Folder & question mark once; rebooted & it's gone: problem?

I powered up the iMac this morning and saw the folder with the question mark. I had this issue several months back, but was able to resolve it (don't recall how). This morning I powered the machine back down, and then back up again, and it booted normally.
Should I presume I've got a hard drive ready to go? Needless to say, I'd rather be too careful (and replace a hard drive that might go bad early), than too late.
If I do need to replace the iMac hard drive, is there any reason to try it myself, or does this need to go to Apple? From what little I've read it seems to be pretty challenging to do. What about running the machine (which is in an office where it's easy to hide an external drive) entirely from an external FW drive? Is that a bad idea?
Thanks!

I would start by doing a bit more testing:
1) disconnect your external drive and any other peripherals you may have and leave them disconnected long enough to see if the problem still exists.
2) reset the SMC: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543?viewlocale=en_US
3) run Apple Hardware Test in Extended mode. insert the original install disk, restart and hold down the "d" key.
If the AHT passes without any problems then most likely the problem is just the hard drive. Booting from an external drive will provide only moderate performance as FW 400 maxes out at about 35-40MB read/write and the FW800 drives that I have from OWC max at about 65MB read/write which is about what your current internal drive may get. Any of the newer 640GB drives by WD or Seagate get about 110MB read/write so replacing the drive internally will provide better performance.
Do you have the 20" or 24" iMac? I have the 24" and there was actually quite a bit of extra room inside. I was just surprised that the whole process was much easier than I was expecting. You could always have an Apple approved repair center do the install for you.
George

Similar Messages

Blinking folder & Question Mark - Drive Good - Files Are Still there

Okay,
So I've been a long way with this iMac. It originally came to me with bad power supply. I replaced. Then it came back with bad capacitors. I replaced. Then it came back not booting. Here's where I'm stuck.
I dont see the drive if I use command - s. If I boot OS X install cd, I can select OS X 10.4.11 on [OS Volume Name] in Startup Disk, I can see all the files on the disk, I've ran all repair options including file permissions and Disk Warrior, but the OS never loads.
Tried Safe Mode, Single User, Verbose Mode, PRAM Reset, NVRAM Reset, reset-all in command-option-o-f mode, I've blessed the /Volumes/[OS Volume Name]/System/Library/CoreServices directory several different ways, still the OS never loads... blinking folder & question mark.
I dont have correct install cd for this system and can't reinstall. Any suggestions or repairing bootloader, kernel, or something advanced...???
Anyone?

Hi Jkat, and a warm welcome to the forums!
Sounds like short of a proper install disk, you've tried everything but this...
applesetupdone...
This was Posted by: JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
"OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-s and type in the following:
/sbin/fsck -y Enter
/sbin/mount -uaw Enter
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone Enter
# The rm command is the remove command which deletes the file.
# Robert: I'd rename the file via: mv /var/db/.applesetupdone /var/db/.applesetupdone.old
reboot Enter
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
end of posted by: JoseAranda"
But not on this forum I guess.

Startup stuck on a Flashing Folder/Question Mark

Aloha,
I have been looking for a solution to my problem for several months now and have never found a solution.
One day my computer froze so I forced a shut down by holding the on/off button.
When I turned on the machine again the folder/question mark appeared.
I have tried all the hot keys.
Option-only shows the refresh and forward buttons but no options.
I thought my hard drive failed, so I bought a new one and installed it.
When I placed the OS DVD in to install a fresh copy I still got the flashing folder/question mark.
I don't know what to do, any suggestions?

sione wrote:
I don't know how to get to the system preferences if i can't get past the flashing folder/question mark.
Correct you'll not be able to...
The question mark appears when the boot loader cannot find a valid OS system/partition.
Here is what I would try:
1. Boot from the OSX installer by inserting the disk into the Mac then power-off. Power-on the Mac and immediately press and hold the "C-key" until you get the installer Language screen. Select your language and continue. The next screen should be the Welcome screen, go to the top and select Utilities/Disk Utilities from the tool bar. Once Disk Utilities is open select your internal (if it appears) then select the first aid tab. In the first aid pane select to run "Repair disk". If "Repair Disk" results in errors then run it again until it reports no errors found. Once "Repair Disk" is complete with no errors then press and run "Repair Permissions". Once complete reboot to test the Mac.
2. If the above does not work then try booting with the Startup Manager, by pressing and holding the "option-key" during boot. The GUI Startup Manager will appear and you can select the drive you wish to boot from.
3. Alternately press the "X-key" during boot.
4. And lastly before we give you the bad news... make sure that the mouse or track-pad button is not being pressed or stuck during system boot.
If none of these works then you most likely have a bad drive. And you'll need to replace it. You do have a back up right?
Do you have another Mac, to use for troubleshooting?

Flashing Folder/Question Mark on Startup

I have been having an issue with my machine for the past couple days, and cannot find the Install Disks to remedy this situation (my OSX 10.4.4 disks will not recognize), so ANY help would be appreciated.
I have been able to troubleshoot using FireWire target disk mode. I've run DiskUtility and DiskWarrior on this machine from another machine and everything checks out with the hard drive, but I keep getting the Flashing Folder/Question Mark on Startup. Safe boot (Shift key at startup AND Shift-Command-V) do not work. Resetting the NVRAM / PRAM does not work.
Suggestions?
I don't need the info on the machine, as I am trying to set this up fresh for my wife.

But I was going on the assumption, as it was an internal drive (not an external data only drive), he had an OS installed, since his problem seemed to be that out of the blue he was getting the flashing folder question mark on startup. He had written +"I have been having an issue with my machine for the past couple days...."+ implying that it had booted normally before that.
Anyway, you're probably right; I'm just puzzled: how would his once bootable OS disappear just like that? Obviously something I'm not understanding here.

I have a problem with iphoto (have a mac book pro): the icon in the dock appears with a question mark, and the application is gone!!! Can someone tell what's going on? Yesterday I had the same problem with itunes

I have a problem with iphoto (have a mac book pro): the icon in the dock appears with a question mark, and the application is gone!!! Can someone tell what's going on? Yesterday I had the same problem with itunes: I downloaded the last version (it's free), but I cannot do the same with iphoto, and more important: I need to know what is happening!!! Please help me!

Applications should not disappear all by themselves.
If they are then that coud indicate serious problems with your hard drive.
Backup everything up as quickly as possible.
Using Disk Utility verify your system disk.
Allan

Can't startup blinking folder question mark

There are similar questions in these forums, but my situation is different. My MacMini froze and I had to press the power button on it to restart it. I get the folder with the blinking question mark. I do not have any disks in the drive. I have not installed any new operating systems for at least a year. No external drives connected. I shut off and started the Mac Mini yesterday with no problems.
I tried the Enter/Return key; no response. I restarted and tried the Command-Option-P-R to reset the P-Ram; got the same blinking folder question mark. I restarted and tried the Command-Option-O-F also. I just keep getting the same blinking folder question mark.
So, if anyone has any suggestions, I will sure appreciate it!

It turns out that my SATA just wen't dead. I've been experiencing several power outages while my iMac still is running. I also noticed months ago that whenever I verify disk permission there are some stuff that is beyond repair and it shows red. I just ignore it thinking that it will go away and the inevitable happened. Good thing though I just have a few gigabytes of photos taken months back I had a full backup on all the docs that I have. I tried resurrecting my Western Digital 160GB SATA using Spinrite V6 but to no avail. BIOS from Windows can't even mount the drive. I've given it up. I still have a one last hope though to bring the dead drive to a data recovery company. And hope that they can replace the SATA board or the mechanical part with a new one on a clean room and recover what they can for a fee.
Is there any hint when a drive is about to fail? I did experience frequent hangings and endless spinning beachball from time to time also some weird sound that seems my hard drive is about to blast by spinning profusely for no apparent reason.
My 160GB SATA drive is about 5 years old. Is this the regular lifespan of SATA drives? Should I replace it every say 3-4 years? I've been using it almost everyday from Monday to Saturday. I'm considering buying a drobo so I can dump all my files without worries of being burn again by a terrible Hard Disk Crash!!!
I've re installed everything on my imac using the new 500GB SATA. Good thing that everything was fine except for the SATA Drive. I've bought an AVR and 500VA APC (Power Backup incase of Power Outage) so that I could prevent it from happening again. Also do you have any idea what brand of SATA is the quietest the most silent? Thanks for your help.
Message was edited by: besprenbrian

Folder + Question Mark : Still there after zeroing and reinstalling.

My MacBook Pro decided it didn't want to boot yesterday after a crash due to low battery on start up. Tried resetting PRAM, ran disk repair (had a couple issues there), finally just zeroed the drive and reinstalled the OS (Tiger factory discs). After reinstalling, the computer is still giving me the folder + question mark icon. I can boot onto the CD just fine every time, it sees the drive and tells me there are no errors when repairing it (does seem to hang on the final 'mounting drive' stage though). Still can't boot into the OS though.
Hoping someone has an idea.
Thanks!
Message was edited by: S. Swanson

When you go to Disk Utility, is SMART verified? Have you run the extended version of the Apple Hardware test?
I had a similar problem with a PowerMac G4, and the cause was a failing hard drive. If you do manage to boot from your boot drive, download and run SMART Utility:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/systemdiskutilities/smartutility.html
You can download the demo and run it several times for free. It is more critical than Disk Utility is, and can detect impending hard drive failure sooner. It could be your hard drive is headed south, especially if it is the original.
Good luck!

White screen with a flashing folder & question mark

My IMac froze today and when I turned it off and then back on, it just sticks on a white screen with a flashing folder & question mark... Help?

Reinstall Snow Leopard 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/.
Reinstalling Lion Without the Installer
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. Alterhatively, 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.
Note: You can also re-download the Lion installer by opening the App Store application. Hold down the OPTION key and click on the Purchases icon in the toolbar. You should now see an active Install button to the right of your Lion purchase entry. There are situations in which this will not work. For example, if you are already booted into the Lion you originally purchased with your Apple ID or if an instance of the Lion installer is located anywhere on your computer.

Installed Leopard, boots sporadically - Flashing Folder / Question Mark

I have installed Leopard onto my PowerMac G4. It was working for a few months, now it won't boot up most of the time. I am getting the flashing folder/question mark when I turn the computer on.
This problem doesn't occur all of the time. I was messing around with the two internal hard drives, switching them around inside the machine, and whatever I did must have worked because the computer booted up just fine. All of my files were in tact and everything looked normal. This lasted for about a day. Now my computer is back to the flashing folder on startup.
What could be causing this problem, and how can I fix it? Thanks!

Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it.
It is the strangest thing. Sometimes it will recognize the hard drive and boot up normally. Other times it hangs on the Apple logo with the spinning wheel. And other times it doesn't recognize the drives at all and gives me the flashing folder. Same thing when I try holding down the option key and use the device manager. Sometimes it will see the drives, and other times it doesn't show anything.
I have replaced the hard drives, the hard drive cables and the PRAM battery. I am running out of ideas! Anything else that you can suggest would be greatly appreciated.

Flashing folder question mark on boot

I started my computer today, and I hear this high-pitched noise and then clicking sounds. Then I see the flashing folder question mark. Could this be hard drive failure? Or is it the DNSChanger virus? I've tried to access the Recovery, but Command-R and the Option key don't work. When I use Option, all I see is a white screen with a pointer.

Compukid wrote:
When I tried Option, it showed a white screen and the cursor.
That's the firmware driven, no drive means either OS X is fried and can't boot, or the drive is dead, or it may be that something is wrong with the Mac or a cable, which if the drive is still good, will work later or in a SATA to USB adpater on another Mac or PC with MacDrive installed. You won't know that unless it's pulled out of the machine.
When I tried to move the mouse (a wireless one, if that helps), it did not move.
Can't use a wireless mouse, as the drivers load with OS X and OS X isn't booting, use the wired one or the trackpad.

Blinking folder with question mark on reboot

Hi,
Recently my Macbook Air has started to display the blinking folder with a question mark whenever I reboot. If I turn it off and turn it on (cold boot) it boots fine. But if I ever choose to reboot, it hangs with the flashing folder and question mark. Again, turning it off and on again fixes this.
It is a Rev A with SSD. I reselected the startup disk in system preferences but the problem persists. It only happens during a reboot and not a power on. There are no USB/firewire devices attached.
Any ideas?

I should also add that it happens during every reboot, not just occasionally - most recently during the upgrade to OS X 10.6.8.

Flashing folder with question mark upon reboot

Hello
My hard drive seems to be having issues lately. My computer froze and when I restarted I got the flashing questionmark indicating the drive could not be found. Disk utility from the instalI disk found no hard drive. I opened up the laptop and unplugged and repligged the hard drive and it worked perfectly. However, the question mark has again reappeared after startup. Any solutions to this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Could be, but I checked the ribbon cables and they appeared to be ok. My first guess is that the hard drive has failed, but that doesn't make sense since everything worked perfectly the second time.

Flashing folder question mark

My wifes mac book worked fine yesterday and earlier today. During her last session (probably surfing the net) mac locked up. She attempted to restart it and now she has a flashing folder with a question mark. Of course the HD is full of info, pictures etc. Any help would be appreciated

Ok, one of three things possibly occured.
1: The firmware "forgot" what the boot drive is.
2: The hard drive is dead or some other hardware issue (disconnect other hardware and reboot)
3: Somehow software got messed up so now it's not considered bootable
1: Reboot the Mac holding the option key down, you hopefully should get a selection of bootable drives with a arrow underneath each one.
See the OS X boot drive? (pray here) now click it and it will boot, head to System Preferences and set the Startup disk to it once again, that will tell the firmware who's boss. Your done, count your blessing and make a backup of the files off the computer to a storage drive.
Most commonly used backup methods
Run through the relevent list of fixes here as best as you can (1-5)
#5 should see if the drive is dead or not as it won't appear on the left side.
Step by Step to fix your Mac
2: If you don't see anything holding the boot key down.
The drive could be dead, however, it might be the Mac, software or the cable, the drive itself, if removed from the Mac and a SATA to USB adapter used ($12-$30 online) it might work just fine on another Mac, or a Windows PC with MacDrive installed to get at the files. (filevaulted no way) you won't know this unless the drive is physically removed from the Mac.
If the drive is truely dead, then there are very expensive platter recovery services for a few grand will take it apart and image the drive. Drive Savers is one for instance.
3: If you don't see a bootable option holding the option key down,
that could mean it's just not bootable, the drive may still work and the data can be recovered. Sometimes something goes wrong with the retention of key info on the drive, so it appears not bootable.
For this you need to create this bootable external drive, then you can hopefully access the internal drive and recover files
Create a data recovery, undelete boot drive
Once you have gotten the files off then you need to perform this proceedure from the 10.6 disk on the entire internal drive.
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6

Grey screen globe, folder question mark and only media folder in disk utilities?

So 2 days ago my I Mac 10.5 OS 2007 or 2008 ...started freezing up....never happened before...then yesterday a grey screen popped up with the folder and question mark..... i was able to get it up onyy once yesterday and today its like if everything is gone....again with the grey screen. I found my installation disks...popped the first one in and when i get to disk utility there's no hard drive for me to select only media the installation disk and some Asian script that looks like it may be a disk?.... idk what to do....is it done for?

Your hard drive is shot and needs to be replaced.
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 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.

Did my hard drive die? Folder Question Mark Flashing.

When I boot up, I get a folder with a question mark flashing on the screen. I booted up using the install CD, chose disk utility, but it could not analyze the disk at all. I assume the latter is the case because the disk is flat out not working - maybe a busted motor or corrupted. I do not hear the disk working at all when I try to listen for that.

I have to agree with Peck here, if the drive does not show up in Disk Utility it's a goner.
Some people have found themselves lucky and it turned out to be a loose cable after a repair or replaced drive but if you had neither done on your mac the drive is dead.
I hope you made backups.

Folder & question mark once; rebooted & it's gone: problem?

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