Flashing "Finder Folder" and Question Mark on start up...

I've been following the discussions on the question mark issue and yes, I have gone to the Apple sight and read all of the solutions and tried them. The machine is a G3 iBook 700mhz. I have reset PRAM, tried all the startup button pushing and even control C with the... That's the problem: it won't accept any discs including the original 9.2 restore disc and even a retail Panther set I bought. It just spits them out when the unit gongs. My trusty iMac G3 400mhz did this a few months ago but at least I got to the Disc Utility icon, although I couldn't get passed it. I was able to use the target mode , however, and empty the hard drive. I haven't tried doing this on the iBook, becaause I don't care about the crap that's on there. I mainly use the iBook for wireless surfing and I have pulled the Airport Card, additional Ram and even disconnected the keyboard. Is the hadrive simply dead? Thanking all you Mac people in advance,
Sev

I take it that you mean you have tried ALL the steps in the following Apple Knowledge Base article?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042
There is another way to repair the hard drive (if it works). Try booting into Safe Mode. This will take quite awhile longer than a normal startup because it does a file check and repair of the hard disk.
If this works you will see your normal desktop. Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally, and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click on the top hard drive icon in the left sidebar and note the S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom right of the pane. What does it say?
Select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless you've renamed it). What is the hard drive capacity and how much space remains available on it? Repair permissions on it.
See if you are able to do some hard drive maintenance to help things out.
Good luck.

Similar Messages

  • Flashing folder and question mark on start-up... again.

    I took my iMac in about two weeks ago because it froze, I did a hard restart, and when it booted back up it showed the flashing folder with a question mark. The guy who worked on it said my hard drive got messed up, and put in a new one. I just got around to turning on my computer, and it's doing the exact same thing, even though it has a whole new hard drive. The only difference is, now when I insert install disc 1 to run disc utility, the hard drive actually shows up in the program, when it never did before.
    Am I being a complete dunce and not doing something right?

    Extended Hard Drive Preparation
    1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disk. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.)
    2. After DU loads select your 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. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
    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 Erase button.
    After the formatting is completed the new volume will appear in the DU left side window. Quit DU and return to the installer. Now proceed with the OS X installation.

  • White screen with a flashing gray folder and question mark.

    I usually have my laptop asleep. Yesterday, when I tried to wake it up, the little box where I usually type in my password didn't show up. I ignored it and shut it down, only to find that it wouldn't even start up later. All it did was show a flashing folder with a question mark. I've read other questions and answers that say the worst case scenario is a hard drive disk failure. What should I do? Is there anything that I can do about it on my own? Is the memory lost? If so, is it restorable? I have a Time Machine backup from around a month ago. Would that help?

    That simply means that no bootable system could be found. At worst, the hard drive has died and will need to be replaced. However, it's also possible that the drive simply has become badly corrupt, and will be able to be repaired. Try repairing the hard drive with Disk Utility. If that doesn't work, you can try repairing it with something like DiskWarrior, or you can just erase the hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch. If you get it repaired and it still won't boot, try reinstalling the system.
    You can certainly restore your system from the Time Machine backup, if that proves to be necessary, but you will lose anything less than a month old.

  • Hello, i have a powerbook G4 12" with the folder and question mark at start up

    some time ago, i installed Leopard via FW as target mode, i dont know why i cannot do it anymore, everytime that i try to make my iMac to boot from USB stick with the leopard in, doesnt work as well in target mode. I have checked if i made the image the right way and is fine. The machine i used to have sometime ago, was an intel as well as the one that i have now, i supose that the lion doesnt let me do it, so i asking your help and ideas please.
    Thanks in advanced.

    Hey Tom, thanks a lot, first of all, im trying to install the OSX Leopard in my Powerbook G4, but it doesnt boot from USB stick or external disc, i cant do it from disc 'cause the superdrive is damage, my mac mini is intel processor and i used to have leopard in it, without any problem at all. From that mac mini i installed leopard in the powerbook via firewire cable (target mode) but i cant do that from my iMac, dont know why. Just in case you are wondering about the mini, i dont have it, i sold it. So my question is what do i have to do to get the leopard installed in my powerbook?, the process that i have to follow or some instructions that i may have missed?.
    Thanks man, much preciated.

  • Folder and Question Mark

    I asked this question earlier but the problem keeps reoccuring. Every morning my iMac is flashing a folder and question mark. I just push the button in the back to turn it off, turn it right back up and it runs perfect all day. But the next morning it will be on (rather then sleeping) and flashing this question mark and folder. I understand it may have something to do with the startup disk? But I keep selecting the correct startup drive and it works fine all day and into the night but for some reason come morning it is always flashing. I do not understand. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to lug my iMac into the apple store, its out of apple care warranty by now anyways.

    Hi Cookie
    I occasionally get this if one of my External HD's is left on or if I have left a device +(iPod, iPhone, FlashDrive, Camera etc.)+ connected during restart and startup.
    1. Repair your Startup Disk with your Install DVD > http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=3810
    2. Go to: System Preferences > Startup Disk > select the Mac OS X on Macintosh HD > Lock the Lock.
    Then if your still having the problem:
    1. Eject and turn off any External Hard Drives
    2. Eject and disconnect flash memory devices prior to shutting down and reconnect them after startup.
    Another consideration if you must keep devices connected for whatever reason, is to sleep the iMac instead of starting up every morning.
    Dennis

  • I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

    I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

    Hello,
    That means it can find the Hard Drive, or can't find the things needed for booting.
    See if DU even sees it.
    "Try Disk Utility
    1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
    2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
    *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
    3. Click the First Aid tab.
    4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
    5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
    Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
    (Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

  • 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.

  • 27 inch Imac Intel won't boot up. Screen ligthts up, then shows a flashing file folder w question mark. What can I do to find the problem?

    27 inch iMac Intel won't boot up. Screen lights up, then shows a flashing file folder w question mark. What can I do to find the problem?

    Please readd Apple's trouble shooting steps in Flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

  • Flashing Folder and Question Mark, no installation disc

    Yesterday, Safari froze up while I was it which I have never had happen before. So, I manually shut my Macbook off and tried to restart. When I did so, I received a gray screen with a flashing folder and question mark. From my research, I have found that usually this means that my laptop can't find the operating system and this issue can usually be resolved by inserting the installation disc. Problem is, I bought my Macbook secondhand and never got an installation disc. Does anyone know of a way around this issue? Or if buying the Snow Leopard upgrade for $30 instead of buying a whole new package for about a hundred dollars more might resolve this issue?
    Thanks so much,
    Kristin

    Yes, quite a quandary. You have some options:
    1. Call AppleCare and ask for customer support. You can order replacement discs for the model you have.
    2. Purchase an OS X retail installer suitable for your model, like Snow Leopard, that you can use to determine if you can repair the hard drive or will nee to reinstall OS X. If the latter and you are using Snow Leopard, then you just install it. The installer will determine whether to upgrade or not automatically. As long as your drive is OK Snow Leopard will not erase the drive so all your files are safe. If you use an earlier version of OS X then you want to choose the Archive and Install option. See the following:
    How to Perform an Archive and Install
    An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
    1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
    Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
    Boot from your OS X 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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.) 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, then quit DU and return to the installer.
    2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
    3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
    4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
    5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
    6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

  • When booting up get flashing apple folder with question mark and no sign, why?

    When booting up get flashing apple folder with question mark and no sign, why?  Computer will not open up.  I have tried resetting the Pram.  I can access the hard drive from another computer holding down the t key when starting up the Macbook Pro.  What to do next?

    The cable connecting the HDD to the logic board may be faulty.  If the internal HDD can boot the MBP when in an external enclosure, that will confirm this issue.  If not, the HDD may need to be replaced.
    Ciao.

  • MacBook Pro flashes file folder with question mark and startup manager will not run

    My son's MacBook Pro won't boot (gets the flashing file folder with question mark).  When I try to open startup manager (holding "option" key during boot does not do it).  Other posts suggest inserting the install disk, but I am pretty sure that for Lion, there was no disk, it was just off the website through the App Store.  Any further suggestions?

    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.

  • HT1379 I have  lost everything on my mac, a gray screen with a folder and question mark is blinking. i hav another mac that is running slowly, how can I boot and reinstall os x Lion, i do not have the start up disc with me.

    I have  lost everything on my mac, a gray screen with a folder and question mark is blinking. i hav another mac that is running slowly, how can I boot and reinstall os x Lion, i do not have the start up disc with me.

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
    Lion uses Recovery to reinstall OS X. Press Command and R keys when your Mac starts, open Disk Utility, erase the drive and reinstall Lion. The other Mac has probably got its hard disk damaged, so take the Mac to an Apple Store

  • What does a white screen with a file folder and question mark indicate?

    what does a white screen with a file folder and question mark indicate upon start up?

    That the computer can't find a useable boot volume.
    Boot from your grey installer DVD disc 1 (hold down the C key on startup or hold down Alt/option on start and choose the installer disc).
    OK the language page (if present). From the installer screen, go to the menu bar and choose Disk Utility; depending on the OS version it may be in the Utilities menu or Tools menu.
    In DU, select your internal drive in the sidebar (the top item with the makers name and serial no.). Run Repair Disk (not Disk permissions). If problems are reported as repaired, run it again until you get a message in green "the volume seems to be OK".
    If it says it can't repair the disc, you may need heavier guns such as DiskWarrior or TechTool to attempt a rescue.
    Hope you have backups; retrieving data from adead drive can be expensive and tricky.

  • Help. flashing gray folder with question mark on startup, then no startup.

    on startup, macbook pro showed flashing gray folder with question mark, but no startup.  after several retries, now shows circle with diagonal diameter, and still no startup.  worked fine yesterday.  suggestions?

    Hi! I had the same problem as you. (I had a 2004 emac) all i had to do to boot it up was press enter and that seemed to do the trick but a grey folder might signify your missing files (Computer is broken) or its a network startup. Try it out!

  • HT1941 grey screen with a folder and question mark

    On start up i get a grey screen with a folder and question mark- how do i get out of this?

    10.8 Mountain Lion
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11046
    Use Startup Manager to select Startup disk.
      http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
    Repair Disk
    Steps 2 through 8
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
    Reset PRAM.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405

Maybe you are looking for