Question Mark Folder Problem (Already replaced hard drive)

On Sunday night I found my macbook pro ("13, mid 2010, refurbished) in a frozen state a few seconds after waking it from sleep. So I did a forced restart and then my macbook wouldn't boot (blinking question mark folder). I troubleshooted with the OSX Install DVD on my own before taking it to the Genius Bar (disk utility & TDM could not find the hard drive), and we both came to the conclusion that I should install a new drive. So yesterday I bought a new drive, did a fresh OSX install and managed to migrate all of my info from my presumed damaged drive to the new one. Everything went smoothly and the computer was in working order all night. That is until this morning when I shut it down before bringing it to work. On my lunch break I decided to fire up my newly upgraded macbook only to find that it once again would not boot, still with the blinking question mark folder. I also tested to see if I have faulty RAM and it doesn't look like it (unless both sticks are fried). This is becoming incredibly frustrating and I hope I don't have to replace a board or anything like that. Anybody here have suggestions? It'd be greatly appreciated.

Could be something as simple as the hard drive cable...the hardware test won't identify this. Have an Apple store nearby? If so, make an appointment. If it's a bad cable, the fix is easy, but not free unless you have AppleCare.

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  • Macbook pro flashing question mark folder, won't recognize hard drive

    My 2010 macbook pro froze and after restarting I was greeted with a flashing question mark folder. I then restarted again and held down "option" key and went into Mac OS X utilities then into disk utilities. In disk utilities, my only drive options are "superdrive" "disk0" and a subfolder of "disk0" labeled "Mac OS x Base system". My hard drive is no where to be seen. I also tried to install a new hard drive but the same thing happened, the computer could not recognize that there was a hard drive present. What can I do to fix this??

    Hi bigdubee,
    The exact same thing happened to my 2010 MacBook Pro today.  Restarting with the "option" key held down, I get only 2 of the 3 options you listed in disk utilities ("disk0" and a subfolder of "disk0" labeled "Mac OS x Base system". 
    Did you take your Macbook Pro to the Apple store?  And were they able to fix it? 

  • On a macbook I purchased secondhand hard drive got corrupted and I started to get the flashing folder with the question mark, I purchased a new hard drive and snow lion install DVD I installed the hard drive and tried disc but kept getting blinking folder

    On a macbook I purchased secondhand hard drive got corrupted and I started to get the flashing folder with the question mark, I purchased a new hard drive and snow lion install DVD I installed the hard drive and tried disc but kept getting blinking folder

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We're users here and do not speak for "Apple Inc."
    Power on the computer and insert the DVD immediately.
    Hold down the 'C' key to boot from the Snow Leopard DVD.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1533
    After selecting the appropriate language, if necessary, select Utilities, and Disk Utility.
    You'll likely need to partition and format the new drive before it's recognized.
    http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA161/en_US/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY .pdf
    (Yes, these instructions ARE 7 years old, but the procedure is the same for installing from DVD media.)

  • Flashing question mark folder at start, broken CD drive, warranty Q's.

    Hello! Thanks for reading.
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    You made 2 big mistakes. 1) Apple may or may not contact you about AppleCare (sometimes I've gotten a postcard or email and other times I've not) but it is up to you to buy it before the 1 year mark. 2) whether it was convenient to get the computer repaired at the time or not, you should have contacted Apple to get the issue in the computer. If you didn't, Apple has no reason to believe it happened after the warranty ended.
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    2) If the drive is made bootable, do I need to do anything to make the workstation recognize it?
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    Nick
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    1. You need to partition the disk using the GUID scheme to use the drive to start up your computer. In addition, the disk needs to be in one of the Mac OS Extended variants or in the UNIX File System format to use it; you should only use the UNIX file system if you have a specific reason to do so.
    2. No.
    3. You should stick with SuperDuper!.
    (14253)

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    Good Thursday;
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    a blinking file witch means failing hard drive
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  • Problem with replaced hard drive on macbook (late 2008, 13" aluminum)

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  • Flashing question mark, utilities won't find hard drive

    On an iMAC DV 400, 640MB ram running OS10.4.5, I tried to install an OS9 folder, so I could run some classic software. Started install, but a pop-up message gave the impression that the install would write over my OSX, so I aborted the install to re-check the instructions and reassure myself that all would be fine. From that point on, I got the flashing question mark. The computer will boot to OS9 or OSX install disks, but disk first-aid (on 9) does not find the disk and disk utilities (on X) finds it but will not let me repair the disk. Tried resetting PRAM, but it did not help. I am still on the original 10GB harddrive, so am considering an upgrade anyway, but would prefer to save this one if possible.
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    Lemmer
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    Lemmer,
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    A question mark at boot up I believe usually means that the computer is looking for the system folder and cannot find it.
    Look here and the last resort.
    What happened when you tried holding the "x" key during startup without the cd in? Did it just go to the question mark?
    littleshoulders [:-)

  • I see that i have a problem after installing my new hard drive on my macbook pro mid 2009 version. I put a new hard drive, with all of my information from my old drive installed on it, into the computer. but now have the blinking question mark folder

    i see that i have a problem after installing my new hard drive on my macbook pro mid 2009 version. I put a new hard drive, with all of my information from my old drive installed on it, into the computer. but now have the blinking question mark folder. I see that it means that it isn't reading the new hard drive.
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    thanks for your help

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  • Boots to flashing question mark folder and disc utility cannot locate internal hard drive

    Bottling my MacBook Pro I end up with a flashing question mark folder. I reboot holding the option key to select discs and there were no options at all. I plug in an Ethernet cable and it shows a internet recovery option. I click and it downloaded a temporary recovery mode. From there I open disc utility but it doesn't find any internal hard drives. I reset the pram and I still get the flashing question mark folder. Thinking it was my internal hard drive that failed I bought and replaced the internal hd with a new one and repeated all the processes and still no internal hard drive was found. I'm stuck with the flashing question mark folder. Therefore I've concluded that it was my MacBook pros internal hard drive CABLE that had failed. Does anyone know of any other possible problems that is causing this for my MacBook Pro or know of any solutions? Or is replacing my internal hd cable the only solution? Please help!

    It was the internal HD cable. I replaced it and now my MacBook Pro works

  • New Hard Drive still have Question Mark Folder

    So I first got the 'Question Mark Folder' and had to keep running Safe Boot Mode to use computer. Finally got around to replacing the Hard Drive, but this Question Mark Folder still comes up trying to turn the computer on and now trying to setup the new hard drive. Won't let me do anything. I've tried all of the button combos/recovery mode/etc. Tried inserting both a backup disk of Mavericks and Snow Leopard, nothing. Is there any other problems that could cause this? Maybe a dead SATA cable? or something else small hopefully?

    My newest Mac just did the same "folder of death" dance. It's too late for you now, but you might consider a passport backup drive.You can get 2&3 T-bytes now fairly reasonably priced. A given with computers is they will crash, just a question of how bad and when, so you can be prepared for the next time.

  • I replaced hard drive in macbook pro and when turning on i get a blinking question mark

    just replaced hard drive on my '09 macbook pro and rebooted to get the blinking question mark.  what do i do? not sure i have the installation disk.  i had this happen once on an older macbook and was able to figure it out but i can't remember what i did.

    Schedule an appointment with a Genius the SSD is gone.

  • Flashing question mark folder OS X 10.6.8.  Issue is not the drive itself.

    Received flashing question mark folder on a MBP5,5 running 10.6.8.  Removed the drive and was able to boot on same machine with the drive plugged in as external USB.  Any idea as to what the issue may be?  It's not the drive itself.  Bad connector?  Going to update the drive to mountain lion this weekend to see if that resolves anything.

    Actually, it is the drive in some way.
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    These are related but not identical issues. Their causes are outlined in Intel-based Mac- Startup sequence and error codes, symbols. Solutions may be found in:
    A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
    Mac OS X- Gray screen appears during startup
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    Boot drive's directory has been corrupted - Repair with Disk Utility.
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    The disk drive is physically non-functional - Replace the hard drive.
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    The main difference if you are using Lion or Mountain Lion is that you must first boot from the Recovery HD:
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    1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
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    If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer.  Proceed with reinstalling OS X.  Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files.  After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
    Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
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    Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
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    Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Continue button.
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