Question folder at startup

I've looked this up elsewhere, and nothing has been working so far. I want to get advice before I do something that may cause more harm. I'm a new Mac user, so I don't know much about troubleshooting.
My MacBook was working yesterday. I went to turn it on today, and all I get is the regular colored start-up screen with a folder that has a question mark in it. It doesn't blink or anything, just stays there for a few minutes, disappears for another few, then reappears...
I've tried a few things. The only CD I have with me is the Mac OS X Leopard disk, I don't know if that would help with anything. Oh, and there's a DVD in the CD drive that I can't get out to put the OS disk in anyway.
Please help! I'm sorry I'm so ignorant on the issue.
Thanks in advance.

Reboot the machine hold down the option key. This gets you to the startup manager. If your drive shows up select it and that will get you started. When you say a disc is stuck in the machine, is it broke or just just inserted. You can try holding down the click button on your trackpad at boot. This should cause the cd to try and eject. You could also try holding down the command and v keys and see what error you get.

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Question mark folder at startup, safe boot not working

Last night my iMac froze up, Force Quit didn't work, and I used the Power button to shut it off. When trying to restart, it was getting stuck at the grey Apple.
I tried unplugging the peripherals and restarting; zapping the PRAM and restarting; safe boot and restarting. Safe boot did it.
I then ended up going through those steps a few more times as my iMac starting freezing up again. One of those times I changed all my applications in the dock that were set to launch at login to not do so, wondering if that was somehow causing a problem. I also took a folder of recent items I'd created, mostly a LOT of PDFs of newspaper articles, burned it to a DVD and deleted the folder to free up more memory if that was part of the problem (I'm running out). I then restarted from the Apple menu and it shut down through safe boot and then restarted without safe boot and did so just fine. I ran Disk Utility and very few if any permissions needed repairing. And it was operating OK for a bit and then froze up again.
Now I'm getting the question mark folder at startup and safe boot isn't working. What should I be trying next? Lion Recovery with Command-R? I'm relatively new to Lion, but it had been working OK for me for a while now.
What other things should I try? Would Target Disk mode possibly work from the MacBook I'm using now, which doesn't have Lion installed?

The question mark folder usually means that the
firmware could either not find a valid operating
system to boot, or, it could not find a hard disk
with an operating system on it.
Have you tried booting to Lion Recovery? If
you can, then go into Disk Utility and do a
Repair Disk on your OSX volume. If the
OSX volume is not showing up, you may need
to do a reformat and re-install.
Since it is a 24" iMac (from your description) it was
a pre-Lion Mac. If you still have the original install
disks, try booting with it and use Disk Utility from it
to see if the hard drive is working.
Try this first before making a road trip.

Folder with question mark on startup after using boot camp!!!

im getting a folder with a question mark on startup after using boot camp. it shows up for a second, then the apple logo pops up and OSX boots normally. i wouldnt be concerned except this folder with the question mark usually shows up when the computer cant find the startup disk or OS. so in fact what is happening is that my macbook cant find the startup disk for a second and then seems to find it. is anybody else having this problem. i dont like it and want to get rid of it. help!!

This is correct.
I wonder how it can be that in the System Preferences - Startup Disk - OS X volume can become "deselected" like it was... I had to re-highlight the OS X volume and all is well.
b
MBP & Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.6) http://www.therottenapple.net/phpbb

Get a folder and a question mark on startup

I get a gray screen with a folder icon and a blinking question mark on startup. Is this bad?

It's certainly not good! A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac. Usually, the only workable solutions is reinstalling OS X. What version of OS X do you have installed?

Blue screen with flashing folder and question mark on startup

Hello.
I need help with my Macbook Pro. I get a blue screen with a flashing folder and a question mark at start up. To date I have tried the following:
Apple Hardware (Extensive) Test (Results: "No Trouble Found")
Safe Boot
Reset NVRAM
Reinstall OS X via the internet (I received no discs when I purchased it). I select the StartUp Disk to reinstall. When reinstalling via the internet I get to a point of reinstalling Mountain Lion but it asks me to choose a drive - yet there are no drive options to choose from. Then a window comes up asking me to "Select the system you want to use to start up your computer" but no options appear. When I choose "Restart" a note pops up saying "You can't change the startup disk to the selected disk. Startup Disk could not gather enough information on the selected disk."
The only option is "Restart" from the Apple menu. When I choose that it goes back to the original "Blue screen with flashing folder and question mark on startup."
I have no Time Machine
I can't access the disc utility.
Are there any ideas as to what might be the problem?

Your hard drive has likely failed and needs replaced. That would explain why the system does not display it when you attempt to reinstall the OS via Internet Recovery.

Flashing Folder/Question Mark on Startup

I have been having an issue with my machine for the past couple days, and cannot find the Install Disks to remedy this situation (my OSX 10.4.4 disks will not recognize), so ANY help would be appreciated.
I have been able to troubleshoot using FireWire target disk mode. I've run DiskUtility and DiskWarrior on this machine from another machine and everything checks out with the hard drive, but I keep getting the Flashing Folder/Question Mark on Startup. Safe boot (Shift key at startup AND Shift-Command-V) do not work. Resetting the NVRAM / PRAM does not work.
Suggestions?
I don't need the info on the machine, as I am trying to set this up fresh for my wife.

But I was going on the assumption, as it was an internal drive (not an external data only drive), he had an OS installed, since his problem seemed to be that out of the blue he was getting the flashing folder question mark on startup. He had written +"I have been having an issue with my machine for the past couple days...."+ implying that it had booted normally before that.
Anyway, you're probably right; I'm just puzzled: how would his once bootable OS disappear just like that? Obviously something I'm not understanding here.

Mac Shows Folder With Question Mark On Startup?

Hey Guys!
I currently own a Macbook Air First Genereation (2008) running on Lion 10.7.5 (upgraded from Snow Leopard)
Recently, when I was just using the Macbook Air, the Hard disk started spinning and was creating a lot of noise well I just ignored it and gave it a hard reboot
So the next day wehn I booted my mac it was showing a folder with question mark on startup. I tried going to recovery (holding option on startup) but neither Macintosh HD or Recovery HD was being shown. I tried a internet recovery but it was not even entering Internet Recovery. I tried Single User mode, that didn't work.
I really don't know what to do now, I am panicking cause I don't have a backup and all my schoolwork is inside there.
Please reply soon and thanks in advance if you can help me
A youtube tutorial or online step by step tutorial would be great!

My tutorial is simple: pack up the MBA and charger and head for the nearest Apple store or Apple reseller. The error you see can mean three things: (1) your drive's system files are damaged, (2) your drive's directory or partition are damaged, or (3) your drive is dead. The fact that you can't boot into the recovery mode pretty much eliminates #1. It is possible that your drive's partition table was damaged but were that the case I'd expect that Internet recovery would work. So I strongly suspect #3.

How to fix Security settings for Startup folder on startup

Hello.
i am getting the message that the security settings have changed. and due that items in my start up folder has been disabled. ( now that has not stopped me from working but it is annoying in the beginning) Now when I hit the question mark it tells you about it and the solution, it talks about have MacOsX fix it , but it does not show how On other posts it says that i would receive that option on startup but nothing there either. So How can i fix it .

racb wrote:
i took all the folders out and restarted and the same message came up that the startupitems folder is insecure and a second message saying that folder DS_Store in the startupitems folder is disabled because of insecure settings. Now I can not see that folder in the startup items folder, any idea
Probably just as it says, DS_Store is corrupt. This stores the settings for a folder.
To see if we can find the invisible folder and remove it open Terminal in your Utilities folder and at the prompt copy and paste defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles True; killall Finder
If you can see the file now just delete it.
Then, switch back to visibles only and create a new folder called Startup Items.
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles False; killall Finder
Or, simply creating a new Startup Items folder may be enough.
-mj

What does the question folder mean?

When my macbook starts up I get a question folder before the apple logo and the swirl thing can someone tell me if this is right didnt do it before ..? Is it looking for something or checking something out ...
Thanks

The question folder actually means that your MacBook is looking for an OS to start from and there is no default OS set. To get rid of it go to the Startup Disk System Preference and select the OS you wish to start from by default.

10.4 Blinking Question Folder/No Valid Packages

From what I have seen this is probably a mute point, but I was hoping for some help.
My computer turned back on and loaded to the blinking question mark folder. I loaded from the OSX installation disks and went to disk utilities. Under first aid my only option was to verify (the other three options were greyed out). When I selected to verify it gave me a message it could no continue because of no valid packages. Apple has up a fix on this no valid packages issue, however, it requires you to be able to get into your computer, which I can't do due to the blinking question mark folder. Is my one year, one month old, perfectly cared for macbook harddrive crashed? or is there something else to try?
Thanks

You have corrupted system files which is why you get the question mark at startup. The solution is to reinstall OS X which coincidentally will also fix the packages problem. This latter problem occurs because you have deleted your /Library/Receipts folder or its content. This is a definite no-no.
You can try reinstalling this way:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
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.) 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, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) 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.

Purple Finder Folder at Startup

Is it normal to have a purple finder folder at startup after installing Leopard?
It appears right at the beginning, small in the middle of the screen, with a question mark at first and then a smile face and dissapears.
Any ideas what it is?
Wojtek from Canada

See http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440?viewlocale=en_US for starters.

?-mark folder on startup WITH cd stuck in slot - PLEASE help!

Hi!
I have a power Mac G4 cube with Mac OS 9.something. I'm not currently using it because we have a newer computer, but when I went to use it last night it showed me a question mark folder at startup and now I have a CD stuck in it that I can't get out.
I've tried holding the mouse down at startup to no avail...
Please help! How can I get my computer working again?

if option doesn't work startup while holding down the left click on your mouse.
is it trying to eject but it wont make it all the way out or is it simply making no noise at all?
at one point i had to completely remove the dvd drive on my cube and remove a cd, hopefully your drive isn't completely dead.

My MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009) question mark on startup

My MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009) has a question mark on startup.
I brought it to my local apple service centre and they told me that after a few tests it was the hardrive, so they changed it under-warranty. Back home I started re-installing my system and got again a question mark on startup.
I decided to put the hardrive in a FW800 external enclosure and boot my system this way and the computer started without any problem. I reinstalled the hardrive in the MacBook Pro and again got a question mark on startup.
I decided to buy another drive, Seagate momentus XT 500Go, transfered all my files in this new drive and I installed it inside the MacBook Pro, still the same question mark on startup. I installed it again in my FW800 external enclosure and everything worked fine.
I decided to installed it again in the MacBook Pro, load the computer via the original Mac OSX install DVD, load the system and try to install a new fresh one on the hardrive... no hardrive were found....
So I decided again to bring it back to the same local service centre, and they told me again it was the hardrive the problem... but they don't want to listen to me when I told them that all my hardrives can startup the computer via an external enclosure....
So I would like your help, I think the problem come from the cable that linked the HD to the motherboard or the SATA chip inside the motherboard, but they don't want to test it !!!!
Thanks in advance for you help, I have been without my computer since 2 weeks now and I can't afford working without it any more !!!
Sincerely
bosa30

You need to take this computer to a real Apple Store. Or call AppleCare. Obviously this "local serve centre" doesn't have the skills to deal with your issue.
I'd also check your RAM, as an easy first step. But I think the HD controller in your Mac is bad, since you can boot from an external drive.

2011 MBP Flashing Folder on startup

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro 13'' that has experienced the flashing question mark on startup.
I've read a few other threads that had solutions/steps needed, but I have tried every step. Disk repair, internet recovery, startup manager, even the password reset, but still it could not locate my hard drive. I don't currently have my OS Install disc that came with the laptop in my immediate possession. I've kept the laptop's OS updated every time.
My laptop has not had any problems over the last two years. I'm not really tech savvy but I do take good care of it. Are there any last ditch steps I can take to avoid taking it in for repair or having to take it apart myself (I'd rather not).
Will the only way I know if it's a failed hard drive if the install disc doesn't work?

I have tried every step. Disk repair, internet recovery, startup
manager, even the password reset, but still it could not locate my hard
drive.
Then either it, the cable or your Mac is the problem.
To determine what's what, it will have to be removed from the machine and a SATA to USB adapter to another Mac or machine to see and for data recovery if needed.
My computer is not working, is my personal data lost?
Are there any last ditch steps I can take to avoid taking it in for repair or having to take it apart myself (I'd rather not).
Not really, it's surgery time.
Apple can tell with their machine, so can most PC shops for a failed hard drive or cable, provided the machine isn't under warranty or AppleCare, then take it Apple instead.
However your data recovery options are best with local services.
Will the only way I know if it's a failed hard drive if the install disc doesn't work?
Install disk will likely boot up, but again Disk Utility will fail to see a drive to install onto/format.
It might be while booting the install disk it won't proceed as it doesn't detect anything to install onto or service.

Unique "flash question folder" problem, doesn't boost from either HD/drive

Hello, I am pretending to be a Mac expert to my friends (Please don't laugh at me, Cornelius, Douglas, Duane or others). One of my friends went to me with a iBook G3 with a classic flashing question folder on screen. I promised her I would fix it next day. But now I am stucked on it. I thought it would just be an OS issue. It seems it is more complicated than that. I tried to install 10.4 from DVD, by restarting while holding down "C" key. It did not boost from there. Fine, it might just be an optical drive problem. I dived into the book, replace the HD with a known-good one having OS installed. The book still won't boost. Fine, it might be the a bad connection between HD/drive to the mother board. So I threw in a good signal cable. Nothing I have done really helped the boosting issue. I think I have to bring the same non-working book back to her on Tues or Wed. So embarrassed. Maybe you guys can help me out? Thank you.

There is an article on the flashing question mark that might be helpful:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042
It sounds like you might already have done more than was necessary, but it should be possible to get back in business. I'm not the one to advise you, as I am not all that experienced myself. But the more knowledgeable memebers of the forum should be able to help.
One thing--do you have all of the original install discs? If you don't, see if you can get them from your friend. You will probably need to have them on hand. Often people have to hunt for these, so you might be able to stall for a little more time while you get some answers from the forum. Also, the install discs will contain the Apple Hardware Test, which you can run and look for hardware problems.
Also, identify the iBook model more completely. Here's the article to find that out:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88039
Posting more detail will help others to advise you.
Good luck!

Question folder at startup

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