Bone head question:reformatting startup disk

I know it a bone head question but I need to reformate my current startup disk.
I have pleanty of space on other disks. do I just transfer all info to another disk and select that one as start up and then reformate and transfer back etc... or what?
stupid forgetfull me...
cheers&aloha
matt

If you have a spare drive which doesn't currently have Mac OS X installed, use an application such as this one to clone your current drive to it, restart from the clone or another drive, and erase the startup disk.
If not or if you don't want to clone the whole drive, copy anything off of it you want, erase the current drive, and then copy your data back after setting it up again.
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Startup issues question mark and disk appearing at startup.

Ok,
Here's my situation...Like a bone head I changed the startup disk from my Tiger to OS9...don't know why...well it's apperently missing so I only get the ?/disk icon. How do I get back to OS10 system preferences to undo this ****? This used for my music with iPod only.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
thanks

If your computer supports OPTION booting then restart and hold down the OPTION key after the chime until the boot manager screen appears. Select your OS X volume and click on the large right arrow button. After you startup into OS X open Startup Disk preference and set your OS X volume as the default and click on the Restart button.
If the computer doesn't support OPTION booting then restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the "X" key until the computer starts up in OS X. Then reset default with Startup Disk per above.
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Question mark folder, but can use it as startup disk for other machines

I have an old iBook G3 which I have put a new hard drive in, reformatted and installed Tiger. I installed Tiger off another iBook as the combo drive in this book is currently broken. When I attempt to boot the computer I get the folder with the alternating question mark and finder face. However, if I put my iBook in Target Mode, I can use it to boot my other iBook and a PowerMac G4 no problem.
I have tried resetting the PRAM, tried holding down the X key, tried holding down the option key (the boot volume does show up, but when I choose it nothing happens).
I'm completely lost as to what to do. I don't really need this computer, but I was going to keep it around for my friends' kids to use when they come over. Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks!

Oh yes, I know, I did that too. Let me recap:
I have put the iBook G3 in Target mode, put the Tiger disc in my G4, installed Tiger to the G3. The computer completes the install and setup just fine and enters into the OS without issue. I then shut it all down, disconnect the firewire cable and reboot and G3 gives me the flashing folder/question mark.
I have put the G4 in Target mode with the Tiger disc in the drive and attempted to install to G3. No joy there either. And, actually, now that I think about it, I can't remember if I could ever get it to choose the install disc as a boot option...
If I hold down the option key, my drive shows up as a boot volume, but it will not boot. I can click on the drive, but nothing happens.
I have zapped the pram, as well as following all the other advice given on the Apple site, and still nothing.
If I put the ibook in Target mode, connect it to another computer and hold down the option key on the other computer, the iBook's startup disk shows as an option and, if chosen, successfully boots the other computer (so clearly the issue is not with the hd or with any physical connections within the computer).
This is making me insane! I appreciate any and all help on this.
Thanks!

Question mark on startup disk icon

I installed Mavericks yesterday and there is now a question mark on the startup disk icon inside System Preferences. I rebooted the machine but its still there.
Any help?
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.

Help. I have Creative Suites 5.5 on my MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, I had a major malfunction and must reformat the disk. How do I transfer Creative Suites to my desktop if I can't locate the programs booting up from my startup edrive?

Help. I have Creative Suites 5.5 on my MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, I had a major malfunction and must reformat the disk. How do I transfer Creative Suites to my desktop if I can't locate the programs booting up from my startup edrive?

http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/cs5-5-product-downloads.html
Mylenium

Startup disk question/problem

Should the startup disk always be at the top of the list of disks upon startup? Or is it now the case, with 10.5 on a MacBook, that the internal disk is at the top of the list whether or not it is the startup disk?
Situation: New MacBook Mac OS 10.5.8, new Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD3200BEVT 320GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive in an external MacAlly SATA FW/USB case. I erased (formated) the external drive, and, using Restore in Disk Utility, made what I expected to be a clone of the MacBook's internal drive.
Problem: After repairing permissions, using Start Up Disk preferences I selected the new drive as the start up drive. Upon restart I get mixed signals as to which is the startup drive. The original (internal) drive is at the top of the list on the right of desktop but, in the Start Up Disk Preferences list, the new drive is highlighted. (Further: I am able, after right clicking on the internal disk, to select it, to eject it.)
Questions: Have I bought a drive that won't work as a start up drive or doesn't Disk Utility Restore in 10.5.8 create a bootable drive as in 10.4 or does the internal disk always show up at the top of the list on the desktop in 10.5.8? When I swap the drives, putting the new drive in the MacBook, will it boot?
This procedure for swapping new drives has always worked with my Macs thru Mac OS 10.4.11.

Check with Western Digital (the FAQs on their website) whether that hard drive is bootable on your Mac. Not all of them are.
Quote from a Western Digital FAQ:
While it may be possible to boot your computer to an external hard drive, Western Digital does not provide technical support for booting your computer using an external hard drive. If you intend to make a copy of your boot drive, or install your operating system, please use a second internal drive (EIDE or Serial ATA), rather than an external drive.
And their list of bootable drives:
The following external hard drives are bootable on Intel-based Macintosh computers systems through USB:
• My Book Essential Edition
• My Book Essential Edition 2.0
• My Book Home Edition
• My Book Mirror Edition
• My Book Office Edition
• My Book Premium Edition
• My Book Premium Edition II
• My Book Premium ES Edition
• My Book Pro Edition
• My Book Pro Edition II
• My Book Studio Edition
• My Book Studio Edition II
• My Passport Studio
The following external hard drives are bootable on Intel-based Macintosh computers systems through FireWire (1394a/b):
• My Book Home Edition
• My Book Mirror Edition
• My Book Office Edition
• My Book Premium Edition
• My Book Premium Edition II
• My Book Pro Edition
• My Book Pro Edition II
• My Book Studio Edition
• My Book Studio Edition II
• My Passport Studio
The following external hard drives are bootable on Power PC based Macintosh computers systems through FireWire (1394a/b):
• WD My Book Premium Edition
• WD My Book Pro Edition
The following external hard drives are not bootable on Power PC based Macintosh computers systems through USB/FireWire 1394(a/b):
• My Book Essential Edition
• My Book Essential Edition 2.0
• My Book Home Edition
• My Book Mirror Edition
• My Book Office Edition
• My Book Premium Edition II
• My Book Pro Edition II
• My Book Studio Edition
• My Book Studio Edition II
• My Passport Studio
• My Passport Elite
• My Passport Essential
• WD Passport
• WD Passport (Silver)
You will find a more up to date list on their website.

Startup Disk Question

I decided to make the move from PC to mac today, and purchased a MacBook. I just have a quick question regarding the startup disk menu. When it asks me to "select the system you want to use to start up your computer", I should be selecting the "Mac OS X, 10.6.1 on Macintosh HD" option, correct? I just want to make sure. Thanks.

Hi pp1987, welcome to Apple Discussions!
Yes that is correct!
Dennis

Cloned startup disk question

This past June I cloned my startup hard drive, the original 320GB HDD that came with my Mac Pro new in March 2008. I used Disk Utility's Restore and erased the new drive first, selecting Mac OS Extended, Journaled. This drive, a WD 1TB Caviar Black, is recognized when I boot from another drive because it shows up as a choice using System Preferences > Startup Disk.
The question I have is that a second, more recent 1TB drive, a Hitachi 1TB drive, was sent through the same process. My Mac Pro will start up fine using this drive, but when I look at System Preferences > Startup Disk, this newly-cloned drive is not an option. The first cloned drive that I mentioned above is showing, and a second option shows, Network Startup. Why does the Hitachi drive I cloned a couple of days ago not show up in System Preferences > Startup Disk even though my system is booted from this drive?
The drives were cloned using an eSata dock, and no errors were reported during the 2 to 3 hour process.

Since I see no way to edit this question, I am adding some more info.
When I restart my Mac and hold down the option key, both cloned drives (mentioned above) are shown as options for startup - the Hitachi and the WD drives, both clones of the original 320GB drive. Also, a third option is Windows. Since I chose the Hitachi drive as my startup drive, the Mount Point shows it is the primary drive.
When I select System Preferences > Startup Disk, the Hitachi drive still does not show up as an option.
One more observation is that when I used About This Mac > More Info, this Hitachi drive has
Partition Map Type: MBR (Master Boot Record)
even though I selected Mac OS Extended (Journaled) when I erased the new drive.
All the other drives (four of them) show
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
Do I need to re-format the drive to ensure it is partitioned as GPT?
Message was edited by: Leon Smith

Why is there a question mark on my startup disk.

When I go to apple system preferences, there is a question mark on my startup disk. Why? and what should I do to resolve it.
I don't have any problem starting my ocmputer and using it.

in the system pref.
the top line ... "Show all, Display, Sound, Network,
Startup disk
my 'startup disk' has a question mark!
Right. That's fine. It's just telling you that you can click that icon to choose a different Startup Disk. That question mark is part of the icon for that preference pane.
I click on it and I get a"select the system.."
It shows my Mac OS 10.3.9 and Network Startup which
has a question mark
I do have OS selected.
and question mark on Network.
Is that correct?
Correct.
Now, where do I go to see my startup items?
Click on "Show All" in the System Preferences. Then Accounts down in the System section. Choose your account in the list at the left hand side, then choose the "Startup Items" tab on the right.
To remove an app from that list, select it and use the "-" button below. Unchecking it just means that if the application has a window, it'll be hidden at startup.
Thanks for all your help.
You're welcome.
cheers,
charlie

Question mark on startup disk in System Preferences

There is question mark sign on startup disk in System Preferences on Mavericks of Macbook air 13inch (Early 2014). I can't find any solution for this. Could someone please help me find the solution. I know that something went wrong and I don't know how to fix it.

I think I now understand your concern. This is from my MBP System preferences display:
Click on it and should show what startup disk option(s) you have. This is normal.
Ciao.

How can I reformat my hard drive if erase and partition don't work in disk utility and I get an error when I try to erase and install from the Leopard install disk? I have had several kernel panics, but the volume shows up in startup disk.

I have had several kernel panics on my iBook G4; the panic message shows up just after the desktop appears. Although the startup volume shows up in Startup Disk, the installation disk reports an error when I attempt an erase and install. Disk utility is unable either to erase or partition the hard drive. The hard drive shows up in disk utility, but the startup volume doesn’t HELP!!!

Do you have the original system discs that came with the iBook when it was new?
Which exact iBook model is it?
You can choose from this list:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/index-ibook.html
Erasing the disc and installing Mac OS X 10.5 will result in loss of the other applications (such as the iLife applications) which came pre-installed on the iBook.

My HD needs to be reformatted according to Disk Utility, but even when I use an external device for startup, Disk Utility cannot reformat the HD

I have a Macbook with a 500 GB Hard Drive. A routine check on Disk Utility told me the disk needed to be reformatted. I restarted from an external USB drive, but when I try to use Disk Utility to repair the HD or to reformat it, Disk Utility is unable to do anything with the HD (cannot repair, cannot erase,cannot reformat the HD). Is there a utility App that can help me with this, or is the HD unrecoverable?

Hi
Thanks very much for your reply. We have been starting up from a backup (USB) drive and use the disk utility that is on the backup drive so the internal (problem) HD is not being used for anything (except for wanting to repair it). Still Disk Utility cannot reformat or repair the drive. I have also run Onyx but it tells me everything is OK on the drive.
But I have made a little progress. Using my old install disk for Snow Leopard (10.6.3) I have managed to do a fresh install of the system on the internal HD. Unfortunately, I also asked the install disk to transfer/migrate the settings and documents from the backup drive back onto my internal HD. The install appeared to work, but then it got hung up on copying the documents from my backup drive to the HD. After letting it sit for 2 days without going anywhere, I stopped the install process. I am going to try again, just using my Snow Leopard CD to install Snow Leopard, and nothing else. If that works, I will then get on to the problem of copying the rest of the settings and documents from my backup.
But since the Mac works OK off the USB backup, and will also run off the install CD, I am guessing the problem is with the HD and the only solution might be to replace it if I can't repair it. But the macbook is several years old, and I am not sure it is worth buying a new HD for it.

PowerBook G3 PDQ Loses Startup Disk on Cold Boot

I have a PowerBook G3 PDQ (266Mhz, 192MB RAM).
For the longest time it's had Mac OS X 10.1 on it, along with Mac OS 9.2.2.
I always noticed that it started up with Mac OS 9 after a cold boot, even if the startup disk was set for the OS X system folder.
So, I reformatted the disk and re-installed OS X 10.1 (being the only version of OS X i own that will run on the machine). Everything ran fine.
But after a cold boot, it lost the startup disk, and i get the flashing question mark on a floppy disk. I can hear the hard disk spin up, then down, then up, then down. Eventually the machine shuts off. I have to boot off a Mac OS 9 CD and select the OS X system folder to make it boot again.
Anyone know how to fix this?
Thanks.

Like S.U. I replaced the PRAM battery on two Wallstreets (got batteries from OWC) and, although I'm very nervous about working with tiny parts, I found it to go well by following the iFixit instruction to the letter. The innards weren't nearly as fragile as I expected and I allowed plenty of time so I wouldn't feel compelled to rush.
The most serious issue I encountered was that the original battery's cable on one WS managed to get snagged under the metal battery bracket when the computer was originally assembled. This compounded the problem that the user--a cigarette smoker--had inadvertently melted the plastic between the trackpad and the front edge of the upper case. This made the case weak at that point and I had to be very careful in dislodging the stuck cable.
I had mentally made the job much more difficult than it turned out to be. Just have the right tools:
1) You may find that, to remove the heat shied screw--requires a Philips #0 screwdriver--you may need to shorten the point of the driver to better fit the shallow cuts in the screw head. The screw is soft and can easily strip out if you indiscreetly use an unmodified #0 Philips.
2) Have an old ice cube tray or egg carton handy to keep the screws sorted.

How to install an OS on a Mac Pro without using a startup disk

Good Evening... I have purchased an Mac Pro 4,1 without any HDD attached to it and I have no startup disk for the installation an OS... When I do power on the Mac Pro, I get a flashing folder with a question mark in it! How can I be able to add an OS for two HDDs that I would like to install?

No. Boot the MP using the external drive. If you need to prep the drives, then:
Drive Partition and Format
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select the hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Once the drive has been prepped just clone your external drive to the internal drive:
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
2. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
3. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag
it to the Destination entry field.
4. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
the Source entry field.
5. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the Internal drive. Source means the External startup drive.

Boot Camp partition not showing in startup disk or when holding alt key

I've read countless discussions about similar questions to this one, however, I still haven't been able to find any solution.
I have an old 2006 MacBook that has just been fully updated and reformatted. I'm running OSX 10.7.5 and Boot Camp 4.
I went through the Boot Camp installation from an Windows ISO image in my usb drive, where it succesfully downloaded all files needed, and prompted me to make the partition, after which it restarted and was supposed to take me to the installation manager in the Windows partition. I first got the "No bootable driver" error, to which I read I was supposed to restart the computer, hold the alt key, and choose the boot camp partition. However, it does not show up. I only get Mac and Recover drivers.
I went into the Mac's startup disk, and only the Mac driver is showing, no Boot Camp driver, however, when I go into Disk Utilities, I can see that the BootCamp driver there.
I read somewhere that I should zap pram and reset SMC, which I did with their instructions. It didn't change anything, I still only get the Mac driver and Recovery when hitting the alt key.
Does it have something to do with my MacBook being older? That's the only reason I can think that would not allow me to do this.
Let me know what other info I can give you so that you can please help me!! Thanks in advance!

In last resort I solved my missing BOOTCAMP partition problem using a program called: iPartition from coriolis systems located in the United Kingdom http://www.coriolis-systems.com/iPartition.php it took me a coupleof days to figure out the credit card system they have Hint: use your 9 digit zip code to find your credit card address and call your bank if you have an overseas hold on the card!!!! The program found my missing BOOTCAMP partition and restored it. It did take a couple of e-mails to learn to use their program. Let me know how you turn out!

Bone head question:reformatting startup disk

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