The Case of the Mysterious Question Mark...

OK, I'm flummoxed. This is a new development.
When I send an email to someone on a PC, the second line of my signature (after my company name) suddenly has a question mark (?) at the end of it. This hasn't happened before. Nothing has changed in my sig for over a year, and this just started a week or so ago.
What is causing this?
How can I get rid of it?
And... <scary organ music>
What will happen to Mabel?!?!?
Thx for your help.
Les

For info on the usual cause of question marks, see this note:
http://homepage.mac.com/thgewecke/woutlook.html
But normally there are a lot more than just one of them, so I'm not sure if this is your problem or not.

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How to fix the " flashing question mark after the finder icon when starting up" withou an apple keyboard?

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I am wondering How to fix the " flashing question mark after the finder icon when starting up" without an apple keyboard. I have 2 of those .7Ghz emacs so just wanna fix them
Thx

Hi,
>I am using a wireless standard keyboard so maybe the emac doesn't regognise it
Installation of driver software may be required. Do not expect any wireless device to automatically work with a Mac unless guaranteed to do so. In a case like this, use a wired USB keyboard (a PC keyboard should be OK) and a wired mouse to begin with.
>I have installed Ubuntu 13.00 on the HDD from another computer.
Is it a version for PowerPC?
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads
>a list of eMac hotkey's that can be used before OS boot from a standard Windows keyboard?
Could the following article be of interest?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970299
If/when starting from a bootable CD, press and hold the C key.
Jan

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.
did i miss a step between transferring all of my information from my old hard drive to the new hard drive and installing the new hard drive into the computer. I believe that i installed properly. it was quite easy.
thanks for your help

It means there is no bootable system on the drive. If you still have access to the old drive, then I suggest you boot from it then clone it to the new internal drive. Use OPTION boot to boot from the Recovery HD on the old drive:
Boot to the Recovery HD:
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.
     1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
         button.
     2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
     3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
     4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
         to the Destination entry field.
     5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
         the Source entry field.
     6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Source means the external old drive. Destination means the new internal drive.

My macbook pro is still under warranty. I have just put it into Mac 1 to be repaired because I had the folder with the dreaded Question mark on it....new hard drive. I was told that if I wanted my data retrieved, I would have to pay $445 p/h. Ahh!!!

My macbook pro is still under warranty. I have just put it into Mac 1 to be repaired because I had the folder with the dreaded Question mark on it....new hard drive. I was told that if I wanted my data retrieved, I would have to pay $445 p/h. Ahh!!! Shouldn't that be covered by warranty?

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.

Ugh, the flashing question mark...

Earlier tonight my three year old nephew got hold of my laptop and his little magic fingers did something to cause the screen to go blank and then, the flashing question mark showed up. So, I reinstalled the OS X dvd, when it asked do I want to keep the previous system in a folder, I clicked yes.
My question is: should I erase the folder with the previous system? If the answer is yes, where do I find it?
Thank you in advance for your help and Happy Holidays!

Yes, you can erase it. It's at the top level of your internal HD. Just open the HD via the Finder and it should appear.
(It won't show up via Spotlight or a Finder search).
Note that it will take quite a while to empty the trash.

My MB pro doesn't recognize any start up discs. I have the flashing question mark, but when I press option/alt, I'm only prompted to start the internet recovery. Afterwards the Mac OS X Utilities pops up, but there's no start up disc?

I have the flashing question mark, but when I press option/alt, I'm only prompted to start the internet recovery. Afterwards the Mac OS X Utilities pops up, but there's no start up disc when I try to reinstall Mac OS x or anything.

Hello, sullivja.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
Here is an article I would recommend going through when experiencing this issue.
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
Cheers,
Jason H.

Can't get beyond the flashing question mark

I can't get beyond the flashing question mark on grey folder, on starting up.
I have tried starting with option key down, but still get the question mark.
I have tried starting with the command, option, P and R keys down but still get the same question mark.
I have put the No 1 Installation disc in, and started holding down the C key. The disc was immediately ejected with no change on the monitor.
Can anyone please suggest what else I could try?

I would suggest taking the faulty hd out of the Mac, putting it in an enclosure and seeing whether you can get anything off it. Alternatively,there's an application called Data Rescue Data Rescuehttp://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/211375 that has an excellent reputation for retrieving data from a bad disk.
If you do manage to get your data off, and then onto your MacBookPro, you should have no trouble putting it on a new drive in your iMac.

I recently had a Hard drive failure, got the flashing question mark

Hello,
I recently had a hard drive fail on my IMAC. The power went out in my home and knocked the computer off. When I turned it back on I go the dreaded white screen with flashing folder/Question mark.
I tried all the tricks I could find (on my other computer search) but nothing worked. I also inserted the install disk and then tried the "disk utility" ... this is where I got really scared...the utility saw my Hard Drive, but showed nothing on it with 0 space available. I thought I was fried and actually ordered a new hard drive online. (This is the second time in 3 years this has happened ... and wouldn't you know my extended warranty expired 2 weeks ago)
The next day, I think ... well, let me just try booting up to see if a miracle will happen. Low and behold it booted up! My drive is there, all my data everything! (and a new hard drive on the way overnight! lol)
So my friends, what the heck is going on? I immediately repaired permissions once I brought it up. But I'm afraid to shut the thing off now in fear it won't come back.
Any Ideas?
Thanks,
Ryan

Assuming you have some backups:
Drive Preparation and OS X Installation
1. 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 Utilities menu.
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. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
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 can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
When formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Complete the OS X installation.
If the drive is not failing then the above process will find any possible bad blocks. If no bad blocks are found and the drive reformats, then reinstall OS X. If the drive does fail and you have another you can install, then try that. If this doesn't fix things then take it in for service.

TS2570 i have an intel imac and im getting a grey sceen. I get the flashing question mark folder. iv changed the H.D 2x and tired to install a new os into it but no luck. The mac isnt going into safe mode or anything. help?

Intel imac 2009. Grey screen with question mark folder. Changed harddrives 3 times now. Tired 5 keyboards on all Usb ports and a hub and keyboard wont boot to startup or safemode of anything but hub gets power. disc drive wont eject or accept a disc cuz keyboard commands not being sent to computer. Help?

Keyboards must be connected directly to the USB port, not through a hub.
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Do the following:
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Boot from your Snow Leopard 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 Utilities menu. 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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
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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.
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How can I change the Arabic question mark (shift +...

I have a Nokia E72 that was purchased from Dubai. All default languages are changed now to English. Even the "Writing Language" is in English. But when I type a text message, the keyboard key for the question mark (shift + L) comes up in Arabic. Is there a way to change this (either a quick fix or one going through the OS) to permanently appear in English?

Security questions:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4551
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5312

The dreaded Question mark folder

I have 2 G3 400 mgz imacs and the one I have most on, stops at the question mark.
While looking at posts it seems that it is better than vegas odds that it is the battery that is dead.
I had been resetting to date to WWI era for some time.
Then I had turned off the power bar as storms were rolling thru and our electric goes surgy.
Now the question mark.
I found a link to other world computing and ordered a battery
but have only found dead or broken links to the how to change the thing
I haven't been inside a computer since I installed a hard drive in my IIGS woz and have vague memories of having to ground self or fry the machine
Is there any links anybody knows that can hold my hand?
Thanks
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Check out this site Installation
iMac HDD Upgrade Guide (Slot-Loading) Visual Installation Guide - slot loading iMac Hard Drive Visual Installation Guide
You could try to locate the service and repair manual for your iMac on the Internet.
iMac G3 600 is imac_summer01.pdf
other names iMacslotloadCD.pdf or iMac_early2001.pdf.
Robert

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I was wondering if anyone can help me with this problem. I am trying to watch a trailer from apple.com. When the trailer screen opens it's white with a faded quicktime logo with a question mark on it in the middle. I know this has been asked a lot, but nothing posted has worked. I don't have firefox or mozilla so those suggestions didn't work. Someone said to delete the .plist file but I don't even know what that is! I have unchecked the flash media in the setting and that didn't work either. Please help me!!!!

i am experiencing exactly the same problem which has occured since the Quicktime Security update which was put out in the past few days. all flash type video from websites like www.nytimes.com are no longer working. i have tried the MIME solution suggested on Dec 22 but this has not solved the problem.
macbook pro Mac OS X (10.4.5)

HT1310 I have a macbook pro about 4 years old. I can't get it to open past the flashing question mark folder. However, I just tried to hold down the option key and the question mark disappeared. Still, nothing...the light is on the screen but nothing e

I have a 4 year old macbook pro and when I turn it on, the screen and fan come on but there is a flashing question mark folder that appears. Nothing beyond that point....help?

There is no installed OS or you have a dead hard drive. Start by booting from the original installer disc that came with the computer or an installer disc that has a later version than the original such as a Snow Leopard DVD. Then you can do this:
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Boot from your Snow Leopard 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 Utilities menu. 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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
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2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
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.
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What does the flashing question mark mean

I turned my computer on and a blue screen came up with a flashing question mark in a folder. Please Help!

It means the computer cannot find a startup volume. Please carefully read
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440

The dreaded question mark

Hey Peeps,
I think I've read every thread & tried every scenario pertaining to the "?" & still cannot get QT files to play, not flash files. I use XP Pro at work, but use a Mac at home. I'm trying to view movies I built at home and put up on an iWeb site with my work machine. The files are 3.6 mb H.264 & still get the question mark. I've unchecked the flash options for MIME & browser, & I did update my flash player. I can view all the flash content on You Tube. I have the latest ver of QT on my work machine as well. Any ideas?
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Steve
iMac G5 2.1 Ghz isight refurb 1.5 gb ram iMac G4 800 mhz Mac OS X (10.4.4) XP Pro at work

I tried this and it's working, but as I said, it's been sporadic so we'll just have to wait and see. Hope it helps you.
New! Re: Quicktime question mark
Posted: Nov 18, 2007 5:26 AM in response to: Razvan Zamfir
Reply Email
I did this and it worked perfect:
I found this helpful solution on another mac forum. Hope it helps.
1) Open the folder Macintosh HD/Users/your_user/Library/Preferences
2) In this folder, search the file com.apple.quicktime.plugin.preferences.plist
3) Open it with Textedit
4) Search for this string (without the quotes) "<key>application/x-shockwave-flash</key>"
5) On this section, change the "<true/>" string to "<false/>" (without the quotes)
6) Save and quit Textedit
7) Relaunch Safari and ENJOY!!!!

The Case of the Mysterious Question Mark...

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