On startup my mac has a question mark

and it wont let me re download os x mountain lion

Go step by step and test.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
Startup Manager to select Startup disk.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310
Repair Disk
Steps 2 through 8
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
Reset PRAM.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405

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Mac has a Question Mark in a folder and won't start up

Mac has a ? mark in a folder and won't start up

This can mean a few things. First, one of the main, critical files are missing in the system or some how it was entered into recovery mode. Try holding the power button down until it turns off. Turn it back on. If that doesn't work try downloading the 10.7 recovery assistant from Apple's site. Put that on a USB key and plug that in. Turn on the computer. Hold the recovery hot key (should say on Apple's site) while booting up to enter into the recovery software. Hope this helps.

I cleaned up my mac and now all my applications are gone. I try to open them and it has a question mark on the app icon. Everything from System prefrences, Everything in itunes, iphoto, preview and mail? Please help

I cleaned up my mac and now all my applications are gone. I try to open them and it has a question mark on the app icon. Everything from System prefrences, Everything in itunes, iphoto, preview and mail? Please help

These question marks are on your dock? And you can't open applications from your dock?
If so, try this: Open a new finder window and navigate to the Applications folder in your hard disk. The applications in question should still be in there (the Applications folder). So drag each of the application icons that you want to be available on your dock from the Applications folder onto your dock, one by one. Take each of your question mark icons that are on the dock and drag them off the dock to get rid of them. See if that fixes you up.
Now, if your hard disk no longer has an Applications folder in it, or the Applications folder is empty, you are going to have to reinstall OS 10.6 then do a software update to bring you back up to OS 10.6.8. You may be able to just go to the "optional installs" folder on the installer DVD and maybe all the stock applications are there -- I don't remember and I don't have an installer DVD handy to look. That would be way easier than doing a full blown OS reinstall. Also, as I recall, if OS 10.6 was on the computer when you bought it from the store, I think there should be an "extras" DVD that has a handful of applications that could be reinstalled from it, too.

Blinking mac face and question mark at startup

i've been having problems w/ my powerbook lately, it's been freezing and the mouse has been whirring. I installed more ram and repaired discs through the installation software (disk utilities).
everything was working fine for about a day, except that the laptop kept making this whirring sound.
suddenly, my mouse pointer disappeared and wouldn't turn back on. i forced the computer to quit by holding down on the power button, but once i restarted it, an icon of a small grey folder w/ alternating between a blinking mac face and question mark came on.
i tried restarting the computer, holding down command, alt/options, "P" and "R" but the blinking face won't go away. now, the computer turns on for about half a minute, and then shuts off by itself.
can someone please help me??

Look at:http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302672
You may need to run fsck to try and repair the volume.
Please update your profile so we know which version of Mac OS you're running.
Joe

My macair won't turn on. when I try to turn it on, the white screen appears. But instead of the apple logo, there is a flashing folder that has a question mark on it. how do i fix this?

my macair won't turn on. when I try to turn it on, the white screen appears. But instead of the apple logo, there is a flashing folder that has a question mark on it. how do i fix this?

Try this.
Erase and Reinstall OS X
Note: This will delete all data on the disk. Back up important files before continuing.
Erasing and then reinstalling OS X can give you a fresh start, making your computer exactly as it was whenever you received it from Apple. This can solve various problems such as corrupt system files.
Shut down the computer by going to Apple () > Shut Down…
Select Shut Down or allow the computer to shut down automatically.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter into a power source and then connect it to your Mac if you have not already done so.
Press the Power Button to turn on the computer.
Press and hold both the R and Command (⌘) keys on the keyboard until the Recovery partition loads.
Select Disk Utility and then choose Continue.
Select your startup disk (Macintosh HD by default) from the left.
Select the Erase tab.
Choose the Format pop-up menu and choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled), enter a name for your disk, and then click Erase.
After the disk is erased, choose Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
Select Reinstall OS X and then choose Continue.
Follow the instructions.
I hope I solved your question.
Austin

IPhoto has a question mark over it. Wont open! Help?

iPhoto has a question mark over it. Wont open! It is completely inaccessible. How can i restore this to my computer and get my pics back?

iPhoto has a question mark over it.
You mean in the Dock? Then the Dock icon is no longer linked to the application.
Did you upgrade MacOS X, so iPhoto is no longer compatible?
If you moved or deleted iPhoto, reinstall it. It will depend on your iPhoto version and MacOS X version, how to reinstall.
If your profile signature ""OS X (10.6.8)" is still valid, reinstall iPhoto from your system install disks, if iPhoto came preinstalled on your Mac, or from your iLife install disks.
If you already upgraded to Yosemite, you can reinstall iPhoto from the App Store.

My system disk icon has a question mark in it and does not open now

my system disk icon has a question mark in it and does not open now
and my devices name is gone when i click on FINDER, my favourites is there with the following listed under it-
ALL MY FILES
AIRDROP
APPLICATIONS
DESKTOP
DOCUMENTS and under documents was the DEVICES word with my Macintosh under it, this is missing... what have i done

Somehow you've managed to delete it.
To re-install iPhoto
1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
2. Download it from the App Store to reinstall It's on your Purchases List* there.
For older versions that have been installed from Disk you'll need these additional steps:
2a: On 10.5: Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows: In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
/var/db/receipts/
2c: on 10.7 or later they're at
/private/var/db/receipts
A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.
3. Re-install.
If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
*Sometimes iPhoto is not visible on the Purchases List. it may be hidden. See this article for details on how to unhide it.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4928
One question often asked: Will I lose my Photos if I reinstall?
iPhoto the application and the iPhoto Library are two different parts of the iPhoto programme. So, reinstalling the app should not affect the Library. BUT you should always have a back up before doing this kind of work. Always.

My eMac has a question mark on mail?

Mail has a question mark ? and it won't open I have an eMac PowerPC 1.42GHz 10.5.8 Leopard? URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need to find it on the hard drive, and if it's not there, reinstall it and run the Mac OS X 10.5.8 combo updater.
(71316)

My iPhoto app has disappeared and my iMovie has a question mark through it!?

I went to go onto my iphoto app on my macbook pro today and realised it was missing and imovie has a question mark on the app and won't let me open it can any help me get it back please? I haven't messed with it nor deleted it so haven't got a clue where it has gone or what's happened. I don't want to pay for it as its not cheap and I had it for free on the mac so don't see why I should by it.
Thanks in advance

I've managed to get them back for all the other people who are having the same problem go onto the app store on your Mac and once it loaded click 'Purchases' with a little price tag by it and look for it in the list and it should be there for you to install it again for free

PhotoBooth Has a Question Mark Over the Icon in the Dock

I'm trying to fix my bosses daughters MacAir. Her brother was playing around with PhotoBooth and now you can't even open it. The icon in the dock has a question mark over it and when I go into her applications and double click on PhotoBooth nothing happens. It looks like it loads but really it's just a quick half second thing and nothing happens. No PhotoBooth options show up on the top either, it just doesn't load at all.
How can I get her PhotoBooth back working? She has Mac OS X Version 10.5.5 and all possible updates are installed.
Any help would be appreciated...

Perform a custom install from the Mac OS X 10.5 disks and install only that component if possible; if not, use Pacifist to install it. In either case, rerun the combo updater for your Mac OS X version afterwards.
(35732)

Alternating mac face and question mark after i tried to install OS X 10.3

I have a Powerbook G4 and I tried to update my operating sytem from 10.2.8 to 10.3 but it froze. After I restarted it I got an alternating mac face and question mark. It just ejects the CDs I try to put into it except for the installation disk for OS X 10.1.3. When I put that one in a smiling mac computer come up then all this type comes across the screen, something about kernels and panic.
Please help me, I've got a project due soon.

Could someone please help me,
when i open my power book g4, an alternating Mac face and question mark appears, and no matter what I do it is still there.
it only changes when I insert the installtion CD of MAC OS X 10.3, but after the Apple logo appears, the screen went white and sometimes just blue, and it just won't work. Then after restarting, the alternating Mac face and question mark still appear.
i also tried the hardware test, after doing both of the tests, the result is consistently "passed". But after restarting, the same problem happens.
what should i do?
please help me
thanx in advanced

Word wont open at all as it has a question mark in the backround

i have a macbook pro notebook and have been using microsoft word without any issues until today.It wont open up at all when i click on it it dont even jump and has a question mark behind it.What can i do to rectify the problem?

These question marks are on your dock? And you can't open applications from your dock?
If so, try this: Open a new finder window and navigate to the Applications folder in your hard disk. The applications in question should still be in there (the Applications folder). So drag each of the application icons that you want to be available on your dock from the Applications folder onto your dock, one by one. Take each of your question mark icons that are on the dock and drag them off the dock to get rid of them. See if that fixes you up.
Now, if your hard disk no longer has an Applications folder in it, or the Applications folder is empty, you are going to have to reinstall OS 10.6 then do a software update to bring you back up to OS 10.6.8. You may be able to just go to the "optional installs" folder on the installer DVD and maybe all the stock applications are there -- I don't remember and I don't have an installer DVD handy to look. That would be way easier than doing a full blown OS reinstall. Also, as I recall, if OS 10.6 was on the computer when you bought it from the store, I think there should be an "extras" DVD that has a handful of applications that could be reinstalled from it, too.

I cannot open my photo booth, the photo booth icon has a question mark on it. I have been using my photo booth without any problems before, what do I do please.

I cannot open my photo booth, the photo booth icon has a question mark on it. I have been using my photo booth without any problems before, what do I do please.

You move it back to the Applications folder or reinstall it from your OS install disk, using Pacifist if needed.
(58223)

Help please! My macbook air (2015) startup showed a folder with question mark so i tried "Command R" for internet recovery but after few minutes it stopped and showed error.. Please hepl me!

Help please! My macbook air (2015) startup showed a folder with question mark so i tried "Command R" for internet recovery but after few minutes it stopped and showed error.. Please hepl me!

Startup – Question Mark
Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)
Startup Issues - Resolve (3)

Pictures from different sites doesnt show, it has small question mark sign at the center, why???? Please help.

Please help, i cant see any pictures on any web pages, it has small question mark at the center only.

Move the photos from the Trash bin in iPhoto onto the Library icon to get them back in their proper events. Then check the thumbnails to see if they are still behaving the same. If they are make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #1, followed by #3 and then #4 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

On startup my mac has a question mark

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