Folder with question mark - Previous posts not resolving my issue

Good evening everyone
I have a Macbook Pro, which I bought in 2009.
I have never had any problems, and I have been regularly deleting rubbish to keep the memory ok (Pictures, downloads, old text docs etc)
I went online yesterday afternoon, to check out some information - It was fine. I closed the lid, and returned last night to use it.
When I opened it up, there was a white screen with a grey folder with a question mark flashing. As there was no cursor or response from the keyboard, I kept my finger on the power off button so it shut down.
I turned it back on to see the same screen.
I then went online via my iphone to search the meaning behind this error, and read several different troubleshooting feeds. I understand the error is because my macbook cannot find the files it needs to start up, or the hard drive has failed.
I followed the different options to the letter and each have been unsuccessful, my problem is, I have found no advice for when these instructions fail to work.
I have tried:
Holding the 'c' button when hearing the chimes
Holding both shift buttons upon starting up
Holding down CMD, ALT, P,R upon start up
And I have also inserted my install disc.
All of these end in the same result - The apple logo appears on the screen, and then after a while, the loading circle appears - It then stays like this and does not give me the option to safe boot, or choose a language, or select disc utility.
Also, I can not eject my install disk.
Please can somebody help me with what I can do, or perhaps what the next step is?
Thanks very much,
Leah

Hello Leah.....
That usually indicates that your Hard Drive is either failing or has failed.
Best solution is to take it to the Apple Store and have them check it out for you to see if that indeed is the problem.
As to eject your disk, power up your mb while holding the eject button or right click your trackpad until the cd ejects.
Good luck....

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Please reply

Sorry to bear bad news, but most likely the drive is already dead or dying. I hope you backed up everything when the first symptoms appeared.
There are data recovery services, but might be very expensive.
EDIT: Some (a few) people have had success putting the drive (sealed very well in a plastic baggy) in the freezer overnight and then quickly putting it in an external enclosure and getting the data off it that way.
Message was edited by: WZZZ

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Ok let me clarify this.
1)system crashed restarted and got the folder with the ?
2) tried to boot from the OS 9 CD no luck? it did not boot?
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Kazmunai wrote:
I saw someone wrote that you can force eject the CD by putting a paper clip inside the hole next to the CD/DVD drive. I did this, and it did not work.
That was for very old Mac's and PC's, it's been a long time since any modern Mac had that ability.
CD that I inserted inside the DVD/CD drive didn't come out, and was stuck inside.
Press and hold the power button down to force a hardware shutdown.
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Not solved with Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive

Before asking, I found someone had asked exact the same question, but that was actually an unsolved thread.
Re: Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive to try to restore to Factory Settings
Level 1(0 points)sdc3gJul 5, 2013 6:24 PM Re: Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive to try to restore to Factory Settings
Re: Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive to try to restore to Factory Settings
in response to Niel
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Hello I've searched for my problem but can't find anything same so I'm gona ask.
first of all I'm sorry for my English.
I'm using MacBook pro mid 2012 with samsung 840 evo ssd 500gb.
today it was working perfect it felt asleep and after wake up it restarted and flashing folder with question mark appeared on screen.
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Macbook boots from ssd connected by usb without any problems.
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again sorry for my English. And thank you for all your answers.

Do not apologize for your English. I assure you your English is better than what my facility with your language may be.
I have seen a couple of posts similar to yours where the SSD will not boot internally but a conventional HDD will. The resolution in one case was a new SATA cable even though the tests suggested otherwise.
I would take the MBP to an apple store and have them check it thoroughly and see if they can pinpoint to the cable as the problem. Obviously this just a guess on my part.
A call to Samsung technical support may also be a good idea.
Ciao.

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I tried that, it goes to the apple icon, however after about 10 seconds of the apple it goes straight to the Kernel screen. It doesn't give me the options of opening anything. Infact it doesn't even have a mouse curser.
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Folder with question mark - Previous posts not resolving my issue

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