The dreaded blinking folder

ok, here's the story. my wife's mac mini (brand new) locks up and it for a force shut down. I start it up again and it comes up (after about a minute) with the dreaded blinking blue question mark saying that it can't find the system folder. there is a CD in the drive (an Office 2004 CD), and when I try to eject it during startup (holding down the mouse button) I get no dice.
I'm running out of options. I even tried opening up in the Open Fire terminal mode, but when i say to eject CD it locks up.
HELP!

I don't think there's an option to force-eject using a paperclip - no little hole!
Todd, when you try and force an eject with the mouse button down during startup, do you hear any sound - anything like the Mac is trying to eject it and then gives up, or doesn't it even try?
Since the mini won't start up, and thus you can't get to the desktop to eject the CD that way, try holding the option key down during startup. This should force the mini to start up and give you the option to select a startup drive. It'll be really slow doing so, but you should see a grey screen with an icon with the label of your mini's hard drive. Select that, let the system start up and then seee if the system will start. If it does, open the startup disk preference pane and select the mini's drive.

Similar Messages

Help: Got the dreaded grey folder with question mark

Hey folks,
I was working in Chrome on my 13" mid-2010 MacBook Pro running OSX10.6.8, plugged in the mains charger and instantly had an unusual (not the beachball- the daisy from start-up and shut-down) freeze-up of the computer. I couldn't force quit and so shut the computer down using the power button (something I have done perhaps four times in its life-time).
On start up I got the dreaded flashing grey folder with question mark and know that this is serious. Last week I had a half hour with the U, I and O keys not working and that despite being very, very nice to my machines and repairing permissions and not unduly installing rubbish.
So I have inserted the start up disk for the MacBook Pro to see if I could use Disk Utility. And got it started (unusually load "whirring" too but I attribute this to heat) and Disk Utility cannot find the disk to repair permissions.
Now- from what I understand it means the hard drive is gone, right? Anything that can be done to save it (I cannot afford a new one)?
If not- how do I get the bits of data on there which I had yet to back up? CAN I?
Please and thank you.

So I fitted a new 500GB solid state drive from Samsung (easy enough- only a few screws on the lid, four screws holding it down and four more for the "pins" to hold it in place) but now, when I start up (bearing in mind that the install disk is stuck inside)- I get the Apple logo, then the daisy clock and then, woe is me, the "no entry" sign and eventually the install disk kicks in only to reveal that there is no hard drive to install to. Disk Utility and Start Up Disk both do not recognise it.
Any ideas what I can do, given that it is not rocket science to install one of these, given there is just one cable to connect and the rest is just to keep it in place?

The Dreaded Blinking Question Mark

About a month ago I started having a recurring problem of the computer freezing upon waking from sleep.
Each time I restarted it by holding the power button, and each time I would get the blinking question mark over the folder.
I replaced the PRAM battery and it didn't fix the problem.
I bought the latest version of Disc Warrior, ran it and it said that everything was fine. Still the problem persisted.
Finally, I popped in the Apple utility disc and it said that there were problems with the disc, but didn't fix them.
Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Wake from sleep problems are on the MDD are common when USB PCI cards are installed. If you've installed such a card, try disconnecting everything from it and see if things get better.
If your PRAM battery is more than three years old, or your computer has been unplugged from the wall for extended periods, you should replace the battery.

The mother of all blinking folder/question mark posts.

So here's another question mark/blinking folder post, only I've narrowed things down quite a bit. Let's start from the top.
Powermac G4 quicksilver won't boot, and will only show the infamous blinking folder icon.
-unplugged keyboard and mouse
-unplugged SCSI interface
-unplugged CD drive
-tested memory, all ok
-changed slot RAM uses
-booted with X held down
-booted with C held down
-booted with SHIFT held down
-booted with Option held down (brought up screen with two buttons, but no bootable devices)
-Cleared PRAM
-Cleared NVRAM
-Replaced battery
All of the usual tasks and no results. Dead drive, right? Nope. It won't boot through the HD, or any normally bootable CDs, but when I access Open Firmware (Control+Z), I'm able to view all of the HD's contents (dir hd:\) and all of the contents from whatever CD I put in there (dir cd:\). As it can read from both, but will boot from neither, I'm now thinking it has something to do with the main board.
Has anyone else exhausted the blinking folder issue to the point I have, and still found results somehow? I'll be hooking it up to another mac via firewire tomorrow, but the unbootable CD makes me think that's not the solution. Any ideas on where to go from here? It's way out of warranty by the way.
Thanks in advance for your time everyone!

Hi-
Welcome to Discussions!
Next step, download a copy of the Apple Hardware test, and burn it to CD. I know, your QS isn't cooperating, so I hope you have access to another Mac.
http://www.info.apple.com/support/aht.html
Hopefully the machine will run the AHT fine, and you can run a hardware test. I'm hoping not, but could be the ATA controller on the MOBO.
BTW- you didn't mention booting into single user and running fsck. See what that results in. Startup holding command+s. After the prompt type +/sbin/fsck -fy+ (that is a space between fsck and -fy). Press Return, and see what happens:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Can't startup blinking folder question mark

There are similar questions in these forums, but my situation is different. My MacMini froze and I had to press the power button on it to restart it. I get the folder with the blinking question mark. I do not have any disks in the drive. I have not installed any new operating systems for at least a year. No external drives connected. I shut off and started the Mac Mini yesterday with no problems.
I tried the Enter/Return key; no response. I restarted and tried the Command-Option-P-R to reset the P-Ram; got the same blinking folder question mark. I restarted and tried the Command-Option-O-F also. I just keep getting the same blinking folder question mark.
So, if anyone has any suggestions, I will sure appreciate it!

It turns out that my SATA just wen't dead. I've been experiencing several power outages while my iMac still is running. I also noticed months ago that whenever I verify disk permission there are some stuff that is beyond repair and it shows red. I just ignore it thinking that it will go away and the inevitable happened. Good thing though I just have a few gigabytes of photos taken months back I had a full backup on all the docs that I have. I tried resurrecting my Western Digital 160GB SATA using Spinrite V6 but to no avail. BIOS from Windows can't even mount the drive. I've given it up. I still have a one last hope though to bring the dead drive to a data recovery company. And hope that they can replace the SATA board or the mechanical part with a new one on a clean room and recover what they can for a fee.
Is there any hint when a drive is about to fail? I did experience frequent hangings and endless spinning beachball from time to time also some weird sound that seems my hard drive is about to blast by spinning profusely for no apparent reason.
My 160GB SATA drive is about 5 years old. Is this the regular lifespan of SATA drives? Should I replace it every say 3-4 years? I've been using it almost everyday from Monday to Saturday. I'm considering buying a drobo so I can dump all my files without worries of being burn again by a terrible Hard Disk Crash!!!
I've re installed everything on my imac using the new 500GB SATA. Good thing that everything was fine except for the SATA Drive. I've bought an AVR and 500VA APC (Power Backup incase of Power Outage) so that I could prevent it from happening again. Also do you have any idea what brand of SATA is the quietest the most silent? Thanks for your help.
Message was edited by: besprenbrian

At start up I get a white screen then eventually a blinking folder icon with a question mark in the middle

Help! As of today, my iMac will not boot up. When I turn it on I get a blank white screen then, after about a minute, a blinking folder icon with a question mark in the middle.

Find your original install disk, insert it and re-boot holding the "C" key during startup. It will take longer but should boot. Then you need to select Disk Utilityfrom the Menu Bar. Do a Repair Disk on your hard drive. When it finishes re-boot normally.

MacBook Pro won't boot at start. I get a white screen with a blinking folder with a question mark in the middle. Any ideas?

MacBook Pro won't boot at start. I get a white screen with a blinking folder with a question mark in the middle. Any ideas?

Read this article...
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

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.

CI********C13 is the serial no. Mac book pro. Blinking folder unable to connect the hard drive why?

CI********C13 is the serial no. Mac book pro. Blinking folder unable to connect the hard drive why?
<Personal Information Edited by Host>

That means that a valid startup disk can't be found.
A flashing question mark or globe appears when you start your Mac - Apple Support
Your startup disk could be corrupted, the disk failed, or poor connections
Reset the SMC and NVRAM
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
About NVRAM and PRAM
Try booting to Recovery and repairing the HD
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
Next reinstall the OS if Disk Utility in Recovery can see the HD
OS X Yosemite: Reinstall OS X
If the HD can be found check the connection. Next replae tthe HD
Last:
Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

My Intel iMac only shows a blinking folder with a question mark when powering it up. What can I do besides running the hardware test of the original installer disc.

My Intel iMac only shows a blinking folder with a question mark when powered up.
I did run the hardware test of the original installer disc and no trouble was found and I am out of options. Does anybody have any advice what to do next

If the drive shows errors then repair, if after the 3rd pass of Repair Disk in Disk Utility it still shows errors it's telling you it's time to be replaced. Take it to your local Apple Store or AASP for repair, when it comes back use your backup (either Time Machine or bootable clone) to restore so you can pick up where you left off.

Can the path to the iTunes Music folder be locked?

I'm trying to simplify the results of my own occasional user error.
Can the path to the iTunes Music folder be locked?
I have my library stored on an external drive that I keep turned off when not in use. If I accidentally start iTunes with that drive off, it recreates the original iTunes Music folder and directs itself there.
Can that behavior be stopped? It seems like there should be a way for iTunes to send a pop up or something, rather than this automated over ride to manual settings.

Yeah, I know I don't have an end of the world scenario here.
But just remounting the drive doesn't do it. I have to go back into iTunes and reset the folder location. Then wait several minutes as it all reorganizes itself.
I know just leaving the drive on is the easiest answer. It causes too much of a domestic dispute about all the blinking boxes I have running all the time. I have convinced her that the green one on the AEBS has to be on if she wants internet.

HELP I'm getting a blinking folder with a question mark at start up? Have been trying to fix this for 3 hours and I dont want to lose all my files by resetting it completely!!

I currently have Mavericks but my original OS X disk that I have I'm pretty sure is Mac OS X 10.6.6. I'm not great with computers but am usually able to fix problems I have had with mine in the past. I have reinstalled and reset my computer to factory settings before, but I am locked out of my computer completely & can't get to my files to save them & I really dont want to lose them. I was in Safari earlier opening a file, the page started to not respond & froze up my whole desktop so I did a hard shutdown & restarted my computer. I haven't been able to get back into my account ever since. If my only choice is to lose my files & reinstall everything, I need detailed instructions because I actually attempted to do this at first, out of desperation to fix my computer & the installer was asking me to select what disk I wanted to reinstall lion to yet I dont have a disk for that nor do I know what it exactly is asking of me? Please help

Question (?) Mark, Blinking Folder, or Gray Screen at Startup
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 or globe appears when you start your Mac
Mac OS X- Gray screen appears during startup
In most cases the problems may be caused by one or more of these:
a. Problem with the computer's PRAM - See Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.
b. Boot drive's directory has been corrupted - Repair with Disk Utility.
c. Critical system files are damaged or deleted - Reinstall OS X.
d. The disk drive is physically non-functional - Replace the hard drive.
Note that the information I have provided is what Apple recommends, If other users suggest different solutions than found here, then be sure what they recommend does not impact on your warranty, if any, or ability to get continuing Apple service.
Please don't start removing drives or changing cables unless you know what you are doing and have exhausted other non-invasive alternatives outlined here. If you perform any work yourself that is unapproved by Apple, then you will void any warranty you may have and lose all further Apple Support.
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
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.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
The main difference if you are using Lion or Mountain Lion is that you must first boot from the Recovery HD. Simply boot from the Recovery HD to perform the above.
Reinstall Snow Leopard Without Erasing The drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
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.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
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.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
Reinstalling Lion/Mountain Lion Without Erasing The Drive
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.
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. 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 main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

Not solved with Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive

Before asking, I found someone had asked exact the same question, but that was actually an unsolved thread.
Re: Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive to try to restore to Factory Settings
Level 1(0 points)sdc3gJul 5, 2013 6:24 PM Re: Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive to try to restore to Factory Settings
Re: Blinking Folder with Question Mark after Erasing Hard Drive to try to restore to Factory Settings
in response to Niel
Thanks for the reply, held command+R again and it is trying to pick up WiFi, but it's not picking up my network and won't accept the password even when I try to put it in manually. Any thoughts on that?
Me too had tried the command+R and failed to manually connect to my network. Can anyone help?

Well, it was solved. I shifted to other place and tried other WIFis. One of the WiFi had the 2002f problem and another was fine, so the reinstall worked smoothly eventually.
On the apple support page it says that Supported network configurations and protocols includs both WPA/WPA2, not matter what they are, but it might not be true.

Blinking folder with question mark and a new hard drive: also installing Mountain Lion and 0 with a line through it appears please help?

Okay so my harddrive failed in my 13" Macbook I used to have a WD scorpio black 250 gb for a while. I upgraded to a WD scorpio black 500 gb 7500 rpm hard drive. Okay so I installed the harddrive and ran my friends startup disc to learn that grey face discs are specific to that computer. The start up disc ran fine (minus the error stating it could not install OSX because its specific to another computer) and I looked in disc utility after installing the new harddrive and it said verified. I lost my startup disc and did not have another one. Using a friends mac I created a bootable USB drive with mountain lion on it, I plug it in and it comes up and when I choose to start up on the harddrive a 0 with a line going throguh it appears. If I do not start up with the USB or my friends startup disc then a blinking folder with a question mark appears. So my question is what could the problem be if a startup disc runs on a new WD harddrive and says under disc utility that its verified but the 0 with a line through it appears after I try to boot it with a flash drive containing mountain lion? WHats the issue here im completely lost now

Sounds like some sort of power issue and now your drive is not working.
You'll have to take this to Apple for repair.
You should read this if you don't have recent backups of your data off the machine.
My computer is not working, is my personal data lost?

My Mac book pro turns on with a grey screen with a blinking folder question mark. Help!

My bag carrying my computer fell on the ground as I was entering a cab. I checked my computer immediately for damage and it seemed to work fine. After about an two hours, I went back to my computer and it had a black screen and was getting very hot. I held the power button down and it restarted only to have a grey screen with a blinking folder + a question mark. I've already looked on the forums, and I don't have the CDs with me as I am traveling, and I don't have much backed up.
I appreciate any advice provided.
Thank you!

Hey peawok,
The following document goes over troubleshooting steps for when you encounter a folder with a flashing question mark during startup:
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
Welcome to Apple Support Communities!
Take care,
Delgadoh

The dreaded blinking folder

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