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Reformatted Hard Drive "flashing "?"and Smiley face Folder after OS reinstall"

Hello All,

I have acquired an ibook from my friends Mom but it had a bad Virus in it so thinking I knew what I was doing I reformatted the drive and installed the OSX disk that came with the laptop "there are two install disks 1 and 2 but only the first disk was installed it didn't ask for the second disk. When it rebooted I got a flashing folder with a "?" and a Smiley face. First off this is my first Mac I have owned so I'm lacking the acquired knowledge to pursue fixing this ibook.

So what should I do? I have searched on the Internet for some answers but with no out come. So I found the apple support communities and I'm praying that I can find good advice here to resolve this issue I am having. I also other disks that came with the laptop, 3 software restore disks and an Apple hardware test disk along with the 2 OSX install disks.

Any help given would be very appreciated if someone can guide me into the right direction with getting my ibook back to working condition. I can provide additional information if need.

Thank you for your time to read this.

Kind regards

Mike

iBook, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on May 1, 2011 8:45 AM

53 replies

May 2, 2011 7:01 AM in response to Ronda Wilson

Hello Ronda,

I have tried other disks also for the install aswell . I also made a fresh copy of my original disk to see if maybe the original disk was damaged. But I still get the same outcome. I'm going to go threw the whole process again and note everything I am doing and I will post it. Maybe I am over looking something I don't know.

But thank you again for all of the advice you have provided for me you have been a very big help 🙂

May 2, 2011 12:32 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

OK I tried 2 ways to install the OS onto the laptop.

The first way I tried gave me an error message stating to restart computer right as the install was starting.

The 2nd way I tried things a little different but when it got to the install point there is just a rainbow disk turning and it says Preparing Disk its been sitting like that for about 20 minutes now.

I took pictures of everything as I did this both ways maybe the pics can help out in some way.for the way the pictures uploaded into Photo-Bucket start at the last picture and work your way back Thanx again for any help.

Here is the link from my Photo-Bucket

http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/Myphotobucket1969/

May 2, 2011 12:44 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

MikesFirstMac wrote:

Hello Ronda,

I have tried other disks also for the install aswell . I also made a fresh copy of my original disk to see if maybe the original disk was damaged.

What other discs have you tried for the Install? If it isn't the exact disc set that came with the iBook or a full retail version of Mac OS 10.2.1 through 10.4 (not an upgrade disc or discs for another Mac model), it won't work.

If the original disc is defective, the copy that you made could also be defective.

May 2, 2011 12:54 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

Ok did you check out the Phot-Bucket pictures of the 2 tries to install the OS?

And the other disks I tried are full version and did the same thing the disks did that came with the laptop 😟

May 2, 2011 1:40 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

the other disks I tried are full version

Which version are these other discs?

Did you try a second time to erase and reformat as Apple Partition Map, Extended, Journaled?

If it isn't the disc that's a problem, then it could be the hard drive. If it is the original 30 GB hard drive, then it's getting pretty old.

May 2, 2011 2:34 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

I erased the disk and reformatted Extended Check out the pictures I took then you can see the process I took start with the last picture and work your way backwards...http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/Myphotobucket1969/

May 2, 2011 3:13 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

Okay. When you get to the step pictured on Picture #25, try using the Partition tab instead of Erase. Partition into one partition, Apple Partition Map, Extended, Journaled. (If memory serves; I didn't work much with Mac OS X 10.2.)

Give that a try and see if the installation will work then.

May 2, 2011 3:58 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

Ok I tried Can't do nothing check out pictures 1 threw 9 http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/Myphotobucket1969/

If I get this running I will send you a nice money order to treat your self to a nice dinner 🙂

May 2, 2011 4:08 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

On Photo #8, what happens if you click on Macintosh1111 instead of moving down to the 628.66 MB one in Photo #9 (which is actually the install CD)?

the other disks I tried are full version

Again, what was the full OS version of these other discs?

May 2, 2011 4:28 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

I get a blank screen that says "Select a single disk in order to set it up"10.2.0 version and the original disks are 10.2.1 version

May 2, 2011 4:59 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

Show me what is in the sidebar at the left?

If Macintosh1111 shows up there, select it, and continue.

If it doesn't show up, your hard drive is missing in action.

May 2, 2011 6:17 PM in response to Ronda Wilson

I get a blank screen that says "Select a single disk in order to set it up"

May 2, 2011 6:19 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

I hit the tab Partition and then I hit the macintosh1111 drive and that's it nothing happens 🙂

May 2, 2011 10:23 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

Again, please tell us the version of the OS on the full install discs you were attempting to use?

TaylorN90

Level 3

645 points

May 2, 2011 10:27 PM in response to MikesFirstMac

It seems like their may be an issue with the install discs.

You can call AppleCare, and they will be able to provide you with replacement discs (for a fee)

Good Luck

😀

Reformatted Hard Drive "flashing "?"and Smiley face Folder after OS reinstall"