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User profile for user: worth1090
worth1090 Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

question mark folder when i startup?

When ever I start my computer I get the white screen and rather than the apple logo appearing, I get a grey folder with a question mark in the center of screen. My computer will not start up, it will sit at the white screen and flash the question mark folder. My computer is a 2008 white mac book. Please help!

Message was edited by: worth1090

Mac book

Posted on Apr 5, 2011 8:14 AM

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82 replies
User profile for user: ebahhh
ebahhh
User level: Level 1
4 points

Feb 9, 2017 1:10 PM in response to worth1090

I have a mid 2012 13" Mac book pro. I just experienced the grey folder and blinking question mark. I was just browsing the Internet and check my emails and the laptop froze and then turned into a blank screen then the folder popped up. This is the first time it has ever happened. I have tried to reboot it and all the other functions to reset it. It didn't work. I currently have my laptop shut down, I don't know what else to do, I really need to recover files and assignments I have in my laptop since I am in school.

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User profile for user: Mattwasher477
Mattwasher477
User level: Level 1
4 points

Feb 18, 2017 12:57 PM in response to Carl Aspler

Sounds like it is in the hardware more then it is in the software, my guess is that there is a problem with the hard drive I would take it in some where and have a professional take a look or if you have any experience then open up the back and listen for any unusual sounds coming from the hard drive. Also if you here no sounds then it is possible that the hard drive is not getting any power so if that is the case it really comes down to 3 things being ether the hard drive was nocked loose or the hard drive is fried and or the motherboard got fried. If you think that it was the last one then check the motherboard for any discolor around the Circuits. Let me know if this workes :)

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User profile for user: mberardinelli
mberardinelli
User level: Level 1
69 points

Apr 5, 2011 8:54 AM in response to worth1090

Hello there,

When your Mac starts up to the blinking question mark, that means that it cannot find the system files/software required to start up. This can happen for a number of reasons, mainly because of directory corruption.

Did this happen after an update or after you installed a certain piece of software? Or did it just happen randomly?

Here are a couple of things to try:

1. Try starting up using a Safe Boot. To do so, press the power button to turn on your MacBook and hold down the Shift key on the keyboard. This will automatically run a disk check so it may take some time before it reaches a login screen. If it boots into safe mode, try rebooting into normal mode again.

2. Reset the PRAM. To do so, press the power button to turn on your Macbook and simultaneous hold down Option + Command + P + R. Keep these held down until you hear the startup chime at least 2 or 3 times, then release them and let the machine boot.

3. Startup from your Mac OS X install disc and use Disk Utility to verify/repair the disk. Reboot and let the machine boot normally.

Let me know if any of this helps.

-Matt
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User profile for user: Carl Aspler
Carl Aspler
User level: Level 1
106 points

Apr 13, 2011 5:35 AM in response to mberardinelli

Hi mberardinelli.

I have the same problem - folder icon with question mark. Just happened randomly. I tried all the things you suggested to another person. Safe book didn't work, same for resetting the PRAM. When I ran disk utility to verify permissions form the startup disk, I got a message - First Aid failed...no valid packages.

Any additional suggestions? Is this the beginning of the end??

Thanks,
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User profile for user: mberardinelli
mberardinelli
User level: Level 1
69 points

Apr 13, 2011 9:56 AM in response to Carl Aspler

Is that all the error message from Disk Utility said? Did you just try to repair permissions or did you also try Repair Disk?

Sounds like you might have some directory corruption on your hands. If Disk Utility can't fix it, you might be looking at a reinstall of Mac OS X (unfortunately). You can try to use software like Disk Warrior to rebuild the directory enough to where you can recover any data you have lost.
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User profile for user: Carl Aspler
Carl Aspler
User level: Level 1
106 points

Apr 13, 2011 10:13 AM in response to mberardinelli

Yes, that's all the message said. The option of repairing permissions was dimmed, and the message of the of the failure came up almost immediately.

I don't mind reinstalling Mac OSX. I basically use this computer as a "cheap and cheerful" replacement of my regular computer when I am traveling to do emails, check internet, and do other basic work.

Thanks,
Carl
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User profile for user: Willie88
Willie88
User level: Level 1
0 points

Apr 13, 2011 2:04 PM in response to Carl Aspler

Hey I have the same type of problem, unfortunately this is resulting from a spill on the computer. When the computer was on, but closed, a friend spilled a drink on the left side of the closed computer. They immediately picked it up and got the water off the computer, however when I tried to turn it on a few hours later the screen blacked out. I waited for a day or so and tried to reboot the computer, the screen turned on and gave me the white screen with the ? mark in the folder. What is concerning about this is that I have just replaced the interal HD with a 500gb HD less than 2 months ago and there was no water damage on the harddrive when i had taken it out. Also, the battery is new and the computer will only boot/power when it is plugged into the charger, so it's basically saying the battery is dead which should not be true bc it also is less than 2 months old. When i booted the comp through snow leopard and proceeded to the screen which asked which drive to put the program on, it would not recognize the HD. Any clue to what is going on, pleeeeease helpUser uploaded file
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User profile for user: mberardinelli
mberardinelli
User level: Level 1
69 points

Apr 21, 2011 11:32 AM in response to Carl Aspler

Hi Carl,


Unfortunately it sounds like your hard drive might be toast. If your machine is out of warranty, you could by a decent harddrive on Newegg for pretty cheap and try swapping it out (or, if your machine is still under warranty, you could just bring it into an Apple store). It is pretty easy to swap the hard drive in a Macbook:


1. Remove the battery

2. Loosen the three screws to remove the RAM cover (the screws will not come out of the metal cover).

3. You will see the hard drive on the left side of the battery bay. Pull the white plastic tab to slide it out of the Macbook.

4. Use a Torx screwdriver to remove the hard drive casing (so that you can put that handy pull-tab on your new hard drive)

5. Put the case onto your new hard drive and replace.


After that, try booting to your install disc again and format the disk with Mac OS Extended Journaled format and install Snow Leopard.

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User profile for user: mberardinelli
mberardinelli
User level: Level 1
69 points

Apr 21, 2011 11:34 AM in response to Willie88

The water spill sounds like it may have fried your logic board, which is why the hard drive is not being detected (even if the drive itself was not damaged) and your display as acting strangely. Since the left side of the Macbook is where all the ports are, the water could have easily gotten into them and damaged the logic board. Unfortunately that's not covered under AppleCare so you could be looking at either paying for a logic board replacement or a new Macbook altogether. 😟

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question mark folder when i startup?

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