Broken Folder Icon with Lion??? Tried Everything.

I have a 1 year old Macbook Pro that has worked like a dream until I installed OS Lion, it was so bad I had to time machine revert back to Snow Leopard cause I couldn't even surf the web and use text edit without my computer freezing up, I have 4GB of RAM and its a 2.4Ghz processor.
Now that I have reverted back, the other night I was organizing files in snow leopard and in the main finder drive there was a folder called "private" I though it was just a useless folder that occurred in the transition back, so I put it in the trash can and then my computer started to act funny so I restarted it. (I have been a mac user since 2001 and have never seen a folder like that so I didn't think it would be a big deal to get rid of it.) When I restarted thats when the problems started.
I restarted and for the longest time it would just stall out on the intro gray apple screen. So I restarted it again and again, I tried to reset the P-RAM, tried to restart holding down C (with snow leopard disk in the drive) Shift Restart, finally tried to check the disk to make sure it wasn't a failed harddrive, I clicked "Repair Disk" in the disc utility after you Restart while holding option, everything checked out fine, it said no problems.
So I figured the only way to get my content back (I have it 99% backed up cause I just backed it up a week ago) but I really need a few design files I have on my computer so I don't want to just reinstall it from time machine. So I decided to reinstall Lion and hopefully that would fix the problem. Nope, it got worse, now when I restart it chimes, then goes to this "non smoking" circle screen:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1892
then immediately shuts down, this is extremely frustrating and I have NO idea if it is a hardware or a software issue, I have tried everything me or my friends can think of, I would just take it to an apple store but currently I don't live close to one at all, so that is not an option.
Anybody have any ideas???
thanks for your help, I genuinely appreciate it.

baxterpop wrote:
I restart it chimes, then goes to this "non smoking" circle screen:http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1892
then immediately shuts down, this is extremely frustrating and I have NO idea
Use a back-up bootable clone or reinstall the OS
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1892

Similar Messages

Help ! Flashing folder icon with question mark when starting up

Hi, I have tried to restore my macbook pro 15 (2012 model with Yosemite OS X) to factory settings and wipe out the hard drive but on restarting it I now just get a blank screen with a flashing folder icon with a question mark on it. Any help/advice anyone I would be very grateful for ! Thanks, Mark

Something didn't install properly.
Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:
1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
    b. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
     Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the
     COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities 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.
3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities 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. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
4. Reinstall Yosemite: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu, 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.
5. Reinstall Yosemite from Scratch:
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
How to Clean Install OS X Yosemite
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.

Folder icon with exclamation mark and no comms with laptop whatsoever!!!

My mini ipod has taken me to my wits end. My ipod always opens with a folder icon with an exclamation mark. I can get it in to disk mode but my laptop doesn't see it whether I'm using itunes, explorer, or updater. When the mini ipod is plugged into my laptop it displays 'do not disconnect' and the circular arrows in the top left hand corner are displayed but they aren't moving. I've been all over the website but everything seems to assume I can communicate with the **** thing. Restore seems to be the preferred option but as I can't communicate with it that isn't possible as far as I can see. This happened when I tried to updated ipod software from version 1.3 to version 1.4. It's not possible to go back as I can't communicate with the ipod in order to perform this task. It's going to get lobbed out of a high building soon and replaced with a Sony......can any get me out of this hole???
mini ipod Windows XP

Further to what I've said I've been all over the discussion posts on this site, and the help pages, but I've been unable to find a suitable answer!!
My mini ipod has taken me to my wits end. My ipod
always opens with a folder icon with an exclamation
mark. I can get it in to disk mode but my laptop
doesn't see it whether I'm using itunes, explorer, or
updater. When the mini ipod is plugged into my
laptop it displays 'do not disconnect' and the
circular arrows in the top left hand corner are
displayed but they aren't moving. I've been all over
the website but everything seems to assume I can
communicate with the **** thing. Restore seems to be
the preferred option but as I can't communicate with
it that isn't possible as far as I can see. This
happened when I tried to updated ipod software from
version 1.3 to version 1.4. It's not possible to go
back as I can't communicate with the ipod in order to
perform this task. It's going to get lobbed out of a
high building soon and replaced with a Sony......can
any get me out of this hole???
mini ipod Windows XP

Flashing folder icons with question mark

After reading through the forums I've found a few discussions and users that have similar problems as me but haven't seen anything that deals directly with my issues.
After upgrading to Leopard last night, it ran sluggishly for about 15 minutes. I got impatient and decided to restart. While trying to restart it froze, so I just shut my powerbook down. When I tried to boot back up I got the "flashing folder icons with question mark", I've since found out that it isn't finding any type of drive to boot off of. I reset the pram, tried to reboot with the same result. Tried to boot up using cmd-s but still got nothing but flashing folders. Booted up from the Leopard install disc to try and do an archive and install and it said it couldn't upgrade because it couldn't find tiger on my machine. So I booted from the Tiger install discs to try and re-install tiger again. Tiger cant find my HD to install on; I'm thinking this may be due to Leopards install. I ran disk utility and it couldn't complete the verifying process. I got this "Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit."
After work I'm going to try to boot up in target mode to pull any data i can and try erase my HD and install from there.
To me it seems like a HD issue. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks in advanced.
-Chance

Chank wrote:
After reading through the forums I've found a few discussions and users that have similar problems as me but haven't seen anything that deals directly with my issues.
After upgrading to Leopard last night, it ran sluggishly for about 15 minutes. I got impatient and decided to restart.
The "sluggishness" is perfectly normal. It's well-known and it is not an issue.
You should have waited for spotlight to finish indexing.
You may have broken some links by forcing a shutdown while things were still being setup.
Which install method did you use, upgrade, archive or erase?

Startup problem flashing folder icon with a question mark

Hello All,
My macbook (Intel Core Duo) suddenly stopped working. Ater I push the powerbutton, I hear a clicking noise(about 1/second) coming it seems, from the cd-rom drive. Then after about 20 seconds, the clicking noise goes away and I get a flashing folder icon with a question mark (?) in it. And it just sits there for ever. I tried all the troubleshooting tricks mentioned in the user's guide, like taking out the battery and pressing the power key for 5 seconds, pressing command and control keys while pushing the power button e.t.c. I also ran the Apple Hardware Test program and it mentioned there was no problem with hardware. When I try to install the operating system with Mac OS X CD1, I go through the steps and there is no destination volume (my Macintosh HD is not seen) to install on. I appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks a bunch.

Chances are if you do not see your MacBook's HD then your HD has crashed and you will need to contact Apple (or take to an Apple Store or reseller) to have it replaced.
I hope it's still under warranty and I hope you have been backing up to another device.
This happened to me about a month ago and Apple replaced my HD and I had back ups (although I wasn't backing up religiously) so I didn't loose everything. When I picked up my MacBook with it's new HD, I also bought a new firewire external drive and back up nightly.
Good Luck - Call Apple.

IPod Mini and Folder Icon with ! on Startup

I upgraded to ITunes 7.0, and like a lot of people, had problems getting my Mini out of recovery mode. So I deleted 7.0, reinstalled 6.0.5, restored my Mini and transferred my library, and everything seemed to be working until I disconnected my Mini. My Mini booted up then froze up on that darned Folder icon with the "www.apple.com/ipod/support" url underneath it. Windows XP is only recognizing my Mini as a USB Mass Storage Device. ITunes recognizes it and can even play mp3s off of it. I tried restoring my Mini again and resynced it only to have it come out with the same problem.
Any ideas on what's going on? How should I fix this?
Thanks!!

Connect your iPod and wait for it to appear in iTunes.
Select your iPod in the source pane
Under the "summary" tab, select the option to "enable disk use"
Click Apply (lower right-hand corner)
Exit iTunes (don't eject the iPod first)
Click on Start, right click on MyComputer, and click Manage
Click on Disk Management in the left-hand side
Wait for it to finish connecting (it might take a few minutes)
You'll see your iPod listed under your main hard drive. If it's a 4GB iPod Mini, it will show a capacity of about 3.72GB
Make SURE you've found the iPod
Right click on it and click format
Set the options as follows:
*Volume Label = iPod
*File System = FAT32
*Allocation unit size = default
Leave "quickformat" unchecked, and click OK to start the format.
This may take a little while to complete
If it doesn't complete successfully, try it a second time.
If it does complete successfully (first or second attempt) go back to iTunes and restore it again.
Also, make sure you're not unplugging the iPod while it has "do not disconnect" on the screen.
CG

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

Folder icon with an exclamation point

My ipod told me I had a corrupt disk so I restored it. I then tried to sync it with my itunes library but after a while it said "The iPod (my name) cannot be synced. The required file (or disk) cannot be found." And then it says the sync is finished. When I look at my iPod, only a few of my songs appear as opposed to the number that it got to when syncing. I then tried restoring it again but the computer now freezes and doesn't find the ipod and only unfreezes when the ipod is unplugged. Occasionally itunes comes up with a message about my ipod being corrupt and needs to be restored even when the ipod isn't plugged in. Now the folder icon with an exclamation point has come up on my screen, and it will not connect to the computer at all. I have tried putting it into disk mode but it still doesn't work. does this mean that I have no hope and I will have to buy a new one??

I have tried all of those. when i even tried to
restore factory settings, it said ipod manager
internal error. what is that? and one other thing i
noticed, the lock symbol that appears when you slide
the hold button appers at the bottom of the computer
screen when my ipod is attached, I guess suggesting
that it is locked, but when i toggle it on the ipod
itself it appears and disappers as indicated. this
is driving me nuts!
iPod Manager Internal Error deals with the software versions you have on your computer. One of them might be out of date. Make sure you have iTunes 6.0.4 (open iTunes, click on Help, click on About iTunes. The version is the top line of the gray text that scrolls up). Then make sure you have iPod Updater 2006-03-23.
If you need to update iTunes you can get it at
www.apple.com/itunes/download
If you need to update iPod Updater you can get it at
www.apple.com/ipod/download
If you find that your software is all up to date, try just restarting your computer, and then restoring again. (If you have your iPod in disk mode, you should disconnect it before you restart your computer).
If that doesn't work, just uninstall and reinstall iTunes. This should resolve the iPod Manager Internal Error.
As far as the lock icon goes... I'm not sure about that one. It might have something to do with having the iPod in disk mode, or it might just be acting weird because of what's going on with the iPod right now. As long as it isn't blocking you from trying the steps to fix the iPod, I wouldn't worry too much about it for now. Maybe it'll act normally once you resolve the !folder.
Best wishes,
CG

IPod shows a folder icon with exclamation point after discon

Since I always ignore instruction booklets with new devices, I failed to notice the warnings with regard to configuring my iPod mini on a Windows PC. I did not install the included software first and I tried to sync with iTunes (my girlfriend already has an iPod mini so iTunes was already installed). As a result I ended up with folder exclamation point icon.
I tried the folowing already:
1) Reformatting the disk through windows explorer
2) Reset:
The folder icon with exclamtion point appears after reset
3) Running Updater 2004-04-28:
After plugging in the iPod at the prompt, the message "iPod updater can;t install firmware on connected iPod. The iPods hardware and the updater firmware are not compatible." I got the same message when doing the same thing in 'disk mode'.
4) Running the software on the disc that came with it:
When prompted I connected the iPod to the PC. I get a message "Your iPod has been connected. Please wait while the system recognises the device". And then nothing happens.
Please can anyone advise me how to fix this problem?

Ok guys!! I did it!! I fixed my iPod! I want to thanks Apple for the great help they gave me (I'm being sarcastic)!
I remember that I downloaded iTunes 4.9 and the iPod updater from 2 two weeks ago on my neighbor's computer.
As this problem (IPod shows a folder icon with exclamation point when I turn it on) only happened since I upgraded iTunes to 5.0 version and iPod updater, and after one and a half day calling Apple, reading the entire web site looking for an answer, discussing with a lot of people about this problem and nothing happened, I wanted to give the last try and went to may neighbor's computer!!
I turned on the iPod updater.
When it said i had to connect my iPod I did it
Then I pressed RESTORE
After that I plug it in the A/C adapter
It worked
I connected the iPod to the computer again
iTunes worked and my iPod is working as a new one!!

TS1440 When booting up, grey screen with a 'folder icon' with 'question mark' flashes?

When I boot up, a grey screen appears with a folder icon with a question mark inside it. The Mac won't respond to and commands or anything, only the On/Off Power button.
Any ideas? If you read my previous question, you can see what happened before all of this started happening.
Thanks,
-Dylan

Did you follow this procedure?
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-install-or-reinstall-mac-os-x-mount ain-lion.html

I have a 21" iMac that only boots as far as a folder icon with a question mark in it. Anyone know what this means and how to fix it?

I have a 21" iMac that only boots as far as a folder icon with a question mark in it. Anyone know what this means and how to fix it?

It usually means your OS has corrupted files. You need to reinstall OS X.
If you are using Snow Leopard:
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
Do the following:
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 the Combo Updater for the version you prefer from support.apple.com/downloads/.
If you are using Lion:
Reinstalling 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: Select Reinstall Lion and click on the Continue button.

Mid 2009 Macbook Pro boots with folder icon with question mark

I was on OS X Mavericks when it was working.
Alright, so I was having issues with my hard drive. I tried recovering it, repairing it, and nothing would work. So I have another hard drive already formatted to fat32, I pluged it in and turn on the macbook and it comes up with a grey screen with blinking folder icon. I then tried plugging it the old hard drive and its doing the same thing. I plugged the new hard drive back in and held the option key on startup and all it did was goto a grey screen with the cursur, and thats it. I tried option + command key and it just goes to the blinking folder icon. I tried command + r, holding shift, all lead back to the blinking folder or blank grey screen with the cursur. I don't know what else I could do? Any help is appreciated.

There seem to be forum system operations problems. I tried to send this earlier:
badluckkyle wrote
Is there anyway to make a bootable external HDD on a windows computer? Thats all I have right now.
No. Not on a PC.
Two things you can try. Take the original HDD, put it in an enclosure, and connect it to the MBP via USB (or Firewire). Start the MBP with the OPTION key down. If display shows the external HDD, click on it. See if it boots the MBP.
Second option is to connect the new HDD to the MBP. Get the original installation disk and put it into the drive and start the MBP with the C key held down. Start the installation process and when you get to the dispaly where there is a menu bar, click on UTILITIES. From the drop down menu, select Disk Utility. Select Disk Utility>Erase and format the HDD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Complete the OSX installation.
That then will be a boot drive. It should be able to boot the MBP externally and internally (unless the internal SATA cable is faulty).
If your original OSX was Leopard and you have a Snow Leopard disk, install Snow Leopard. Then run software update so that you have 10.6.8 installed. If you want Mavericks, then you can install that.
Ciao.
badluckkyle wrote:
Will it boot from an external on its own if I cant boot into anything? If so I can only put OS X on my external if formatted as exFat, files too big to copy to fat 32.
As indicated above, if the boot drive is functional, it should be able to boot your MBP from an enclosure.
You can only install an Apple OSX on a HDD formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). NO other format will accept a Mac OSX.
Ciao.

MacBook won't start - shows flashing folder icon with question mark

When I attempted a Spotlight search, my MacBook froze. I shut it down, and when I start again I get the sound, the blue screen, and then a flashing folder icon with a question mark. I tried starting with Option pressed down; didn't work, and now I don't even get the flashing folder icon, just the blue screen. Any suggestions?

The flashing folder with question mark means the computer can't find a working OS on the computer. This may mean your hard drive has failed.
Try holding the Shift key while starting up the machine. This puts the machine into Safe Mode.
If you have your install discs, insert Install Disc 1 and start up the computer while holding down the C key. When the Installer has loaded, choose a language. From the Utilities menu, choose *Disk Utility*. Does your hard drive show up here? If so, click on its icon (the one with manufacturer name & capacity, NOT "Macintosh HD"), and then click on the *Repair Disk* button.
If booting in Safe mode doesn't help or you don't have your install discs, you need to bring the computer to an Apple store and have the folks there look. If Disk Utility doesn't list your hard drive, it has very likely failed and will need to be replaced. If your machine is out of warranty, you're better off replacing it yourself, as it's very easy to do.
~Lyssa

What does a white screen with a flashing folder icon with a question mark in it mean?, what does a white screen with a flashing folder icon with a question mark in it mean?

My computer seemed locked up, nothing would open. I had to force quiy everthing. I tried to normally shut it down and it wouldnt shut down. I held the on off power switch. When I tried to turn it back on It stays tuck on the white screen with a flashing folder icon with a question mark in it . Has my hard drive gone bad?

Reboot the computer holding the option key down, you will get a selection of your OS X internal boot drive or the perhaps the disk you stuck in.
You can choose what you can boot into.
If it's the hard drive and it's there, then select that and head to System Preferences and change the startup disk to the hard drive, you shoudl be fine.
If only to disk, then select that and run Disk Utility > Repair, If your drive doesn't appear on the left, it's likely dead.
Repair the drive and reboot holding the Shift key down, see if that fixes things some more and reboot again normally.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

What does a flashing folder icon with a "?" inside mean?

What does a flashing folder icon with a "?" inside mean?

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 or globe appears when you start your Mac
Mac OS X- Gray screen appears during startup
In most cases the problems may be caused by one or more of these:
a. Problem with the computer's PRAM - See Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.
b. Boot drive's directory has been corrupted - Repair with Disk Utility.
c. Critical system files are damaged or deleted - Reinstall OS X.
d. The disk drive is physically non-functional - Replace the hard drive.
Note that the information I have provided is what Apple recommends, If other users suggest different solutions than found here, then be sure what they recommend does not impact on your warranty, if any, or ability to get continuing Apple service.
Please don't start removing drives or changing cables unless you know what you are doing and have exhausted other non-invasive alternatives outlined here. If you perform any work yourself that is unapproved by Apple, then you will void any warranty you may have and lose all further Apple Support.
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. Simply boot from the Recovery HD to perform the above.
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.

Broken Folder Icon with Lion??? Tried Everything.

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