What is a grey file with a question mark inside doing on my start up screen

when i start up my computer instead of the normal apple symbol showing up i get a grey folder that has a white question mark inside and it is flashing. I know that that means that the computer cannot find the operating system. can anyone help or give me a solution to this problem and a way i can fix it.

There are four general causes of this issue:
1. The computer's PRAM no longer contains a valid startup disk setting when there aren't any problems with the disk itself. This can be checked for by pressing the Option key and seeing if the drive appears.
2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
3. Critical system files have been deleted. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to reinstall them.
4. The internal drive has died or become unplugged. This is the most likely case if the computer took a sharp impact or there are unusual sounds coming from the hard drive's location.
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My mac book is flashing a grey file with a question mark does any one know what this could be?

my mac book is flashing a grey file with aQuestion mark in it what does that mean does anyone know?

That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the hard drive data is somehow corrupted.
Put your install DVD into the drive and reboot. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option key until the Install Disk shows up). That will force your MacBook to boot from the optical drive.
Once it has finished booting and you are at the Install screen launch Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is then select the First Aid Tab run Repair Disk and if that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

When I turn on my computer, I get a grey screen with a blinking file with a question mark inside. What does this mean?

Powering Up!!!!

Tell us more about your machine.
What year, model and what OS it had running before it failed.

How do I eject a disk from a MacBook if there is a grey file with a question mark

I have tried to fix it by putting in the re-instillation disk but there is already another disk in there. I held the left key after the chime and nothing, then I held the options key down after a reboot and now I just have a mouse on my screen. Please help as I am IT illiterate!! Also I don't know what operating system I have.

Have you tried the basics? Open a Finder window and click the little up arrow next to the drive. Or try holding down the key with the upwards triangle and the line under it on the upper right corner of the keyboard.

HT4718 I have nothing on my Mcintosh HD after trying to install Mavericks. I did save a recovery copy of files however this was also lost. All I now have is a file with a question mark with nothing else happening. What should I do?

Apple recently sent a message asking me if I would like to upgrade to Mavericks which was free. I considered installing after saving a copy of my HD to a WD external drive. I proceeded with the instalation however when it was time to reboot the programme the computer displayed a message that it could not process the request due to errors with the hard drive. The computer then requested that i save a copy and the verify disk and repair disk which i followed and the computer would not repair due to an error. At which pioint I did some research and was told by the IMac to push shift when it starts to enter disk utility and repair the Mcintosh HD. I did as asked however the computer would still not install with Mavericks.
So after many attempts of trying to start over, I was prompted to erase the Mcintosh HD and reboot using the saved copy. At this point all data was lost and all that is left on my computer is a file with a question mark with no way of restoring the HD drive. Could anyone help please?

It sounds like your HD may have died.
If you could answer a few questions it may help figure out what you should do next:
What OS did you have on your computer before you tried to upgrade to mavericks?
Did your computer originally come with installer disks?

My computer suddenly refuse to start. When I turn it on it gives the startup sound but the screen is grey and after a while a little folder icon with a question mark inside turns up. It doesn't blink. What to do? Nothing happens if I try to start up from

As I say my computer, a mac mini refuse to start. When I turn it on it gives the startup sound and the screen turns grey and stay that way for a long time. And in the end a small folder icon with a question mark inside (it doesn't blink) turns up in the middle of the screen.
I have tried to start up from the installation CD holding down the C key on the keyboard. Same result. I have tried different key combinations while starting up. No result or rather same result. Nothing. Is the computer suddenly dead?
I was about to buy a new computer but I need access to my data on this one (I write this on an iPad) but hven't yet found a way.
Anybody have any good advice?
I thought it was a software problem, that the computer couldn't find the startup software or something and maybe it is, but I am beginning to fear that it could be a hardware problem.

You need to re install OSX. If you have the dmg file downloaded via torrentz this is how you can create a bootable external HD or Flash drive (8 GB+)
https://discussions.apple.com/message/23957654#23957654
Peace
Harry

My MacBook Pro turns on but not all the way, it gives me an icon of a grey folder with a question mark in the middle, and won't go further that that. Anyone knows why, or what's the problem?

My MacBook Pro turns on but not all the way, it gives me an icon of a grey folder with a question mark in the middle, and won't go further that that. Anyone knows why, or what's the problem?

If these do not resolve the issue or if you are not comfortable with proceeding through these steps then take your Mac to an Apple store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. An Apple store will perform these initial steps, diagnose the problem, and give an estimate for repairs (if needed). If the Mac is less than one year old or is covered by AppleCare any repairs would be free.
Genius reservation http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ .
or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider https://locate.apple.com/country

HT2433 My laptop opened with a grey flashing file folder with a question mark inside it . How to to open my laptop! I have tried fir e clising several times and restArting nope nada!

My laptop opened with a grey flashing file folder with a question mark inside it . How do I open my laptop! I have tried force closing several times and restArting nope ! nada! Suggestions?

That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the Operating System data on the hard drive is somehow corrupted.
With 10.4, 10.5 or 10.6 put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
Or if you are running 10.7 Lion, 10.8 Mountain Lion or 10.9 Mavericks, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7, 10.8 or 10.9 partition.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

What does it mean when I see the file with the question mark on my screen?

What does it mean when I see a file with a question mark on the screen?

Means no bootable system can be found or required system files are missing or damaged. Reinstall OS X.
Reinstall OS X 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.

What does a picture of a file with a question mark on it displayed on the screen mean?

Hello out there,
Does anyone know what a file with a question mark displayed on screen means?
And how to get to start up, I am not able to exit the page.
Help would be much appreciated.

Follow these support documents
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509
If you have OS X Lion you can hold option and select the Recovery Partition to boot off of or download the recovery
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1433
If you can hold c and boot off a 10.5 or 10.6 OS X installer disk, you can install OS X onto a external drive and reboot holding option key to select the external drive to boot off of to retrieve files too.
If that doesn't resolve the issue, use another Mac, a Firewire cable and Target Disk Mode to recover your files off the internal drive before taking it in to Apple for service.
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
Do what you think you can handle above, just don't erase or reformat your drive unless you have gotten a copy of your files off first.
Most programs can be simply reinstalled from fresh sources, make sure you have any license keys handy.
You have one year warranty and another two more years with AppleCare.
It's possbile to take a computers internal hard drive and place it in a external drive enclosure to access your files on another machine, so if the computer is going to be replaced, ask for the internal hard drive.

What do I do about the file with a question mark when it starts up?

I have a MacBook Pro, had it for 2 years now. It has been good, up until just now... It was on, perfect as normal until I plugged in my iPad mini and my iPod touch. It started freezing up, and so I turned it off, but when I turned it back on, the file with the question mark just shows up. What am I supposed to do now? I have never had this problem before, and I don't wanna lose everything inside it as I have 2 years worth of pictures and videos. Any suggestions? Is there any steps I can take?
P.s I'm not sure which operating system it is, so I just chose one that might be close to it, as I updated my Mac just a couples weeks ago.

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

My computer is will not boot up. INstead its making a clicking sound and in the middle of screen picture of a file with a question mark. What does that mean?

Does anyone know what's wrong with it? not booting up. instead of it a picture of a file appears with a question mark on it in the middle of screen?

Sounds like abad hard drive. The clicking sound is coming from the HD. The folder with the question mark means that your computer can't find the statrup disk or the hard drive.
Boot your computer using the install disc and check if Disk Utility can recognize your HD. If not, then it needs HD replacement. If you have AppleCare or within the 1 year warranty, then replacement should be free from Apple. Check the nearest Apple Store in your area.

What does a blinking file with a question mark mean?

Hey guys! i have a mid 2008 macbook pro and it recently turned off and whenever i try to turn it back on, a blinking file with a question mark pops up? any thoughts or ideas? Maybe the hardrive is broken or something?

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

How do I get rid of the flashing file with a question mark in it?

I wanted to start clean on my MacBook Pro osx 10.9.4. So I did the command r and erased what I thought was the right one. I restarted my computer and did the command r again and what came up was internet recovery. It can't find my internet because it's WEP and I don't know to change it to wpa. So I restarted my computer again and I didn't do the command r but just let it load itself to see what would happen and all I get is a flashing file with a question mark. I don't know what to do. Someone please help me.

Do you get this display?
If so, you have to select an Internet connection. Do not expect quick response time in this mode. All activities in this mode will be lengthy.
Ciao.

I can't restart my mac , I get a file with a question mark? Help

Need help, what to do when I cannot restart my mac. I get a file with a question mark?

That indicates that your Mac is unable to find a system to boot from
This is usually caused be either a corrupt system file, corrupt ot dead disk drive
Allan

What is a grey file with a question mark inside doing on my start up screen

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