Flashing question mark - wont boot from CD

Hi
I am getting the 'flashing question' mark folder at start up. I am trying to start up from the OS9 CD by holding the c key at start up, but having no success.
Prior to this, I was having a problem mounting CD's (the this disc is unreadable by this computer dialogue box would show), could that be the problem? I was working around that by using my Zip CD Writer to mount CDs to the desktop.
If there is any way to force a computer to recognise the CD other than holding down the c key, or some other solution, I would be grateful if some kind person could get back to me.
cheers.

HI, Prince Busta. Since you can neither start up from a CD using the standard method, nor read CDs in your internal CD-ROM drive after starting up from another source, it seems likely that your internal drive is malfunctioning. The simplest possible explanation for this is that the drive is dirty and needs cleaning. A drive cleaning kit, available for a few dollars wherever audio CDs are sold, might put you back in business quickly and cheaply.
Another key combination to try at Startup is Command-Shift-Option-Delete, but I wouldn't expect that to work if the "c" key doesn't, and if the drive in question is the original one that came in the iMac.
Failing that, check to make sure your CDs themselves are clean and unscratched. Though it may seem unlikely that all of them are so dirty or damaged as to be unreadable in a properly-functioning optical drive, it isn't impossible: my teenage son came very close to demolishing all of an alarmingly large CD collection a few years ago just by never putting any of them away, and padding around his room on a layer of loose CDs (mingled with lots of common trash) for a couple of years. On the upside, when his indoor landfill was finally excavated, his carpet was in better condition than we'd expected: it had been protected from wear and tear by the thick overlying strata of debris. And in the corners of his room where traffic was lightest, he found a few CDs in usable condition that he'd forgotten he owned, which were a pleasure for him (though not for me) to hear again. Fortunately, the iTunes music store has lately enabled him to spend his money on music without acquiring any cumbersome CDs that need to be taken care of. As long as his iPod doesn't get dropped into the sea of laundry on his floor and put through the wash, he probably won't destroy all his music again.
If your CDs are in good shape and cleaning the drive doesn't help, a new drive is probably in order — though replacing one in an original iMac is probably not a sensible investment nowadays. You could replace the iMac for less than a new drive would cost. Perhaps you can find a used one that works and install it yourself without spending much.

Similar Messages

Folder with question mark + wont boot from disk

Hi
I am trying to reinstall a powermac g5 from the disk, using a old hard drive that works.. (formatted in NTFS) (hoping that when selected to boot from disk, mac will then erase and reformat it)this image is presented when i hold down the option key and the disk ejects this other image is presented when i hold down C (folder with question mark blinking) and the disk ejects... also presented if i boot normally.... Could some help be offered please??????
Powermac G5
Thank you in advance

Yes, you must Format it HFS+ first...
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.*
How to format your disks...
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html
(To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)
Thanks to Pondini, Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks...
http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html

Flashing Question Mark on Boot-Up

Any help would be greatly appreciated with a problem I am having.
I have a Mid 2009 2009 MacBook Pro that is showing a flashing question mark against a grey background when I try and start it up.
If i remove the HDD and place it in a USB caddy the system boots and runs just fine but the same drive does not appear in the list of bootable drives (in fact no drives appear)
I have tried with several known good HDDs from other Macs.
I have tried resetting the NVRAM with Command-Option-P-R but each time the same grey screen and flashing question mark remains - no options appear.
I have tried to resting PRAM via Terminal - refuses to recognise command.
I have removed hardware password using System disk.
I have pulled my hair out.
None of the above have worked.
Does anyone have any clues as to anything else I can try?
Many 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.

Imac G3 (CRT) startup shows a question mark wont boot

At startup there is a flashing question mark that shows. I have tried Disk Utility but it wont let me choose the disk, its read only??? I dont no what to do, I have been a long time Mac user, I have fixed a different Imac with the same problem and fixed it in about 2 hours, should I just give up

Michele Vadnais...
How long did you allow the question mark to show? In some cases the PRAM battery becomes weak and can play that game but eventually it may recover and boot.
Now the "read only" thing does have me puzzled. If you used an older CD that may be a Mac OS version issue.
...Ron

Flashing question mark at boot

so it seems my hard drive won't mount... flashing question mark instead of booting.
I've read the discussions, which seem to lead to either a bad HD or logic board...
I've run both disk warrior and tech tool -- both show that the hard drive is okay -- disk warrior re-built the directory, which showed all the data where it was supposed to be... nevertheless, after running both, still the dreaded Q mark
(incidentally, or perhaps not so, all the tech tool tests were passed except the "surface scan"...?)
But the symptoms for a logic board issue that are outlined in these discussions (i.e., bad video or other display issues) were not problems prior to the failure. The only issue that presaged the crash was a recurring error box (over about two days) which i'd never seen before (and the content of which was somewhat cryptic and the text of which, I regret, I can't really recall)... the box was the full width of the screen, and in alarming all caps offered three buttons, side by side, which were in essence a quit option, a re-try, and a third ... sorry, I know that sounds lame, but it's the best I remember on that matter.
wrt that error box, the other salient (or perhaps not) point was that the box remained through a force quit of all apps, and even a relaunch of the finder...
thanks for any insight... for me, a $600 repair bill is simply not in the cards.

The "flashing question mark" at startup is not all that uncommon a topic;
and it usually has some cures depending on exactly what caused it.
Apple Support documents about it are in the online archive and there also
may be some reference to this in a Mac's Help viewer.
"A Flashing Question Mark appears when..."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042
"...The possible causes and solutions for this symptom appear in the order
that you should try them. If any step resolves the issue, you don't need to
continue to the next one..."
Since you mentioned another screen with dialog box on it, that
may have been related to a "kernel panic" and that is covered
here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106227
With some more general -and lengthy- information about ways of
"kernel panic" resolution does continues over at a different site, here:
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html
Sometimes, if you don't see a different dialog box (like you said
you saw, prompting restart, etc) you could go into the System
Preference panel in the OS and be sure your Startup Disk is
selected in the so named panel. Occasionally that can cause
a minor error in which the computer later can't see the boot
volume on the hard drive. - Routine system maintenance helps
to keep on top of system health (and familiarity) ahead of time.

10.4.3 upgrade & archive install = flashing question mark

I upgraded to 10.4.3 reboot, flashing question mark appears.
Tried everything, PRAM zap, NVRAM reset, pull battery for a day and unplug. Reset PMU.
Tried combo update. Same flashing question mark. Boot from 10.4 DVD repair permissions all the time, repair disk, all is ok. Startup Disk selection to hard drive, see os x, reboot, flashing question mark again.
Reboot + Option, pulls up view, no startup disk shows, except for 10.4 dvd.
Target disk mode startup from another mac, boots up, run startup disk, shows the hard drive, select as startup, reboot, still flashing question mark.
Re-install os 10.4 - install 10.4.2 upgrade, still flashing question mark.
Have a Dual 1.2 G4 gig ethernet, 2gb ram, pulled out all but one ram chip tested booting with every different kind of ram configuration. Still flashing question mark.
QUESTION: Has anyone been able to fix this issue? I see it all over and nothing that really solves it?

i dont have a solution... but what you might want to do is reinstall 10.4.. upgrade to 10.4.2, reinstall everything you need and run yasu or cocktail..
then with carbon copy cloner.. make a backup of your system to another hard drive..
that way when 10.4.4 comes out... you can upgrade with out worrying if something bad happens.. hopefully by then theyll have everything worked out.

Mac Mini Flashing Question Mark

I'm trying to help a friend troubleshoot his Mac Mini. Based on the model number (A1103) it appears to be a late-2005. I've tried the following:
Unplug keyboard and mouse & boot: still boots to flashing question mark
Option boot to try to get to startup manager to select startup manager: boots to restart arrow and right facing arrow; there is no response from clicking on right facing arrow.
Boot to install disk holding C key during startup to get to Disk Utility to repair disk: will not boot to startup disk, instead boots to flashing question mark.
Reset PRAM: no difference.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

There is no valid system for the Mac to boot into. Reinstall Mac OS X.

My Mac Pro flashes the question mark and wont boot from hard drive, flash, or Cd... Please help!

My Computer froze so I shut it down... When I tryed to boot up again it wouldn't power up. After a few tweeks I got it to power up but now it wont boot from the hard drive, flash drive or a cd. It want to start, then, after a few seconds it stops. Not sher what to do. Can anyone help?

Have you tried Safe Boot?
You also might reset PRAM and reset SMC.
Have you tried booting with the Recovery System? See its possibilities here.
From there you can make repairs to your primary startup partition.
Do you have a backup? If not, do you have an external drive large enough to back up your primary drive? It would be good to have one in case your drive needs repair or replacement.

IBook G3 flashing question mark/won't boot from disc

I recently bought a used iBook, and I knew that the hard drive was bad. No big deal, just replace the HD and reinstall OS X, right? Not quite. I'm still getting the flashing question mark, and the CD won't boot. I reset the PRAM, etc. Still nothing. Held down alt/option at start up. It recognizes that the OS X disc is there, but still won't boot it. It just shows me a smiling computer with a spinning rainbow CD looking thing in the upper left corner. At this point I'm thinking it might be a failed optical drive, or the ribbon might not be seated properly (Entirely possible, since the retard that owned this before obviously took it apart at least once. Half of the screws are missing). Am I correct in this assumption, or is there something else I should be looking for?
Edit: I have 256MB of RAM, a combo drive, and am using a 10.1.3 disc.
Message was edited by: InVenereVeritas

Well, that iMac has a G3 processor and I see it's running OS X, so if you can get the iBook working, that is about what you can expect from it.
There was a later G4 processor (in iBooks and iMacs), and the end of the PowerPC iMacs had a G5 processor in them, but that processor ran too hot for a portable — a main consideration in Apple's decision to switch to Intel processors.
Surfing the web may be a trifle difficult with it, depending somewhat on the speed of your internet connection.
The MacBooks are a phenomenal improvement over the iBooks (even the iBook G4). There's no way around it — the Intel processors are just so much faster. I wince a bit when I hear someone say they're basing a future purchase decision on the performance of such an old model as this. It's simply not an accurate representation of what modern Macs are like.
Comparing Mac OS X 10.2.4 to Mac OS X 10.6.7 is a bit like comparing Windows 98 to Windows 7.

IMac G5 iSight, flashing question mark, won't boot from CD

iMac G5 iSight, flashing question mark, won't boot from CD

Your hard drive has probably died. The ? means that the machine can't find any drive to boot to.

Help diagnos. flashing question mark on monitor, cannot boot from CD drive

Any ideas? This is an older G3 tower which was "souped Up" wtih USB and Firewire cards, memory
Mac froze in midst of work last week. Now only get flashing question mark supermimposed on image of a floppy drive.
Tried to re install system (OS9) but cannot get ANY CD to boot from CD drive. I reboot, hold down "C" Key with CD in tray ( and i can hear the CD drive working). But the tray opens and ejects/rejects the CD).
I now suspect the problem is NOT the OS but rather a hardware issue.
Am I correct in this assumption? what else could this be?
I am trying to help an older gentleman who has no backups and has some important documents on the HD.If I can boot up, might be able to retrieve those itesm. (and get a newer Mac!)

Not the answer,Dale (thanks anyway)
I read that article.
I cannot boot from any bootable CD.
Inserted the OS install disk as well as third party bootable CD.
with CD in the CD drive tray, I restarted and held down the C key.
Mac restarted but the CD tray popped open. Would not boot from the CD.
That is why I posted query
not only do we have the flashing question mark but bootable CDs are not booting this Mac. So I can do no diagnostics, no repair, not salvage of files.
I am trying to understand where the problem lies. am guessing Hard Drive failure but why should CD also not work?

Imac wont boot only shows flashing question mark folder (long)

Imac 21.5 late 2009 with no upgrades.
Had previously turned on bootcamp inadvertently without installing Windows OS. On shutdown accidently picked start Windown on next startup and since has only shown flashing question mark.
Tried to boot to single user mode, safe mode or verbose mode without success.
Could not find orginal OS disk that came with computer so used OS disk from a 13' Macbook pro (mid 2009). Would boot to OS installer but got error when it tried to install. Was able to get past this and use Disk Utility and did repair permisions and repair disk without change in result.
Tried rest PRAM and NVRAM without success.
Then found that the OS disk from the Macbook was a different build and finally found OSX installation disk that came with computer and will boot to MAC OSX installer. Did repair disk permision and repair disk without change.
Reloaded OSX without change.
With disk in will boot to single user or verbose mode but I dont know enough to know what to fix from there. I am assuming somehow boot files have become corrupt.
Any help? Thanks

I didn't read your complete post however by the subject line alone it appears your computer cannot locate it's startup volume per: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
The easiest way to remedy that is to restart while holding down the C key on your keyboard. After the computer has restarted then go to System Preferences - Startup Disk and choose the internal HD and then click restart to test.
Roger

Flashing question mark, won't boot from CD

This is a children's emac and the 4 year old put lots of things into the trash. The clock keeps losing it's correct time (perhaps needs a new battery). I tried booting from the CD and I could get through the beginning couple of okay buttons until the install on desination disk. No volume appears. It's running panther. I get the flashing question mark upon restart. I have zapped the pram. What next? unplug keyboard and mouse? Thanks,
Anne Z

AnneZ,
Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
The clock losing the time (especially if the year is being set back) is a classic symptom that the PRAM battery needs to be replaced. The 1/2 AA 3.6v lithium battery is a stock item at places like Radio Shack or can be ordered online. Battery replacement instructions are at eMac - Do-It-Yourself.
Before trying an a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120" target=_blank>Archive and Install, with the computer booted from the OS X Install disc, go to the Installer menu and open Disk Utility. From the First Aid tab, you should see the hard drive in the window pane on the left; select it and click on the Repair Disk button. Take note of any errors. If erros are reported repaired, repeat Repair Disk until you either get a clean bill of health or an unrepairable error message. Post back with the results.
If the hard drive passes Repair Disk, continue with the Installer. After the restart, you'll likely need the Panther OS X 10.3.9 Combo Update. Following that, you can use System Preferences>Software Update to check for security updates. After that restart, open Disk Utility from Applications> Utilities and run Repair Permissions on the hard drive.

Oh S_it, my intel iMac 2008 wont boot, flashing question mark is all I get.

Bought a friends' intel duo iMac 2008 which was working just find until a couple of day's ago and now when I try to boot it up all I get is a flashing question mark. I unplugged all components, including the electric cord and that worked the first time but now nothing. I don't have the startup or recovery disks. Must I have these...what's a girl to do? HELP!!!
Imac 2008 Mac OS X (10.5.4) previously owned, 2G

You don't need those discs, unless you need to test for Hardware, or reinstall the original operating system.
But you should get them anyway. Any software they installed on your machine, you should have the discs for as they are not their's to give away copies because of licensing restrictions.
The first step to try is zapping the PRAM:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
Then attempting a data recovery if there is no backup*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html#RECOVER
If there is a backup, initially try to repair the directory*:
http://www.macmaps.com/directoryfaq.html
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

Flashing Question Mark & Won't Boot

My Mac Mini (Core Duo 1.67) will not boot, which is annoying considering it is under two weeks old.
I get a flashing question mark on a folder icon on startup and it progresses no further.
It does however start from CD unaided (without having to C-poweron).
Apple Hardware Tools (D-poweron) says everything is OK.
The reinstall CD starts and I can get to the part that asks me to install OS X, and/or use the disk checker. Both the installer and disk checker tell me the machine has no hard drive - it just doesn't see a hard drive as present.
Zapping the cmos (alt-command-p-r) didn't help.
I then gave up and handed it to the office IT people. They took the drive out (it appears to be a standard 2.5" 60GB fujitsu SATA hard drive, also used by PC laptops) and shoved it in a PC. The PC detects the drive and can view the contents (via low level disk diagnostic software; Windows XP itself just says "I don't do Mac filesystems, want me to format this for you so I can use it?")
IT guys think it's a drive controller failure, or a loose connection (though they can't see one) or some weird firmware corruption. We can't upgrade the firmware as the mac wont boot and we couldn't find a bootable firmware upgrade CD.
So, is this a "Back to apple" job or is there something we have not done? Also if it does go back to Apple, should I remove the hard drive. As far as we can tell the drive itself is fine and there's confidental data on it.
Thanks,
Sandy
mac mini intel Mac OS X (10.4.7)

... Both the installer and disk checker tell me
the machine has no hard drive - it just doesn't see a
hard drive as present.
All the indications are that the logic board has failed, and after discovering the drive wasn't recognised, your first action should have been to contact Apple since the system is new. Unless your work IT people are Apple authorised, having them open your system and work on it will certainly have endangered your warranty should Apple have any indication that such work was done on it.
I think your best course of action to have this resolved is to contact Apple and explain the symptoms that you see - the flashing question mark at startup, that you are able to boot to a valid CD, but reinstall of MacOS results in an error indicating no hard drive is present. They will likely lead you through a couple of basic troubleshooting steps to confirm that you have a hardware failure that can't be resolved, then advise you on your options which will to some extent depend on where the mini was bought and whether there is an authorised service provider or Apple store in reasonable reach.

Flashing question mark - wont boot from CD

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