Liane

Q: Macbook Pro chimes then displays a folder with a question mark inside, will not boot to restore disk

I have an older 15" MBP 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo (model A1150) w/2 GB RAM, which was running OS 10.6.8. I accidentally (like anyone drops their computer on purpose!) let it drop about two feet onto a hardwood floor a couple of days ago.  Not sure if that's the root of the problem - but not immediately - more like the next day, it would not boot up normally from sleep or restart.  Regardless of WHATEVER I've tried, it still boots to a folder with a question mark inside...

 

So far I have tried: 1) Resetting the PMU and the PRAM, 2) B/c it was dropped, I took apart the computer to make sure that all the connections, especially to the HDD were fine and all seemed good there, 3) Tried rebooting in 'Safe' mode. No go, same annoying question mark, 4) Tried rebooting from the Snow Leopard disc hoping to use Utilities to repair the disc and/or permissions. No go - it keep spitting out the dang disc! (This also may have to do w/the optical drive which seems a bit dicey - I got this computer from a friend on the cheap and I'm still discovering its "quirks".)  I was next going to try to swap Sata HDDs with my Macbook (which I just freshly backed-up for just this purpose) but that's a lot of work and I'm worried that if this is a motherboard issue and NOT an issue with a dead hard drive in the MBP, that I will fry my Macbook's hard drive which would be a very bad thing, obviously...Fyi, like many MBPs this one runs hot and I replaced both fans AND still had to download a freeware program called FMC Fan Control which has been really great in keeping the fans going more or less at top speed to keep this computer cool enough, so I honestly don't think this was a heat issue - but who knows?

 

Does anyone have any more input/suggestions/help to offer please?  Is the motherboard toast?? I've obviously spent Waaaaayyyy too much time on this already, but shucks!  I can't afford a new MBP!  Thanks in advance to anyone with ANY help!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 3, 2015 10:12 PM

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Q: Macbook Pro chimes then displays a folder with a question mark inside, will not boot to restore disk

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  • by Liane,

    Liane Liane Oct 3, 2015 10:20 PM in response to Liane
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    Oct 3, 2015 10:20 PM in response to Liane

    Oh yeah, I forgot... I also tried putting the MBP into Target Disk Mode.  That worked, I held down the 'T' key upon start-up and it was definitely in TDM, but I attached it by firewire to TWO different working computers and the hard drive in the MBP would NOT mount... May I just say... Aaaaarrrrghhhhh!!?? Thanks!

  • by leroydouglas,Helpful

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Nov 5, 2015 9:00 AM in response to Liane
    Level 7 (23,789 points)
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    Nov 5, 2015 9:00 AM in response to Liane

    My guess sounds like the SATA cable may need to be reseated on the HD

  • by Liane,

    Liane Liane Oct 3, 2015 10:22 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (9 points)
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    Oct 3, 2015 10:22 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Thanks for posting - what does a SATA cable look like, please? I did check all the connections to the HDD (or thought I did) when I took it apart.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 3, 2015 10:34 PM in response to Liane
    Level 7 (23,789 points)
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    Oct 3, 2015 10:34 PM in response to Liane

    While you where in there did you re-seat the RAM ?

  • by Liane,

    Liane Liane Oct 3, 2015 10:44 PM in response to leroydouglas
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    Oct 3, 2015 10:44 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Hi again, leroydouglas.  Yes, I did.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 3, 2015 11:00 PM in response to Liane
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    Oct 3, 2015 11:00 PM in response to Liane
  • by Liane,

    Liane Liane Oct 4, 2015 9:26 AM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (9 points)
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    Oct 4, 2015 9:26 AM in response to leroydouglas

    Thanks for the input leroydouglas, but I did already find this page and all of its instructions are based on having "Disk Recovery" which is only available in Lion or later, unfortunately (though I did try to boot from Command + R anyway just for the heck of it... Nothing, but the flashing question mark inside the folder again).

     

    I think rather than putting the HD from my functioning MacBook at risk by installing it into the MBP, I will reverse that and put the HD from the MBP into the MacBook and try to repair the disk that way, or failing that, at least re-install Snow Leopard from an optical drive that I know is working.  It's still a lot of work, but I don't know what else to do at this point having tried everything I've seen online (and even buggering the top case of the MBP in the process b/c I became so impatient taking it apart!).

     

    Does anyone have any other suggestions, please? Thanks in advance...

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 4, 2015 9:56 AM in response to Liane
    Level 7 (23,789 points)
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    Oct 4, 2015 9:56 AM in response to Liane

    Original install DVD pre-Lion you can boot off of,  and run DiskUtility on your older OS.

     

    Holding the C key during boot to boot directly from an inserted CD, DVD,

  • by Liane,

    Liane Liane Oct 4, 2015 9:45 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 4, 2015 9:45 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Yes, please see #4 of my original post.  I did try restarting the MacBook Pro with the original Snow Leopard disc by holding down the C key @ start-up.  I had hoped to either repair the disc and permissions from First Aid in Utilities as you say, or failing that, to re-install the OS.  But as I said, either b/c the optical drive is shot too, or b/c of something being wrong with the HD itself(?) it didn't work.  After spinning a bit the disc would just eject... repeatedly. Tx anyway.