My Mac mini is stuck in a reboot screen that is all white with a grey folder with a question mark in it

My Mac mini is stuck in reboot screen that's
white with a grey folder in the middle that blinks
and there is a white ? mark on it. What do I do ?

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 the hard drive's location.
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My new 2011 mac mini is stuck at strat up screen and stays like that! How to fix

My new 2011 mac mini is stuck at the start up screen ( apple logo ) and it stays there I can't reinstall lion because there is no drive in this gen how do I fix it????

OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery

Mac Mini is stuck in the gray screen

My daughter has an early Mac Mini. She tells me that she was working away yesterday and all of a sudden the screen turned gray. A short time later a message appeared on the screen and told us that we needed to turn off the power and re-start the computer. Since yesterday, we have tried restarting the computer several times with the same result.
I have no idea if there's anything I can do at this point. Is there anything we can try or do I need to take the Mac Mini to the Genius Bar at my local Apple store?
Thanks for any suggestions and guidance.
John

Solution - we bought a new iMac. Daughter's thrilled; I'm not. Oh well, at least one of us is happy.

Mac Mini with A Blinking Folder and a Question Mark on it YAY!!!

ok I just came into work today to see that one of my Mini Macs has folder with a Question mark on it and i tried to put the OS 10.2 disk in to try and do a reinstall and can't get it to do anything and now can't get the CD back out lol I think i need to take a hammer and just break this thing or just let it be my paper weight. any help would be great thanks
Cliff

The flashing question-mark indicates the system can't locate a valid MacOS copy to boot from, which in turns would indicate there is likely to be a problem with the hard drive. It may be that the drive itself has failed or is failing, but it could also be that there is some data corruption or a problem with the drive's directory or data structure which prevents the system finding the MacOS install on it, or from reading it.
In this situation, booting the system with a valid install disk, and then using the Disk utility copy on the installer to check the drive and attempt to make any necessary repairs is the right place to start. If that doesn't work because there are problems which Disk utility can't fix, then either a good commercial utility such as Disk Warrior is needed, or the drive can simply be wiped and MacOS installed again in an 'erase and install' to get the system back into service.
However, the first step is to get the 10.2 disk out and a valid installer in, and to check the internal drive for errors.

My nephews iPad Mini is stuck on the lock screen. It's frozen and you can't slide the unlock bar. I tried rebooting it and it didn't work. What can I do to fix it?

My nephews iPad Mini is stuck on the lock screen. It's frozen and you can't slide the unlock bar. I tried rebooting it and it didn't work. What can I do to fix it?

How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/ipad-troubleshooting-repair-faq/ipad- how-to-unlock-open-forgot-code-passcode-password-login.html
iOS: Device disabled after entering wrong passcode
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1212
How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?
http://tinyurl.com/7ndy8tb
How to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device
http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Forgotten-Password-for-an-iOS-Device
Using iPhone/iPad Recovery Mode
http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/a/Iphone-Recovery-Mode.htm
You may have to do this several times.
Saw this solution on another post about an iPad in a school environment. Might work on your iPad so you won't lose everything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘iPad is disabled’ fix without resetting using iTunes
Today I met my match with an iPad that had a passcode entered too many times, resulting in it displaying the message ‘iPad is disabled – Connect to iTunes’. This was a student iPad and since they use Notability for most of their work there was a chance that her files were not all backed up to the cloud. I really wanted to just re-activate the iPad instead of totally resetting it back to our default image.
I reached out to my PLN on Twitter and had some help from a few people through retweets and a couple of clarification tweets. I love that so many are willing to help out so quickly. Through this I also learned that I look like Lt. Riker from Star Trek (thanks @FillineMachine).
Through some trial and error (and a little sheer luck), I was able to reactivate the iPad without loosing any data. Note, this will only work on the computer it last synced with. Here’s how:
1. Configurator is useless in reactivating a locked iPad. You will only be able to completely reformat the iPad using Configurator. If that’s ok with you, go for it – otherwise don’t waste your time trying to figure it out.
2. Open iTunes with the iPad disconnected.
3. Connect the iPad to the computer and wait for it to show up in the devices section in iTunes.
4. Click on the iPad name when it appears and you will be given the option to restore a backup or setup as a new iPad (since it is locked).
5. Click ‘Setup as new iPad’ and then click restore.
6. The iPad will start backing up before it does the full restore and sync. CANCEL THE BACKUP IMMEDIATELY. You do this by clicking the small x in the status window in iTunes.
7. When the backup cancels, it immediately starts syncing – cancel this as well using the same small x in the iTunes status window.
8. The first stage in the restore process unlocks the iPad, you are basically just canceling out the restore process as soon as it reactivates the iPad.
If done correctly, you will experience no data loss and the result will be a reactivated iPad. I have now tried this with about 5 iPads that were locked identically by students and each time it worked like a charm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Try it and good luck. You have nothing more to lose if it doesn't work for you.
 Cheers, Tom

Mac Mini 2013 stuck on apple logo

My Mac Mini is stuck on the apple logo with the spinner underneath it. I was running a program and put the computer to sleep. When I started it back up, the program was stuck. I couldn't get to the command options and shut it down. When it started back up, I typed in my password, but it continuously got stuck on all my account logins. I tried to safe boot it, but it just loads the progress bar and goes back to the logo and spinner, even if I leave it alone for half an hour. I tried to use the option button, but none of the options work. I tried unplugging everything but the monitor and turned off my Apple Bluetooth mouse. Still didn't work. It is a 2013 model, so it has no CD drive. PLEASE HELP! I need this working soon. If it is possible to migrate another Mac to fix it or migrate one onto the disk after I erase it, please let me know. If not, give me some advise. I need help ASAP. Thanks for your help!

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
     a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.
b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
c. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
d. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 4
If you use a wireless keyboard, trackpad, or mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. The battery level shown in the Bluetooth menu item may not be accurate.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 6
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
Step 7
If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 10. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
If you can start and log in in safe mode, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the startup process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 8
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select the startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then restart as usual.
Step 9
If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.
Step 10
Reinstall the OS. If the Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 11
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 12
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 13
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

I have two computers. my laptop has os 10.6.8. my mac mini has 10.5.8, hence no app store. can i buy lion on my laptop and then burn a dvd of it and install it on my mac mini or does it have to be installed on the same computer it is bought with?

i have two computers. my laptop has os 10.6.8. my mac mini has 10.5.8, hence no app store. can i buy lion on my laptop and then burn a dvd of it and install it on my mac mini or does it have to be installed on the same computer it is bought with?

You can do it. This article from Macworld will be helpful to you:
http://www.macworld.com/article/161087/2011/07/install_lion_over_leopard.html
I recommend the "brute-force" method.
Just make sure you have your data backed up properly!

How can I best make use of all my devices ? Mac mini, Apple TV, AirPort Extreme, airport express, ipad 2 (all purchased in 2011) and an old imac with OS X. I use my iPhones personal hotspot for all Internet.

How can I best make use of all my devices ? Mac mini, Apple TV, AirPort Extreme, airport express, ipad 2 (all purchased in 2011) and an old imac with OS X. I use my iPhones personal hotspot for all Internet.

Maybe you are looking to re-purpose this equipment versus getting rid of it if so, the best thing to do is search the internet for tutorials. And I say this because it's what I would do, there are a lot of tutorials online. Hope you can find good use for them. Worse case scenario if you can't find something right now, package them very nicely and when you come across something unbox and enjoy. I've re-purposed a mac color classic and LOVE IT!!

I have a 2009 Mac mini and the wireless card has never worked, would I be able to cover it with my three year extended warranty?

I have a 2009 Mac mini and the wireless card has never worked, would I be able to cover it with my three year extended warranty?

matthewfromwhangarei wrote:
I have a 2009 Mac mini and the wireless card has never worked, would I be able to cover it with my three year extended warranty?
If you mean AppleCare, then I would believe the answer will be yes.
First make sure you have a full backup of everything on your Mac, then run, don't walk to your nearest Apple store.
Note: Due to your Mac now being in computer years, somewhat elderly, Apple may not have the require parts in stock. This will either mean you might have to leave it with them for a number of days, or maybe they will offer you a new Mac mini. While a new Mac mini (if offered) might be a welcome possibility be aware that the new Mac mini no longer has a CD/DVD drive and it comes with Mac OS X Lion and as a result might not run some of your old software.

Have a Droid Razr M that is stuck in the reboot screen. I tried a hard reboot and a factory reset, and it still gets stuck in the reboot screen. How long should I wait for the reboot to occur until it starts back up?

Have a Droid Razr M that is stuck in the reboot screen. I tried a hard reboot and a factory reset, and it still gets stuck in the reboot screen. How long should I wait for the reboot to occur until it starts back up? I tried the steps for a factory reset given on this site, but it still does not want to work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello otter314!
Let's take a look into this to see if we can figure out what happened. When did this begin? What's the software version of the device? Do you remember what was happening with the device right before this started? Please supply me with some additional information, I'm happy to help with a resolution!
ChristinaB_VZW
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

I bought a Mac Mini w/ Iworks.. Pages has disappeared completely.. how can I re-download with out paying for it again

I bought a Mac Mini w/ Iworks.. Pages has disappeared completely.. how can I re-download with out paying for it again

The iWorks prebundled with Mac Minis is a demo release, and not fully featured. Unless you mean you downloaded iWorks from the Mac App Store at a later time, it really can't be freely re-downloaded as fully featured.
Use this link if you got it from the Mac App Store and can't find get it to redownload normally: http://www.apple.com/support/mac/app-store/
Look at* http://www.macmaps.com/crossplatform.html for alternatives.

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My iPhone 4s is stuck on a black screen that shows a USB cable connecting to iTunes. The phone will not turn on and the iTunes logo as I described only shows up when I plug the phone into the charger or my computer. I have tried the reset in restore mode as well as the DFU? mode and it still will not work. I have the latest version of iTunes on my Mac. My error code was 2002. I also tried it on my laptop (windows 8.1) and none of the above worked. My error code on my laptop was 02. The phone is through Verizon and it has absolutely no damage. It was working fine up until this and I have been trying to fix it for 2 days. Please help! I am unsure of what version the phone was currently running on before this because I have another iphone that's my primary phone and have not used this one in about a month. I do not believe it was updated to IOS 7.

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My screen has gone blank on startup and occasionally a grey folder with a question mark appears. I have tried rebooting either by pressing the start up with power or pram.. Neither attempts have worked ! My iMac is 2008. Please help :)

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Hey Carolinearnold!
I have an article for you that seems to address this issue and can provide some troubleshooting steps for you:
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

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My Mac mini is stuck in a reboot screen that is all white with a grey folder with a question mark in it

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