Folder icon with question mark?

I turned my computer on yesterday and it wasn't powering on as usual. First the grey-blue screen stays on forever and then this flashing folder icon appears with a question mark. I am not able to log on or start up any operations.
please help!

Hi Radhika Rao,
welcome to macbook forum.
If after you follow Mort suggestion, your HD is not showing up like Meki case, then Kane is right that your HD is failed. But if you manage to repair disk and still you cannot boot from it, you might need to reinstall the OS X, just installed using archieve and install option.
You can also insert the installer disk and restart while pressing alt/option key and if the screen only give installer disk system folder as option to start then your HD is failed as suspected.
If you still under warranty, apple will replace your HD for free, but if not, they might charge you for new HD, I would buy the HD and install it myself (way more cheaper and I can choose the size of the HD) using this manual:
http://www.apple.com/support/manuals/macbook/
Good Luck.

Similar Messages

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

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?

Blinking Folder Icon with Question Mark at startup - Is my HD dead?

I was uploading a .Mov file to my idisk when I got an error message - not sure what it said. But the screen dimmed, and then froze. I held down the power to power down - which it did.
When I fired it back up, I heard the startup sound - then the screen went white. A gray folder icon appears with a question mark over it - and it blinks.
I tried powering down again and unplugging, and also powering on with all peripherals unplugged. Again I get the white screen, folder icon and question mark.
That .Mov was being uploaded as a freelance project for Google due tomorrow morning. Great timing! Am I screwed?
Thanks!
Gordon

I booted from the Mac OS X Install disk and opened the Disk Utility.
The options for disks to repair are
1. The Mac OS X Install Disk 1
2. A drive that's simply labeled "Media."
Is this "Media" disk my HD? I'm not getting any options to repair the disk.
Disk Description: Media
Connection Bus: Serial ATA 2
Connection Type: Internal
Total Capacity: 0 Bytes - that doesn't sound good.
Write Status: Read/Write
Again, thanks for your help.
G

Flashing folder icon with question mark in the middle of the folder

LLashing folder icon with a question mark in middle of folder on startup

Click here and follow the instructions.
(121672)

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.

Blue folder icon with question mark at start-up

Hi all!
I've read the previous threads and posts and didn't really find any other user who has this problem.. I'm new here and yes I'm freaking out.
I can't even check my mac specs. so at this point I'm not sure if it's a MAC OS X (10.5.7) I just selected that. I bought it three years ago and it's white and not the pro one, if that helps.
It froze while browsing firefox, so I shut it down. When I restarted it again, there's no apple logo or spinning wheel like others experienced, it just showed a light blue screen with a folder icon with a question mark on the center.
I've restarted it about 5 times and still the same! I appreciate any help!
thanks

Installing a free app called Smartreporter [http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/23232] will monitor your hard drive and warn you when it's failing.
You do not have to buy a drive from Apple, there are many good, less expensive ones on the market, [macsales.com] is a great source.
Good luck and you're welcome,

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

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

Blinking grey folder icon with question mark on boot

Hi. Just got my system from the Apple Service center where they have reinstalled a new hard disk for me.
When I come home, and start the machine, it shows me a blinking grey folder icon with a question mark in it.
Only thing I can do in this screen is switch off the power. But when I reboot, it shows me the same icon again.
With google, I discovered that if while rebooting I press the OPTION key, then it boots me into the firmware password mode. How can I automate this? I do not want to have to always boot the laptop with Option key pressed.
Thanks for any pointers.

That question mark means that your machine can't find a drive with a system installed to boot from. Sounds as if the techs didn't install a system when they replaced the drive... do you still have the installation disc(s) that your MBP might have come with?
Clinton

MacBook shows folder icon with Question mark on boot up still boots fine

Just this morning when I booted up my MacBook, I noticed the infamous folder icon with a question mark flashed up on the screen once, then the normal apple icon appeared and the computer booted normally. I ran Disk Utility, Disk Warrior, Hardware Check, etc. and found no errors.
First, I'd like to know if this is anything catastrophically wrong with my computer. Regardless if there is or isn't, secondly, I'd like to figure out how to stop this from happening.
Thanks.

Apparently, the computer cannot find the HD to boot up AT FIRST. After that, it could suddenly find it. The worst thing that can happen is that you need to backup and reformat your HD.

Flashing Folder icon with Question Mark

While trying Garage Band, I saved a project 'the long way' so as to open it via the Media Browser. Big mistake. Enter rainbow ball of ****.
I tried to force quit because all I was hearing was a grinding away like 'crickets' says my daughter. Could be the Hard Drive.
Now I shut it down and when I reboot, it gives me nothing but a gray screen with ? in a flashing folder icon.
Help!
Using 10.6.5, possibly 10.6.6. (Whichever one came before the Apple App Store application.)
There is 70 Gig left available in a Drive that I believe is 384G. 300 something, I recall.
This is a late 2006 Macbook, with the RAM maxed out..

That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the hard drive data is somehow corrupted.
Put your install DVD into the optical drive and reboot. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option key until the Install Disk shows up). That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
Once it has finished booting and you are at the Install screen launch Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is then select the First Aid Tab run Repair Disk and if that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

Weird folder icon with question mark

for the past twenty four hours, my computer has not been booting up. it finally chimes that it's on,but it won't go any further than the screen with the tiny folder icon in the middle that shows the finder icon and then a question mark. any answers to this? i have rebooted and recharged everything, so i am at a loss.

Welcome To Discussions jendiana!
"what if i bought a copy of the disk warrior?"
You could probably purchase the Tiger 10.4.x install disc, for less money that the price of DiskWarrior, which is $99.95.
And you really need to have system install discs at your disposal.
If you know what to look for, a Full Retail Version, of the Tiger Install DVD, can be purchased rather inexpensively, at some online Apple retailers, Amazon, eBay, AppleRescue, FastMac, etc.
Be sure not to purchase grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
Unless purchased from AppleRescue, the discs should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade on them.
Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?
"Tiger ships on a DVD, but if your Mac doesn’t have a built-in DVD-ROM player, you’ll need CD media."
AppleRescue, also sells a Tiger installation set on CD for $79.00.
Shop Carefully, Examine All Documentation, And Good Luck!
ali b

Mac Book just displays a folder icon with question mark

Hi! My mac does not turn on, it just displays a folder with a question mark. What should I do?
Btw, I've just turned it on in a country with a lower power supply, can this be the problem? I'm kind of desperate by now.
Thank you. [email protected]

Carla
Welcome to the forums here. You might also want to check out Mac Forums they're great too The credits are secondary, just want to be able to help if I can. I'm sorry the hardware test did not start for you. I know sometimes reading the forums and seeing other issues may cause one to worry, it worries me too, but if this is your first issue with your MB don't have any worries. I'm pretty sure your warranty will apply. If have any problems with that and can call a toll free number to the states 800-275-2273. Here's a link with Apple numbers.
Joseph

Screen displays small folder icon with question mark

My powerbook won't boot up, makes a clicking noise when turned on and is displaying a small folder in the middle of the screen that alternates with a symbol and a question mark. Bad hard drive?

"Also, can I purchase a hard drive from a brick and mortar Mac store or do I need to buy it online?"
I suspect Apple Stores don't carry older style hard drives. I buy all my hard drives from this outfit:
2.5" ATA Laptop Drives All Pre-2006 Apple Laptops and most PC Laptops utilize a standard ATA type drive. 80GB to 320GB from $59.99
I've had good results with the Western Digital Scorpios in older Mac notebooks. Just remember that your PowerBook uses the older ATA/IDE drives, not the more common SATA models. Keep the height to 9.5MM for best compatibility.

Folder icon with question mark?

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