Folder icon with question mark

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Level 1

4 points

Folder icon with question mark

I have seen numerous threads on this and everyone just tlaks about th eissue on start up and follow the recovery process. Well I don't have the issue on startup, just after a period of time and after doing the whole recovery/reinstallation process everything starts up fine, then about an hour later it reappears. I have run the Apple Diagnostics an dthe code ADP000 - No issues comes up. Can anyone else give give any clues? When it is up and running I have no usage issues, everything is fine, until the folder with the question mark comes up again. I have even done the full erase etc process by the way and I am using a Mac desktop and latest OS

Posted on Mar 28, 2020 6:35 AM

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Answer 1

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den.thed

Level 10

91,918 points

Mar 28, 2020 7:22 AM in response to SteveSDXB

What year model iMac?

see > Identify your iMac model - Apple Support

From your description, it sounds like either the drive is failing or it has a bad SATA connection.

Run EtreCheck Pro and post back with the Report to see if it gives us any leads.

see > https://apps.apple.com/us/app/etrecheck/id1423715984?mt=12

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 30, 2020 9:51 AM in response to SteveSDXB

I'd run Drive DX & see if it reports any errors.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

91,918 points

Apr 8, 2020 9:58 AM in response to SteveSDXB

Startup in Safe Mode followed by a normal restart and see if that clears up the problem.

see > How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 4

SteveSDXB Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 30, 2020 4:26 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks for responding

The Model Number is ME089B/A iMAC Model 27" late 2013

I have run the EtreCheck and the only thing it says is No Time Machine backup and Time Machine backup not found but I know that to be the case as I have tried everything including erasing the hard disk and reinstalling etc. Previous attempts included not erasing and restoring unsuccessfully so I know there were previous backups. I saved all my file on a separate hard disk. Could it be as simple as that, I doubt it

Apart from that it says to buy the Power User package. Report for "Major Issues is shown below"

Etre Check Report

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Answer 5

den.thed

Level 10

91,918 points

Mar 30, 2020 7:44 AM in response to SteveSDXB

The ADP000 code say's that no hardware issues were found.

see > Apple Diagnostics: Reference codes - Apple Support

I do not see your Time Machine backup drive in the EtreCheck Pro list of drives. Which leads me to believe that it is not connected or that either the drive or enclosure has failed.

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Answer 6

SteveSDXB Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 8, 2020 8:51 AM in response to SteveSDXB

Sorry it’s taken so long to get back on this but I’ve not been around to check it. Just run it and the “Advanced SMART Status” is ok and no issues found with overall heath rating and overall performance rating of 99.1%. So I assume that’s all ok

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Answer 7

SteveSDXB Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 8, 2020 9:00 AM in response to den.thed

Sorry it’s taken so long to get back on this but I’ve not been around to get back to you. Whatever I have done the Folder with ? seems to have stopped but now I get the macOS Utilities box coming up. Now that’s not a problem cos all I do is close that and restart and it’s all fine. That’s just a minor frustration now

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