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Q: Flashing question mark folder at start up. Standard solutions do nothing!

I know this is a common problem, and I have attempted most (if not all) of the usual solutions. Restarting holding various keys, etc. None of them do anything. I either continue to get the flashing folder, or (when rebooting while holding Option) a blank grey screen with just my mouse pointer. Am I out of luck here?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on May 14, 2012 11:12 PM

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Q: Flashing question mark folder at start up. Standard solutions do nothing!

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 14, 2012 11:14 PM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 10 (271,392 points)
    Desktops
    May 14, 2012 11:14 PM in response to Zipstrip

    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.

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 14, 2012 11:35 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2012 11:35 PM in response to Kappy

    Thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately I can't get my iMac to start up using the instal disc. This is when you restart while holding the C key, yes? It does nothing. The disc spins for a moment then I get the flashing folder again.

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X May 14, 2012 11:37 PM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    May 14, 2012 11:37 PM in response to Zipstrip

    Push the C key immediately after you hear the boot chime.

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 14, 2012 11:42 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2012 11:42 PM in response to X423424X

    Tried it. Still getting the folder of mystery. How precise do you have to be with the timing? Thechime is kind of echoey, so it's hard for me to judge when it's over.

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X May 15, 2012 12:00 AM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    May 15, 2012 12:00 AM in response to Zipstrip

    You hear one chime.  Push right after it.  It isn't that critical that it has to be to the microsecond.  Keep trying.  You should get the hang of it. 

     

    Note all the various boot keyboard sequences (e.g., safe boot, pram reset, etc.) are all pushed immediately after the boot chime.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 15, 2012 12:25 AM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    May 15, 2012 12:25 AM in response to Zipstrip

    Is this a useless Wireless Mouse/KB, or a USB Device?

     

    Would you happen to have set this up?

     

    Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

     

    It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 15, 2012 1:26 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:26 AM in response to BDAqua

    It's a USB keyboard/mouse. I tried waiting until after the chime to hold the option key (which is opposite to what the manual says to do, BTW) and it did give me the option to sellect the HD, but not the instal disc that was in the drive. I selectedthe HD, and the computer promptly froze up, displaying a blank grey screen. I have not gotten this to work again since. I only get the mouse pointer, with nothing to click on.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 15, 2012 1:34 AM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:34 AM in response to Zipstrip

    Could you have a Gray Install Disc froma different Mac in there?

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 15, 2012 1:39 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:39 AM in response to BDAqua

    No chance. I only own one iMac. This is the disc that came with this computer, and is the only one I have.

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 15, 2012 1:54 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:54 AM in response to BDAqua

    Scratch that. You were exactly right. What I found was the disc from an old eMac I used to have. Turns out I have no idea where the proper disc is. I admit freely that I am an idiot for not checking the disc more closely.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 15, 2012 2:34 AM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    May 15, 2012 2:34 AM in response to Zipstrip

    OK, hopefully you can find the Disc for this one, or call AppleCare withe the Serial# of this Mac about seeing if you cn get replacement original Discs.

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 15, 2012 9:01 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 9:01 PM in response to Kappy

    I have gotten the computer to boot from the instal disc, and oppened DU, as suggested. The S.M.A.R.T. status shows the drive is verified, but when I select the sub directory, the "Repair Disk" button is faded and cannot be clicked. Only "Verify Disk Permissions" and "Verify Disk" are available.

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X May 15, 2012 9:06 PM in response to Zipstrip
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    May 15, 2012 9:06 PM in response to Zipstrip

    You must have selected the wrong disk.  The only reason repair would be greyed out is if you selected the disk you booted from.

  • by Zipstrip,

    Zipstrip Zipstrip May 15, 2012 9:13 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 9:13 PM in response to X423424X

    I only have two options on the DU menu that are not the optical drive. Neither one will allow me to press the Repair button. The on-screen instructions say that if "Repair Disk" is not available, I should select "Verify Disk". This does not follow Kappy's instructions exactly, but it seems to be my only option.

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