Use a G5 startup DVD on iBook G4? (Blinking question mark)

I recently tried installing Leopard on my iBook G4 (which currently runs Tiger 10.4.11); it was my brother's software disk and he already had it installed on his computer, so it wouldn't let me - I learned the hard way.
I attempted multiple times to boot and install from the install DVD, but it would usually freeze or crash, so I gave up the effort.
Now whenever I turn on my iBook, i briefly get the screen of a folder with a blinking question mark in it. Then after a few seconds, the Apple logo shows up and the computer boots normally. Everything seems fine, but that blinking question mark screen bothers me. I'd like to restore the system software, but I don't have the install discs.
I DO have the software restore discs for my iMac G5, which also runs Tiger (10.4.11). Can I use this to restore the software? Is it a "universal" version of OSX 10.4 suitable to run on a G4, or is specially tailored for the G5?
I bought the iBook used, so there were no install discs, which worries me. But if I can use the discs that came with my G5 to at least perform restore duties, that'd be good.

Check the setting in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
(53439)

Similar Messages

My iBook Shows blinking question mark

I know that this has been posted before, but this is a little different. I tried going to the Startup Manager by holding Option, but my hard disk vanished. I cannot see it in the startup manager. This has happened before, and I don't know what i did to fix it. Both times I left the lid up overnight because I was installing software. Please help me. Thank you in advance.

If the S.M.A.R.T. status says the hard drive is failing, then it is. You need to save as much of your data as possible to another location and have the hard drive replaced.
The iBook is considered end-of-life as far as Apple is concerned, but a few Apple Authorized Service Providers will still repair them. However, the repair is likely to cost more than buying a used MacBook, and the speed increase of a MacBook over an iBook is really astounding.

Blinking question mark and folder on startup

Hi everyone,
I'm in need of some help. I turned on my mac today and got a gray screen with a little folder icon and a blinking question mark in the center. I'm on a G4 running OS X Tiger. I'm trying to boot using the startup disk but here's the problem, I have an external dvd drive connected by firewire, so the only way I can startup the Tiger dvd is from that external dvd drive. I put the dvd in (only my monitor, mouse, keyboard and the dvd drive are plugged in), restarted, pressed 'c' got the installer menu, went to disk utility but the only hardrive it shows is for my dvd drive (2.6GB LaCieGroup SA) and the icon of the dvd underneath, it does not show the macs hardrive.
I don't know what to do can someone please help are there any other options?
Thanks
Chris

Hi Chris99,
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Regrets you're experiencing difficulty.
In the absence of any additional details about your scenario, here are my two cents.
The folder icon with blinking question mark implies that your Mac fails to recognize its internal hard drive as a bootable device.
Further, Disk Utility fails to recognize your Mac's internal hard drive.
One possiblity is that your internal hard drive's ribbon cable has come loose. You can test this by opening the G4's case and playing with the cable.
Another possibility is that the hard drive's ribbon cable is defective. You can test this by using another ribbon cable.
A third possibility is that the hard drive has stopped functioning properly. If you have another Mac, you can test this by connecting the G4 to the other Mac using a Firewire cable, then cold boot the other Mac, then cold boot the G4 while pressing the T key. If the G4's hard drive fails to display on the other Mac's desktop, this would support the third possibility. You also can test this by using a third-party hard drive repair utility (Tech Tool Pro; DiskWarrior; Drive Genius).
If you live near to an Apple Store or authorized Apple service shop, you could bring your G4 to a technician there and request a diagnosis.
Hope this helps.

PowerMac G5: Blinking question mark at startup

I have a 3 1/2 year old G5. When I boot it up, it goes straight to the blinking question mark. I've reset the PRAM, no change. I've tried booting off an installation disk. That gets me to the Apple logo, then the logo pixels go kinda funky and it freezes. I don't hear the hard drive at all during this process; it does not spin up. The CD/DVD drive is obviously spinning, but as I said, it won't boot off an installation disk (I tried three different disks).
I'm assuming the hard drive is bad, but I don't know. I've never had a problem with a Mac before! Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't think of a 3.5 year old Mac as being that old, but I'm a bit nervous about dropping a new hard drive in and wondering if I should just get a new system.
ETA: I have disconnected all peripherals and restarted, and that made no difference.
Message was edited by: Stacia Seaman

I'm having this same problem with a system I just replaced a logic board in. Won't boot off of HD or CD. The HD that is in it is a brand new drive from a different power-mac (the HD from the dead box was moved to the new powermac to get that user back online) so it should be ok, but regardless of that, it won't boot of CD/DVD either.
I guess I don't have anything useful to add. Just a "you're not alone with this problem". If I come across anything that helps, I'll let you know.

Blinking question mark folder icon on startup (but not always!)

I recently obtained a new hard drive (Western Digital 80gb) and installed the Mac OS on a 500 mhz Cube; the DVD drive was not recognized but I removed the jumper on the drive pins rendering the disc a master and finally, the DVD drive was found so that I could perform the OS install. The problem is that if I start up the Cube after a long period of time having been OFF (e.g., 5 hours) there is the blinking question mark folder (Mac OS logo alternates with question mark). After 3-4 minutes, the startup disc is finally located. Now, if I do a cold restart a few minutes later, there is NO problem on startup. My startup issue always occurs after a longer period of time with the Cube having been OFF. There is a new battery installed, permissions are fixed, the drive checks out without problems with disc utility. What could be the problem?

Probably your PRAM battery is gone. This stores information such as your preferred startup disk. I know you said you put in a new battery but have you actually tested it? The computer being off for several hours really, really sounds like a bad battery. Also check the terminals both on the battery and in the machine aren't corroded and it is seated correctly.
[Texas Mac Man's PRAM, battery, PMU tutorial|http://www.geocities.com/texas_macman/pram.html]
[Apple's PRAM reset directions|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238]
If you have a digital multimeter you can check the condition of your present battery. It should read at least 3.2V if it is the 3.6V half-AA battery type. Ideally this should be measured while the battery is under load; added recommendation from Hans777:
I have recently found out that an exhausted battery will still indicate >3.6 V with a high internal resistance VM.
Checking incircuit: powercord disconnected press PMU reset button for >about 5 sec before measuring.
Checking outside: load the battery with a 1500 Ohm resistor when measuring.
[Resetting Cuda/PMU on Power Mac G5, Power Mac G4, Power Macintosh G3|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86760]
Message was edited by: Limnos

HT1553 I did the back up as instructed... Installed a larger hard drive and followed the restore instructions... Now I get a white screen with a folder icon and blinking question mark. When trying to set startup with new drive I get a bless tool error...

I did the back up as instructed... Installed a larger hard drive and followed the restore instructions... Now I get a white screen with a folder icon and blinking question mark. When trying to set startup with new drive I get a bless tool error... Help!!

If you have installed a new hard drive , you will need to have formatted it in Disk Utility correctly. This may explain your problem.
Boot into your 10.6 Install disk again at the top menubar > Utilities > select Disk utility and in there select your new hard drive, and select the tab Erase and choose to make the format as Mac OS Extended Journaled. When that is finished look in the main window to make sure that the partition map scheme says GUID Partition Table.
Now go to the Restore tab and reinstall from your backup.

I am using a licensed CS3 Chinese Version and Illustrator shows question mark on the menu bar. iMac,

I am using a licensed CS3 Chinese Version and Illustrator shows question mark on the menu bar.
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

$$$/_MBAR/Mnu showing in Menu Bar - IllustratorHints
Mylenium

Blinking question mark folder upon startup on a 2 month old Pro?

Hi I had the grey screen on my macbook pro. I tried reinstalling maverick os x, but my wifi connection got interrupted and so did the download. I now have the blinking question mark folder upon start up. What can I do since I know it's probably not a hard-drive problem?

Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)

Blinking question mark on startup - tried lots of things - advice?

Hi,
A friend called me yesterday about a two year old iMac. Got the blinking question mark on startup. So I went over, tried disc utility, but disc utility (off the iMac's install disc) could not even see the hard drive. So I tried TechTool Pro. Same result. TechTool from AppleCare disc, same result, DriveGenius, same result, start up in single user mode, same result, targeted disc mode connected to my MBP, same result, Data Recovery II, same result, connected a Mac via FireWire and started up from that and ran those same diagnostics, same result. None of those could even find - much less repair - the hard drive. It still shows a blinking question mark. It seems like all the hardware is working fine (motherboard, display, etc), except the hard drive. Any advice?
Thanks!
Russ Conte

The machine must be a G5, or it would be older than 2 years. And no AppleCare or it would be in the shop before this. The most likely cause is hard drive failure, as already stated. A fact of life is that all hard drives will fail or have failed.
You can deal with this, providing you can handle a screwdriver. Go to the support area of the Apple Website and click "Manuals" instead of discussions where you are reading this. In the block "search manuals" type "Imac Hard Drive". The next step is to select the instructions for correct machine, and download.
Cost of replacement drives depends upon capacity. One source is macsales.com.
A new drive will have to be formatted. Easy to do prior to installation by connecting to any Mac with a Universal Drive Adapter via a USB connection. That adapter is also available at macsales and other places.
Final step after installation is to install the OS hopefully from the original disks.
Good luck to you.

At startup see a folder with a question mark

At startup I see a folder with a question mark and the system will not boot. Loaded install disk but it can not find the hard drive?

Mac Said:
Additional steps
If your Mac still starts to a flashing question mark, follow the steps below. If any step resolves the issue, you don't need to continue to the next one.
Select your Mac OS X startup disk with Startup Manager by restarting and holding the Option key. After your Mac starts up, restart again to verify that the flashing question mark does not appear.
If the issue persists, insert your Mac OS X installation disc. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc.
MacBook Air note: On a MacBook Air, there are two options for starting up from Mac OS X media: Either connect a MacBook Air SuperDrive to the MacBook Air via the USB port and restart the computer, holding down the C key during startup, or use Remote Install Mac OS X to startup from a system software DVD that's located on a partner computer. Once started up from Mac OS X media, skip to step 3.
Restart the computer, then hold the C key during startup.
From the Utilities menu, choose Disk Utility. Don't click Continue.
Select your Mac OS X disk (named "Macintosh HD" by default) in the left side of the Disk Utility window.
Click the First Aid tab.
Click Repair Disk to verify and repair any issues with your Mac OS X startup disk.
After repairing the disk, try to start up normally.
Important: If Disk Utility finds issues it cannot repair, you may need to back up as much of your data as possible (or use Time Machine to back up to a different disk), then erase the disk and reinstall Mac OS X. You should back up important files and data before erasing a drive. Erasing deletes everything on the hard disk (including things on your desktop). Also, you can install Mac OS X onto an external disk, start from the external disk, and use Migration Assistant to transfer items from your usual internal Mac OS X startup disk to the external disk, then erase the internal disk and reinstall Mac OS X.
If the issue persists, and Disk Utility didn't find any irreparable issues, quit Disk Utility, quit the Installer, select your disk when prompted, and restart.
If the issue continues, reset PRAM. Note: After resetting PRAM, if the computer starts up normally, reselect the startup disk in the Startup Disk preferences.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, start up from the Mac OS X Installation disc and reinstall Mac OS X.
if none of this works but you have to format the entire disk, which is not very fun forsomeone, and if you have important data on your disk that you need, how do you do?
yes I have a solution, but I do not recommend it unless you know what you're doing,
ask a technician who is this he will help you safely, otherwise send a pm to me.
first a little info about me, I'm IT technician then a couple of years and have never beena fan of the mac, and will probably not be there, because I think that off "giant optimized"systems have no security, personally, I want the mac to be release an update so it forcing / or remind the user to backup with time machine, so no I will not get me one of your machines, enough about that, I had a client who had this problem, (ps / something allhave to remember is that all customers are idiots and do not know what a computer realy are, that is why it remains "the rule 101"!
His desk was this apoblemet, and I am recommending not to open up his mac becausethis would guarantee his disappearance, he had also no backups at something so long story short, he was fu ***,,
However, he had all his business accounts on the computer and much much more, so hemade the choice to give me permission to open up the machine, I went through all theguides that were on the Internet and Disk Utility was not helpful at all, nor disk Wari disc to start up, even when I plug in the drive as an external drive on another mac wanted itabsolutely does not come up.
However, so when I connected the disk in a PC with Windows 7, install a program thatmade it possible to see the disk in my computer but could not go into it because then it said that there was something wrong, but then I thought for a bit spruce, windows can see all unknown hard disk format "RAW" guidelines for adding, then it's just to make a RAW backup (google it) and Woll! now i have a copy of all his data, would also like to point out that this may take time, so be patient.
[would also like to point out that if you choose to open the your mac, there is great risk that your warranty disappear, do so at your own risk!],
so if you really have to have a backup of data you need the following;
a PC whit windows
a Controller that convert SATA to USB
a program that makes creating a driver for HFS + disks
a back-up software for RAW drives
and last but certainly not least, patience.
/J

Startup stuck on a Flashing Folder/Question Mark

Aloha,
I have been looking for a solution to my problem for several months now and have never found a solution.
One day my computer froze so I forced a shut down by holding the on/off button.
When I turned on the machine again the folder/question mark appeared.
I have tried all the hot keys.
Option-only shows the refresh and forward buttons but no options.
I thought my hard drive failed, so I bought a new one and installed it.
When I placed the OS DVD in to install a fresh copy I still got the flashing folder/question mark.
I don't know what to do, any suggestions?

sione wrote:
I don't know how to get to the system preferences if i can't get past the flashing folder/question mark.
Correct you'll not be able to...
The question mark appears when the boot loader cannot find a valid OS system/partition.
Here is what I would try:
1. Boot from the OSX installer by inserting the disk into the Mac then power-off. Power-on the Mac and immediately press and hold the "C-key" until you get the installer Language screen. Select your language and continue. The next screen should be the Welcome screen, go to the top and select Utilities/Disk Utilities from the tool bar. Once Disk Utilities is open select your internal (if it appears) then select the first aid tab. In the first aid pane select to run "Repair disk". If "Repair Disk" results in errors then run it again until it reports no errors found. Once "Repair Disk" is complete with no errors then press and run "Repair Permissions". Once complete reboot to test the Mac.
2. If the above does not work then try booting with the Startup Manager, by pressing and holding the "option-key" during boot. The GUI Startup Manager will appear and you can select the drive you wish to boot from.
3. Alternately press the "X-key" during boot.
4. And lastly before we give you the bad news... make sure that the mouse or track-pad button is not being pressed or stuck during system boot.
If none of these works then you most likely have a bad drive. And you'll need to replace it. You do have a back up right?
Do you have another Mac, to use for troubleshooting?

Ibook g3 can't get passed blinking question mark

I recently was given a ibook g3 dual usb because the previous owner could not get the system to startup. I first assumed the OS/HDD had failed I attempted to book from a retail tiger cd and would not boot from that either I have tried Panther/Tiger and even a OS 9.04 retail disk and no matter what the system is stuck at the blanking question mark. I have held down the Option key and the internal drive and CD do appear but when I select either of them the system just goes to the blinking icon. In Open firmware I able to browse the files on both the HDD and CD. I have also tried setting the boot-device to hd:,\\:tbxi, cd:,\\:tbxi, hd:,\System\Library\CoreServices\BootX, cd:,\System\Library\CoreServices\BootX, and the case of OS9 hd:,\System%20Folder\Mac%20OS%20ROM. I have run out of ideas so any other ideas will be useful thanks

Hi, and welcome to Apple Discussions.
Apple's suggestions for dealing with the flashing question mark can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440?viewlocale=en_US
Resetting the PRAM may help.
Good luck.

While using safari, all quicktime related stuff revealed as a question mark

just got my new macbook today. i know i have quicktime, but many webpages i have looked show parts of it with a quicktime icon and a question mark. i am sure there is something i need to reconfigure, but i cannot seem to find out where to start.

This setup should enable you to view/hear pretty much everything:
Assuming you already run OS 10.4.9 or above and have Quicktime 7.2, and are using Safari 2 or 3, download and install (or re-install even if you already had them) the latest versions, suitable for your flavor of Mac, of:
RealPlayer from http://uk.real.com/player/
Flip4Mac WMV Player from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/wmcomponents.mspx (Windows Media Player for the Mac is no longer supported, even by Microsoft)
Perian from http://perian.org/
Adobe FlashPlayer from http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1ProdVersion=ShockwaveFlash
In Quicktime Preferences, under advanced, UNcheck Enable Flash, and under Mime settings/Miscellananeous only check Quicktime HTML (QHTM).
In Macintosh HD/Library/Quicktime/ delete any files relating to DivX (Perian already has them).
Now repair permissions and restart.
The world should now be your oyster!
You should also have the free VLC Player from http://www.videolan.org/ in your armory, as this plays almost anything that DVD Player might not.

IBook G3 flashing question mark/won't boot from disc

I recently bought a used iBook, and I knew that the hard drive was bad. No big deal, just replace the HD and reinstall OS X, right? Not quite. I'm still getting the flashing question mark, and the CD won't boot. I reset the PRAM, etc. Still nothing. Held down alt/option at start up. It recognizes that the OS X disc is there, but still won't boot it. It just shows me a smiling computer with a spinning rainbow CD looking thing in the upper left corner. At this point I'm thinking it might be a failed optical drive, or the ribbon might not be seated properly (Entirely possible, since the retard that owned this before obviously took it apart at least once. Half of the screws are missing). Am I correct in this assumption, or is there something else I should be looking for?
Edit: I have 256MB of RAM, a combo drive, and am using a 10.1.3 disc.
Message was edited by: InVenereVeritas

Well, that iMac has a G3 processor and I see it's running OS X, so if you can get the iBook working, that is about what you can expect from it.
There was a later G4 processor (in iBooks and iMacs), and the end of the PowerPC iMacs had a G5 processor in them, but that processor ran too hot for a portable — a main consideration in Apple's decision to switch to Intel processors.
Surfing the web may be a trifle difficult with it, depending somewhat on the speed of your internet connection.
The MacBooks are a phenomenal improvement over the iBooks (even the iBook G4). There's no way around it — the Intel processors are just so much faster. I wince a bit when I hear someone say they're basing a future purchase decision on the performance of such an old model as this. It's simply not an accurate representation of what modern Macs are like.
Comparing Mac OS X 10.2.4 to Mac OS X 10.6.7 is a bit like comparing Windows 98 to Windows 7.

Startup Failure (Blinking Question Mark) and more.....

Hi,
I have a G4 iBook that has a problem, with the hard drive I think, but I want to see if anyone has run into this problem. A search of the board didn't yeild much. Anyway, what happens is if I boot the iBook up it will get to a small folder icon with a flashing question mark and mac face. I realize this is an indicator that the startup drive isn't found. If I pinch the lower left corner during a startup then the iBook boots properly. Has anyone seen this behavior before?
Thanks,
Steve

Hi love, I had this problem last october. When I bought my Mac it was an ex-display model with a new hard drive (August 2004). Last October 2006 I restarted my mac only for it to come up with the flashy finder folder / question mark. I was told that this means the Mac can't access the OS - apparently (not gospel!) this means that either your OS is being a bum or your hard drive has died, meaning that your mac can't access the OS 'cos obviously it's stored on your hard drive. I'm not sure how much of that is correct, however when I sent it off for repair, it came back with a new hard drive. I'd also like to say at this point that the Hardware test disk said my Hard Drive was OK but that when I connected my Mac to another Mac via firewire to try and retreive my data it could not access the hard disk.
Sorry to break the bad news to you but it's very very likely you'll need a new hard drive. I am suffering at the moment 'cos my hard drive died again about 3 weeks ago, I got it back 10 days ago and it's gone again now. I have a week before I finish my degree and all my assignments were on there! (Naturally the ones I'd done this week hadn't been backed up yet!)
Good luck with your Mac, let us know how it goes

Use a G5 startup DVD on iBook G4? (Blinking question mark)

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