HELP! Flashing icon upon start up!

Help! I was on my iMac and I was prompted by my computer to download a security update. I accepted and it downloaded and then prompted me to restart. I let it restart but upon restarting I got a flashing icon I had never seen before. It was a square with a globe in it. Please tell me that it can be fixed!

Restart your machine with the X key held down. If this doesn't work, hold down the Option key at startup, select your hard disk in the list of disks, and click the button with the straight arrow. When your computer has finished starting up, open the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences and select your hard disk in the list of disks.
(11183)

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Flashing Icons at Start-up

When I power up my PowerBook I get two flashing icons. One is a grey square with a blue earth in the middle and the other is a small blue folder that flashes a question mark and the happy mac face. I recently cleaned my computer up to get rid of some unused programs and document files. After I did this these icons started to show up. If anyone can give me an idea of what is going on I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HD

The picture of the globe means that your computer is set to start from a disk on the network. To turn this off, open the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences and set your hard disk as the startup disk. If the icons don't go away after a few minutes, restart the computer with the X key held down to set your hard disk as the startup disk, or hold down the Option key, select a disk from the list provided, and press the button with the straight arrow.
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Powerbook won't get past strange icon upon start-up

Hi,
I have a Powerbook G4 that will not go past this strange icon when I try to start it up. I get the traditional Mac start-up sound, then it takes a long time to do anything, then I get a small icon that is in the shape of a folder. It has the Mac face (it is still "happy") and it will pop a question mark up over the folder.
Last night, it was making a strange noise, so I ran the Disk Utility and it said the hard drive appeared to be OK. This morning, it will not go past the icon. Is it saveable? It is pretty old (6 years).

Your hard drive is dieing or possibly dead! Unplug all peripherals, let the machine cool down and persist in starting up. It 'may' boot so you can back up your data. Try booting from the OS disc and run the Utilities to see if it can repair the issue. There are a few third party apps that may help in recovering data from the disc, but there are no guarantees they will work and, of course, they are not free. Sorry, no joy or easy fix for this one.

Blinking folder with question mark icon upon start up? Disk or SATA?

Long story short, disk utility is unable to repair the "Macintosh HD" disk. Re-installing mountain lion is not an option due to the computer's inability to detect the HDD disk. How do I differentiate between a corrupted (dead) hard drive or a broken SATA cable (in which acts as a medium)?
Note: my intentions are to fix the issue instead of resorting to apple care.
Thanks in advance

If you have a known functioning boot drive, you can substitute that for the internal HDD.
You can try to use your current drive externally. Use Startup Manager and if the external HDD appears, select it. If it boots the MBP, then that is an indication that the SATA cable is faulty.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1310
Ciao.

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.

Stutter noise and flashing mouse pointer upon starting or restarting

Hi,
Please help me with an issue:
Upon starting or restarting computer, pointer starts flashing with a stutter noise (at the same rhythm) also pointer selects items randomly, or won't select any.
One temporary but not permanent fix is if I deactivate then reactivate Adobe Shockwave via Firefox.
Thanks so much,
Lynn

Thank you for your response - I'll give it a go.
Also, just to update, my iMac cursor seems to glitch a little bit less now. It seems that at least ONE of my problems may have been caused by sitting my iPhone upon my WACOM tablet. The tablet must receive some sort of disruption from having my phone on it - and removing it seems to remedy a fraction of my mouse-jumping problems - if only for a meanwhile.
The mouse cursor still does jump around on its own occasionally, and the other mouse problems do persist - so this must not be the only culprit for my array of problems.

I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

Hello,
That means it can find the Hard Drive, or can't find the things needed for booting.
See if DU even sees it.
"Try Disk Utility
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.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

Need help how do I get rid of a exe warning upon start up on my pc from apple

I get this warning upon start up on my pc of course it was after I updated apple Itunes please help it reads
The procedure entry point sqlite3_wal_checkpoint could not be located in the dynamic link librarySQLite3.dill.

On your PC, open up Computer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support. Inside of this folder should be a file called SQLite3.dll. Copy this file by right->clicking on it and choosing Copy.
Then go back one folder so that you are again in the Apple folder. Look for the Mobile Device Support folder. Open it up and paste the file inside of it.
B-rock

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.

How to fix the " flashing question mark after the finder icon when starting up" withou an apple keyboard?

Hi
I am wondering How to fix the " flashing question mark after the finder icon when starting up" without an apple keyboard. I have 2 of those .7Ghz emacs so just wanna fix them
Thx

Hi,
>I am using a wireless standard keyboard so maybe the emac doesn't regognise it
Installation of driver software may be required. Do not expect any wireless device to automatically work with a Mac unless guaranteed to do so. In a case like this, use a wired USB keyboard (a PC keyboard should be OK) and a wired mouse to begin with.
>I have installed Ubuntu 13.00 on the HDD from another computer.
Is it a version for PowerPC?
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads
>a list of eMac hotkey's that can be used before OS boot from a standard Windows keyboard?
Could the following article be of interest?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970299
If/when starting from a bootable CD, press and hold the C key.
Jan

My 2008 macbook will not turn on. the light on the corner is on. not flashing but on. its fully charged and has lion on it. please help! my classes start Monday and i need it before then!!

my 2008 macbook will not turn on. the light on the corner is on. not flashing but on. its fully charged and has lion on it. please help! my classes start Monday and i need it before then!! It will turn on for a coupe seconds, and then turn off.

Take it into an Apple store for evaluation.

Flashing question mark and finder upon start up of power mac G4

Hi
I recently bought a powermac g4 which had a new un formatted hard drive in, upon turning the computer on it had the flashing finder and question mark.
i tried formatting the drive using my macbook which resulted in, upon turning the computer on a grey screen appeared with the apple logo then white texts behind, stating "panic (CPU O caller) and then alot of other text which ends at the bottom of the screen with panic:we are hanging here
I posted this problem in another question a few days ago and was told i needed disks to boot the computer, due to a intel mac not being able to boot a PPC mac so i bought a copy of snow leopard
so i erased the drive using disk utility, making it un formatted again
But when trying to use the disks i inserted them holding down the C key upon start up
but the computer just has the finder and question mark symbol again
Thank you for your time

If it's the G4 Mirrored Drive Doors (MDD) in your signature, you've done well to get one. If you can live with the noise, they're a real workhorse - they were a real beast 10 years ago. I still have mine, bought from new the day they came out.
So you're going to need either:
the original discs (2 install DVDs and 4 restore CDs, and iMovie2 and AHT, or
Mac OS X 10.3 retail
Mac OS X 10.4 retail
Mac OS X 10.5 retail
If you want OS9 on it you're going to need the original discs. You could head over to the Macintosh Garden forums (use google) and ask there, a lot of MDD owners over there, always looking out for more MDDs to buy and preserve and original discs for them too. There may be someone in your state / region there who may be able to assist with the original discs.
If you want OSX 10.3, 10.4 or 10.5 eBay or similar may be your best bet. A little tip I used for getting the original OS discs when I missed them - individually the discs can be expensive, particularly OSX 10.4 and 10.5 - I buy mine bundled with a Mac when it's sold locally, seems to keep the price down if it's bundled with an old Mac that would have $50 shipping. So I pick up the Mac, keep it and seel the OS if I don't want it, for more than I paid for both. Just perserverence on eBay/ etc.

Flashing Icon - not booting

The Mac Mini started to a make a loud clicking noise (hard disk?) and we attempted to re-boot. Now the monitor only shows a flashing icon (file folder with a question mark) and the machine is not responding to any key strokes. New to Mac machines, please help.

The OS can't find a boytable drive. See:
A flashing question mark or globe appears when you start your Mac - Apple Support
Fro you description of the sound it may be that your HD failed.

Error icons after start up sequence

After startup, I have three flashing icons on the front panel. Out of paper (with a little arrow pointing to the right), Printer waiting and paper jamed. Does anyone know what this means? Thank you

I see you are getting the message 'driver power state failure' when starting the computer.
I found a url which will guide you in fixing this issue by updating the drivers.
http://driverpowerstatefailure.blogspot.ca/
To access the device manager in win8 I have provided the url below.
http://clientportal.softwaresecure.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/288/0/windows-8...
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Gemini02
I work on behalf of HP

Flashing icons when I load up

I installed the new iTunes the other day, now straight after installing the program I restarted. And when I started the computer again I get two flashing icons, the first is the world icon, and the second is a flashing folder with the Mac logo and a "?" I am new to Macs and I have no clue.
!!!PLEASE HELP!!!

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HELP! Flashing icon upon start up!

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