Changed out internal harddrive, now getting folder icon with ? when booting. What to do now?

See subject

First, shut down.
1. Boot from install disc (press power button, immediately insert install disc and hold down c key).
2. Select your language.
3. Open Disk Utility from Utilities menu.
4. Select the HD in the left pane (the manufacturer’s name and the HD model number).
5. Click on the Erase tab.
6. Choose the Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
NOTE: if you want to zero the HD (which I always think is a good idea, but does take time), click on Security Options, click the button for Zero Out Data, click OK. The larger the HD, the longer this will take, in some cases several hours.
7. Click on Erase and wait for the entire process to finish.
8. Click the Partition tab.
9. Click on Volume Scheme and choose the number of partitions (normally just one unless you have other plans).
10. Click on the Options button (located underneath the Volume Scheme pane) and select GUID.
11. Click Apply.
12. Quit Disk Utility and continue with the installation process to install OS X; when finished, restart, repair permissions, run updates (in Apple Menu > Software Update), and repair permissions again.

Similar Messages

My MacBook won't start up. Get folder icon with ? In it. Ideas.... Thanks

My MacBook won't start up. I get a folder icon with a "?" in it. Any ideas? Thanks.

The MacBook cannot find a startup disk...could be a corrupted hard drive or failed hard drive. If you have the install disk for your Mac OS X, you show 10.5.8, try booting holding the C key so you startup on the installation disk. If that works, use disk utility to see if you can do a repair of the internal hard drive and fix system files that are bad, or even do a reinstall so you cleanup bad files.
If that does not work, then a trip to the Apple store genius bar to have the hard drive checked out and possibly replaced.

Installed hard drive in bay 2 now get flashing folder icon with ? mark

Mac Pro 1.1, OS x 10.7 - installed storage hard drive in bay 2 now get flashing folder icon with ? mark

found the answer - hold down opt/alt key, reboot, choose drive with os installed. it worked.

On. Startup I get a flashing folder icon with a question mark

My computer won,t start. After about 30 seconds I get a blinking folder icon with a question mark. I have never seen this before.

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 its location.
(101798)

Folder icon with a question mark now won't boot at all help?

I get a folder icon with a question mark now it says shut down and reboot keeps doing that over and over
Please help!

clifffromhomosassa,
Your system cannot find the startup volume. This can be caused by many things including a failed HD. Please look over and trouble shoot using the Apple Flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac letter.

How can I change colour or design to the folder icons in Mail ?

How can I change colour or design to the folder icons in Mail ?

Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions.
Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.
Mail/Provide Mail Feedback

HT4718 at start up I am just getting a grey folder icon with a ? inside it

at start up I am just getting a grey folder icon with a ? inside it

Press the Command and R keys and either use the Disk Utility to repair the internal drive or the Installer to put a new OS onto it.
(83635)

Hi . i have Intel based iMac. i erased whole hard disk. now it flashes folder icon with question mark... i have no internet or orginal dvd.... i want to clean install any mac osx..friend got mac book pro and osx in dmg format . what are my options?

hi . i have Intel based iMac. i erased whole hard disk. now it flashes folder icon with question mark... i have no internet or orginal dvd.... i want to clean install any mac osx..friend got mac book pro and osx in dmg format . what are my options?

On your friend's computer with an internet connection, log into the Mac App Store with your ID and download Yosemite from the Purchases section of the Mac App Store. The make a bootable USB install media using
http://liondiskmaker.com/
Then boot from that on your computer and install
You need an internet connection to install via Recovery mode

At start up I get a white screen then eventually a blinking folder icon with a question mark in the middle

Help! As of today, my iMac will not boot up. When I turn it on I get a blank white screen then, after about a minute, a blinking folder icon with a question mark in the middle.

Find your original install disk, insert it and re-boot holding the "C" key during startup. It will take longer but should boot. Then you need to select Disk Utilityfrom the Menu Bar. Do a Repair Disk on your hard drive. When it finishes re-boot normally.

Imac not starting up getting folder icon

imac not starting up getting folder icon

i got the same sithuation ..
apple icon and stop icon and folder icon alternating .. on grey screen.
I tried a NVRAM / PRAM reset using Option + Command + P + R buttons (hence refered to as "combo")
Press and hold the combo when you start the mac .. before the grey screen appears.ystem second time ..
keep holding until the mac restarts again (takes about 5-6 sec).
voila

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

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.

After I reset my Ipod nano the folder icon with excamation point show up.

My Ipod nano was freeze, so I reset it and after that, It shows the folder icon with excalmation point,why does that happened? how can i fixed_?

Check these out:
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Disconnected From Computer
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Turned On
Put iPod into Disk Mode Manually – Worked for Me!
Good Thread About iPod Sad icon/Folder with Exclamation Point
By the way, you might want to post in the iPod nano forums from now on, as you will most likely get more help in there in the future.
I hope this helps!

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

Changed out internal harddrive, now getting folder icon with ? when booting. What to do now?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for