My screen has gone blank on startup and occasionally a grey folder with a question mark appears. I have tried rebooting either by pressing the start up with power or pram.. Neither attempts have worked ! My iMac is 2008. Please help :)

Hey Carolinearnold!
I have an article for you that seems to address this issue and can provide some troubleshooting steps for you:
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

Similar Messages

My MacBook screen is displaying a pic of a folder with a question mark on it. Tried rebooting but still comes up the same. Anyone know what to do?

My MacBook screen is displaying a blank screen with a folder with a question mark on it. Can't get it to respond. Tried rebooting and folder with question mark comes back up. Does anyone know what to do? Thanks.

Question (?) Mark, Blinking Folder, or Gray Screen at Startup
These are related but not identical issues. Their causes are outlined in Intel-based Mac- Startup sequence and error codes, symbols. Solutions may be found in:
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Mac OS X- Gray screen appears during startup
In most cases the problems may be caused by:
Problem with the computer's PRAM - See Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.
Boot drive's directory has been corrupted - Repair with Disk Utility.
Critical system files are damaged or deleted - Reinstall OS X.
The disk drive is physically non-functional - Replace the hard drive.
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
The main difference if you are using Lion or Mountain Lion is that you must first boot from the Recovery HD:
Boot From 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.
Reinstall Snow Leopard Without Erasing The drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
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.

My iPhone 4S screen has gone blank, it comes back occasionally, but not often.

Basically,
A couple of weeks ago I sent a text then put my iPhone 4S down on my desk. When the reply came back my screen was completely blank. I could still here it working in the background, when screenshoting and pressing the screen randomly while it is locked. The first thing I tried was to reset the phone. This worked and I thought it was just a one off thing. No.
A few days ago the exact same scenario happened except this time the screen never returned. This time I tried to rest the phone many times but it still would not come back. I then booked an appointment at an Apple store where they said i would probably have to pay £146 for a new phone as it was deemed as 'accidental damage' although I have never dropped or hit my phone. This is also my second phone this year as in February the lock button failed but then Apple kindly supplied me with a new phone free of charge. After booking my apple store visit my screen somehow just came back without any reason. I couldnt make the Apple store appointment anymore and had to cancel but I thought I had got my phone back. I then proceeded to back-up my phone to parents computer, as my MacBook is also currently not working, just in case this screen thing happened again.
Well. It did. Last night, just as i was going to bed. The phone was in my hand the whole time, one minute I'm texting, next minute I just assume that the phone has locked itself but no it has just gone again. As I am now working every day for the next 11 days, I think as my calandar was on on my phone, I have no time to either visit an Apple store, closest of which is around an hour away, or visit my parents to try and restore my phone.
So any help here would be great.
Thanks.

Since the genius bar has already confimed your phone has a hardware issue, there isn't much anyone here can suggest you do. There is no software fix for a hardware issue.

Safari screen has gone blank and seems to be hanged

safari screen has gone blank and seems to be hanged

Saji-
Can you still access your Bookmarks at the top of the Safari screen? If so, select it and choose History. Then click Clear History at the top of the History window.
If that does not help, double-click the Home button. A row of recent Apps will line up along the bottom of the screen. Scroll across and find Safari. Press and hold on it until it starts to wiggle. Then click on the red minus sign to remove it from the list. Click the Home button to stop the wiggling and again to return to the Home screen. Now see if Safari is working any better.
If still no improvement, try resetting (rebooting) the iPad. Hold both the Home and Sleep buttons for several seconds until the Apple logo appears. Ignore the "Slide to power off" arrow. The iPad will restart after a couple of minutes. Resetting this way will not hurt anything, and sometimes clears up mysterious problems.
Fred

I have an iPad 2 screen has gone blank, I've reset via iTunes now screen is still blank but flashes white and you can see the hello, hallo in all different languages, but can't access anything???I

I Have an iPad 2 the screen has gone blank, I have held both home and off button but nothing working the screens still blank. I have also reset my iPad via iTunes but now the screen is blank but it's flashes white and you can vaguely see hello, hallo in all different languages. Can anyone please help?

Is it fully charged?
The computer usb port will not charge it. Plug it into an outlet with the charger that came with it for a few hours & try again.

I dropped my iphone 3gs and the screen has gone blank now showing a white screen with no icons can anyone advise me how to fix it?

I dropped my iphone 3gs and the screen has gone blank now showing a white screen with no icons can anyone advise me how to fix it?

Tim is correct.
But, first step with 3GS white screen and most iPhone problems is Reset, hold both home and power buttons until iPhone begins to restart itself, usually about 10 seconds of holding both buttons. If still white screen.
Next step would be Restore the iPhone Firmware with iTunes on your computer. If still white screen.
Next step would be to follow Tim's advice, if you had not already.

My iphone 4 screen has gone blank and its still on it vibrates when i put it on charge ive tried turning it off and the screen is still not showing anything please help

my iphone 4 screen has gone blank and its still on it vibrates when i put it on charge ive tried turning it off and the screen is still not showing anything please help

Hi Ellen,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like your iPhone 4 has a dim or blank black screen but responds to some commands like enabling vibrate. I understand this may be a frustrating situation, but the troubleshooting suggestions in the article below will help you solve the issue.
Get help with the screen on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
If your screen is too dim, too bright, or you see only faint images
Try to adjust the brightness. If the screen doesn’t respond when you adjust the brightness, open several apps to make sure it’s not an issue with only one app.
If you have a screen protector, try removing it. Try removing your case if it includes a screen protector.
If you see the issue in multiple apps, restart your device.
If restarting doesn’t fix the issue, restore your device.
If you still see the issue after you restore, contact Apple Support.
Take care,
-Jason

HT1553 my laptop screen has gone blank, probably graphic card problem. i want to back it up. please help

my laptop screen has gone blank probably due to graphic card problem.i need to back up my content as i have bought a new mac and do not intend on repairing the old one. please help

Try a Target disk:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4413
If you are buying a new mac, Apple will do the migration for you, I would let them do it.
If you have an external monitor, I would try to do a data backup before doing anything.
Could also be your drive has already failed, or logic card. Again I would take it the Apple store, and have them deal with it since you bought a new Mac, they would do this for free, and the shoulder the responsibility.
Hoe this helps.

Camera screen has gone blank. Can still take photos. Suggestions on retrieving my screen?

iPod touch camera screen has gone blank (black). Camera still takes photos. How can I regain the camera screen?

Try the standard fixes:\- Reset. Nothing will be lost
- Reset iPod touch: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Restore from backup
- Restore to factory defaults/new iPod.

My pavilion tx2000 screen has gone blank.

My pavilion tx2000 screen has gone blank. An external screen also will not work.
I have read that this is a common problem with the graphic chip fitted.
Can the chip be replaced or is it a motherboard change?

Try press and holding down the Power and Home button until you get an Apple icon on the screen.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1445

My iphone 4 screen has gone blank but the thone is still on.

My iphone 4 screen has gone blank but the thone is still on.

Hey NJF7,
Thanks for the question. After reviewing your post, it sounds like the screen is black. I would recommend that you read this article, it may be able to help you resolve or isolate the issue.
iPhone: Hardware troubleshooting
Display has no backlight or dark screen
Toggle the ringer switch to see if the unit vibrates. If it does, it could be that iPhone is getting power, but is not displaying any image.
Try turning iPhone off and then on again.
While connected to the iPhone charger, try to reset the iPhone.
If the low-battery screen appears, charge the iPhone.
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Have a nice day,
Mario

My Iphone 4 screen has gone blank... If someone calls the person gets full ring but no display on my screen... niether home button nor power off button is working... help!

my Iphone 4 screen has gone blank... If someone calls the person gets full ring but no display on my screen... niether home button nor power off button is working... help!

Try press and holding down the Power and Home button until you get an Apple icon on the screen.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1445

My iPad2 screen has gone blank (black)

My iPad2 screen has gone blank (black) then will flash red and maybe to the homescreen, then turns blank again. I have restored the ipad like it says online, but it is still doing it. Can somebody please help, or is it a write off? Thanks

IF the reset and restore doesn't bring it back then I'm afraid it's time to make an appointment at the apple store. See what they say and then make the decision if your money is best spent on a same model replacement or to invest in a new one

MY IPOD NANO 2ND GEN.S SCREEN HAS GONE BLANK. WHY IS THIS/ I ONLY GET SOME BLACK LINES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

my nanos screen has gone blank. why?

Solution may be found if you search in the "More Like This" section over in the right column.

My iphone 4s screen has gone blank but the phone still works

My iphone 4s screen has gone blank but the phone still works

Hello antspeaks,
It sounds as though screen curtain has been enabled on your iPhone. This can be disabled by tapping three times with three fingers on your iPhone's screen.
Turn the screen curtain on or off. Triple-tap with three fingers. When the screen curtain is on, the screen contents are active even though the display is turned off.
iPhone User Guide - Use iPhone with VoiceOver
http://help.apple.com/iphone/7/
Cheers,
Allen

My screen has gone blank on startup and occasionally a grey folder with a question mark appears. I have tried rebooting either by pressing the start up with power or pram.. Neither attempts have worked ! My iMac is 2008. Please help :)

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for