Question Mark File

The other day my computer froze and I hard to force restart, when I turned it back on, it came up with a question mark with a file flashing. I then restarted the computer and then it was fine. Today I woke my computer and straight away it came up with the question mark file. I then forced shutdown and then turned it back on, and it was fine. Why is this happening, and how can I stop this from happening in the future? Any help would be much appreciated.

That is indicating that the Mac is not able to find a system file to boot from.
Then follow direction at
MacBook Air SMC and PRAM reset
Make sure you have the system drive selected in System Preference as the boot drive

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How do I fix flashing question-mark-file-icon issue on reboot?

My Mac Book Air 11" has been a bit strange recently, so I decided that a full clean would be a good idea. I had no important files I wanted to keep, so i went ahead and reinstalled the OS. Apparently that doesn't delete everything, so I did some research. Apparently I have to delete the drive. So I did, using the command-r method. I erased my HD and made a new one, but upon reboot I get this flashing-question-mark-file icon. How do I fix this?

After you erased the drive, did you install the OSX?
Ciao

File folder with question mark, file folder with question mark

Battery died went to turn on computer with adapter plug...
white screen with flashin file folder with a question mark???
How do i fix this?

That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the Operating System data on the hard drive is somehow corrupted.
Put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
Or if you are running 10.7 Lion, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7 partition.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

Blinking question mark/file folder icon on start-up

I cannot boot up my laptop--It makes the chime sound, then goes to a gray screen, then eventually an icon of a file folder with a flashing question mark superimposed on it appears. I've tried resetting the PRAM, and won't have access to the software installation CDs until I'm back at my office tomorrow.
Any ideas?

I also have the blinking folder. I tried starting up in safe mode but still just ended up with the folder. I used the install disc 1(pushing the c)and my hd doesn't show up to even repair it. I have tried everything else listed here and in the manual except reinstalling because I am afraid of losing all of my data, etc. When it is turning on it makes a weird clunking noise that has never happened before, along with the clicking that someone else had referred to.
Is there anything else I can do? My macbook is just barely beyond the one year mark. What causes things like this? I also now live outside of the US so I can't take it in to the Genius bar. What should our next steps be?
Thanks!
Kristina

Question Mark File, Holding Down Option/Alt, Cursor Appears But Usual Icons (HDD) and (Recovery Disk) Do Not

Hello out there,
My Macbook Pro (coming on 2 years old now) recently had issues with starting up. I found on Apple's website the support forum which stated holding down alt while booting will allow you to choose either your HDD or a Recovery Disk. For the past few reboots I was able to do this, maybe over a 36 hour period (I always chose HDD.) Now, though, when I hold down alt and power on the notebook, only the cursor appears over a gray screen. No icons show up at all. When I press "N" the usual globe across a disk drive blinks. I've also tried to boot up holding down shift but to no avail.
I have a ton of documents that weren't backed up. If I throw in the OS X Leopard disc and reinstall from there, I know I'll lose all my data. Is there anyway Apple could find those files after the reset, or does the Drive just get wiped completely? What do you recommend I should do? Take it into Apple? I don't want to lose these files but I also don't want to pay Apple to do something I can do — put in the original disk and reinstall OS X.
Thanks so much! I owe you a beer! ^_^

Could be more than the power. HDD could be old, or just the file system on the disk.
Try ...
Get the external disk, self-powered, at least 2x the current disk
Boot the system from install disks (original) and prepare that disk as two partitions (GUID, with Journaled partitions)
Load the OS onto one of those partitions
Download CarbonCopyClone, and clone the current install disk to the second partition of that external
If the filesystem on the disk or the disk itself is too damaged, copy what you can
You would have a bootable system if nto Lion, with a copy of the data that is on the disk (hopefully).
This is my best advice to at least try to save your data without relying on the internal disk for file operations. You may yet be SOL, but this is a darned good effort to avoid data loss.
And hope the repair bill does not cover so much that a new system is required.

My Mac Pro suddenly hang up and when i restart only can see a question mark file

Can somebody help me fix.. need it urgent. when i bought this last year there is no CD for installer or etc. now I having trouble in restoring at least the OS.

Your hard drive is likely damaged.
Boot into your Mountain Lion Recovery partition by holding down the command and R keys whilst booting. There will be a window that opens with four options. Choose Disk Utility, select your hard drive and tell Disk Utility to verify the volume. If it fails verification, try to repair. If it will not repair then your disk is likely dead. If it does repair or if no errors are found, try reinstalling the OS -> you won't lose any data this way.
If, however, Disk Utility reports that the drive cannot be repaired, then it's time to go shopping for a new drive.
Clinton

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.

File with flashing question mark on startup?

So my MacBook Air just recently started this, with the white screen and grey box with a flashing question mark in it upon starting it up. Safe Boot did nothing, the question mark file continued to appear.
Holding down the Alt button seems to be the only thing that has yeilded any other response. When I hold the Alt button down on startup, it asks me to connect to a wireless internet (which I have). After connecting, it goes into Internet Recovery, where it shows a rotating globe and loads up, usually taking a couple of minutes.
Then I get the white page with the apple logo, and a loading circle.
After that, I get the grey page with Mac OS X Utilities.
From here, I have no idea what to do. My computer was only recently returned to me after a login error, where all my files has been removed and deleted, so it was at Factory settings. Since then, I haven't had enough things on my compter to use Time Machine Backup or anything like that. so I have no backup sources for it to restore from.
I have been able to get onto the internet, but only in a small box on top of the grey background.
I tried to reinstall Mac OS X Lion from here, but when I agree to the terms and conditions, it gives me no disk to install it too, so therefore I cannot continue ahead with the installation.
As for Disk Utility, when I click on the left hand side Mac OS X Base System, there is nothing under First Aid that is highlighted for me to click (show details is also checked)
Nothing under Erase is highlighted for me to click on either.
In the Restore selection, The source (Mac OS X Base System) has Image highlighted beside it. I can click onto that, but from there I have no clue what to do.
This about the sum of all the options my computer is giving me at the moment.
I have no speakers or cords that hook up to my computer (seeing how its a MacBook Air)
As far as I am aware, I have no disks or CDs or external drives that have any programme to help me restore it. I also am not entirely certain what my current systems were, with how up to date everything was, before this happened, but I assume they were all the latest seeing how it was only just fixed a month ago.
If there are any suggestions, your help would be great.
If my files can be saved, that is awesome. But if they have to be cleared, I am not at all phazed by doing that either.

If Disk Utility left panel shows only "Mac OS X Base System", it would seem that it is not detecting your main drive at all.
I would take the system into an Apple Store for diagnosis.

Flashing file folder with question mark

Hello,
i have a mid-2010, 15"' MacBook Pro running Yosemite. Also, about two months ago, I replaced the two, 2 GB memory modules with two 4GB modules. Just in the past week the laptop has been acting very sluggish; login won't complete; and today, when first booting it up, I got a gray screen with a flashing "question mark" file folder. I've NEVER seen this before. In all the years I've been an Apple fan and user, I've never experienced a moments trouble.
In searching for other questions similar to mine, I read to restart in Safe Mode, select Disk Utility, then run Disk Repair on the Macintosh HD volume; exit Disk Utility, and restart from the Apple menu in regular mode. These steps worked however, once the laptop began restarting, it took at least 10 minutes to get to the desktop.
I am considering backing up critical files and wiping the hard drive clean or restoring it to factory. I don't know if this is necessary or if it would rid the system of whatever it is that's causing these issues. Also, I've not ever done this before so I don't know what issues I may encounter, or exactly what steps to take to accomplish this. If such drastic measures are not necessary, suggestions as to what I can do to correct these issues are appreciated.
Suggestions are welcomed. Thanks in advance.

That is a sign that the MBP cannot find the OSX. Usually is is a failing HDD or a faulty SATA connection cable/
Backup your data.
Then boot the MBP in the recovery partition and select Disk Utility from the 4 option menu.
Run Disk Utility>First Aid, Verify and Repair.
If the Disk cannot be repaired.
If the disk is OK, and the problem still persists, that points to the Cable.
Take out the HDD and connect it externally via USB in an enclosure.
If the MBP can be booted using Startup Manager, then the cable is probably faulty and should be replaced.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1310
Ciao.

Question Mark and No External Boot

I have a G4 12-inch Powerbook that I bought refurbished from the online Apple Store almost exactly a year ago. I am running the most current operating system and have installed all update. This evening I used it on battery for three hours with no problem. I went to dinner for 20 minutes. I plugged it in and woke it up from sleep. It began to make a humming noise, and vibrating under my left wrist. I restarted it except it would not turn back on.
Since then, I have tried to boot from my system software on CD, my back-up on my FireWire drive, and my HardDrive. Booting on the option key recognizes none of these. I also tried Cmdopt+pr.
I never know how far it will boot- sometimes it doesn't past the grey screen, sometimes I get the apple without the spinning circle, sometimes I get it with it, and once it got to the blue background with the apple and the progress bar (the progress bar did not fill). Sometimes it will take me to the flashing question-mark-file-folder. But as long as it’s on it is always making the unhealthy vibrating noise on the left size of the mouse.
What should I try next?

Welcome to Apple Discussions, theprincessofmars.
The noise you are hearing seems to be coming from the hard drive. If that is the case, then the problem you are encountering is usually because of a failed hard drive. The flashing question mark/folder icon also indicates that a bootable OS cannot be found. These two symptoms are the biggest clues to a failed/failing hard drive.
However, I find it unusual that you cannot restart from the original installer CD. Did you restart with the 'C' key pressed down all the time? It is also strange that you cannot restart from your FireWire backup. Does the FW drive contain a fully bootable backup? Have you been able to restart from the backup previously? Normally, even if the internal hard drive has failed, it is still possible to restart from CD or a FW drive (containing a bootable system).
That said, a failed internal hard drive would be the first thing I would look into as the prime culprit. Therefore, a replacement hard drive may be next option. If the PowerBook is still under warranty then I would contact Apple.
15 1.25G/12 1G PBs, Mac minis, iBooks G3/G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3) Cube, TAMs, iPods 2G/4G, iPs, AEBS, AX

I have a PowerMac G4 running ProTools that no longer boots up. All I get is a file folder on the screen with a flashing question mark in it. Ran the Utility disk and all systems passed. Any ideas?

I have a PowerMac G4 running ProTools that no longer boots up. All I get is a file folder on the screen with a flashing question mark in it. Ran the Utility disk and all systems passed. Any ideas?

You need to use the computer's install disks to repair the hard drive or install a new OS.
(58033)

I got new hard driver for my MacBook I don't have the cd but I do have flash drive that has the software I need help because when I turn on my laptop it shows me a file with question mark how can I install the software from the flash driver?

I got new hard driver for my MacBook I don't have the cd but I do have flash drive that has the software I need help because when I turn on my laptop it shows me a file with question mark how can I install the software from the flash driver?

Hold down the Option key while you boot your Mac. Then, it should show you a selection of devices. Click your flash drive and it will boot from that.

2008 imac - beachball lock ups and no-boot 'question mark in file' issue

Firstly apologies am new to this forum.. am happy imac user (2008) but recently my imac is freezing in use and/or failing to boot on startup; the grey screen showing for a bit and then a file with a question mark in it. This now happens frequently and I find my self having to wait hours before my mac will boot. I have looked through forum responses and tried disk repair utility, but that showed no problems other than repairing a few permissions - also downloaded and run EtreCheck - but again nothing obvious, although I'll readily concede I don't really know what I looking for. Before I sadly head off on a long journey to a Genius Bar appointment maybe for a new hard drive?? Can anyone suggest anything please - all advice welcome. Thank you

Hi triffiid,
I'm sorry to hear about the issues you've been having with your Mac. If you are currently booting to a grey screen with a flashing question mark, you may find the troubleshooting steps outlined in the following article helpful (apologies if you have already seen it):
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Regards,
- Brenden

How do I get rid of the flashing file with a question mark in it?

I wanted to start clean on my MacBook Pro osx 10.9.4. So I did the command r and erased what I thought was the right one. I restarted my computer and did the command r again and what came up was internet recovery. It can't find my internet because it's WEP and I don't know to change it to wpa. So I restarted my computer again and I didn't do the command r but just let it load itself to see what would happen and all I get is a flashing file with a question mark. I don't know what to do. Someone please help me.

Do you get this display?
If so, you have to select an Internet connection. Do not expect quick response time in this mode. All activities in this mode will be lengthy.
Ciao.

I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

I need to reinstall my operating system for 10.5 after seeing a file folder and question mark flashing on my start up screen. Can anyone help me with this?

Hello,
That means it can find the Hard Drive, or can't find the things needed for booting.
See if DU even sees it.
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

Question Mark File

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