5 seconds, and then reconnecting everything. It did not help, the battery is bad i guess, so I am going to call AppleCare and get a new battery.
    Thanks for your help.

  • Flashing Folder with Question Mark after Trackpad 1.0 Update

    My machine won't boot after installing this update. I get the flashing folder with question mark and can't even boot from the Install DVD either... I just get a frozen spinney wheel at the Apple Logo screen. I've tried resetting the PRAM and everything else that a Googling of the problem suggests. This update bricked my Macbook!!!!
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    I've not seen any other posts about it causing problems, worked fine here. You've tried resetting the PRAM the only other thing you could try is:
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    When that stops and you see a root#: prompt enter
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    If it fails first time, at any time, or finds and fixes a fault - run the command again and keep doing so (some fixes can take several passes) until it says "Appears to be OK" then enter
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  • Folder with Question Mark on Start-up/ DOS-like screen with errors now...

    Left my Mac Pro running last night, woke up to it being frozen (looked like it was
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    Was there a storm or outage that could have brought it down? for now it sounds like a kernel panic screen is what you are seeing. If you don't have a UPS, I wouldn't be w/o. Never know when one of those high winds will knock out power.
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