Flashing question mark on startup Mac Pro 1,1

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Flashing question mark on startup Mac Pro 1,1

hi everybody, I have an issue with my Mac Pro 1,1. I bought this computer last week.

Occasionally, at the start up, the screen show a flashing question mark inside a folder. I know this is a HD problem.

Since it doesn't show the question mark every time, I don't know if I resolved my issue following the instruction provided by Apple (resetting PRAM).

Both times that I saw it is when I have unplugged and plugged the power cable of my Mac pro. Now is all ok, but I'm afraid...it is maybe a power supply problem? Or a logic board problem?

Sorry for my english!😝

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 27, 2011 5:16 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

May 27, 2011 5:30 AM in response to Raffo83

When you reset PRAM you 'cause' the flashing "?"

System Preferences : control panel : Startup Disk - set the boot drive

Reset PRAM removes the path name to the boot OS volume. So what it does is have to search for it.

Now, if you hard drive has problem, if the directory needs repair or it doesn't mount in time or properly, you want to boot from DVD or another hard drive and repair hard drive.

You should always keep a backup you can boot from; a drive you can restore or use; and be ready for a drive to fail.

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Answer 2

Raffo83 Author

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May 27, 2011 5:42 AM in response to The hatter

The hatter wrote:

When you reset PRAM you 'cause' the flashing "?"

No, I've seen the flashing "?" only when I have unplugged the power cable. (Two times.)

System Preferences : control panel : Startup Disk - set the boot drive

Ok, I've done it yet.

Now the Mac starts up normally.

I only fear that the problem is the logic board or power supply.

Can I exclude this possibility?

I'm ready for a failure of the drive.🙂

Thank you very much!

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

May 27, 2011 5:49 AM in response to Raffo83

You could have a weak PRAM battery.

You should clone your hard drive weekly.

If you haven't then run Disk Utility - Verify or boot from OS X DVD - Utility - Disk Utility and click on drive and "repair disk"

Also click on drive and check the status below the Disk Utility window

While on OS X DVD, install Mac OS to another drive.

Boot from your original OEM Mac OS X DVD it came with - hold down 'd' on startup - run Extended Apple Hardware Test.

Zap pram will cause search for boot volume and after doing you have to reset Startup Disk

I don't see this as anything serious, other than always be ready to swap out and have a spare boot backup drive on hand at all times.

Unplugging (and hitting power button briefly) is one way to Reset SMC.

http://www.apple.com/support/macpro

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Answer 4

Raffo83 Author

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May 27, 2011 6:55 AM in response to The hatter

A weak PRAM battery means that the PRAM reset himself automatically every time I see the "?" ?

I don't think so, because when the "?" appears, I don't lose the information stored in PRAM (like the "DONG" sound at startup, that was muted.). I heared the sound when I've resetted the PRAM with the combination of keys 'alt-command-p-r'.

Thaks for your support.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that when the "?" appears, the Mac won't start, I need to reboot it. It's like if the System HD was removed.

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Answer 5

Raffo83 Author

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May 29, 2011 11:56 PM in response to Raffo83

Ok, I booted my Mac from DVD, I've repaired the system disk. For a few day all ok, but this morning, I've seen the "?" again. I've turned off and on again and the Mac booted up normally. In system\preferences the HD was normally selected, so the PRAM was ok...

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