I upgraded the OS on my iMac to Lion from the App store; and after installation, it restarted and now the operating system won't start up.... it keeps displaying the apple/folder with a question mark and a circle with a line through it! Please help!
I upgraded the OS on my iMac to Lion from the App store; and after installation, it restarted and now the operating system won't start up.... it keeps displaying the apple/folder with a question mark and a circle with a line through it! Please help!
Try starting up with your Snow Leopard DVD and see if the disk can be repaired. Once you are at the installer screen go to the Utilities Menu and choose Disk Utility and choose repair disk. You might also want to try Diskwarrior.
Hope this helps.
Ben
Similar Messages
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Have a still folder with a question mark and OS on external HDD isn't loading onto the Mac Pro
Good Morning....... I'm having an issue with this Mac Pro I've recently purchased that came with an 500GB HDD and I added an 2TB HDD also, but it never had an OS on it and when you power on the Mac Pro, you'll get a still folder with a question mark on it. I am very determined to get this situation corrected!!! I had got a copy of Snow Leopard on a blank DVD from a friend of mine but nothing had changed or occurred when I put it in the optical drive & I even saved Maverick installation on an external HDD; it read the drive when I held down the option key during the startup chime, I choose the external because that’s the only volume it shown on the screen; nothing else!!! No sign of the copied disk, the two HDDs that's in the Mac Pro, just the external HDD with the OS on it; I choose the external with Maverick on it but it still doesn't read and then a still folder with the question mark appears..... Can someone please help & save me PLEASE?????????
Buy a retail copy of Snow Leopard, then we can "chat" and get you with a system installed.
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I have some old pagemaker files that I need to open so I have bought a G3 on ebay. It turns on OK but all that comes uo on the screen is an envelope with alternating question mark and apple logo. Any ideas?
I suggest you get 9.2. You need to install the same or later version of the OS. One some computer the shipped version has extra drivers. The drivers will not be in the official release in this case 9.1. They would be in 9.2.
Mac OS 9.1 (Mac OS ROM 7.5.1) and Mac OS X 10.0.4 (4P13)
*blinking question mark*
The blinking question mark means that your mac firmware could not find a valid operating system
on one of your disk volumes.
Somethings to do to resolve the blinking question mark.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042
Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your hd. Click on right arrow key.
You need to figure out the level of your firmware before installing 10.2 or greater. ( The PC name for firmware is BIOS. ) Installing 10.2 with a down level firmware will most likely make your iMac unusable and difficult to fix.
What is firmware?
The firmware software receives control when you poweron your machine. It does some hardware testing and some hardware configuration then passes control to your version of Mac OS. It reside on a PROM ( program read only memory ) chip on the logic board.
Figuring out what level of firmware you have?
Open Firmware, boot into Open Firmware.
Power on your iMac while holding down command+option+o+f
The first output line contains the firmware level. Mine reads:
Apple PowerMac4,1 4.1.9f1 BootRom built on 09/14/01 at 13.18.04
Copyright 1994-2001 Apple Computer Inc.
On my machine, I have 4.1.9f1.
What firmware do you need?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117
For a slot loading iMac, this article indicates that you need to be running 9.1 or later version of Mac OS Classic.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130
"The iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9 will only run on iMac computers with lot-loading CD or DVD drives running Mac OS 9.1 or later from a local drive. If you are using Mac OS X you must boot from a local Mac OS 9.1 or later writeable partition (not a CD, or network disk) prior to following the update instructions."
You can download the Mac OS 9 updates from the Apple site.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1387?viewlocale=en_US -
I have a problem with iphoto (have a mac book pro): the icon in the dock appears with a question mark, and the application is gone!!! Can someone tell what's going on? Yesterday I had the same problem with itunes: I downloaded the last version (it's free), but I cannot do the same with iphoto, and more important: I need to know what is happening!!! Please help me!
Applications should not disappear all by themselves.
If they are then that coud indicate serious problems with your hard drive.
Backup everything up as quickly as possible.
Using Disk Utility verify your system disk.
Allan -
I have just purchased this os x mountain lion from my app store and it will not finish loading
i have just purchased this os x mountain lion from my app store and it will not finish loading
If you mean the DL appears to be stalled give it about half an hour, if there's no movement restart and the DL should pick up from where it left off.
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Thanks Neil. Though I have purchased Mountain Lion from Mac App stores before HD crash, this is not shown in the list of purchases.why?
regards,
[email protected]If you go to System Preferences > Network do you see other networks listed on the left panel? Is the lock in the lower left corner closed? If not, highlight your network, then close the lock so you block other networks.
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I have a folder with a question mark and I hear the drive running I think my drive crashed
I have an imac intel duel core I run OSX 6.8 lately the gear has been hanging up a lot I keep haveing to shut down and force quit and reboot. yesterday a folder with a question mark showed up. today nothing shows up but I can hear the hard drive. I booted up the os dvd for SL and it wont see the hard drive. only the dvd player and idisk (which I can't use anymore ) I have disconnected my external storages. I am now on my mac airbook chatting to you.
Do you have any suggestions as to what to do?Probably a crashed HD. Please carefully read Apple's Flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac article for trouble shooting steps. As long as you have been backing up the system it's minor inconvenience of replacing the Internal HD and restoring from your backup. If you haven't been backing up then you are about to learn why backing up it's optional it's critical.
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I'm not sure how this screen is appearing, but I tried powering up my computer this morning and it immediately presents a grey screen, then displays a blinking folder with a question mark in the middle of it.
I am looking for troubleshooting advice and procedures to bypass this screen and allow my computer to complete it's start-up.
Thanks-
Gary D. Aston, Jr.
[email protected]The folder with a question marks is usually an idication that the Mac can't find the system file to boot from.
Since you never told us which system your Mac was running there is nothing more to say.
Allan -
Updated Safari and Security 2008.. Operating system won't start.
HELP! I downloaded Safari and Security 2008 updates July 1st 2008 and it froze the system. I left it for 24 hours, now I reset and all I got is a white screen, folder with a question mark in it. I tried booting from the install discs but it won't do it. I also tried to verify/restore permissions and I ran first aid/repair disc but it says there are errors. It says "invalid node structure volume check failed" "error the underlying task reported failure on exit". "1HFS volume checked" "1 volume could not be repaired because of an error". No kidding, Apple destroyed my OS!
Help?Hello Utahmedic and Welcome to Apple Discussions ...
Usually a folder with a question mark indicates your Mac doesn't know which disk to boot from. When you say you booted from your install disks, can you please tell us exactly what you did? In order to boot from a restore disk you have to first, shut down your Mac. Now, hold down the C key, insert the restore disk and press the Power Button all at the same time. Hopefully you'll see the Apple logo on the Desktop, this can take a few minutes depending on the size of the drive. This will boot from the restore disk. An Installer window will open. Ignore that and instead go to Utilities/Startup Manager in the Menu. When that window opens select MacintoshHD 10.4.x in the panel on the left. Then click Restart...
I'm hoping you could do this. You have to run Disk Utility from your restore disk not the Disk Utility app that resides on the hard drive in the Application/ Utility folder.
If Disk Utility can't fix the errors on the volume you might consider purchasing DiskWarrior from www.alsoft.com. It does a great job of repairing disk errors.
Also, while you have Disk Utility launched with MacintoshHD selected in the panel on the left, look down on the right side of the window where it says:
Capacity and Availability. Make sure you have a minimum of 15% free disk space at all times... more if possible.
Carolyn -
I just got my iPhone 4 yesterday after having a Blackberry for 3 years. Everytime I try to download any type of application it keeps displaying "Your Apple ID has been disabled." Before activating my iPhone I downloaded the most recent iTunes. I even went back today I reset my password after some minor research made the suggestion. I sent an e-mail off to to Apple last night after their Apple tech was no help at all. He is the one that suggested the e-mail and that he could not help me. I am really frustrated at this point. I am hoping that someone will be able to help me out. I was extremely excited about getting my new iPhone 4 and now I am just over it! Help please!!!
USER-kswest wrote:
BTW I have gone to the "Contact iTunes Support" and do NOT get anywhere. That is why I am here!
You need to contact iTunes support and send an email by following the link I posted.
Simply going there does nothing. -
Why do i get a box with blue question mark and no photo.
I think I deleted some flash plugins. I uninstalled Adobe flash then reinstalled.
Same problem on facebook. Boxes with question marks. What plugin do I need to download and where do I find it?Apple tech walked me through a clean install for Adobe Flash Player. I think I know where I botched the system up.
I deleted plug-ins on the: Safari - preferences-security - internet plug-ins - manage Website settings. All are checked 'allow'.
None are configured except google mail. -
How can I download lion from Mac app store in recovery mode on an imac?
I bought a mid-2007 imac from a friend, who the computer was working perfectly for. When I went to start up it wouldn't start up (past the gray screen) from the regular HD no matter how many tricks I tried (resetting SMC, PRAM, etc), so I went in to recovery mode. I verified and repaired the disc more than once (even though it said it was fine), and tried to reinstall lion from the online recovery function but it said "item temporarily unavailable." I basically tried every combo of things possible before erasing the HD but nothing worked, so then I decided to erase the HD.
SO that happened, and now I can still boot up in recovery mode and it -seems- like if I can find a way to reinstall lion (which was the last os running), I may be back in business.
however, see the problem with "item temporarily unavailable."
I decided to purchase it from the Mac store online on a different device and it says it will email me a link in 1-3 business days (really??! That long to save me with an EMAIL LINK???), and my thought is that maybe I can log in to my email from the safari window and download it that way. I'm just afraid that I won't be able to access the Mac app store if that is where it downloads from.
Ultimately, I'm trying to avoid a trip to the Apple Store because this thing will be a nightmare to lug on public transportation. My questions for you are as follows:
- how likely do you think it is that I'll be able to successfully download lion from the email link in recovery mode?
- Do actual discs with lion exist anywhere in the wide world? If so, how can I get one?
- would it be worth it to grab an old lion usb stick from amazon?
- is there ANY other way to reinstall lion or install a new os on this thing without physically taking the computer anywhere?What a silly company , i have the same exact problem with my macbook pro and i've checked every topic that mention this problem and they didn't solve it .
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I have purchase OS X Mountain Lion from my Mac App store and i pay correctly with my Visa credit card but i canot install to my Macbook...all the timeits saying:The product distribution file could not be verified. It may be damaged or was not signed.
What i have to do?Re-download or contact customer service. Contacting Apple for support and service
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Folder with question mark and the computer is unable to detect Macintosh HD
Turning on the computer, there is a gray folder with a question mark and it is flashing. Then, I turn off the computer, and go to boot by clicking option at the same time. After I get into the screen, I try to reinstall my computer, but it can not detect the Macintosh HD or other driver that there is no place to install the system. I try to turn on my computer when clicking left ****, left control, and left option. It does not work also. Is there any thing i can do?
can i go to saft mode?There isn't anything you can do for there. If you have a 2012 MBA your solid state drive has probably failed (mine did two weeks ago). I wasn't able to get into safe mode or do anything with it. I installed the OS onto a USB to get onto the machine properly, but I couldn't get into the hard drive.
If the SSD has failed, you will need to replace the drive, make an appointment with Apple and see if they can help you. If you are outside your warranty there is still a chance they will replace it for free. -
I have a problem with lion. My MacBook pro froze and now I get a gray folder with a question mark.
I recently upgraded to lion but my screen just froze. I had to shut it down by holding the power button down. Every time I tried to start it again I got a grey folder with a question mark and couldn't do a thing. I' ve been told to restore snow leopard but I dont want to loose my files or email. What can I do?
Boot from your recovery partition. Check and if necessary repair your startup volume with Disk Utility. You may need to reinstall Lion.
OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery
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