Mac Mini - Flashing folder/?

I have tried restarting with the option key and also restarting with the "c" press and the original disk in. Also tried resetting the PRAM.
None of these situations works. In any case, the folder shows up. Aside from now having a disk in there that does nothing, is there anything else I should try?
Regards,
Traj

Have you tried a safe boot by holding the shift key down when you boot? The safe boot may take some time to boot as it's doing some disk maintenance.
Have you reset the SMC?
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
Sounds like you may have the original OS X disks that came with the system. Find the one that says 'AHT Version x.x' in small print on the label, insert and reboot holding the option key. This should cause it to give you a choice of booting from the AHT on the DVD, so if it does, when prompted choose the extended test. If you're able to run that, does it identify any hardware issues.
If the safe boot, SMC reset, and AHT don't work, I'd take it into Apple or an AASP for service. You didn't answer about having a bootable backup, so I assume you don't or it's not bootable. The blinking question mark by itself says the system is trying to boot up normally. But the fact that it ignores the keys to boot from DVD indicates some other fault.

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Mac Mini - Flashing Folder Icon / No boot / Loud fans

I recently got my Mac Mini back after 8 months of it being 'elsewhere' (someone had it, tried to gain access, failed because I have filevault).
When I first got it back yesterday I turned it on, booted and then logged in, noticed no sound, and system was saying there was no sound card. The computer wasn't lagging or freezing whatsoever, so I reset it and still no sound.
I open it up and what do you know, someones opened it (I assume to get to the HDD) and had unclipped the sound card ribbon. Reseated that and put it back together, turn it on and finally a chime, but then nothing, White screen, and fans turn on full blast. I reset it, same thing. Reset it about 10 times, only thing I noticed was half the time my mouse cursor would show and let me move the cursor around.
So I take it apart again, check all connections, restart, same symptoms.
Pull it apart again and try installing 1 RAM chip at a time, same symptoms.
I tried booting it with resetting PRAM, NVRAM, I tried starting holding option, pressing c, everything, and nothing happens! Same symptoms. I tried holding down power for 10 seconds, hear a long beep, then chime, same symptoms!
So I take it apart again, take out hard drive, check connections (all ok), put it back in, same symptoms.
Anyway I got angry so i turned it on and left it doing it's White screen business. Come back 45 minutes later, flashing folder icon with '?'
I reboot, wait 15 again, same folder icon, loud fan, nothing else.
This doesn't make sense, HDD was fine 5 minutes before, no noises at all, no lag, no errors. I didn't touch the hard drive previously to the problem, and now nothing is helping. I've had the hard drive replaced 2 years ago due to near failure, but saved all data by cloning the disk, the HDD isn't old!
I just bought an external HDD enclosure, should arrive soon, and a new HDD, issue is this disk is filevaulted, I'm scared my data is going to be lost for good.
What can I do? I've lost my OS X disc, but judging by the computer being unresponsive to other commands at boot I doubt it would boot a CD anyway.
Please help.
Thanks

Whew, what a bad ride.
Does it also have 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, 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
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

Mac Mini Flashing Question Mark

I'm trying to help a friend troubleshoot his Mac Mini. Based on the model number (A1103) it appears to be a late-2005. I've tried the following:
Unplug keyboard and mouse & boot: still boots to flashing question mark
Option boot to try to get to startup manager to select startup manager: boots to restart arrow and right facing arrow; there is no response from clicking on right facing arrow.
Boot to install disk holding C key during startup to get to Disk Utility to repair disk: will not boot to startup disk, instead boots to flashing question mark.
Reset PRAM: no difference.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

There is no valid system for the Mac to boot into. Reinstall Mac OS X.

Mac mini flashes light but wont start.

So i have the newest mac mini i7 with ssd (apple care) but i also upgraded to 16gb crucial memory. Recently, the mac mini won't start up correctly. For about 20-30 minutes the light (on the mac mini, no input to display) will flash on and off and then it will eventually turn on when I walk away and come back. I'm not an expert, but I don't believe this should have anything to do with the memory. There is also a wierd sound that the mac mini makes when trying to start. I'm assuming thats bad since it is a ssd. Any ideas which part is damaged or what might be wrong?

Did it work for you before today?
Yes, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store. You do even need AppleCare for the free appointment
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

Home Sharing from Mac mini not working to Apple TV anymore

Hi there,
My Mac mini (2010 version) is being used as a home theatre. I have been able to connect to my Mac mini through the "Shared" tab in the Finder on my iMac and MacBook Pro along with my Apple TV through Home Sharing on iTunes, up until yesterday.
When I try accessing my Mac mini shared folder in Finder, it just says "Connecting" for a very long time, before it tells me "Connection Failed."
On my Apple TV, which is a big problem because my entire iTunes library feeds my Apple TV, it just doesn't show up anymore at all.
Are there any solutions to any of these problems?
Thank you so much,
Marcus Cyganiak

have you tried rebooting your mini ?
you also might want to try booting into _*safe mode*_, repairing permissions using *disk utility* while in it, then rebooting normally.
JGG

My new mac mini (3 month) didn't start up,all that appeared was a white screen and a flashing folder with a question mark inside it.

My new Mac mini (3 month) didn't start up, all that appeared was a white screen and a flashing folder with a question mark inside it.
I followed by recommendations from 'Everything Mac': "shut it down by pressing and holding the power button for about 5 seconds.
Then hold down the Option key and press the power button again to start up the Mac mini. Keep holding down the Option key until
the Mac mini starts up."
But I got a Wi-Fi button only to chose and connect the local network. I connected to my network and I can't use this connection
becouse no icons.
Could you please help me?

Your Mini (running 10.6.4) should have come with grey-colored install disks. Now is the time to put them into service. Turn on your computer so that there is power to accept disk #1 into the optical drive. Once the disk is in the drive, shut off the computer by holding the start button down until it powers off. Then turn it on this time holding down the "C" key to make the computer boot from the disk. The question mark that you saw indicates that the computer cannot find a bootable volume. This can happen due to corrupted system files or an improper shutdown etc. Once you are in the "Installer" you can choose Disk Utility from the Utilities Menu in the menu bar. Use it to repair the disk and to see if that can solve your trouble.

My Mac mini has a flashing folder how to fix?

My Mac mini has a flashing folder how to fix?

This is the iPad forum. You'll get better advice if you post this question in the Mac Mini forum.

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

Hello, so after installing software update to my mac mini *late 2012* it froze for few mins so then I rebooted it and now it wont boot it shows flashing question mark folder, I can't use the boot buttons because it asks me for a frimware password and I dont remember setting one up so how can I fix it .

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/

Mac Mini boots to flashing folder

I experience a hdd failure of my mac mini, about a week ago. Ordered a new SSD and replaced it. I then went to a buddies house and put OSX Lion on a thumb drive. Tested it, and it booted on his machine. Now, my mac mini boots to a flashing folder, and I hold the option button upon boot (same sequence I used to test the thumb drive and successfully booted to it) and nothing happens. I just get the same flashing folder and no ability to reference to it. After so long, the system times out and shuts down.
So to conclude,
Mac mini hdd crash. New BLANK ssd installed. Mac mini does not give the option to boot to usb, only flashes gray folder with question mark. Holding option to get boot menu does not work.
Suggestions? I was originally going to burn the OS to a disc, but his machine spit out my blanks.

ownerizer wrote:
I experience a hdd failure of my mac mini, about a week ago. Ordered a new SSD and replaced it. I then went to a buddies house and put OSX Lion on a thumb drive.
If you are refering to something created using Recovery Disk Assistant,
it will only work on the machine it was created on. If not, how was it
created? In most cases, it may not work on machines or show up
on a machine that did not have Lion installed natively.

Flashing folder icon after Mac mini has been sitting for a few hours

I leave my Mac mini running at time when I leave the office to let it install an update or just cause I forget to close it all down. When I come in the next morning, I have a flashing folder icon waiting for me.
Every single post on the forums talk about this issue at startup. This isn't the case for me; It didn't get shut down. A simple reboot solves it but still an annoying occurrence.
*** Panic Report ***
panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff8021fc1cde): "launchd died\nState at Last Exception:\n\n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2782.20.48/bsd/kern/kern_exit.c:363
uuid info:
0x7fff668ed000 uuid = <65dccb06-339c-3e25-9702-600a28291d0e>
0x10e9c3000 uuid = <7f885d63-b284-3471-b6e3-172489232c37>
0x10ea13000 uuid = <4396b358-725e-3ec0-bcbb-e4bf75fe1fb0>
RAX: 0x0000000002000001, RBX: 0x0000000000000006, RCX: 0x000000010eb630e8, RDX: 0x0000000000000000
RSP: 0x000000010eb630e8, RBP: 0x000000010eb63190, RSI: 0x000000010eb62f40, RDI: 0x0000000000000001
R8: 0x0000000000000000, R9: 0x000000010ea029f0, R10: 0x00007fff89e77b02, R11: 0x0000000000000206
R12: 0x0000000000000000, R13: 0x00007fff8f4f17e0, R14: 0x000000010eb635d0, R15: 0x000000010eb63790
RFL: 0x0000000000000206, RIP: 0x00007fff89e7595a, CS: 0x0000000000000007, SS: 0x0000000000000023
Thread 0xffffff8030c8e2e0
0x00007fff948d7f4b
0x00007fff948d8068
0x00007fff948d1554
0x00007fff8c009a6c
0x000000010e9f18f7
0x00007fff87a8bc13
0x00007fff87a8e88f
0x00007fff87a9cfe4
0x00007fff8e815637
0x00007fff8e81340d
0x0000000000000000
Thread 0xffffff8030caec50
0x00007fff87a8ea6a
0x0000000000000000
Thread 0xffffff8030cad970
0x000000010e9dac81
0x00007fff87a8bc13
0x00007fff87a8f365
0x00007fff87a90ecc
0x00007fff87a8e6b7
0x00007fff87a9cfe4
0x00007fff8e815637
0x00007fff8e81340d
0x0000000000000000
Thread 0xffffff8030c8de28
0x00007fff87a9c3ad
0x0000000000000000
Thread 0xffffff803289ea78
0x00007fff895ebf1a
0x0000000000000000
0x00007fff668f9455
0x00007fff8b4677b5
0x00007fff948a67e8
0x00007fff8f4f17e0
0x00007fff8f4f3ddf
0x00007fff87a8bc13
0x00007fff87a8ce5e
0x00007fff8f4f20a7
0x000000010e9ee383
0x00007fff87a8bc13
0x00007fff87a8f365
0x00007fff87a90ecc
0x00007fff87a8f154
0x00007fff87a90ecc
0x00007fff87a8e6b7
0x00007fff87a9cfe4
0x00007fff8e815637
0x00007fff8e81340d
0x0000000000000000
Thread 0xffffff80317b82e0
0x00007fff8e81340d
0x0000000000000000
Mac OS version: 14D136
Kernel version: Darwin Kernel Version 14.3.0: Mon Mar 23 11:59:05 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2782.20.48~5/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 4B3A11F4-77AA-3D27-A22D-81A1BC5B504D
System model name: Macmini6,1 (Mac-031AEE4D24BFF0B1)

Have you tried a PRAM reset?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Ciao.

Flash Player 11.8 won't install on mac mini why

Flash Player 11.8 won't install on my mac mini, OSX 10.6.4?

Download the offline installer here
Quit your browser
Go to: Mac HD/Library/Internet Plugins
Trash the Flash Player.plugin file from there
Go to: Mac HD/Library/Application Support/Adobe
Trash the Flash Player folder (the whole folder) from there
Empty the trash
Mount the DMG and run the installer
Relaunch your browser

Please help! We got a used Mac Mini and we don't have the former owner's password, so we can't install anything like flash player. Does anyone know how to get around this?

Please help! We got a used Mac Mini and we don't have the former owner's password, so we can't install anything like flash player. Does anyone know how to get around this? I don't know how to wipe the hard drive, and the support online doesn't seem to work.

As posted previously:
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
Do the following:
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. 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.
If installing Leopard the process is similar in some respects. If you wish to begin anew then after selecting the target disk click on the Options button and select the Erase and Install option then click on the OK button. To install over an existing system do the following:
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, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) 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. Now restart normally.
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. 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.

Mac Mini 1.42 G4 will not boot Folder With Question Mark Plus more....

I have a major problem with my mini, It was working ok one minute then it froze completely so I had to shut down via the power button, But when I restarted it I got the folder icon with the question mark in, I've tried various things to get it to boot, I also put in the 10.5 disc to do a hardware test,I've since found out that that is the wrong disc to do a hardware test with. Now I can't get the disc out I;ve pressed the eject key and pressed the mouse button on start up with no look, Also when I press the Option key to select the start up disc all I get are a round arrow and and arrow pointing left. When I press the right arrow key on the keyboard I get some text on screen saying something about firmware and an option to type shut-down or mac-boot, If I type mac-boot the screen goes grey and nothing seems to happen.
So I'm stuck now with a Mac Mini with my 10.5 disc stuck in it and refusing to boot.
Any one any ideas as to what I can do?
Thanks
Ade

As you no doubt have recognized by the use of the 10.5 install disk, the folder icon with flashing question mark means that the system can't find a valid and viable MacOS installation to boot from - a problem which could have been existent for some time but not yet developed into a failure, or possibly caused directly by the forced shutdown.
Your thought to use the install disk was a reasonable one, though at this point I wouldn't have wanted to run a hardware test so much as boot to the installer and from the utilities menu once it has started up, then run Disk Utility to test the hard drive for errors, and attempt to repair any found. The reason for that approach is because while the symptoms you describe can certainly be caused by a hardware failure, it is much more common for this to be the result of a failing or corrupt drive - which at the very least Disk Utility is good at diagnosing.
However, now you've got the 10.5 install disk in the drive, the question becomes why it cannot be found by the boot loader (the screen you get when you've booted with the Option key down) and thus can't be used by the system to get it booted up.
It could be that the disk is not a valid installer for that system - in which case it would have to not be a 10.5 retail installer but instead have come from another system. Alternatively, it could be that the drive didn't correctly load the disk, thus doesn't know it is there. This might explain why trying to eject it by holding the (left) mouse button down during bootup doesn't seem to have worked.
To be clear however, you need a wired, USB mouse to eject the disk during bootup, and it must be connected directly to the system or via an Apple keyboard which is not an aluminium model. The (left) mouse button should be held down from hearing the startup chime, and until the disk pops out. If that technique doesn't work, and there is no indication of any life from the drive when you try, it may mean your mini needs to be opened up to retrieve the disk from the drive.
Also, be aware that while the boot loader screen appears relatively quickly after the Option key is held down, it can take a few minutes for a disk in the optical drive to be read and appear there. In most cases, I'm sure users typically wait long enough while wondering what, if anything, is going to happen, but it can take much longer than expected!

Mac Mini doesn't work:appair only a flashing question mark on the screen

I try to startup the Mac Mini but the only think that appair on the screen is a white page with in the middle a folder with a flashing question mark.
The Operative Sistem doesn't work:i wanted to try to inser into the CD of OS X and reinstall all but there is just a CD into the Mac but again with botton or with muose clicked ,the CD doens't go out.
Please Mac's users help me.
Bye. Alskarez
Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4)

The flashing question mark means that the mini is not able to find a copy of MacOS to boot from, which is likely why you inserted the OS X disc.
If the disc that is stuck in the system is the original MacOS install disc that came with the mini, you should be able to boot to it by holding the C key down as the system is starting up. Some non-Apple or wireless keyboards don't allow starttup modifier keys to be used, but if yours is an Apple keyboard it certainly should. If it IS the original install disc in the system and the C key doesn't work, and you're left with the flashing question mark, it sounds like you may have a significant hardware fault which may have caused the mini to fail to see either optical or hard drives.
It may be that in that situation a PMU reset (for PPC minis) or an SMC reset (for Intel models) might restore operability, but if not, then you'll likely need the assistance of an Apple approved service provider.
To reset the PMU in a G4 mini:
- Unplug all cables from the computer, including the power cord.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Plug in the power cord while simultaneously pressing and holding the power button on the back of the computer.
- Let go of the power button.
- Press the power button once more to start up your Mac mini.
To reset the SMC on an Intel mini:
-From the Apple menu, choose Shut Down (or if the computer is not responding, hold the power button until it turns off).
-Unplug all cables from the computer, including the power cord and any display cables.
-Wait at least 15 seconds.
-Plug the power cord back in, making sure the power button is not being pressed at the time.
-Then reconnect your keyboard and mouse to the computer.
-Press the power button on the back to start up your computer.

HT1338 install linux OS on Mac mini with USB flash

I have Mac Mini (2005) with RAM 1 Gb, HDD ATA 160Gb (Upgrade new hard disk). Now, i want install linux os on Mac mini with USB flash, but can't do it.
I not yet user MAC os, before (i only use iphone and ipad). :d
Help me do it!
Thanks

Thanks answer,
But not problem.
1. I use Rufus_v1.2.0 create usb boot with file iso. Insert USB to Mac, i startup my Mac mini...screen display gray color with icon folder change 'icon mac os and icon question (?)'.I think Mac mini unknown OS on hard disk (because new hard disk).
2. Don't first boot from USB flash (another devices, i can set up 'boot property' on bios, or press any key to load menu boot). On Mac mini, i don't known(i search internet i try press key 'c', but not run)
:d

Mac Mini - Flashing folder/?

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