Question Mark "?" symbol

Apparantly there's a Question Mark "?" symbol on my MacBook Pro,& when i click on it a message pops up saying "the item can't be found". Is there any way i can remove it?

Where is this question mark located exactly?
If it is in a Finder window you should be able to control-click on it and select "remove" or perhaps command-drag it off of the window.
charlie

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I'm using a macbook pro, running snow leopard. Yesterday I got around to emptying my trash for the first time in quite awhile and was surprised by how much there seemed to be in there. Immediately after a question mark symbols appeared on all my hard disk

I'm using a macbook pro, running snow leopard. Yesterday I got around to emptying my trash for the first time in quite awhile and was surprised by how much there seemed to be in there. Immediately after a question mark symbol appeared on all my hard disk folders. If I click on these question marks I get a message saying ' the item can't be found'.

mpagan47 wrote: a question mark symbol appeared on all my hard disk folders.
Not sure where these hard disk folders are located that you are referring to? Finder, Finder tool bar, Finder side bar, Desktop, Dock?
More then likely they are an alias that not longer point to the orginals, thus the question mark.
I would reboot. Delete icons if an alias and just recreate by dragging from the source. Try right click (control) click to remove.

Unknown question mark symbol on Finder Window

Hi All,
I have noticed an awkward question mark symbol (?) on all of my Finder windows.
I don't understand what it means or how to remove it.
A snapshot of the problem is shown below :
Please note the grey "Question Mark - ?" on the top of the Finder window.
Any ideas on how to remove the mark ?
If the (? symbol) is clicked a dialog box appears saying "The item can't be found".

Yes. I overlooked this matter.
I was actually able to remove the symbol by (Command + drag out).
The symbol is gone !
Thanks for the helpful tip.

Crazy question mark symbol appears on certain songs and I'm asked find

I get a question mark symbol on certain songs and a window pops up to find the song on my hard drive??? Help, this blows!

The odds are good that the file is still there. You can manually find the tune (this is a pain, & I'd love to know a better way of doing this).
In iTunes, under the iTunes menu, select preferences. Make sure tab in top left is "General". Look right under that for iTunes music folder location. That tells you where your music is.
When you get the file missing message say you'd like to locate it. Then navigate to that folder. iTunes generally organizes these things by artist, then album, then song, but sometimes the album will be in the compilations folder, and sometimes the artist will not be the album artist if there is more than one recognizable name on the song.
Check locations until you find the song & select it.
Sometimes it is easier to first browse the iTunes' folder directly from the finder finding where the tracks are, & then go directly there from iTunes.

Battery Big Question Mark Symbol

My pre plus has suddenly developed a battery big question mark symbol. Any advice?
Post relates to: Pre Plus p100ueu (02)

Battery symbol with a question mark indicates no battery present in the device. You can try cleaning the battery contacts with a pencil eraser, or replacing the battery.

Flashing file and question mark symbol

My Mac is alternating between displaying a flashing file with a question mark and the prohibitory symbol. I tried holding down the option key after restarting but nothing is working. I updated my OSX Lion last night, but I don't know what update it was. I need this computer working in the next 3 hours. Please help!

Are you able to boot into Single User Mode?
Mac OS X: How to start up in single-user or verbose mode
If so, perform a disk check via the command line:
Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line.
Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
At the command-line prompt type:
/sbin/fsck -fy
Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found:
** The volume (name_of_volume) appears to be OKIf fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message:
***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****
Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.

Mac won't startup - question mark symbol

Any suggestions much appreciated.
I've got a macbook pro & last night I was using firefox on it when the machine just completely froze. So I turned it off and restarted. Instead of booting up it eventually displayed a folder-like symbol with a question mark on it. Using an alternate computer I looked up the apple support site where it told me to boot from the install CD and run the disk utility to repair the problem.
So I fished out the CD and had a go. Unfortunately when I run disc utility it gives me error messages:
Invalid note structure
Volume check failed
Error: the underlying task reported failure on exit
1 volume could not be repaired because of an error
So is there a way I can fix this?
thanks
Richard

In this case I would try reformatting the drive:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disk. 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.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.

Flashing Folder with question mark symbol

Last night I was syncing my iPod when the computer became incredibly slow and eventually entirely unresponsive. iPod sync failed. I had to to force shut down. The iPod seems to be ok. However, now when I turn on my Macbook, I get the grey screen for about 20 seconds, and then a flashing image of a folder with a question mark in it. I've seen images of this nature before on various Apple products and I fear that it spells disaster! I've tried resetting PRAM, NVRAM and the Power Management Unit, all to no avail.
Please, someone tell me this is not the end for my Macbook!

In addition to Stefan,
If after you open disk utility and the hard drive not showing up then your HD must be failed all the way and need to be replaced.
You can also start using your installer disk #1, and when it start to boot, press alt/option, and if the only option is your installer disk system folder, then your HD might be failed.
Hopefully you still have apple warranty and apple will replaced that for free.
If you already out of warranty, better try to find new HD and install that yourself or visit your local apple authorized service center that might charge cheaper for HD replacement compare to apple store genius guy.
Good Luck.

Inverted Question Mark Symbol in procedure

Hi
We have a table in the database which is populated through a application.
The application is developed using JDevelper 10g.
The symbol '-' gets replaced with the symbol '¿' when it is stored in a column in the table. The text in this particular column is mailed to the user. Sending the mail is acheived using a procedure. So in the procedure before sending the mail, we take the text and replace all '' with '-', and then mail this text. Statement used for this:
replace(TEXT,'¿','-');
We have 2 testing environments. It works in one environment and does not work in other environment.
When we open the procedure in SQLPlus after executing the create procedure statement, the '¿' is replaced with '?' and in OEM it shows boxes instead of '¿'.
Should we install any font in the environment?
Please help us in solving this issue.
Thanks in advance
Shoba

That is not problem only on fonts.
(Please try to create procedure on OEM or i SQL*Plus.)
(Sorry this doesn't make help for you)
If you want to create it on SQL*Plus(GUI Edition) for Windows,
I'm not certain whether it goes well or not, but please try as follows.
(1) go to Control panel -> Regional and Language options -> Advanced -> Language for non-Unicode programs
(2) and then select Spanish (Spain)
(3) and reboot Windows.
(4) set nls_language=American_America.WE8ISO8859P1
or set nls_language=American_America.AL32UTF8
(5) use SQL*Plus
But, this method effects other applications undesirably.
How to display '¿' on OEM is one of your question...
Message was edited by:
ushitaki

Question mark in battery symbol

The other day I did some app updates and restarted my phone. After startup, a question mark showed up in the battery icon. The phone was working fine otherwise though. I power cycled it a few times and the question mark would not go away. Apparently it would not charge either, as it is now DEAD. When I plug the phone in, I just get the battery icon with the question mark symbol. I took it to a local Verizon store (2 in fact) and they were of no help. I have only had the phone for just over a year (so no warranty or insurance), and I love it. There is no way I'm paying for a brand new phone when I did absolutely nothing to damage it! After doing some research I have noticed that other people have had this problem as well. I cannot even call customer service because I am alone without a phone!

Contact Motorola and see if they will replace the battery for a fee. Since you will have to send the phone in, you should see if you can borrow a phone from a friend in the meantime.

Iweb issue - question marks ??

Hello
I'm a new user to iweb and this is my first post.
Basically I have been getting used to the iweb app for a few days now and have started putting a basic website tigether as a kind of online cv for the work I do.
I currently have a small amount of web space (55meg) with my broadband account and have been using this to publish and test my web site.
I have been using Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer 5.2 on my G5 to view the web site.
Generally everything looks fine, but the odd question mark symbol keeps popping up. Ironically the site seems to look best in IE, but question mark symbols show up in all three browsers.
I wondered if anyone may be able to help with this ?
Many thanks in advance
Dual 1.8 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Hi rdfmusic and welcome to the iWeb forum!
Your problem is a common one when publishing to a non .Mac server but is easily fixed. Tom Gewecke has created a page that addresses this with the solution:
http://homepage.mac.com/thgewecke/iwebchars.html
Tom has also set up a page with links to a lot of tips on using iWeb:
http://web.mac.com/thgewecke/iWeb/1/Tips.html
Others have also put lots of other iWeb tips in their web sites, you can search in this forum for those who have been most helpful and click on the link to their sites.
Bob

HP Touchpad with battery question mark

Hi ,
my HP Touchpad shows battery question mark symbol, what should i do ?
Thanks in advance
Regards ermoberlin
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hold the Power button to attempt to turn the TP off.
When the TP is off, press and hold the power and volume up buttons.
The TP should power on and display the USB trident symbol.
At that point you're in USB mode and should be able to use webOS Doctor 3.0.5 I suggest using WebOS Doctor to reset the TP to its delivered condition
The forum with the greatest amount of resources for the HP Touchpad is the HP WebOS Forum. I highly recommend joining that forum.
This nicely written and illustrated standard Touchpad troubleshooting tutorial is at the WebOS forum.
****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. That will help another person facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

Mac Mini folder with question mark at startup the shuts off

I have a 2006 mac mini that is booting up with the folder and question mark symbol and then it automatically shuts off after a few moments. It won't allow me to boot from startup disk. When I hold down the C key the disk utility does not load and then I see the folder and question mark. When I startup holding down the Option key, I do not see the disk as a drive--either way it shuts off pretty quick. I have tried about everything and am out of ideas. I know I need to probably reinstall the OS but I do not have another Mac to run target disk mode....Any ideas?

When I startup holding down the Option key, I do not see the disk as a drive--either way it shuts off pretty quick
If the startup disk is not available when booting up while holding down the Option key, then the disk is failing or has failed
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

Flashing question mark and finder upon start up of power mac G4

Hi
I recently bought a powermac g4 which had a new un formatted hard drive in, upon turning the computer on it had the flashing finder and question mark.
i tried formatting the drive using my macbook which resulted in, upon turning the computer on a grey screen appeared with the apple logo then white texts behind, stating "panic (CPU O caller) and then alot of other text which ends at the bottom of the screen with panic:we are hanging here
I posted this problem in another question a few days ago and was told i needed disks to boot the computer, due to a intel mac not being able to boot a PPC mac so i bought a copy of snow leopard
so i erased the drive using disk utility, making it un formatted again
But when trying to use the disks i inserted them holding down the C key upon start up
but the computer just has the finder and question mark symbol again
Thank you for your time

If it's the G4 Mirrored Drive Doors (MDD) in your signature, you've done well to get one. If you can live with the noise, they're a real workhorse - they were a real beast 10 years ago. I still have mine, bought from new the day they came out.
So you're going to need either:
the original discs (2 install DVDs and 4 restore CDs, and iMovie2 and AHT, or
Mac OS X 10.3 retail
Mac OS X 10.4 retail
Mac OS X 10.5 retail
If you want OS9 on it you're going to need the original discs. You could head over to the Macintosh Garden forums (use google) and ask there, a lot of MDD owners over there, always looking out for more MDDs to buy and preserve and original discs for them too. There may be someone in your state / region there who may be able to assist with the original discs.
If you want OSX 10.3, 10.4 or 10.5 eBay or similar may be your best bet. A little tip I used for getting the original OS discs when I missed them - individually the discs can be expensive, particularly OSX 10.4 and 10.5 - I buy mine bundled with a Mac when it's sold locally, seems to keep the price down if it's bundled with an old Mac that would have $50 shipping. So I pick up the Mac, keep it and seel the OS if I don't want it, for more than I paid for both. Just perserverence on eBay/ etc.

White Macbook gives Flashing Question Mark on Startup

Hi,
I'm in need of some advice & help in what to do with an old White Macbook (06/07 vintage).
I gave this to my mother a few years ago to bring her into the internet age while I conveniently bought a Macbook Pro
A few days ago it stopped working and on startup gave the flashing question mark symbol.
I read through various forums and discussions and have performed the following:
Held the option key down during startup - Resulted in being able to see the mouse pointer but no icons
Inserted the original startup disc (OSX 10.4.8) while holding down C on startup - I decided to go ahead and reinstall the original OSX and upgrade it after everything was back to working. However at the step where you 'Select destination' there is nothing to select. Its as though there is no hard drive on the macbookI selected Disk Utilities at that point and tried to verify the drive (as I could select it at this point) but an error message appeared and said that the volume needed repair. I then tried the repair Disk option but the process stopped almost immediately with the following error:
1 non HFS volume checked
1 volume could not be repaired because of an error
I have held down the D key during startup to get a diagnostic of hardware but this has not worked.
I would like some help with diagnosing what may be wrong to see if its economically viable to repair and get another year or 2 which would be ideal.
Am happy to open up the backside to investigate further if need be.
All help appreciated,
Thanks

I have replaced the hard drive and tried to reinstall OSX but it still does not work. I still cannot select the hard drive in which to install OSX. I tried system utilities but it does not recognize the drive and says there is an I/O error.
I am going to source a HD ribbon cable as a last ditch effort. If its not either then it will be the logic board and that is not economically viable

Every once in a while when I open my mail or a page I get nothing but strange lines of symbols. Many of the symbols are black triangles with question marks in the center. I completely reset it like new, but problem still exists

Every once in a while when I open my mail or open a page I get lines of strange symbols like black triangles with question marks in the center. I have reset the ipad2 to new condition but the problem still exists.

A reset does not make tthe iPad "like new."
First, let's ensure that we agree on just what is a Reset...
Hold down the on/off switch and the Home button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo. Ignore the "Slide to power off" text if it appears. You will not lose any apps, data, music, movies, settings, etc.
If the Reset doesn't work, try a Restore. Note that it's nowhere near as quick as a Reset. Connect via cable to the computer that you use for sync. From iTunes, select the iPad/iPod and then select the Summary tab. Follow directions for Restore and be sure to say "yes" to the backup. You will be warned that all data (apps, music, movies, etc.) will be erased but, as the Restore finishes, you will be asked if you wish the contents of the backup to be copied to the iPad/iPod. Again, say "yes."
At the end of the basic Restore, you will be asked if you wish to sync the iPad/iPod. As before, say "yes." Note that that sync selection will disappear and the Restore will end if you do not respond within a reasonable time. If that happens, only the apps that are part of the IOS will appear on your device. Corrective action is simple - choose manual "Sync" from the bottom right of iTunes.
If you're unable to do the Restore, go into Recovery Mode per the instructions here.

Question Mark "?" symbol

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