HT204323: If a flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

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clay-dough
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Nothing happens when I hold down command and R. What should I do?

Nothing happens when I hold down the command and R keys at the same time. What else can I do?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 17, 2016 6:31 AM

by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended
Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit
Level 10 (119,760 points)
Apple Watch
A:

If your Mac is running v10.6.8 as your profile indicates ...

 

Command + R  (internet recovery) only works on Macs running v10.7 Lion or later.

 

If you see a flashing question mark when you startup your Mac, shut down your Mac wait ten seconds then restart while holding down the Option key. That should launch the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk then click Restart.

 

If the startup disk is grayed out, it's possible the drive is failing or has failed.

Posted on Aug 17, 2016 6:34 AM

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clay-dough

Q: Nothing happens when I hold down command and R. What should I do?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 17, 2016 6:34 AM in response to clay-dough
    Level 10 (119,760 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 17, 2016 6:34 AM in response to clay-dough

    If your Mac is running v10.6.8 as your profile indicates ...

     

    Command + R  (internet recovery) only works on Macs running v10.7 Lion or later.

     

    If you see a flashing question mark when you startup your Mac, shut down your Mac wait ten seconds then restart while holding down the Option key. That should launch the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk then click Restart.

     

    If the startup disk is grayed out, it's possible the drive is failing or has failed.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 17, 2016 6:34 AM in response to clay-dough
    Level 9 (55,668 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 17, 2016 6:34 AM in response to clay-dough

    Do you have the original DVDs that shipped with your Mac? If you do use them.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 17, 2016 7:46 AM in response to clay-dough
    Level 9 (69,659 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 17, 2016 7:46 AM in response to clay-dough

    More information would help. Are you doing command - R during a restart? What OS version are you using? What type of computer? How old is the computer? What is the computer doing that makes you try command - R?