How to fix and imac white screen with a ? Mark

I have a white screen with a ? Folder that has a ? Mark what do i do???

Likely yes, but...
Tough without the Install disc, but some things to try...
Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...
/sbin/fsck -fy
Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.
(Space between fsck AND -fy important).
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Similar Messages

  • White screen with question mark on iMac

    I have a white screen with a file folder icon and a question mark.  Anyone know what's wrong?  The iMac will not load.

    Besides checking out the possible solutions over in the "More Like This" thread over here----------------------->
    Check out KB Article: 
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11046 OS X Mountain Lion: If a flashing question mark appears

  • White Screen with Question Mark Flashing

    Hi
    All the sudden I have the white screen with the flashing question mark.  I have a macbook pro 2010.  I unscrewed the bottom of my Mac and wiggled a couple of wires around and it actually booted up and ran for a while.  Then it started to freeze on me.  I put in the Mac disk, and I went to the disk Utitlity and it says disk 2 Mac OS X Base System.  So it looks like it is reading the Hard Drive, but I don't know because I do not know that much about computers.  The thing is it will not let me erase or repair that drive.  Does anybody have any idea on what this is?  I used my computer around 1:30 in the afternoon and then came home to do homework around 5 and in a matter of 4 hours my computer does not work.  I am guessing that it is probably something serious and I will not be buying mac again.
    Any Help??
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    Matt   

    Hi
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    Thanks,
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  • White screen with question mark

    I tried to update my mac book air, to the new operating system, in the middle of the operation, I got the white screen, with blinking question mark in a middle of a file

    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

  • My macbook fell and since then a white screen with question mark appears

    hey guys!
    i really need to know what to do, my macbook fell while it was on. it froze so i restarted it, but the white screen comes in with the apple begining sound and everything but the screen stays blank for about two minutes and then a folde with a question mark appears. i tried putting in the cd that came with it, samething happened but after a while the appe sign appears and the computer started off my installation disc, so i try re installing everything, but when i get to the screen that asks to select a destination, there is nothing available.
    i realize that the best thing to do is to go to an apple store and then sort everything out, but i am in haiti where the nearest apple store is in miami, i really need your help and i'm desparate cuz i cannot do anything without my laptop... please send me your help as soon as possible.
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    Your hard disk has been damaged. At this point, it will need to be replaced with a new one. You'll need to call AppleCare and they'll have you mail it in for repairs. I'm not sure what the usual turnaround time for that is internationally, but in the United States it's about a week. I'd tack on a few extra days to get the laptop to and from Haiti.
    Either way, your computer will need to be repaired and the data that was on your hard disk will be lost. (Unless you take the machine to a 3rd party repair shop that specializes in recovering data from damaged hard disks.)

  • 24" iMac - white screen - with a file folder in the centre that has a '?'

    When I awakened my iMac, I wished to open iPhoto but when I clicked on it in the dock a screen came down from the top darkening the screen and superimposed on it was a message telling me to shut down. However, when I rebooted all I got was a white screen and after a minute a grey file folder bearing a query mark (?) appeared. This iMac has only been used a couple of weeks since having its hard drive replaced and now this ! What does the file folder represent ? Thanks.

    Thanks everyone. I was able to reboot successfully after I disconnected the power cable, waited for 30 seconds, and then reconnected the cable. (Page 42 of Everything Mac.)

  • IPhone 5 is rebooting, showing error code on startup and turning white screen with black pixel edges.

    My iPhone 5 yesterday began acting weird.  Here's a list in order of what is happening.
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    Unlocked the phone later in the day and the screen began turning White and an edge of black pixels began forming on the edges of the screen.  The phone kept heating so I know it was eating the battery.  Got home plugged it into the wall socket and it started charging, batter was empty.
    Phone's worked fine this morning
    Phone did random reboot, but this time, code was visible in the upper left hand corder on the apple startup logo, it stalled here for two minutes and then finished loading.
    Phone worked fine, , did the iOS 6.1.4 update.
    Phone did random reboot again, this time the reboot vibrate held in vibration mode for 20 seconds.
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    Based on what you're describing, I'd say make an appointment at the genius bar and have them take a look at it. This sounds like a hardware problem.

  • White screen with green stripes

    Hi,
                I have an imac 27” (Mid 2011), My screen started to freeze 30 minutes after I turned the computer on. I would be running lightroom 4 or some other program, and suddenly the screen would go black with some stripes (just like old TV did when you turned them on), then it would go to a complete White screen an that was it. If I restarted it would have the problem 30 min after. This happen sevral times during the last days. Yesterday , I started the computer and a White screen with a  Apple symbol  appeared and after that it jsut went white . Some some vertical Green lines appeared. Then the screen when back total white and nothing happens. Could this be lack of memory space? Any suggestions?

    It reads as if you have a hardware problem which we here can't solve. Bring the Mac into an Apple Store or AASP.

  • Got a iMac upon start up it has white screen with apple logo and loading wheel spinning forever under it, does anybody know how to fix this?

    PLEASE HELP!!!!!! EMERGENCY Upon start up normal start up noise occurs, then after white screen with Grey Apple logo, and a spinning loading wheel under it (thee repetitive lines NOT rainbow one) ?!? then thats as far as it goes it stays on that screen forever will not boot up.  Any info on how to possibly fix? I've tried several of the Start up shortcuts , it wont even start up in Safe Mode . My fiance' is crushed she is a writer and EVERYTHING SHE HAS WORKED ON is somewhere on that hard drive. Any thoughts, i'm open to any and all LOGICAL responses, thank you very much for ya'lls time ........Its just heartbreaking to see my iMac in this vegistated coma,The whole reason i bought a mac was cause I love them I have Apple EVERYTHING, so once again please help.

    Try this: Switch off your iMac wait 10-15 seconds hold down the Option Key (alt) key then press the power botton but keep the option key down. This should show all the available options to boot from. I trust you have a full backup, Good luck.

  • My Ipod is stuck on a white screen with the wrong time and a lock. computer doesn't recognized my Ipod..also gets hot when connected to charge..any ideas on how to fix this? Thank You

    Hi
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    If it happens again and the reset (home + power buttons) doesn't work, just let the battery drain; you'll know when the screen shuts off. Charge it back up and it should be fine. Frankly, I'm surprised this worked for you. Usually I hear people with this problem say that holding both buttons doesn't work, and they have to do the battery drain.
    If the issue is incurable next time, you have a one-year warranty from the date of purchase.

  • I dropped my iphone 3gs and the screen has gone blank now showing a white screen with no icons can anyone advise me how to fix it?

    I dropped my iphone 3gs and the screen has gone blank now showing a white screen with no icons can anyone advise me how to fix it?

    Tim is correct.
    But, first step with 3GS white screen and most iPhone problems is Reset, hold both home and power buttons until iPhone begins to restart itself, usually about 10 seconds of holding both buttons. If still white screen.
    Next step would be Restore the iPhone Firmware with iTunes on your computer. If still white screen.
    Next step would be to follow Tim's advice, if you had not already.

  • What do I do when I start my iMac I get a white screen with an apple and a moving circle?

    All I get when my iMac is turned on is a white screen with an apple and a moving circle.  What should I do to get the iMac to boot?

    Do you have reliable backup you can restore from, as an erase and re-install may be required?
    Before you got down that route, it's possible that it might get fixed if you try again. Not sure about that particular error, but I have had errors in the past that Disk Utility wouldn't fix on the first attempt but then subsequently did.
    It's also possible that the (around $99, I think) Disk Warrior might resolve it - but not guaranteed.
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  • I have a iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009). On start up It will sit at the White screen with the logo and the wheel that spins under it. It will not go past this point? Any ideas?

    I have a iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009). On start up It will sit at the white screen with the logo and the wheel that spins under it. It will not go past this point? Any ideas?

    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.

  • Hi, I have an iMac which I just booted up and have a white screen with a blue folder with a question mark blinking on and off. Any help would be appreciated. Tommy

    Hi, I have an iMac which I just booted up and have a white screen with a blue folder with a question mark blinking on and off. Any help would be appreciated. Tommy

    That means your iMac could not find a system to use for startup.  That may mean the internal hard drive has become faulty, or the hard drive mechanism is fine, but the startup volume ("Macintosh HD" unless you renamed it) may have some type of data corruption that makes it unbootable.
    First, you should try resetting PRAM
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
    and if that does not help, use this procedure to reset SMC (power management).  If your iMac is from 2008, this is the procedure for Intel (not PowerPC) Macs.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
    (This forum category is for "iMac (PPC)," so if this iMac is older (with a PowerPC processor), please post back.)
    Disconnect all peripheral devices.  When you connect it back to power, if you have been using a power strip of some type, try connecting it directly to a wall outlet, by itself (at least initially).  Start up with nothing but the power cord connected, then add only standard mouse and keyboard.  If it works, run it that way for a while. 
    If PRAM and SMC reset have no effect, you should insert your Mac OS X installation disc (for the currently installed system) in the optical drive, and restart with the C key held down.  This should get you to the Installer screen, where you can run Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 
    In Disk Utility, does the internal hard drive appear in the sidebar?  If so, select Macintosh HD in the sidebar and go to the First Aid tab.  Use Repair Disk.  If an error is found, note if Disk Utility was able to fix it or not.
    You can then quit Disk Utility and attempt to restart normally.

  • I have a macbook and when I power it on and then select myself as a user...It won't power up. It stays in the white screen with the apple logo. I am online currently under 'guest user'. Is there anything I can do from the keyboard to fix this??? Help!!!

    I have a macbook and when I power it on and then select myself as a user...It won't power up. It stays in the white screen with the apple logo. I am online currently under 'guest user'. Is there anything I can do from the keyboard to fix this??? Help!!!

    Could you specify the model of MacBook and the OS X it's running, please? Some of the advice or references vary along with the system, so this could be helpful to formulate a reply. I've never used a Guest User selection, but do have more than one User.
    If the computer does not have an optical drive, you may be able to boot it into a recovery disk mode or something; in an attempt to see what is wrong and maybe fix it.
    Good luck & happy computing!

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