Two iMac G4 with flashing Questions marks at start up

I purchased two iMac G4's from a University surplus sale. One is an 800 mhz 17 inch and the other is a 700 mhz 15 inch. I tried to install leopard on both of them to no avail. I read that in order to install leopard I would have to reformat the hard drives. I did and still no luck. The computers didn't come with the original start up disks, so now there is no operating system on them. Is there a way to get replacement disks and boot them from those disks? I don't want to buy a retail version, I just want some replacement ones. Any ideas?

Hey briguy,
I tried to install leopard on both of them to no avail. I read that in order to install leopard I would have to reformat the hard drives. I did and still no luck
Is that a retail installer you're using?
Both of those machines are below min specs for Leopard but it can be done:
http://www.lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/unsupported.html
and Leopardassist:
http://www.mac.profusehost.net/leopardassist/
You'll want to bump the RAM up as much as possible since Leopard likes RAM.
Richard

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Help with FLASHING QUESTION mark when starting the mac

Hi All,
My mac just froze,i had to do force shut down,when i restarted it i had the flashing question mark.Did all the instruction that are given in the site:restarting with the installation CD and then using the *disc utility*-BUT i could not find the hard drive that i need to do the "repair disc " on.So i did what the document said and i reset the PRAM-still my hard drive does not show up in the disc utility.I also tried to reset the SMC but again -same result.
please please try and help me,is my HD doomed? is there anything else i should try?

I have the exact same problem.
Today, when I turned my macbook on, it was so slow, that I decided to restart it. When I turned it on again, I got the folder with a questionmark in it on the display. Tried to put the installer CD in, but it couldn't find the HDD. Ran the Disk Utility, which said: "Invalid node structure" and "Invalid record count".
I think the HDD is "destroyed", because it makes strange sounds. But how? And why?
The Macbook isn't even a year old.
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What does a flashing question mark on a blank screen mean web starting up?

Follow the procedures in this support article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Ciao.

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iMac won't turn on. Only a clicking sound and a grey folder with flashing question mark.
Help.

Your iMac is actually turning ON as proven by the grey folder with the flashing question mark.
The flashing question mark indicates that your system is unable to find a bootable volume. The clicking sound that you hear is probably coming from your hard drive while it tries to recalibrate. I suspect your hard drive has failed.
What model imac do you have? If it's under warranty I suggest taking it in for service. Hopefully you've been maintaining a regular backup of your data as all users should. I lost my data once and it was a valuable lesson. I back up regularily now.
If your iMac came with install disks then you can boot from them, choose your language when asked, then pull down the Utilities menu to launch the Disk Utility application. The Disk Utility application will allow you to verify whether your hard drive has an issue. Usually a clicking sound, assuming it's coming from the hard drive, is a sign of a bad hard drive.
If your system has Lion installed then you can hold down the Command and R keys when you restart the system, then launch the Disk Utility application from the menu that appears.

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You're MacBook Pro can't find a bootable device.
Which version of OS X are you running and which model MacBook Pro do you have?
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There are a few things that cause this, I've found.
Sometimes it's because the email includes images in a format that Mail doesn't like, but it can also be because the attached graphics had their names changed (or were deleted completely) by an outgoing- or incoming-mail virus scanner, or because the graphics weren't really included in the email, but were really just HTML links to images stored on a web site somewhere, and the site has gone down or moved the images.
You can usually tell which has happened by looking at the message's attachments. If there aren't any attachments, then either they've been deleted or stripped from the message, or the message points to dead Internet links.
If there are attached files, you can look at them to see if they have names that look funny (e.g., many virus programs add the word "DEFANGED" to file names), and might have been changed. Also see if they come up with the right icon (Picture icon saying JPEG, GIF, BMP, or PNG, usually). If they're just plain white generic file icons, then they might be something that your computer can't read.
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Getting a flashing folder with a question mark when starting Imac.

I got this flashing folder with a question mark on it when starting my Imac this morning. Im running on Osx 10.6. I put it in target disc mode and connected it to my macbook pro. I opened the disc utility app on the macbook and found my imac. I "verified" it and found an error. When I clicked "repair" the disc utility app froze and crashed. When I opened it again my Imac didn't show up. I've restarted both computers several times with no luck. Whats my next step?

Hi.
Try restarting your iMac while holding down the option (alt) key until the spinng gear appears. You should momentarily be presented with a list of startup drives to select.
Choose Macintosh HD (your normal startup disk drive) and click the right-arrow.
When your iMac boots, go to System Preferences > Startup Disk and again select your normal startup disk. Then click Restart.
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Hello, I have an iMac 9,1 and it recently booted with a grey screen and a flashing question mark. My HDD made a very loud ticking noise, which to my knowledge and people on Google, the HDD is basically dead. No big deal. I purchased and replaced the HDD myself, no more ticking but I still get the same screen. I put in my OSX installer DVD and it spits it back out. Tried holding C on start up, same thing. I tried reseting the PRAM and SMC, no luck. Can't boot into safe mode nor the start up manager. I just get a blank screen with the cursor that I can move around, that's it.
However, I was also to boot the Apple Hardware Test through the 2nd CD that came with my installer by holding D on start up. Ran the test, no hardware errors found. I've tried so many things such as the ones listed above, I tested the RAM as well and I'm stumped. Please help. Thanks.
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Linc Davis wrote:
I can boot into Target Disk mode and since my Macbook reads the OSX installer no problem, would I be able to install the OSX through Firewire?
That may work, if you have a retail (not a gray) installation disc, but the MB will then be set to boot from the iMac's drive. You'll need to reset the startup disk in the Startup Disk preference pane on the MB.
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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 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:
Problem with the computer's PRAM - See Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.
Boot drive's directory has been corrupted - Repair with Disk Utility.
Critical system files are damaged or deleted - Reinstall OS X.
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.

Have a flashing folder with a question mark on start-up but cannot hold option as wireless keyboard won't connect, how do I get it to connect if I cannot turn on the machine?

Hello all, I've registered here because I can't work out how to get my keyboard and mouse to connect.
The issue is that when I turn my mid-2010 iMac on it doesn't load up, but instead shows a flashing folder with a question mark. I've Googled this and have some idea how to fix it, the first step in all guides to fixing the problem states that you should hold the option key upon start-up. The problem I'm having is that I've just had to change the batteries on my keyboard and mouse and they are now not connecting. I can't see how to get the keyboard and mouse connected with the Mac stuck on the flashing folder screen, and I can't get the Mac past said screen without using the keyboard. Does anyone know how I can connect the two devices?
Thanks.

The flashing folder with the ? mark indicates that a bootable system can't be found. You'll need to borrow a wired keyboard so you can boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down). From there you can reinstall the system and try a normal reboot.

Mac Pro wont book, getting folder with flashing question mark icon

I opened up Disk Utility but it only shows one of my two hard drives. I'm guessing it's toast. But before I go buy a new one, is there any value in going into an apple store and see what they can do?

I have the same problem with my brand new Mac Pro. from the start, upon bootup, i see a flashing folder with a question mark. I've already sent this Mac back for service. I believe the problem may have something to do with the airport card i had installed. something about the OS trying to find the wireless network...i'm not savy at this, by any means and hope we both resolve this issue. Do you an airport card installed?
I guess I'll be calling tech support again.
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Macbook has the folder with flashing question mark

Yesterday as I was watching Netflix my Mac froze. I was skipping around an episode and then started opening a folder to do something else while it loaded and then it just froze. I thought maybe I was clicking on too many things at once or whatever and it got screwed up a bit so I closed it for a minute or two. When I opened it back up it had a (light) blue screen that wouldn't go away so I shut it down with the power button. Then when I turned it back it just had a white/gray screen for like a minute before the folder with the flashing question marked appeared.
I've googled possible solutions but nothing seems to work. It won't boot up in safemode. One answer suggested trying to do comm-opt-P-R (can't remember what that was trying to do) and that didn't work. The screen would just go black and then start up over and over. When I just press the opt-key it takes me straight to Internet recovery. However, none of the options available work. I don't have the TimeMachine thing, I don't have a disk to reload the Lion software, and there's nothing to click on at all in the disk utility. All that's available in that is a disk0 and the Mac OS X Base System and I can't click on First Aid/Erase/Partition/Restore. I've opened up the startup disk and there's nothing that shows up.
Is there something else I can try at home or should I just go ahead to the apple store? My Mac is under a year old still, but I spilled soda on it back in like October and had to get all the parts replaced so I don't know if that would do anything to the warranty....And if something does have to get replaced will I lose all my stuff? It was bad enough losing four months worth of data, I don't want to lose seven.
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As long as the parts were replaced by someone authorized to do the repairs, you should still be fine. This error indicates that they computer isn't able to find a disk to boot to.
The "disk" to reload Lion is that internet recovery (also can be launched from command + r).
Seeing as how you don't have the startupdisk in Disk Utility, I would recommend getting it into a store to see why that drive isn't detected. It could be something as simple as a loose SATA cable, or as catastrophic as complete hard drive failure. While you're at the store, I'd look into investing in an external drive to start running Time Machine...

Two iMac G4 with flashing Questions marks at start up

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