Blinking folder question mark at startup

When I startup my Macbook Pro, I just get a blinking file folder with a question mark and can't reset the PRAM.

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

Similar Messages

  • Can't startup blinking folder question mark

    There are similar questions in these forums, but my situation is different. My MacMini froze and I had to press the power button on it to restart it. I get the folder with the blinking question mark. I do not have any disks in the drive. I have not installed any new operating systems for at least a year. No external drives connected. I shut off and started the Mac Mini yesterday with no problems.
    I tried the Enter/Return key; no response. I restarted and tried the Command-Option-P-R to reset the P-Ram; got the same blinking folder question mark. I restarted and tried the Command-Option-O-F also. I just keep getting the same blinking folder question mark.
    So, if anyone has any suggestions, I will sure appreciate it!

    It turns out that my SATA just wen't dead. I've been experiencing several power outages while my iMac still is running. I also noticed months ago that whenever I verify disk permission there are some stuff that is beyond repair and it shows red. I just ignore it thinking that it will go away and the inevitable happened. Good thing though I just have a few gigabytes of photos taken months back I had a full backup on all the docs that I have. I tried resurrecting my Western Digital 160GB SATA using Spinrite V6 but to no avail. BIOS from Windows can't even mount the drive. I've given it up. I still have a one last hope though to bring the dead drive to a data recovery company. And hope that they can replace the SATA board or the mechanical part with a new one on a clean room and recover what they can for a fee.
    Is there any hint when a drive is about to fail? I did experience frequent hangings and endless spinning beachball from time to time also some weird sound that seems my hard drive is about to blast by spinning profusely for no apparent reason.
    My 160GB SATA drive is about 5 years old. Is this the regular lifespan of SATA drives? Should I replace it every say 3-4 years? I've been using it almost everyday from Monday to Saturday. I'm considering buying a drobo so I can dump all my files without worries of being burn again by a terrible Hard Disk Crash!!!
    I've re installed everything on my imac using the new 500GB SATA. Good thing that everything was fine except for the SATA Drive. I've bought an AVR and 500VA APC (Power Backup incase of Power Outage) so that I could prevent it from happening again. Also do you have any idea what brand of SATA is the quietest the most silent? Thanks for your help.
    Message was edited by: besprenbrian

  • Blinking folder & Question Mark - Drive Good - Files Are Still there

    Okay,
    So I've been a long way with this iMac. It originally came to me with bad power supply. I replaced. Then it came back with bad capacitors. I replaced. Then it came back not booting. Here's where I'm stuck.
    I dont see the drive if I use command - s. If I boot OS X install cd, I can select OS X 10.4.11 on [OS Volume Name] in Startup Disk, I can see all the files on the disk, I've ran all repair options including file permissions and Disk Warrior, but the OS never loads.
    Tried Safe Mode, Single User, Verbose Mode, PRAM Reset, NVRAM Reset, reset-all in command-option-o-f mode, I've blessed the /Volumes/[OS Volume Name]/System/Library/CoreServices directory several different ways, still the OS never loads... blinking folder & question mark.
    I dont have correct install cd for this system and can't reinstall. Any suggestions or repairing bootloader, kernel, or something advanced...???
    Anyone?

    Hi Jkat, and a warm welcome to the forums!
    Sounds like short of a proper install disk, you've tried everything but this...
    applesetupdone...
    This was Posted by: JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
    "OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-s and type in the following:
    /sbin/fsck -y Enter
    /sbin/mount -uaw Enter
    rm /var/db/.applesetupdone Enter
    # The rm command is the remove command which deletes the file.
    # Robert: I'd rename the file via: mv /var/db/.applesetupdone /var/db/.applesetupdone.old
    reboot Enter
    Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
    end of posted by: JoseAranda"
    But not on this forum I guess.

  • Flashing Folder/Question Mark on Startup

    I have been having an issue with my machine for the past couple days, and cannot find the Install Disks to remedy this situation (my OSX 10.4.4 disks will not recognize), so ANY help would be appreciated.
    I have been able to troubleshoot using FireWire target disk mode. I've run DiskUtility and DiskWarrior on this machine from another machine and everything checks out with the hard drive, but I keep getting the Flashing Folder/Question Mark on Startup. Safe boot (Shift key at startup AND Shift-Command-V) do not work. Resetting the NVRAM / PRAM does not work.
    Suggestions?
    I don't need the info on the machine, as I am trying to set this up fresh for my wife.

    But I was going on the assumption, as it was an internal drive (not an external data only drive), he had an OS installed, since his problem seemed to be that out of the blue he was getting the flashing folder question mark on startup. He had written +"I have been having an issue with my machine for the past couple days...."+ implying that it had booted normally before that.
    Anyway, you're probably right; I'm just puzzled: how would his once bootable OS disappear just like that? Obviously something I'm not understanding here.

  • My Mac book pro turns on with a grey screen with a blinking folder   question mark. Help!

    My bag carrying my computer fell on the ground as I was entering a cab. I checked my computer immediately for damage and it seemed to work fine. After about an two hours, I went back to my computer and it had a black screen and was getting very hot. I held the power button down and it restarted only to have a grey screen with a blinking folder + a question mark. I've already looked on the forums, and I don't have the CDs with me as I am traveling, and I don't have much backed up.
    I appreciate any advice provided.
    Thank you!

    Hey peawok,
    The following document goes over troubleshooting steps for when you encounter a folder with a flashing question mark during startup:
    Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
    Welcome to Apple Support Communities!
    Take care,
    Delgadoh

  • The mother of all blinking folder/question mark posts.

    So here's another question mark/blinking folder post, only I've narrowed things down quite a bit. Let's start from the top.
    Powermac G4 quicksilver won't boot, and will only show the infamous blinking folder icon.
    -unplugged keyboard and mouse
    -unplugged SCSI interface
    -unplugged CD drive
    -tested memory, all ok
    -changed slot RAM uses
    -booted with X held down
    -booted with C held down
    -booted with SHIFT held down
    -booted with Option held down (brought up screen with two buttons, but no bootable devices)
    -Cleared PRAM
    -Cleared NVRAM
    -Replaced battery
    All of the usual tasks and no results. Dead drive, right? Nope. It won't boot through the HD, or any normally bootable CDs, but when I access Open Firmware (Control+Z), I'm able to view all of the HD's contents (dir hd:\) and all of the contents from whatever CD I put in there (dir cd:\). As it can read from both, but will boot from neither, I'm now thinking it has something to do with the main board.
    Has anyone else exhausted the blinking folder issue to the point I have, and still found results somehow? I'll be hooking it up to another mac via firewire tomorrow, but the unbootable CD makes me think that's not the solution. Any ideas on where to go from here? It's way out of warranty by the way.
    Thanks in advance for your time everyone!

    Hi-
    Welcome to Discussions!
    Next step, download a copy of the Apple Hardware test, and burn it to CD. I know, your QS isn't cooperating, so I hope you have access to another Mac.
    http://www.info.apple.com/support/aht.html
    Hopefully the machine will run the AHT fine, and you can run a hardware test. I'm hoping not, but could be the ATA controller on the MOBO.
    BTW- you didn't mention booting into single user and running fsck. See what that results in. Startup holding command+s. After the prompt type +/sbin/fsck -fy+ (that is a space between fsck and -fy). Press Return, and see what happens:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

  • Folder question~mark at startup  :(

    when i start up my computer i get a folder with a blinking question mark. it then starts up fine, but i'd rather not get that sinking/scary feeling every time i startup... how can i get rid of it>?

    Hi Jonathan,
    You might wish to have a read of the Apple Knowledge Base Article found @:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042
    for a lengthy discussion of this symptom and remedy.
    Hope that helps,
    littleshoulders [:-)

  • TA25718 Blinking folder question mark on reload

    I can't reload startup disk folder blinking question mark. It sounds like its reading the cd.

    If you have already installed Lion you could try booting into the Recovery HD to see if you can fix things.
    If the Mac is currently in a never-ending loop you'll need to press the on/off button to power down. Give the Mac a few moments to spin down and then press to restart and hold Command+R and it should boot into the Recovery HD. If it does, select Disk Utility>Macintosh HD and click on 'repair disk'. If it reports any repairs repeat repair disk until you get a clean pass.
    Whilst you're still in Disk Utility and with the Macintosh HD still selected click on 'repair disk permissions'. Once it's completed restart as normal from the Apple menu.
    If all this fails you can re-install the OS from the Recovery HD:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

  • White Screen With Folder Question Mark At Startup

    Last night I was downloading some pictures and posting a status on facebook. Firefox locked up so I forced quit it. When I tried to reopen it the icon in the dock would bounce a couple of times but not open. I went ahead and used Safari, finished what I was doing and went to bed. When I woke up the screen was black. I tried to wake it but to no avail. I shut it down by holding power button down and restarted. When it came on it dinged and a white screen came up but no apple icon or spinning circle. After a few minutes a folder popped up with a ? in it. I booted from my DVD and ran disk utility. The hard drive shows up but the partition underneath now says disk0s2 rather than untitled. When I try to repair it I get an error:
    Verify and Repair volume "disk0s2"
    Catalog file entry not found for extent.
    The volume could not be verified completely.
    Volume repair complete.
    Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.
    Error: Disk Utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.
    I am going to try and connect it to my mini via firewire to see if I can copy some files. My questions are (1) What do you recommend I do? (2) When it tells me to back up as many files as I can, what does that mean? How do I do this? Can this be done from Disk Utilities?
    Thanks for your help.
    Danny

    (1) What do you recommend I do?
    You could try repairing it with [DiskWarrior|http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html] or [TechTool Pro|http://www.micromat.com>. Either of those will cost money, but if you don't have a backup, that's your best shot at getting your data back. If repair fails, you have two options: 1) reformat the hard drive with Disk Utility or 2) replace it. If #1 doesn't work, #2 becomes your only option. If you have data that wasn't backed up, you'll need a file recovery tool like [Data Rescue|http://www.prosofteng.com>, [File Salvage|http://subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?mainpage=product_info&productsid=1] or Stellar Phoenix. None of those will guarantee success, and I suspect you won't get back anything close to all your data.
    (2) When it tells me to back up as many files as I can, what does that mean?
    Just what it says, but the how is your choice. Disk Utility can do backups from the Restore tab, but I suspect that won't work with such a badly-damaged disk. Connecting to another machine via Firewire is a good idea, but may not work if the disk is too badly damaged to mount, which I suspect might be the case since Disk Utility doesn't show you the normal volume name. First step would be to repair if you can't access the drive.
    Ultimately, from the sounds of it, your drive may be too badly damaged to recover much, or any, data from it. In which case, you will have learned a hard lesson on the necessity of backups.

  • Get a folder and a question mark on startup

    I get a gray screen with a folder icon and a blinking question mark on startup.  Is this bad?

    It's certainly not good! A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac. Usually, the only workable solutions is reinstalling OS X. What version of OS X do you have installed?

  • Folder with question mark on startup after using boot camp!!!

    im getting a folder with a question mark on startup after using boot camp. it shows up for a second, then the apple logo pops up and OSX boots normally. i wouldnt be concerned except this folder with the question mark usually shows up when the computer cant find the startup disk or OS. so in fact what is happening is that my macbook cant find the startup disk for a second and then seems to find it. is anybody else having this problem. i dont like it and want to get rid of it. help!!

    This is correct.
    I wonder how it can be that in the System Preferences - Startup Disk - OS X volume can become "deselected" like it was... I had to re-highlight the OS X volume and all is well.
    b
    MBP & Mac Mini   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   http://www.therottenapple.net/phpbb

  • Blue screen with flashing folder and question mark on startup

    Hello.
    I need help with my Macbook Pro.  I get a blue screen with a flashing folder and a question mark at start up.  To date I have tried the following:
    Apple Hardware (Extensive) Test (Results:  "No Trouble Found")
    Safe Boot
    Reset NVRAM
    Reinstall OS X via the internet (I received no discs when I purchased it).  I select the StartUp Disk to reinstall. When reinstalling via the internet I get to a point of reinstalling Mountain Lion but it asks me to choose a drive - yet there are no drive options to choose from. Then a window comes up asking me to "Select the system you want to use to start up your computer" but no options appear.  When I choose "Restart" a note pops up saying "You can't change the startup disk to the selected disk.  Startup Disk could not gather enough information on the selected disk."
    The only option is "Restart" from the Apple menu.  When I choose that it goes back to the original "Blue screen with flashing folder and question mark on startup."
    I have no Time Machine
    I can't access the disc utility.
    Are there any ideas as to what might be the problem?

    Your hard drive has likely failed and needs replaced. That would explain why the system does not display it when you attempt to reinstall the OS via Internet Recovery.

  • Startup stuck on a Flashing Folder/Question Mark

    Aloha,
    I have been looking for a solution to my problem for several months now and have never found a solution.
    One day my computer froze so I forced a shut down by holding the on/off button.
    When I turned on the machine again the folder/question mark appeared.
    I have tried all the hot keys.
    Option-only shows the refresh and forward buttons but no options.
    I thought my hard drive failed, so I bought a new one and installed it.
    When I placed the OS DVD in to install a fresh copy I still got the flashing folder/question mark.
    I don't know what to do, any suggestions?

    sione wrote:
    I don't know how to get to the system preferences if i can't get past the flashing folder/question mark.
    Correct you'll not be able to...
    The question mark appears when the boot loader cannot find a valid OS system/partition.
    Here is what I would try:
    1. Boot from the OSX installer by inserting the disk into the Mac then power-off. Power-on the Mac and immediately press and hold the "C-key" until you get the installer Language screen. Select your language and continue. The next screen should be the Welcome screen, go to the top and select Utilities/Disk Utilities from the tool bar. Once Disk Utilities is open select your internal (if it appears) then select the first aid tab. In the first aid pane select to run "Repair disk". If "Repair Disk" results in errors then run it again until it reports no errors found. Once "Repair Disk" is complete with no errors then press and run "Repair Permissions". Once complete reboot to test the Mac.
    2. If the above does not work then try booting with the Startup Manager, by pressing and holding the "option-key" during boot. The GUI Startup Manager will appear and you can select the drive you wish to boot from.
    3. Alternately press the "X-key" during boot.
    4. And lastly before we give you the bad news... make sure that the mouse or track-pad button is not being pressed or stuck during system boot.
    If none of these works then you most likely have a bad drive. And you'll need to replace it. You do have a back up right?
    Do you have another Mac, to use for troubleshooting?

  • Mac Shows Folder With Question Mark On Startup?

    Hey Guys!
    I currently own a Macbook Air First Genereation (2008) running on Lion 10.7.5 (upgraded from Snow Leopard)
    Recently, when I was just using the Macbook Air, the Hard disk started spinning and was creating a lot of noise well I just ignored it and gave it a hard reboot
    So the next day wehn I booted my mac it was showing a folder with question mark on startup. I tried going to recovery (holding option on startup) but neither Macintosh HD or Recovery HD was being shown. I tried a internet recovery but it was not even entering Internet Recovery. I tried Single User mode, that didn't work.
    I really don't know what to do now, I am panicking cause I don't have a backup and all my schoolwork is inside there.
    Please reply soon and thanks in advance if you can help me
    A youtube tutorial or online step by step tutorial would be great!

    My tutorial is simple: pack up the MBA and charger and head for the nearest Apple store or Apple reseller. The error you see can mean three things: (1) your drive's system files are damaged, (2) your drive's directory or partition are damaged, or (3) your drive is dead. The fact that you can't boot into the recovery mode pretty much eliminates #1. It is possible that your drive's partition table was damaged but were that the case I'd expect that Internet recovery would work. So I strongly suspect #3.

  • Blinking question mark on startup - tried lots of things - advice?

    Hi,
    A friend called me yesterday about a two year old iMac. Got the blinking question mark on startup. So I went over, tried disc utility, but disc utility (off the iMac's install disc) could not even see the hard drive. So I tried TechTool Pro. Same result. TechTool from AppleCare disc, same result, DriveGenius, same result, start up in single user mode, same result, targeted disc mode connected to my MBP, same result, Data Recovery II, same result, connected a Mac via FireWire and started up from that and ran those same diagnostics, same result. None of those could even find - much less repair - the hard drive. It still shows a blinking question mark. It seems like all the hardware is working fine (motherboard, display, etc), except the hard drive. Any advice?
    Thanks!
    Russ Conte

    The machine must be a G5, or it would be older than 2 years. And no AppleCare or it would be in the shop before this. The most likely cause is hard drive failure, as already stated. A fact of life is that all hard drives will fail or have failed.
    You can deal with this, providing you can handle a screwdriver. Go to the support area of the Apple Website and click "Manuals" instead of discussions where you are reading this. In the block "search manuals" type "Imac Hard Drive". The next step is to select the instructions for correct machine, and download.
    Cost of replacement drives depends upon capacity. One source is macsales.com.
    A new drive will have to be formatted. Easy to do prior to installation by connecting to any Mac with a Universal Drive Adapter via a USB connection. That adapter is also available at macsales and other places.
    Final step after installation is to install the OS hopefully from the original disks.
    Good luck to you.

Maybe you are looking for