My MacBook Air just shut down, I turned it back on, and got the grey screen with flashing question mark file icon. Turned it off again unplugged everything, turned it back on and got grey apple symbol and the loading grey whirlybird thing - but won't load

Please tell me I haven't lost all my work .., freaking out!!

Have you tried starting up in Safe Mode (hold shift key at startup)?
If that doesn't work, try starting in Recovery mode (hold command r at startup) and run Disk Utility to repair your disk.

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IMac 9,1 Grey Screen with Flashing Question Mark (After HDD Replaced)

Hello, I have an iMac 9,1 and it recently booted with a grey screen and a flashing question mark. My HDD made a very loud ticking noise, which to my knowledge and people on Google, the HDD is basically dead. No big deal. I purchased and replaced the HDD myself, no more ticking but I still get the same screen. I put in my OSX installer DVD and it spits it back out. Tried holding C on start up, same thing. I tried reseting the PRAM and SMC, no luck. Can't boot into safe mode nor the start up manager. I just get a blank screen with the cursor that I can move around, that's it.
However, I was also to boot the Apple Hardware Test through the 2nd CD that came with my installer by holding D on start up. Ran the test, no hardware errors found. I've tried so many things such as the ones listed above, I tested the RAM as well and I'm stumped. Please help. Thanks.
Edit: I also tried booting into single user mode. That doesn't work either. I also tested the OSX installer in my MacBook to make sure the disc wasn't bad and it booted the disc no problem with the full installer.

Linc Davis wrote:
I can boot into Target Disk mode and since my Macbook reads the OSX installer no problem, would I be able to install the OSX through Firewire?
That may work, if you have a retail (not a gray) installation disc, but the MB will then be set to boot from the iMac's drive. You'll need to reset the startup disk in the Startup Disk preference pane on the MB.
Thanks, I'll certainly give this a try. I'm really hoping this works out because I feel like I've tried everything and seeing no hardware errors makes me feel like I can do something on my end rather than dropping hundreds of dollars to get it fixed.

What to do with a grey screen with flashing question mark on start up

What does a flashing question mark on a blank screen mean web starting up?

Follow the procedures in this support article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Ciao.

Black Screen, Grey Screen, then flashing question mark, now frozen....

hi everyone,
i know i have probably the most common problem - and i've tried to read all about the logic board problems which i'm fairly certain i have.
I realize i will most likely have to buy a new macbook - but before i do - i need to retrieve files that are on my ibook g3 (bought in early 2003).
This is what has happened in the past 2 days:
1. I can hear the power start up (and chimes) but screen is completely black.
2. Tried resetting PRAM and PMU, now blank grey screen sometimes appears.
3. Now, grey screen with flashing question mark in the middle alternating with mac face. So i assumed this meant it couldn't locate my hard drive. So i found my ibook install disc and inserted it and restarted while holding down "C" key.
4. Grey screen - with Apple (thought this was success) - then it turned to a large grey circle with a line through it (a slash). And then suddenly frozen.
Since then it has just been a lot of lines through the screen alternating with completely grey screen, etc. along with any of the above-mentioned outcomes. I tried pushing on the lower-left-hand corner of the computer and yes, it affects the display - more or less lines, etc.
How can i get my old files off of it? Do i buy a new macbook and connect them via fire wire cable and try that way? or will that not work if the above is happening? Or is it possible for someone (myself or perhaps IT professionals) to remove the hard drive from my old ibook and place it somewhere where i can copy over the files?
Any help is appreciated - i know this is a popular topic - i've just had so many weird outcomes in the past 2 days i'm not exactly sure which solution (if any) would work for me right now.
Thanks so much!

Hi Ronda -
I do have access to another mac (mini) with firewire at my work. Or I might go out and buy a new macbook this weekend as well (preferable since I don't really want my personal files on my work computer, etc.) But yes, i need to get my old files off of this one.
I have never added additional memory or anything to it really since I got it. So it should be the original specs:
iBook (14.1 LCD 900 MHz 32 VRAM)
256MB memory
Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Hard drive: 40GB
Not a lot of space was remaining if i recall. I did get the 'disk full' notice a few weeks ago, but i did end up deleting a lot of stuff. Needless to say, i'm sure it was quite full, but not at maximum when this happened.
Update: Last night i tried to start it up again, and it would ONLY go to a black screen this time (ie. no display at all). What do you think i should do?

IMac won't turn on. Only a clicking sound and a grey folder with flashing question mark.

iMac won't turn on. Only a clicking sound and a grey folder with flashing question mark.
Help.

Your iMac is actually turning ON as proven by the grey folder with the flashing question mark.
The flashing question mark indicates that your system is unable to find a bootable volume. The clicking sound that you hear is probably coming from your hard drive while it tries to recalibrate. I suspect your hard drive has failed.
What model imac do you have? If it's under warranty I suggest taking it in for service. Hopefully you've been maintaining a regular backup of your data as all users should. I lost my data once and it was a valuable lesson. I back up regularily now.
If your iMac came with install disks then you can boot from them, choose your language when asked, then pull down the Utilities menu to launch the Disk Utility application. The Disk Utility application will allow you to verify whether your hard drive has an issue. Usually a clicking sound, assuming it's coming from the hard drive, is a sign of a bad hard drive.
If your system has Lion installed then you can hold down the Command and R keys when you restart the system, then launch the Disk Utility application from the menu that appears.

Suddenly on sunday while i was working, my macbook Air stopped working, right after that i tried getting it on but nothing came other than a grey screen with a question mark right in the center could you please help me in rectifying the problem. Would th

Suddenly on Sunday while i was working, my macbook Air which i bought last year in Spetember from Arkansas, Little Rock stopped working, right after that i tried getting it on but nothing came other than a grey screen with a question mark right in the center. Could someone please help me in rectifying the problem. Would thi issue also affect saved data. However, I have handed the notebook to Apple for reapirs and they will revert by Thursday 12/04/2012.

I just received some horrifying news from Adobe about my production suite. I just FINALLY learned today that what I've been trying to do for over a week now - CAN'T be done because of compatability issues involving updates of both Adobe & Microsucks Winders!!! I sincerely hope this is not your problem. Mine is ALMOST HOPELESS!! Being in this HOPELESS Obamma economy,,,, leaves NO STIMULUS in which to currently upgrade everything that needs upgraded for me to fully use my INVESTMENT in Adobe Suite - sad, horrible and SICKENING!!!
I just wanted to post this. And again, I truly hope you find a solution. Good Luck!

My MacBook Air Just Shut down and won't start!

Hi Friends, my apple mac book air just shut down while I was working on it. The charger was plugged in. It is a 2009 model. I did the SMC Reset and PRAM Reset. When I press the power button it gives out a beep sound. It did start for a few minutes after the SMC Reset and it also booted for a few seconds after PRAM Reset. but it again down down. I bought this laptop from a neighbour last year who has left the country where I am, thus, he is not in touch anymore. Please Help me in fixing it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Try to reset the phone by holding the sleep and home button for about 10sec, until the Apple logo comes back again.
If this does not work, see if you can connect in recovery mode, explained in this aricle:
If you can't update or restore your iOS device
If it still does not work, this is a hardware issue and the phone has to be serviced by Apple or an Authorized Apple Service Provider:
Find an Apple Authorized Service Provider
iPhone - Contact Support - Apple Support

Macbook does not shut down or restart. It stops at an blank white screen with the cursor moving around it. Updated to the latest software

I have a Macbook Air 13.3" 2012 model. For a couple of days my Macbook does not shuts down. It just stops at a blank white screen with the cursor still hovering around it. I have to shut it down forcefully every time using the power button.

These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Step 1
For this step, the title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select
          SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
          View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
In the top right corner of the Console window, there's a search box labeled Filter. Initially the words "String Matching" are shown in that box. Enter "BOOT_TIME" (without the quotes.)
Each message in the log begins with the date and time when it was entered. Note the timestamps of the BOOT_TIME log messages, which refer to the times when the system was started. Now clear the search box and scroll back in the log to the last boot time when you had the problem. Select the messages logged before the boot, during the time something abnormal was happening. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.
For example, if the system was unresponsive or was failing to shut down for three minutes before you forced a restart, post the messages timestamped within three minutes before the boot time, not after. Please include the BOOT_TIME message at the end of the log extract—not at the beginning.
If there are long runs of repeated messages, please post only one example of each. Don’t post many repetitions of the same message.
☞ When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.
☞ Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.
Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
Step 2
In the Console window, select
          DIAGNOSTIC AND USAGE INFORMATION ▹ System Diagnostic Reports
(not Diagnostic and Usage Messages) from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
          View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
There is a disclosure triangle to the left of the list item. If the triangle is pointing to the right, click it so that it points down. You'll see a list of reports. A crash report has a name that begins with the name of the crashed process and ends in ".crash". A panic report has a name that begins with "Kernel" and ends in ".panic". A shutdown stall report has a name that ends in ".shutdownstall". Select the most recent of each, if any. The contents of the report will appear on the right. Use copy and paste to post the entire contents—the text, not a screenshot. It's possible that none of these reports exists.
I know the report is long, maybe several hundred lines. Please post all of it anyway.
☞ If you don't see any reports listed, but you know there was a crash or panic, you may have chosen Diagnostic and Usage Messages from the log list. Choose DIAGNOSTIC AND USAGE INFORMATION instead.
In the interest of privacy, I suggest that, before posting, you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.)
☞ Please don’t post other kinds of diagnostic report—they're very long and rarely helpful.

How do I fix the GRAY boot-up screen with FLASHING QUESTION-mark FOLDER?

When I turn on the MacBook Pro laptop, I opened up the Safari Browser and its when the problem started. It was stuck on an loading infinite loop. I decided to force quit the application and/or turn off the mac by the Menu options, It did not work. So I did a "Hard" Shut-down and restarted the Mac, the Boot up screen stood gray for like a minute until the Flashing ? Folder icon showed up!.
My sister's laptop's warranty is expired so I wonder how can I fix it without having to spend too much money on a simple troubleshooting tip.
How can I download/create a boot-up Disk/Flash Drive so I can reset it to factory settings?
I cannot access the laptop because It's kind-of software bricked if you ask me. Also, I do not know how to check the Mac OS version outside of the "About Mac" menu. I do have another Mac which is a desktop computer with a CD drive.
I would appreciate some expertise on this issue a.s.a.p. Thank you!

Ok, now I am stuck:
Why does my Mac boot its OS from the Flash Drive instead of the INTERNAL HARD DRIVE???a
If I start up my MacBook Pro, It will have the flashing question mark folder UNLESS i plug in the OS-Boot flash drive. When I at the desktop screen and work on a program, When I unplug the Flash drive, THE OS WILL CRASH AS IF I TOOK it's soul (OS x Lion) out of the body (MacBook Pro Laptop)
this is frustrating because when I did the INTERNET RECOVERY, When I install OS x Lion, the Flash Drive only show up as an option as opposed to the HDD.
I cannot format the hard-drive in DISK UTILITY because it's grayed out. This is just frustating. I never had problems with PC Windows OS recovery but this (Mac OS).

Grey Screen with Flashing ? mark

I have tried all the different startup tricks with no luck. I don't have the original install discs because the computer was purchased used. If anyone might know a solution that would be great. I really didn't know what details to post so if you have questions I can do my best to answer

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
You'll need a set of install discs to recover from this issue. The iMac can't find a good operating system at the moment. This could be due to a fault with the hard disk or corruption of the OS. Either way you'll need install disks and preferably a firewire external hard drive to continue.
mrtotes

HT201262 I have a grey screen, then flashing question mark folder. Nothing fixes it :(

I have tried safe start .. no difference. I've tried the option key start...no difference. If I try to boot from disk then I can hear it trying to read it then it ejects the disc!! Please help!!
It started after the computer crashed and I had to power off from the button. When I restarted it just went to Flashing ?

If you don't know the model, find the Serial# & use it on one of these sites, but don't post the Serial# here...
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php
How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349

My MacBook Pro just shut down without notice. It had about 40% of the battery life. It will not turn back on and I noticed when plugged in the little light on the power cord is blinking orange, not a solid green like normal. Anyone have this issue before

MacBook Pro just shut down without notice. It had about 40% of the battery life. It will not turn back on and I noticed when plugged in the little light on the power cord is blinking orange, not a solid green like normal. Anyone have this issue before? I've only had this for about 3mos. I called apple support. They tried one thing then said I have to take to the apple store. Unfortunately I don't have one nearby. So before I travel an hour+ away I thought is give it a shot on here. Thank.

Hi S,
Did they have you try an SMC Reset: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964?

My MacBook Pro turns on but not all the way, it gives me an icon of a grey folder with a question mark in the middle, and won't go further that that. Anyone knows why, or what's the problem?

My MacBook Pro turns on but not all the way, it gives me an icon of a grey folder with a question mark in the middle, and won't go further that that. Anyone knows why, or what's the problem?

If these do not resolve the issue or if you are not comfortable with proceeding through these steps then take your Mac to an Apple store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. An Apple store will perform these initial steps, diagnose the problem, and give an estimate for repairs (if needed). If the Mac is less than one year old or is covered by AppleCare any repairs would be free.
Genius reservation http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ .
or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider https://locate.apple.com/country

My new MacBook Air keeps shutting down the screen while I use it

My new MacBook Air keeps shutting down the screen while I use it and has to be rebooted. I took it in to the Genius desk at my local store, but they couldn't find anything wrong and said that they have never seen this problem before.
I Spoke to the IT support guy at work. He has the same problem with his new MacBook, but not with his older one. He suggested that it is a software issue with all new MacBooks and is connected to the timing of it going into sleep mode. Does anybody have a solution? Apple doesn't seem to have one.

Try a SMC reset.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

What do I do when my macbook pro just shuts down and when I plug my charger in, it faintly blinks green and yellow and doesnt charge?

what do I do when my macbook pro just shuts down and when I plug my charger in, it faintly blinks green and yellow and doesnt charge?

Hi aaliyafrommarkham,
In order to troubleshoot this, I would recommend that you start with an SMC reset. Information on this procedure can be found here:
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Thanks for coming to the Apple Support Communities!
Cheers,
Braden

My MacBook Air just shut down, I turned it back on, and got the grey screen with flashing question mark file icon. Turned it off again unplugged everything, turned it back on and got grey apple symbol and the loading grey whirlybird thing - but won't load

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