Help! White screen with gray folder with question mark

Help, my macbook always shows this white screen with gray folder with question mark after turning it on.

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 Operating System data on the hard drive is somehow corrupted.
With 10.4, 10.5 or 10.6 put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc. 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) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
Or if you are running 10.7 Lion or 10.8 Mountain Lion, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7 or 10.8 partition.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

Similar Messages

Will not start - get a white screen and gray folder with ?

I tried to erase the drive and reinstall snow leopard - which got interupted.
Now when I try to start - I just get a white screen - sometimes with a folder and question mark in the middle of the screen.
I tried rebooting with original OS disc - while holding option key - but it eventually kicks the disc out.
thanks

There are four general causes of this issue:
1. The computer's PRAM no longer contains a valid startup disk setting when there aren't any problems with the disk itself. This can be checked for by pressing the Option key and seeing if the drive appears.
2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
3. Critical system files have been deleted. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to reinstall them.
4. The internal drive has died or become unplugged. This is the most likely case if the computer took a sharp impact or there are unusual sounds coming from its location.
(91991)

HT1379 I have lost everything on my mac, a gray screen with a folder and question mark is blinking. i hav another mac that is running slowly, how can I boot and reinstall os x Lion, i do not have the start up disc with me.

I have lost everything on my mac, a gray screen with a folder and question mark is blinking. i hav another mac that is running slowly, how can I boot and reinstall os x Lion, i do not have the start up disc with me.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
Lion uses Recovery to reinstall OS X. Press Command and R keys when your Mac starts, open Disk Utility, erase the drive and reinstall Lion. The other Mac has probably got its hard disk damaged, so take the Mac to an Apple Store

My Macbook Air 2011 got a white screen and a folder with a question mark. I tried to press option+r and try to install the OS X Lion but it didn't show the disk Macintosh Hd

My Macbook Air 2011 got a white screen and a folder with a question mark. I tried to press option+r and try to install the OS X Lion but it didn't show the disk Macintosh Hd

You are using Snow Leopard so you have no OPTION+R shortcut. You need to boot the computer from your Snow Leopard DVD or USB flash drive.
Reinstall OS X 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.

Blue screen with flashing folder and question mark on startup

Hello.
I need help with my Macbook Pro. I get a blue screen with a flashing folder and a question mark at start up. To date I have tried the following:
Apple Hardware (Extensive) Test (Results: "No Trouble Found")
Safe Boot
Reset NVRAM
Reinstall OS X via the internet (I received no discs when I purchased it). I select the StartUp Disk to reinstall. When reinstalling via the internet I get to a point of reinstalling Mountain Lion but it asks me to choose a drive - yet there are no drive options to choose from. Then a window comes up asking me to "Select the system you want to use to start up your computer" but no options appear. When I choose "Restart" a note pops up saying "You can't change the startup disk to the selected disk. Startup Disk could not gather enough information on the selected disk."
The only option is "Restart" from the Apple menu. When I choose that it goes back to the original "Blue screen with flashing folder and question mark on startup."
I have no Time Machine
I can't access the disc utility.
Are there any ideas as to what might be the problem?

Your hard drive has likely failed and needs replaced. That would explain why the system does not display it when you attempt to reinstall the OS via Internet Recovery.

HT1941 grey screen with a folder and question mark

On start up i get a grey screen with a folder and question mark- how do i get out of this?

10.8 Mountain Lion
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11046
Use Startup Manager to select Startup disk.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
Repair Disk
Steps 2 through 8
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
Reset PRAM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405

On power startup my Imac shows a white screen then subsequently a flashing question mark-- will not open

My iMac shows only a white screen and then a flashing question mark on power start up and will no open display

Help here > A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

Getting white screen with file folder and question mark on it...help

My MacBook Pro starts up and only shows a white screen with a file folder with question mark on it. I have not had problems prior to this. Help!,

That means that no valid system could be found to boot from. What might have caused that is hard to say, but try referring to this document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
Note that if you are using Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), you don't start up from your install disk. Hold down command-R at startup instead.

White screen with a flashing gray folder and question mark.

I usually have my laptop asleep. Yesterday, when I tried to wake it up, the little box where I usually type in my password didn't show up. I ignored it and shut it down, only to find that it wouldn't even start up later. All it did was show a flashing folder with a question mark. I've read other questions and answers that say the worst case scenario is a hard drive disk failure. What should I do? Is there anything that I can do about it on my own? Is the memory lost? If so, is it restorable? I have a Time Machine backup from around a month ago. Would that help?

That simply means that no bootable system could be found. At worst, the hard drive has died and will need to be replaced. However, it's also possible that the drive simply has become badly corrupt, and will be able to be repaired. Try repairing the hard drive with Disk Utility. If that doesn't work, you can try repairing it with something like DiskWarrior, or you can just erase the hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch. If you get it repaired and it still won't boot, try reinstalling the system.
You can certainly restore your system from the Time Machine backup, if that proves to be necessary, but you will lose anything less than a month old.

Grey screen with file folder blinking question mark in middle of folder

My Macbook suddenly turned off leaving me with a grey screen. In the middle of the screen there is a file folder blinking with a question mark in the middle of the folder. It will not turn back on even if I attempt to restart it. What does this mean and can I fix it myself or must it be sent to apple.

This may help: A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac.
If none of the solutions work then you will need to do an Archive and Install:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
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.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) 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. 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.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
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.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

White screen buzzing noise and no question mark folder just white screen

So i noticed my macbook pro was slowing down and a ran disk warrior and disk utilities - repaired permissions , repaired drive then i noticed it was freezing up after 5 minutes of running.
so i removed all files i wanted to keep to an external drive and backed up with time machine.
I wanted to re install mac os X from the supplied DVD and it was going fine til about 2/3rds the way and it froze
now i turn the computer on and i get buzzing sound and white screen NOT even a question mark flashing folder.
I have tried :
PRAM reset = nothing
eject disk on start= nothing
im under a year in purchase
but im wondering if there is anything i can do before i take it in on monday??
it is a Macbook pro (13 inch mid 2009) intel duo 2 core

circle23,
Welcome to Apple Discussions!
It sounds like the HD failed. Try inserting the OS X install Disc in the DVD drive this time re-starting holding down the Option Key. When it starts choose the OS X install Disc and allow it to get to the point where it asks what language. Then choose the Utilities menu and click the internal drive then check the S.M.A.R.T status of the drive, it should say Verified if it's OK. If it doesn't try repairing the disk several times and see if the S.M.A.R.T status changes. If it doesn't make an appointment here and take it in.
Regards,
Roger

MacBook Pro starts up with blinking folder and question mark in it. Is there a fix to this issue or has the HDD crashed for good?

I startup my mac and I see a white screen background with a folder icon in the center and a question mark blinking in the center. Called Apple and the rep says this is probably a HDD crash. Only solution is to take it into a Apple store and get a replacement HDD which would cost $300 and upwards. This mac book is about 15 months old and cost $1300. Needless to say I'm highly upset. Does anyone have a fix to this?

Flashing folder with question mark?
Go step by step and test.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
Startup Manager to select Startup disk.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
Repair Disk
Steps 2 through 8
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
Reset PRAM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405
Reinstall OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10763?viewlocale=en_US

MacBook Pro White screen, No apple logo, No question mark

Hi guys
I've MacBook pro 13 2010 model
The Laptop turn on all the time when i press power button
but It's stuck in white screen ( without apple logo ) . With hard drive connected or no hard drive i still can't see the question mark folder
What i've done
- Reset NVRM ( shift + Command+ option + power ) and it worked as i can see light changed in the charger
- I removed the hard drive put new one, then again removed hard from the board but no luck
- connected the Laptop to a monitor but not even showing video in the external monitor
Why can't i press PRAM button. NVRM work OK but not PRAM ( Option + Apple logo + P + R )
so keyboard is fine

askmeplz82,
if you’re unable to boot into Mountain Lion’s Recovery mode, then that limits your self-help options. These options still remain:
Do you still have the two grey installation DVDs which originally came in the box with your MacBook Pro?
Do you have a bootable external disk?
Do you have access to a FireWire cable and access to a second Mac with a FireWire port?
Do you have a spare SATA disk which can be temporarily installed inside of your MacBook Pro?
If the answer to all of these is no, then your only remaining option is to make an appointment at an Apple store or other qualified service facility so that they can diagnose/repair your MacBook Pro.

Hi, I accidentally spilled water on my Mac Air on the very right side of the keyboard. After a few minutes, the screen turned white and a gray folder with a question mark came up and kept flashing. THEN IT DIED HELP.

After the screen turned white and the folder popped up, it just kept flashing. After a few minutes the screen just turned white completely and I could hear the noise of the drive. It just sat there still with the noise for a good few hours until the battery died and then my mac just shut down completely. I tried to see if the computer could charge, and it does charge. I just can not turn the computer on no matter what. It is dead. It might be the logic board or the drive...I'm hoping it won't cost me a new computer because I just got this 5 months ago....

Do not attempt to charge as that will only make the damage worse. You need to take the MacBook Air to an Apple store genius bar and have the technicians check and see what repair work is necessary. It only takes a very small amount of liquid to cause short circuits and damage.

My 2011 iMac wont boot up and stuck on white screen with flashing folder and question mark ???

Im running Lion OS and I made update after it asks me to restart the iMac when i pressed restart it never boots again :S please help and how i can get my data back

Try starting the it by holding down the shift key (safe mode) if it starts then check your hard drive with disk utility. Also repair your disk permissions. If you are unable to start the computer try Lion recovery mode.

Help! White screen with gray folder with question mark

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