What does a folder with a question mark mean?

When starting up my computer I get a folder with a question mark inside. How can I fix this problem?

There are four general causes of this issue:
1. The computer's PRAM no longer contains a valid startup disk setting when there aren't any problems with the disk itself. This can be checked for by pressing the Option key and seeing if the drive appears.
2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
3. Critical system files have been deleted. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to reinstall them.
4. The internal drive has died or become unplugged. This is the most likely case if the computer took a sharp impact or there are unusual sounds coming from the hard drive's location.
(67155)

Similar Messages

  • What does the folder with a question mark mean?

    When I power on my black Macbook a white screen appears with a folder with a question mark flashing. what does the folder with a question mark mean? I just replaced the hard drive. When I put the install disc in the cd drive makes a very loud whirring noise then eventually the disc pops back out. Any ideas?

    You will need to reinstall:
    Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
    Do the following:
    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 the Combo Updater for the version you prefer from support.apple.com/downloads/.

  • What does a folder and a question mark mean?

    Upon booting up I am seeing a small folder icon and then a question mark, but after they flash on screen the computer boots up as always. I am having trouble getting my 2nd HD to mount, but that was an issue before the folder and question mark.

    It means that your computer isn't finding the system folder where it expects it to be. Once it scans it eventually finds a working system and continues the boot process. As stated before make sure your startup drive is selected in the startup disk preference pane. If you're having trouble getting drive 2 to mount you should first try disk utility to repair the disk.

  • What does a triangle with an exclamation mark mean?

    In Photos I see a thumbnail. When I click to see it alone I get a black screen with a triangle with an exclamation mark in it...what is going on?

    Apply the two fixes below in order as needed: 
    Fix #1
    Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
    Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
    Fix #2
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
    4 - In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
    5 - Click on the Create button.
    Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments.  However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
    OT

  • Why does a folder with a question mark momentarily appear at startup?

    Hi everyone.
    Is that normal or is that indicative of potential problems to come?
    Thanks,
    Al

    Hi, Hank. What model is the old Powerbook?
    Hi eww,
    According to http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=24604, it is the PowerBook (FireWire) computer (M7572). As I understand it, this is a G3.
    If it's a Powerbook G4 (any model), that CD can't
    boot it, and in order to perform an installation on
    the Powerbook, you would have had to start the PB
    from its hard drive, insert the CD into the external
    FireWire drive, and then perform the Clean Install
    that way. I'm surprised if that was possible; the
    installer should have refused to run.
    Well, IIRC, this is indeed what I did...
    Even if it did
    run successfully, both the installed OS 9.0.4 and the
    OS 9.0.4 on the CD itself would be unable to boot the
    PB afterward, possibly resulting in exactly the
    symptoms you see now.
    ...and I think you have nailed it.
    If this is an accurate
    description of what you did and how things went, the
    solution is to obtain an appropriate OS 9 installer
    disc for the Powerbook model in question — that what
    disc that is will depend on which PB G4 model you have.
    If it's the last of the Powerbook G3's (the first PB
    that had a built-in FireWire port), it was originally
    shipped with OS 9.0.2, and a retail (not
    model-specific) OS 9.0.4 CD should boot it OK. If
    your CD is a valid one for that model, you should be
    able to boot the Powerbook to the CD now, even if the
    installation was unsucessful — unless your
    FireWire optical drive isn't bootable itself: some
    aren't. Have you ever booted the Powerbook or any
    other Mac to a CD in that drive before?
    It sounds like you are describing the situation perfectly. The OS 9.0.4 CD is what we have. I did indeed boot to a Norton SystemWorks 2.0 CD yesterday via the FireWire external drive, but I was unable to change the startup disk (so as to be able to restart the PowerBook from the HD).
    You mentioned that I probably can't boot to an OS CD via the FireWire drive, and it is true that I have not been able to do this. Before I decide on another (stupid) course of action, I'll wait until you comment.
    My next idea is (1) to start up the two Macs -- connected via FireWire -- with the PowerBook in target disk mode, (2) insert the OS 9.0.4 disk into the iMac, and (3) choose to install system software on the PowerBook ("choose volume"). Could this work?
    Thanks again,
    Hank

  • What does the icon of a folder with a question mark inside mean?

    After an overnight power outage I tried to turn on my iMac this morning, but all I got was clicking sounds and a gray full screen with the icon of a folder with a question mark inside it, blinking. (There's no tool bar that appears anywhere). What does that mean?
    I've tried unplugging the system and waiting a while before attempting another boot. Same screen.
    I recently (a month ago) upgraded to Snow Leopard from my original OS X software. Never had this sort of a problem before.The iMac was purchased around 2005 or 2006. Intel Dual Core processor.
    Thanks for any help on this.

    Thanks, Paul, for the prompt reply.Obviously, your answer isn't what I wanted to hear, but feared. When I get home tonight I'll try finding the install disk and booting from that. Fortunately, I still have a MacBook Pro that is running fine.  Incidentally, I have a Western Digital external Hard Drive that has very little, if anything on it. But since I can't open anything on the iMac, I guess I'll have to see if the install disk works before I try to figure out IF I can use that WD-External drive temporarily rather than replace the HD on the iMac. Any clues on what a replacement drive and labor runs for that sort of iMac repair?
    j

  • What does it mean when I start my computer and there is a file folder with a question mark?

    What does it mean if I start my computer and there is a file folder with a question mark blinking?

    That Disk 1/ Mac OS is the install DVD not the hard drive. Your hard drive is not recognized which would mean it's probably dead.
    For a new hard drive try Newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=380&name=Laptop-Hard-Dr ives&Order=PRICE
    Or OWC  http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
    Here are instructions on replacing the hard drive in a MacBook with a removable battery. http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45088
    Here are video instructions on replacing the hard drive on the Aluminum Unibody http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_hd/
    Here are video instructions on replacing the hard drive on the White Unibody http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbook_13_09_unibody_hd/
    If you don’t have the tools to open up the MacBook OWC has a set for $5
    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TOOLKITMHD/

  • My iMac has a white screen with a flashing file folder with a question mark in the middle.  What does that mean?

    My iMac is completely unresponsive.  Whenever I restart it, it's just a white screen with a flashing file folder with a question mark in the middle.  What does this mean?

    this means the mac cannot find the startup disc. which more times than not means you need a hdd replacement.
    try starting holding the option key, then using utilities try to repair the disc.

  • HT3964 What does a file folder with a question mark that appears upon startup?

    What does a file folder with a question mark which appears on startup mean??

    That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the Operating System data on the hard drive is somehow corrupted.
    With 10.4, 10.5 or 10.6 put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. 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. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
    Or if you are running 10.7 Lion, 10.8 Mountain Lion or 10.9 Mavericks, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7 or 10.8 partition.
    When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
    If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
    If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

  • What does a blinking file folder with a question mark indicate?

    What does a blinking file folder with a question mark indicate?  I cannot get past it or do anything with the unit.

    glamiera wrote:
    What does a blinking file folder with a question mark indicate?
    That's the firmware telling you it can't find the operating system it's been assigned to boot from.
    It could be because it forgot somehow, or the operating system is no longer there or readable or the hardware holding the operating system has failed.
    Hold the power button to force a hardware shutdown, then reboot holding the option/alt key held down on the wired or built in keyboard, icons will hopefully load on the screen and if OS X appears, click the arrow to boot from it.
    Once in OS X, head to System Preferences > Startup Disk and select your boot drive so it can remind the firmware.
    If there is no OS X boot volume, just recovery or Bootcamp (if Windows installed) then you need to perform more work.
    Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive
    To get a copy of your files off the drive.
    Step by Step to fix your Mac
    To fix your machine and find out (hardware test) if it's a hardware issue of some sort.

  • What does a file folder with a question mark in it mean when the computer won't start?

    What does a file folder with a question mark in it mean when the computer won't start?

    There are four general causes of this issue:
    1. The computer's PRAM no longer contains a valid startup disk setting when there aren't any problems with the disk itself. This can be checked for by pressing the Option key and seeing if the drive appears.
    2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
    3. Critical system files have been deleted. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to reinstall them.
    4. The internal drive has died or become unplugged. This is the most likely case if the computer took a sharp impact or there are unusual sounds coming from the hard drive's location.
    (68976)

  • My macbook pro displays a folder with a question mark on it when it turns on. What does this mean and how do I fix it?

    My macbook pro displays a folder with a question mark and won't open. What does this mean and how can I fix it?

    it means your HD and the software can't find each other, the following article tells how to troubleshoot this issue:
    https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
    hopefully you have backup of your data since sometimes this means the HD is crashing.
    if the article doesn't resolve the issue i would take the mac to apple store or service provider and have it looked at, the following link tells how to find one close to you:
    https://locate.apple.com
    good luck!!

  • What does it mean when there is a flashing file folder with a question mark when trying to start computer?

    When I try to start my computer a flashing file folder with a question mark is on the screen. I can't open anything up. What does this mean?

    There are four general causes of this issue:
    1. The computer's PRAM no longer contains a valid startup disk setting when there aren't any problems with the disk itself. This can be checked for by pressing the Option key and seeing if the drive appears.
    2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
    3. Critical system files have been deleted. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to reinstall them.
    4. The internal drive has died or become unplugged. This is the most likely case if the computer took a sharp impact or there are unusual sounds coming from its location.
    (104258)

  • TS2094 After resetting the pram, the screen only shows a folder with a question mark inside.  What does this mean?

    I followed the initial steps in this post and reset pram.  After restarting, the screen just shows a folder with a question mark.  What does this mean?

    Thanks Niel, I tried using Option and nothing happened so I next tried inserting the Leopard disc and rebooting while holding C.  Nothing happened until the disc was ejected and then the folder with question mark reappeared.  I inserted the disc again and at this point and it booted OSX.  I tried to acess disc utility to repair but my harddrive wasn't listed, only the CD drive and the OS disc.  Does this mean I'm lost everything?

  • What does it mean when i have a flashing folder with a question mark in it when i try to boot up?

    what does it mean when I have a flashing folder with a question mark in the middle of it when I try to boot the interface?

    It means the system cannot find a bootable OS. Reinstall OS X.
    How to Perform an Archive and Install
    An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
    1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
    Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
    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 Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) 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. Now restart normally.
    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. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
    3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
    4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
    5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
    6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

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