IMac randomly shows flashing question mark

Hi -
Today, my 2007 20" iMac suddenly froze. I wasn't doing anything hardware-intensive. I shut it off, and when I turned it back on, I was greeted by a flashing question mark. I already tried all the steps in this document to no avail. The only one I didn't try was the startup partition, as this is an older iMac. I did try slipping in a Snow Leopard disk and launching Disk Utility. The hard drive didn't appear. Are there any further steps I can take? I'd rather not take it to a repair shop and lose it for a week. Thanks!

The hard disk is damaged. The question mark means that the Mac can't find any bootable partitions, and in most of the cases, it means that your hard disk is damaged. You have confirmed this saying that Disk Utility doesn't recognize the disk.
If you don't want to take the iMac to an Apple Store or reseller, you can replace the hard disk yourself following iFixit steps > http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+20-Inch+EMC+2133+and+2210+Hard+Drive+Repl acement/1008/1 Also, you can buy the hard disk in iFixit or you can look for a hard drive in OWC > http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/3.5-SerialATA/

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Mac mini (late 2012) when booting shows flashing question mark folder

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If you need to reset the firmware PW see:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57542601-263/efi-firmware-protection-locks- down-newer-macs/

IMac G5 iSight, flashing question mark, won't boot from CD

iMac G5 iSight, flashing question mark, won't boot from CD

Your hard drive has probably died. The ? means that the machine can't find any drive to boot to.

Imac wont boot only shows flashing question mark folder (long)

Imac 21.5 late 2009 with no upgrades.
Had previously turned on bootcamp inadvertently without installing Windows OS. On shutdown accidently picked start Windown on next startup and since has only shown flashing question mark.
Tried to boot to single user mode, safe mode or verbose mode without success.
Could not find orginal OS disk that came with computer so used OS disk from a 13' Macbook pro (mid 2009). Would boot to OS installer but got error when it tried to install. Was able to get past this and use Disk Utility and did repair permisions and repair disk without change in result.
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Then found that the OS disk from the Macbook was a different build and finally found OSX installation disk that came with computer and will boot to MAC OSX installer. Did repair disk permision and repair disk without change.
Reloaded OSX without change.
With disk in will boot to single user or verbose mode but I dont know enough to know what to fix from there. I am assuming somehow boot files have become corrupt.
Any help? Thanks

I didn't read your complete post however by the subject line alone it appears your computer cannot locate it's startup volume per: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
The easiest way to remedy that is to restart while holding down the C key on your keyboard. After the computer has restarted then go to System Preferences - Startup Disk and choose the internal HD and then click restart to test.
Roger

IMac dropped, now flashing question mark, won't boot up

I been searching for days on this forum trying to find a solution. After I dropped my iMac it won't boot up. I get the folder question mark flashing thing. Using the installation disk, I can boot up and run disk utility. There I can see the hard drive, but I can't verify it, unmount it, or anything other than erase it. Did the hardware test at start up and says everything is fine. Tried to boot from external hard drive and view the internal hard drive but it doesn't recognize it.
All I want to do is recover some files. Tried the transfer option by holding down the T button but the firewire icon doesn't show up unless I have the install CD in or the external hard drive attached.
I can see it in System Profiler as disk1 when I boot from the external hard drive.
HELP!!!

Hi Holly
Welcome to Apple Discussions
"Ouch"
The good news is that it still boots from the Install Disk and an External HD and you may get off light if it only needs a new Internal HD.
The bad news is that there is no way for us to tell exactly which component was damaged? It could be any thing from a loose STAT connection, a busted HD or worst case the Drive Controller on the Logic board.
*It really needs to go to an Apple Store or a good Apple Service Provider to be tested and serviced.*
If your in the States see this link > http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/
If outside the States use this link > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1434?viewlocale=en_US
Dennis

TS1989 My iMac G5 has flashing question mark folder, no hard drive, no DVD-drive, no target drive - help?

A friend has 'kindly' decided to upgrade my father in law's iMac G5 and apparently found that it ceased to work following an aborted process. I have no idea what he's done but there was a Leopard DVD in the optical drive. The iMac boots to the smiley face folder but scrolls through 2 black screens and one grey screen first. A question mark appears at first then it changes to the smiley face folder with the question mark appearing occasionally.
I cannot get the iMac to see either a hard drive or the DVD drive. No start up disc at all. I have tried starting up in target mode and the target mode sign doesn't appear on the screen nor does the hard drive show on the other mac.
Starting up holding down either 'C', 'X' or 'R' doesn't produce any results. Starting up with 'alt' pressed down produces a screen with a padlock image followed by a white slot to write a password in and a greyish button with an arrow. None of the passwords associated with the machine have got us past this screen.
I can also get a command line on screen by holding down the startup button, hearing a loud beeeeep (firmware update signal?) keep holding down and a white screen with very small text invites me either to write 'mac-boot' or 'shut-down'. Both commands require a password to be effective and so do not work.
Following startup troubleshooting advice has allowed me to identify that there is both a start up button inside and an SMU reset button. Three of the four led's come on fine and there are no problems with the starter button on the back panel.
I'm loath to change the hard drive at this point as I'm not sure if the HD is duff or something is wrong with the hardware and that another HD would be damaged.
Stumped.

I'll copy what BD wrote:
Is it a USB KB or flakey Wifi?
< be sure to use a usb keyboard >
Your suggestion of removing the PRAM Battery and all power & peripherals was great.
< I didn't think of disconnecting the peripherals. Do it. >
I think also, removing all RAM, Iif possible), then trying to start it a few times, might do it to.
Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option boot will show a lock, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.
Force Removing Password Protection
1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.
2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).
http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php
Thanks BD.
Robert

Two iMac G4 with flashing Questions marks at start up

I purchased two iMac G4's from a University surplus sale. One is an 800 mhz 17 inch and the other is a 700 mhz 15 inch. I tried to install leopard on both of them to no avail. I read that in order to install leopard I would have to reformat the hard drives. I did and still no luck. The computers didn't come with the original start up disks, so now there is no operating system on them. Is there a way to get replacement disks and boot them from those disks? I don't want to buy a retail version, I just want some replacement ones. Any ideas?

Hey briguy,
I tried to install leopard on both of them to no avail. I read that in order to install leopard I would have to reformat the hard drives. I did and still no luck
Is that a retail installer you're using?
Both of those machines are below min specs for Leopard but it can be done:
http://www.lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/unsupported.html
and Leopardassist:
http://www.mac.profusehost.net/leopardassist/
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Flashing question mark & lost install disc

Our IMac has a flashing question mark for over a year and I cannot find the install disk to try and repair it. The computer is no longer under warranty, was purchased in 2006 and was wondering how I would be able to get ahold of a new install disk. Could I just purchase a newer disk like leopard (an upgrade) to repair the computer? (would this even work?) or if I took it to the apple store would i be charged an arm and leg for having no warranty? would it be best to take it to an apple store or would geek squad be able to help? (would have to drive over an hour to an apple store, 10 mins to a best buy)

HI,
You can get replacement System Install & Restore CD/DVDs from Apple's Customer Support - in the US, (800) 767-2775 - for a nominal S&H fee. They will ask for the model and serial number.
A flashing question mark on startup can mean several things. One the startup disk is failing, or failed, or your Mac can't find a system folder to boot from.
Try booting while holding down the Option key. Normally that will prompt the Startup Manager window, you would select your startup disk and click Restart.
If that doesn't work, try booting in Safe Mode
What is Safe Mode
As for Leopard, your Mac would have to meet the Mac OS X Leopard minimum requirements as stated here. http://support.apple.com/kb/SP517
Carolyn

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

My Late 2013 iMac with Yosemite 10.10.2 randomly shuts down and displays a grey screen with a flashing question mark folder. According to Disk Utility, my drive is OK. What should I do?

I've had this problem for a while and I thought it went away. I've looked at all of the other discussions and tried what they suggest, nothing. I preferably don't want to erase everything on here. Is there a way to fix it without having to do that? I also noticed that other people have the screen when they first boot their computer. Mine are in the middle of a college essay or browsing online. I would really like to fix this issue. I haven't even had my iMac for a year yet. Any suggestions?

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.

Flashing question mark folder, 3 times this week on my imac : (

My intel based 3.06 GHz imac this week is showing a flashing question mark folder. A friend says is that the hard drive is toast but well twice it was solved quickly. First time on monday I did commandoption+pr to reset NVRAM and it worked. Second time yesterday i pressed option during startup and i selected my mac os x volume. But well today nothing works : (
This flashing question mark is constantly showing up. any ideas how to force my imac to select the hard drive mac os x as the startup disk?
this doesnt work:
1. pressing option to select startup disk as i did yesterday.
2. when trying to boot from mac os x install disc pressing c during startup the imac ejects the dvd.
3. trying to start up in safe boot mode (pressing shift), verbose mode or single user mode all fails, just the flashing annoying question mark folder again.
I was reading that i could use ubuntu live-cd to transfer my data from ubuntu to an external hard drive. I downloaded, burned and then it does shows the ubuntu cd to install ubuntu (the mac os x install disc is ejected but the ubuntu cd works), but i really dont want to install ubuntu X_X I just want my imac back without installing any linux stuff.
I can do target mode with my other macs but the imac hd doesn't show up in the other macs, any way to force the HD to show via target mode in the other macs?
Any ideas? I guess my disk is failing and thats why i have been receiving these question mark folders 3 times this week.
Message was edited by: AppleSensei

if someone has the same issue, i just want to notice i solved it using ubuntu -linux- and transferring the files to an external hard drive from ubuntu, reinstalling mac os x again. When i did target mode with another mac the hard drive didnt appear in finder, but with ubuntu all worked great, i saw my files and then problem solved, i saved my data ; )
I did found annoying using ubuntu to solve this issue with my mac, but well i learnt something new, linux can also be useful when you don't want your data to be deleted as customer support told me they were going to do if i sent my mac.
Message was edited by: AppleSensei

Help. iMac flashing question mark, and now power loss at startup.

Hey. I've had some really weird issues with my iMac. It's a 2.8 core 2 extreme aluminium 2007 iMac. It was bought for me at the end of august 2007.
What happened was, I was watching a movie and it started freezing. Everything was so slow. So I turned it off by the mains since it wouldn't shut down. When I tried booting it back up it had the flashing question mark. So I read up on it and tried doing what the apple support website recommended, which was to put the install disc back in and use the disk utility to repair the disk. Except this wouldn't work and it said the hard disk could not be unmounted. So I read up again and apple recommended resetting the PRAM, which I did and then it wouldn't recognise the hard drive AT ALL. But after a few tries of booting up it found it again, I got on disk utility and still said the same thing when I tried to repair. So I repaired the permissions instead and restarted and the computer booted as normal. But then was still very slow and freezing. So I opened disk utility one more time and tried repairing permission, restarted the computer and now when it gets to the apple logo and the loading icon it looses power and goes blank. I've already tried resetting the SMU. it didn't work. Has anybody got ANY clue to what I can do? Is my waranty up? I don't have AppleCare. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you have an Intel iMac, it has an SMC not an SMU, so if you used the procedure that says "SMU" on it, you used the one for an iMac G5, which is not an Intel iMac.
Since you did many different things in a somewhat random order, you may want to do the following, even if you did some of it already.
Reset PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
If that does not help, reset SMC
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543
which is basically disconnecting ALL cables and power, then reconnecting using a precise procedure. If you have been connecting the power cord to a crowded or old power strip (surge suppressor), try connecting it directly to the wall outlet, at least initially. First, power it up with nothing connected, except for power cord. If that works, add just your keyboard/mouse and use it that way for a while to evaluate how the iMac is working. If all is well, connect your other peripheral (USB/FireWire) devices one by one. If the problem does recur at some point, identify the device added last; it may be faulty or causing some kind of interference.
If the problem remain, even when trying to start up the iMac with nothing but power cord connected, connect just your keyboard/mouse. Insert your Mac OS X installation disc (for the currently installed system) and restart with the C key held down. Sounds like you did this already. You should note if the iMac is running normally when booted off the installation disc. If so, the problem may be your internal drive; it may be faulty. Run Disk Utility from Installer's menu bar, and try to do a +Repair Disk+ again. See if it works any better this time.
You can also try using the Apple Hardware Test, including on your original disc(s)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

Imac displays flashing question mark and nothing works

Hey everyone, my just the other day i turned off my imac (when it still was working normally) and the day after i turned it back on but all it does is showing me a flashing question mark!
This is what i've tried so far to fix this:
- Hold down option at startup with a snow leopard retail disk in it, nothing appears except the mouse cursor.
- hold down c at startup, nothing happens
- Reset NVRAM
- Hold t at startup, nothing happens
- Hold shift at startup, nothing happens
- Hold command-v at startup, nothing happens
- Hold command-s at startup, nothing happens
How can i fix this?? please help me because i'm going crazy!
Greetz, rutger

Hi, a few days ago I had the same flashing question mark. I had just emptied my trash in iPhoto for the first time, (a few thousand pics), and was browsing in the main photo library when suddenly everything just froze. I left it for awhile, came back and nothing had changed. I switched off using the power button, and when switching on again, the flashing question mark appeared. None of my attempts to reboot worked as it appeared there was no drive to be found.
I have to add that iPhoto would often just quit for apparently no reason, and unexpectedly, having 'encountered a problem'.
I have now been told that my HD is dead, (my iMac only 8 months old), and that i wont be able to retrieve any data (20000 photos that stupidly I hadnt backed up!)
I had too much faith in this product, having only recently converted from Windows, (which was always backed up!), and now feel very disapointed and let down....... this has been a very costly lesson,and one I wont repeat!!
good luck, and I hope you are backed up!
rubeyc

Imac G5 won't start white screen and flashing question mark

tried every key combo recomended - erased HD using target mode/firewire with laptop - but won't boot up from install disc...

The white screen with flashing question mark means that it cannot find a bootable volume.
The iMac G5 will not boot from just any install disk. Ideally, use the grey restore disks which came with the computer. If you've lost these, you can order them direct from Apple. Alternatively, a Mac OS X 10.5 retail install DVD will work provided the iMac G5 has also 1GB RAM (minimum requirement for 10.5).
Sometimes, if the internal drive is faulty, it can take a long time for the computer to recognise other disks. I would suggest holding down the option key on the keyboard (labled alt on some keyboards) and turning the computer on, keep holding alt until you get to the early boot menu, insert your DVD/CD, and click the circle arrow to refresh, wait a bit and the DVD/CD will show up and you can click on it to select it and boot from it by pressing the straight arrow.
After a little while it will get to the install menu, select your language, then on the next screen go through the menus to find "Disk Utility" (it's in different places on different versions of Mac OS X).
You will want to check that the internal hard drive is detected, and that it doesn't have a SMART error (it might be red, or say that the disk is failing). If you get that far, then (assuming you have erased the disk previously, as this will step really will erase the drive and take all your data with it) partition the drive, making sure that under 'Options' you select Apple Partition Map (this will be the default on earlier versions of Mac OS X, but might not be if you've erase the disk from an intel Mac like a MacBook).
Once, you done all that, and there haven't been any issues, you should be able to quit Disk Utility, and carry on with the sytem install as usual, and a 30mins to 2 hours and reboot later you should be booting from the internal drive again.

Imac G3 (CRT) startup shows a question mark wont boot

At startup there is a flashing question mark that shows. I have tried Disk Utility but it wont let me choose the disk, its read only??? I dont no what to do, I have been a long time Mac user, I have fixed a different Imac with the same problem and fixed it in about 2 hours, should I just give up

Michele Vadnais...
How long did you allow the question mark to show? In some cases the PRAM battery becomes weak and can play that game but eventually it may recover and boot.
Now the "read only" thing does have me puzzled. If you used an older CD that may be a Mac OS version issue.
...Ron

IMac randomly shows flashing question mark

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