Grey Screen with Flashing ? mark

I have tried all the different startup tricks with no luck. I don't have the original install discs because the computer was purchased used. If anyone might know a solution that would be great. I really didn't know what details to post so if you have questions I can do my best to answer

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions. 
You'll need a set of install discs to recover from this issue. The iMac can't find a good operating system at the moment. This could be due to a fault with the hard disk or corruption of the OS. Either way you'll need install disks and preferably a firewire external hard drive to continue.
mrtotes

Similar Messages

  • How do I fix grey screen with ? Mark Blinking

    Please help me to fix grey screen with ? Mark blinking thanks

    The support article linked below is somewhat outdated. Where it refers to starting up from an installation disc, you should instead start up in Recovery mode.
    If you don't have a current backup of all the data on the startup volume, and you want to preserve that data, then you must try to back up before you do anything else. Ask for instructions if you need them.
    A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

  • Grey Screen with Flashing Folder with Question Mark

    Hi,
    I need some help with an issue I'm having on my Mid-2012 Macbook Pro (13"; OSX 10.9.2; 8GB RAM).  I've had issues with this Macbook for the past year.  I've worked with Apple Support and had it into the Mac Store prior to the warranty expiring (Dec 2013).  I have the exact same model with all of the same specs that my employer purchased at the same time for work as my work computer, and I haven't had any issues with that one.
    Previously, the system would slow down excessively and eventually start hanging. Occasionally the screen would start flashing.  Apple phone support had me wipe the hard drive and re-install the OS and all of my file, apps, and setting from my Time Machine backup.  That worked for about four months, and then it started again. Since it was getting close to the warranty expiration, I took it to an Apple Store. They ran a bunch of diagnostics, said the hardware was all fine but the OS needed to be re-installed.  They did that in early Dec, and everything was cool again until about three days ago.  Three days ago, it started slowing down and freezing again (even when doing non-memory intensive tasks such as broswing the web with only a couple of tabs open and no other applications open).  Last night, it froze hard and wouldn't shut down, so I had to cold boot it.  When I tried to power it back on, it came to the grey screen with the flashing folder with the question mark (which I know means it can't find the boot sector).  I waited until this morning, and it stil wouldn't boot. I then rebooted into Startup Manager, and the HDD was there. I selected the HDD, and it booted fine and ran fine for a couple of hours (I was able to do a Time Machine backup).  Then it froze up solid again. I waited for an hour or so before cold booting (don't like doing that), and when I tried rebooting, I got the flashing folder with the question mark. I tried booting into the Startup Manager again, but this time, my HDD wasn't listed. I then booted into the OSX Recovery utility (CMD R on boot), went into the Disk Utility hoping to do a disk repair, but my HDD wasn't listed. I have an external SATA to USB adapter, so I pulled the HDD, hooked it to a USB port on my other (identical except it doesn't have problems) Macbook Pro.  Once my other Macbook booted, the HDD from the bad Macbook Pro showed up fine.  I ran a verify and repair disk on the HDD from the bad Macbook, and it didn't show any issues.
    So I figured I'd be really brave. I took the HDD from the bad Macbook Pro and put it in my work (good) Macbook Pro (I took the HDD out of my working work Macbook Pro).  It booted fine.  I then did the verify and repair disk (again no errors) and verify and repair permissions (it found a few, but no more than it has in the past). I ran it that way for about an hour with no issues. That led me to believe that the HDD for my personal Macbook was fine, and it must be an issue with the SATA cable or the mainboard. 
    Here's where it gets odd.  I put the HDD from my work Macbook Pro into the bad Macbook Pro thinking it wouldn't even recognize it.  It did recognize it, and it booted fine.  I ran it like that for about 30 minutes.  It did have a couple of short freeze ups, but it didn't lock up solid. I didn't want to push my luck and possibly damage the HDD for my work Macbook, so I shut down the bad Macbook Pro ended the experiment at that point.
    I put the original HDD back in the Macbooks where they originally came from. I then ran the Apple Hardware Test (press and hold D on startup) on the bad Macbook Pro; I did the extended testing option. It ran for about an hour, but it didn't find any issues with the bad Macbook Pro. 
    I put the HDD from the bad Macbook back in my working Macbook and wiped the disk and reinstalled OSX from a Time Machine Backup from last week (before the problems occured).  Put it back in the bad Macbook and still no luck. Finally I tried resetting the PRAM because I saw that as one of the options on this discussion board. 
    I've searched and read everything I can find related to this, but I can't find anything that works, and I'm at my wits end.  Can anyone point me in a direction of what might be wrong and what else to try?
    Thanks!
    Mike

    You performed thorough and methodical troubleshooting, and this appears to be the most important result:
    I put the HDD from my work Macbook Pro into the bad Macbook Pro thinking it wouldn't even recognize it.  It did recognize it, and it booted fine.  I ran it like that for about 30 minutes.  It did have a couple of short freeze ups, but it didn't lock up solid.
    Given compatible hardware, you ought to be able to swap hard disk drives in exactly that manner, so it shouldn't surprise you that it worked. However, installing the "known good" HDD in the problem machine should not have resulted in any freeze-ups at all.
    You can conclude the hard disks (both of them) are serviceable and whatever fault exists probably lies elsewhere. Often the SATA cable is damaged or not seated properly, and is likely to fail more than anything on the logic board. Inspect the logic board's SATA connections and make sure there are no contaminants or damage. The two drives and two logic boards are going to have slightly different component tolerances, so perhaps the defective one is simply exceeding some limit.
    Apple Hardware Test is very cursory and essentially tests for the presence of operable hardware. It is far from an exhaustive test, and only a report of a failure can be relied upon for accuracy. For a more thorough test you would need to have Apple evaluate it using the time-consuming Apple Service Diagnostics. Even then, they may come up without a clue, and eventually someone will suggest a logic board replacement which can be expensive.
    It is an unusual problem, and I don't know how much time Apple would invest in diagnosing it before they conclude you really ought to buy a new Mac instead. They might surprise you though in that a "depot repair", if yours is eligible, is a very cost effective option so consider it.
    Given your ability you might also consider purchasing a replacement logic board from PowerbookMedic, or even sending it to them for a flat rate repair.

  • My MacBook Pro won't start - it just displays a grey screen with flashing icon of a folder with a question mark in the middle. Help.

    It started while I was using Adobe InDesign, and that program froze, then crashed. When I tried to reopen the program, the error message I received was simply "Error: 16".
    I tried to take a screen shot of the error message for reference, and it gave me a message saying I couldn't because I didn't have access to the files where it would normally store the shot.
    Attached to my computer at the time was my Seagate Free Agent Go-Flex for Mac backup drive.
    So, I closed any open applications, and restarted my computer. But it wouldn't restart. It only displays a grey screen with a flashing icon in the middle of a folder with a question mark on it.
    I have no idea what happened - I wasn't using the machine any differently than usual, and it only had a few basic applicaitons open in addition to InDesign (like Preview, Text Edit, Microsoft Word, iCal).
    I have MacKeeper on my MacBook, and I keep it clean.
    Does anyone out there know what this flashing icon indicates, and if there is anything I can try on my own to fix it?
    Thanks.

    ali har wrote:
    It started while I was using Adobe InDesign, and that program froze, then crashed. When I tried to reopen the program, the error message I received was simply "Error: 16".
    I tried to take a screen shot of the error message for reference, and it gave me a message saying I couldn't because I didn't have access to the files where it would normally store the shot.
    For the Error: 16
    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/827/cpsid_82744.html
    Seems a uninstall and reinstall of CS is in order.
    Attached to my computer at the time was my Seagate Free Agent Go-Flex for Mac backup drive.
    May or may not be a contributing factor,  may have kicked in at a wrong time or running root code.
    So, I closed any open applications, and restarted my computer. But it wouldn't restart. It only displays a grey screen with a flashing icon in the middle of a folder with a question mark on it.
    Computer can't find a bootable volume.
    https://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
    I have MacKeeper on my MacBook, and I keep it clean.
    Well that explains it, MacKeeper is almost malware.
    http://applehelpwriter.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malware/
    Search the forums here for "MacKeeper" they will tell the whole story, crapware.
    Disconnect all drives, follow the "Grey Screen" instructions and hold Shift key down while booting, if you get into OS X , immediatly backup your files to another drive and disconnect.
    In my opinion you should first check to make sure you have a backup of your data, then just erase the entire internal drive (hold c boot off the 10.6 disk, use Disk Utility), reinstall OS X, same user name, update to 10.6.8, c boot off the 10.6 and Repair Disk (to fix a update error) install your programs and finally return files from backup into the same main user folders like before (Music, Docs, Pictures etc.)
    A pain it is, but you've hosed your system and in the process you might as well rebuild everything and have a fast machine again. So happens to clear MacKrapper, uninstall CS5 and any other junk in your system at the same time. Fresh, clean, lean and mean.
    Learn to Carbon Copy Cloner to a external drive that new pristine boot drive, you can hold the option key and boot from it (even update it), which is a real bacon saver when something like this happens.  Also it's free to use, donations accepted.
    http://www.bombich.com/
    Note: if anything above I've mentioned is too complicated or your not sure, seek the services of a local computer specialist.

  • OH  when booting up " just grey screen with flashing folder with " ?" mark

    OH what to do know. I have been trying to install SL on my white dual core intel computer for days. I have tried all sorts of things, DU verifiy, fix permissions--all of which pronounce my HD verified and O.K. Even tried Disk warrior that went o.k. I have even managed to begin to install SL and got to " start to install" and it actually progressed thru the installing screen --so it says installing Mac Osx on Mac HD and the blue progress bar says ' TIME REMAINING' 23 MINUTES then it seems to stop and then says " INSTALLED FAILED" THE INSTALLER ENCOUNTERED AN ERROR THAT CAUSED INSTALLATION TO FAIL" CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE"
    NOW the problem is
    upon startup> after the " chime" i get a grey screen with a folder with a ? mark flashing
    please advise
    thanks

    That means it isn't finding a startup disk...have you tried starting up while holding the Option key? That will show the bootable volumes. If there are none, then you may try starting from the old 10.5 install disk, assuming you still have it.
    Also, have you tried to startup in Safe Mode? Holding the Shift key as soon AFTER the startup tone as you can, and if so, what did you get?
    Message was edited by: Ralph Landry1

  • Update failed... Now I have grey screen with flashing icons. Please help!

    I was installing an update for Leopard and I wasn't connected to a power source. I thought it would be ok because I had a full battery. The screen was half closed over also so it may have switched off during update. Whatever happened, now my MacBook Pro won't boot up. I get a grey screen with a series of flashing icons one at a time (apple logo, circle with line through it and a folder with a question mark).
    The other problem is that my system disks are in my friend's house a thousand miles away so I can't boot up from my system disks. Can anyone offer any advice please? I'm desperate!

    If you can start up in target disk mode, connect your computer that works to the one that doesn't. (I'm assuming you have another computer since you can't get to the Apple Discussion Forums with a computer that won't start up!)
    Use the computer that doesn't work as an external drive to the one that does.
    Go to this part of the Apple Downloads website and find the update you were installing. Download it as a standalone installer, and try to install onto the external HD. If it works, problem solved!
    If it doesn't work, you'll need to follow Alexandre's advice and go to the Apple Store to get working installation discs. However, you can have access to your important files whenever you want them by simply using Target Disk Mode.

  • Re iphoto: when I double click on a thumbnail i get e grey screen with exclamation mark..can't access my photos to edit, order prints etc

    Was wondering if anyone can help...I am not very computer friendly but want to be able to edit my photos, use them as jpegs, order prints etc. When I double click on a thumbnail ( am presuming the thumbnails are the small photos ) I get a grey screen with an exclamation mark on it. I cannot drag the thumbnail onto the desk top it just pings back. This doesn't happen with all the thumbnails and has been a problem since we upgraded to snowleopard. I recently reinstalled photos from the memory card from my camera and they are alright. I am presuming that the old photos are stuck in there somewhere if only I knew the right buttons to press to get them out. Thanks, Jane Thomas

    Easiest: Restore from your back up.
    Otherwise:
    Try these in order - from best option on down...
    1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
    2. Download <a href="http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/"><b><u>iPhoto Library Manager</b></u></a> and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
    Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
    3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
    To create and populate a new *iPhoto 6* library:
    Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
    Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
    Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
    Go into the iPhoto Library on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
    When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
    In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

  • Mac OS X Leopard not working (grey screen with question mark appearing)

    Hello. I have a Desktop Mac Running on Leopard (not Snow Leopard) and it gives me the grey screen with a question mark. It has been doing this for a month now, and i had to restart it holding the C key every time, and now it has stopped working. I am using a Logitech mouse and keyboard, and had a disk inserted so i cant insert the installation disk. What should i do?

    You will have to reinstall OS X. Connect the original keyboard and mouse. Restart the computer and hold down the mouse button immediately after the chime. This should force the optical drive to eject the disc. Otherwise see the following:
    Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive
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    2. Press the Eject button on your keyboard.
    3. Click on the Eject button in the menubar.
    4. Press COMMAND-E.
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    If this fails then try this:
    Boot the computer into single-user mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.
    Once the disc has been removed you can try to do the following:
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    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.
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    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.
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  • Grey screen with flashing ?

    I recently restarted my computer and it goes to a grey screen with a folder and flashing ?. I have tried booting with the startup disk and running disk repair but neither work. I also tried reinstalling Mac OS but it can't find a volume to install it to. Apple care is shipping a box out to me to have it repaired, but if anyone has suggestions I'd like to try as I am sure apple will just replace my HDD and I will lose everything that I haven't backed up. It seems like I am reading about a lot of people having similar problems starting up their computers recently. Is it because I am noticing it more, or is there a possible widespread problem?

    you could try starting in target mode ("t" held down right after powering up) and connecting PowerBook to another Mac via FireWire cable.
    it may or may not work though depending on the damage to the drive.

  • Grey screen with question mark on boot up.

    My son's 2011-12 Macbook Pro displays a grey screen with a question mark and will not boot.  I pulled  that first drive, put that first drive in a USB cage and connected the USB cage  through a USB port and could boot a different machine with the first drive.  I put a brand new second drive with a formatted and journaled OSX drive in place of the original first drive in my son's macbook pro machine tand got the same grey screen and question mark.  Do I need a new electronics board?  If so that is a $500 repair and not worth it on a 3 year old machine.  Thoughts?

    It could be anything at this point - most likely, it seems, is that you've a faulty SATA cable. If you go to www.ifixit.com you can find the Apple part number for the cable (or buy the cable at ifixit, even) and search eBay for the part number (much less expensive on eBay and I've yet to hear of one from eBay having failed).
    I'm betting that's the problem.
    Clinton

  • TS3423 my start drive not responding. getting grey screen with question mark in a folder. when i use disk utility drive wont mount

    When I turn on my Mac I get a grey screen with a folder with a question mark . Have tried the disk utility to no avail as the disk has apparently dismounted and will not mount even though the mount option is available. I have recently upgraded from snow leopard go os x maverick

    This could be a software/state problem or a hardware problem.  In your case it sounds like the latter but you should try the steps below in case it might help.
    Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

  • Grey screen with question mark on folder?

    Just turned on my MacBook and it opened up with a grey screen with a folder in the middle with a question mark, what does this mean?  I am also hearing a clicking sound from inside the computer.

    frederic, with due respect: this solution is good if the disk is good, if the disk is dying, therefore ? is not due to a corrupt system, but a dying disk, then this solution may impede later recovery of data, which is still possible, if need be and if the disk is not entirely dead. Usually they do not not die over night.

  • IMac 9,1 Grey Screen with Flashing Question Mark (After HDD Replaced)

    Hello, I have an iMac 9,1 and it recently booted with a grey screen and a flashing question mark. My HDD made a very loud ticking noise, which to my knowledge and people on Google, the HDD is basically dead. No big deal. I purchased and replaced the HDD myself, no more ticking but I still get the same screen. I put in my OSX installer DVD and it spits it back out. Tried holding C on start up, same thing. I tried reseting the PRAM and SMC, no luck. Can't boot into safe mode nor the start up manager. I just get a blank screen with the cursor that I can move around, that's it.
    However, I was also to boot the Apple Hardware Test through the 2nd CD that came with my installer by holding D on start up. Ran the test, no hardware errors found. I've tried so many things such as the ones listed above, I tested the RAM as well and I'm stumped. Please help. Thanks.
    Edit: I also tried booting into single user mode. That doesn't work either. I also tested the OSX installer in my MacBook to make sure the disc wasn't bad and it booted the disc no problem with the full installer.

    Linc Davis wrote:
    I can boot into Target Disk mode and since my Macbook reads the OSX installer no problem, would I be able to install the OSX through Firewire?
    That may work, if you have a retail (not a gray) installation disc, but the MB will then be set to boot from the iMac's drive. You'll need to reset the startup disk in the Startup Disk preference pane on the MB.
    Thanks, I'll certainly give this a try. I'm really hoping this works out because I feel like I've tried everything and seeing no hardware errors makes me feel like I can do something on my end rather than dropping hundreds of dollars to get it fixed.

  • What to do with a grey screen with flashing question mark on start up

    What does a flashing question mark on a blank screen mean web starting up?

    Follow the procedures in this support article:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
    Ciao.

  • My MacBook Air just shut down, I turned it back on, and got the grey screen with flashing question mark file icon. Turned it off again unplugged everything, turned it back on and got grey apple symbol and the loading grey whirlybird thing - but won't load

    Please tell me I haven't lost all my work .., freaking out!!

    Have you tried starting up in Safe Mode (hold shift key at startup)?
    If that doesn't work, try starting in Recovery mode (hold command r at startup) and run Disk Utility to repair your disk.

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