Question mark flash with file when I boot MacBook

When I boot my MacBook up I only see a flashing question mark and file and it doesn't give me a choice to navigate away from the screen at all. Please help!

How long should it take to repair cause it saw the Macintosh hd drive and now its loading on the repairing screen where it says "updating boot support partitions for the volume as required" and above that it says "volume repair complete"

Similar Messages

  • What does a question mark and i file mean on my macbook pro

    what does a question mark and i file mean on my macbook pro when i turn it on?

    To be more specific, the computer is not finding a valid system when it starts up. This may result from the hard drive's physical mechanism failing, or the system on the drive being corrupted in some way.
    Repairing permissions is not likely to fix this issue. Instead I would suggest booting from the system install DVD, running Disk Utility, selecting your hard drive's partition and select *Repair Disk*.
    Note: if the hard drive does not show up in Disk Utility at all, it is dead and will need to be replaced. Contact Apple (800-275-2273 in the USA) and have them set up warranty service, or carry the MacBook in to an Apple retail store to have it fixed. Be sure to [make an appointment|http://www.apple.com/retail] first you you may wait a long time to speak to a Mac Genius.
    If Repair Disk finds any problems and is able to correct them, you may be able to restart and everything be okay. If it is unable to correct the problems, you will need to erase and restore your hard drive.
    If Repair Disk does not find any problems, I would suggest an Archive and Install as described in [this article|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710].
    Best of luck.

  • 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.)

  • HT3964 I just opened up my MacBook Pro after a few days of not using it and it was frozen. I turned it off and back on and all I see is a white screen, there was a file with a question mark flashing for a bit but I can't do anything, please help me!!

    I just opened up my MacBook Pro after a few days of not using it and it was frozen. I turned it off and back on and all I see is a white screen, there was a file with a question mark flashing for a bit but I can't do anything, please help me!!

    Jerricayoung,
    you have a 13-inch Mid 2012 MacBook Pro. It’s modern enough that it supports booting into Recovery mode. To do so, hold down a Command key and the R key as you start up. It should eventually show a Mac OS X Utilities menu. Select Disk Utility from that menu; when the Disk Utility window appears, select the bootable volume from the left-hand side of the window. (It’s typically called “Macintosh HD”.) When the volume is selected, some buttons will appear on the right-hand side. If it’s not greyed out, press the Verify Disk button; if it is greyed out, or if it reports on errors that it found, press the Repair Disk button. Once the verification/repair is completed, exit Disk Utility and select Restart from the Apple menu; that will restart your MacBook Pro in its normal mode. With luck, that will be enough to get you to your normal login screen, rather than the white screen.

  • Folder with face and flashing question mark, what to do when this happens?

    I'm sure this has been asked a million times, please help, my brother has a ibook G4, OSX 10.3.9, about 3 years old and now when he turns on the ibook it has a folder with a face in it and a flashing question mark. Do you just leave it and it will sort it self out or is there something to do to make it go away? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

    I have replaced a 40 G harddrive with a seagate 160 G drive. When I try to start it it only comes up with the flashing question mark. I have tried to boot off the install CD, but it only flashes the question mark. This is my daughters computer and she really needs it to work for school.
    I have tried to "restore" using my new Mac Book and the old 40 G drive in an external USB case. But still is no good. I have used DiskWarrior and the drive will boot.
    This is an ibook G4 running 10.4.2

  • What does a file folder with a question mark in it mean when the computer won't start?

    What does a file folder with a question mark in it mean when the computer won't start?

    There are four general causes of this issue:
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    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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  • I installed the window 7 os in to my mac book pro. after that the partition is not supported and then the folder with question mark flashing on my screen. plaese helf me what to do next to resume the mac os x?

    i installed the window 7 ultimate OS in to my mac book pro. after that the partition is not supported and then the folder with question mark flashing on my screen. plaese helf me what to do next to resume mac mac os x?

    Assuming that you tried to install Win 7 in bootcamp.
    Power on the machine and press and hold the "option" key when you hear the bong sound.
    Select the Macintosh HD icon and press "return" or just click on the icon.
    Once booted into OS X go to System Preferences and select the Startup Disk icon and configure startup to use the Macintosh HD.

  • Blue et white face and question mark flashing  when  i open my mac

      BLUE ET WHITE FACE AND QUESTION MARK FLASHING  WHEN I OPEN MY MAC POWER G5  HELP

    That means that it can't find an OS to boot. You might try booting off the CD that came with the system and running Disk Utility on the Hard Drive.

  • At startup I get grey screen and a folder with a flashing question mark.  How do I reset my MacBook Pro to the manufacture defaults?

    At startup I get grey screen and a folder with a flashing question mark.  How do I reset my MacBook Pro to the manufacture defaults?

    Click here and follow the instructions. If the computer originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, when you reach step 5, insert its original disk, restart with the C key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the internal drive, and install a fresh OS.
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  • Just turned my macbook air on and the screen is white except for what looks like a camera with a question mark flashing.  any ideas what to do?

    turned by macbook air on and the screen is white with a question mark flashing and nothing else on the screen. will not boot up.

    Click here and follow the instructions. If the computer was running Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier and you reach the third set of steps, insert a Mac OS X install disk or connect the computer's original thumbdrive.
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  • Hey, I just installed ML on my OCZ Octane SSD, everything went ok, However, it got stuck while rebooting and now I can only see flashing question mark icon and ML won't boot at all. Only in safe mode...

    Hey, I just installed ML on my OCZ Octane SSD, everything went ok, However, it got stuck while rebooting and now I can only see flashing question mark icon and ML won't boot at all. Only in safe mode...

    It looks like ocz is aware of the issue and trying to address it via firmware:
    http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?103700-Mountain-Lion-and- OCZ-Octane-Petrol-and-Octane-S2-SSD-s
    It's a shame because apple is clearly the party that changed something.

  • Startup with question mark flashing..how to do

    Hi;
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    Check the advice in this knowledge base article.

  • My imac at start up only gets white screen with a folder with a question mark flashing.

    My imac gets a white sceen with a folder with a question mark flashing.

    Here's the apple article on the issue:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440?viewlocale=en_US
    Regards,
    Captfred

  • Folder with question mark flashing.. help me

    sorry for my english ..
    later on, my macbook was working fine until i went to utilities to format my macintosh hd but accidently i removed it so it shutted down on its own i dont no why but now it shows a folder with a question mark flashing  i am trying to install my mac os x dvd it doesnt complete and also in utilities the startup disk has a question mark it show the mac os dvd and an internet..

    Reinstall the HDD.  The display is indicating that it cannot find a bootable HDD.
    Look at these support articles for additional information:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
    http://https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
    Ciao.

  • Did my hard drive die? Folder Question Mark Flashing.

    When I boot up, I get a folder with a question mark flashing on the screen. I booted up using the install CD, chose disk utility, but it could not analyze the disk at all. I assume the latter is the case because the disk is flat out not working - maybe a busted motor or corrupted. I do not hear the disk working at all when I try to listen for that.

    I have to agree with Peck here, if the drive does not show up in Disk Utility it's a goner.
    Some people have found themselves lucky and it turned out to be a loose cable after a repair or replaced drive but if you had neither done on your mac the drive is dead.
    I hope you made backups.

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