Repair macbook boot - stuck with white screen and flashing folder with question mark

macOS Catalina is compatible with these computers and do not see any computer listed from 2008 as compatible with Catalina.

If your Mac starts up to a question mark

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.

If the question mark appears only momentarily before your Mac starts up normally:

1. Reset NVRAM.
2. Make sure that your preferred startup disk is selected in Startup Disk preferences.

If the question mark persists, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds, until your Mac turns off.
2. Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘) and R to start up from macOS Recovery.
3. While in macOS Recovery, use Disk Utility to repair your startup disk.
4. If Disk Utility found no errors or repaired all errors, reinstall macOS.
5. If you still need help, please contact Apple Support.

To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer. 

This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer. Example : Bootable Installer of Catalina would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Catalina.

Once that is done read on for preparing the Destination computer  >>

Only works on Intel Based Apple Computers.

Extra Special Notation regarding the Touch ID equipped Apple Computer.

About Startup Security Utility and Must Enable from Recovery Mode the ability to boot from External Drive Before Attempting 

1 - Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer.

2- Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive. 

3 - It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives. 

4 - Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ).

5 - The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map.

6 - Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS. 

7 - Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time. 

8 - Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.

That, I am sorry to mention is impossible - Windows PC.

One has to use a Apple Computer to access the Apple Apps Store and that can only be achieved on, you got it, an Apple Computer.

Does one have a friend, relative or some other person known to you who using Apple Computers. Has a machine that Qualifies it Run Catalina and then they make  Bootable Installer. The mail the USB Drive to your location.