My iMac starts up with a flashing question mark within a folder. I've seen many threads about this issue but my question is, if I don't have my startup discs can I not fix this myself?
iMac (20-inch Mid 2007), Mac OS X (10.5.7)
Tough without the Install disc, but some things to try...
Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...
/sbin/fsck -fy
Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.
(Space between fsck AND -fy important).
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Report the outcome please.
I cannot get the computer to boot to Single User Mode. Whenever I hold the keys down when it starts the flashing folder with the question mark appears just like if I tried to start normally.
Do you know if you had Firmware Password protection setup?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.
Force Removing Password Protection
1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.
2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).
http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php
Oh, is this a wired USB KB?
Are you are doing it properly?
Further details:
If you have another Mac, connect them together via a Firewire cable. Boot the broken Mac into Target Mode (boot while holding the 'T' key). Now you should be able to use the other Mac's Disk Utility to attempt to replair the broken Mac's boot drive.
You can get replacement installation disks for your Mac by contacting Apple. Try Apple Apple Customer Relations 800-767-2775. There will be a shipping and handling charge.
Message was edited by: BobHarris
Please ignore my earlier post and do it this way:
Further details:
Neville Hillyer wrote:
. . .
2. Start the Mac & immediately press & hold the Command (Apple) key & the S key
It's the shift key (only), not Cmd+S, that does a safe boot. See Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode
I don't know if I had the password protection set up. Also it is a wireless keyboard.
My computer won't do anything by just presseing S. It still comes up with a flashing folder question mark.
You must press Command and S keys
ohitsmandi wrote:
Also it is a wireless keyboard.
Do you have, or can you borrow, a wired keyboard? Sometimes a wireless one won't be recognized early enough in the startup sequence.
It's the shift key (only), that does a safe boot. See Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode
Cmd+S starts in Single User Mode.
It's the shift key (only), not Cmd+S, that does a safe boot. See Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode
My advice was for starting in single user mode and not safe boot - you will confuse the OP.
Correct: I guess I wasn't clear:
A Safe Boot will do a directory check and several other things automatically: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
We were trying to get the OP to repair the disk.
I am not satisfied that it has been tried properly yet.
I have seen many people get this wrong:
Modifier keys such as shift, control, option and command should be held down before other keys and released after.
Doing it any other way can have unpredictable consequences.
Neville Hillyer wrote:
We were trying to get the OP to repair the disk.
Yes; especially for the novice to casual user, a Safe Boot may be the easiest way to do that.
I am not satisfied that it has been tried properly yet.
Agreed.
Modifier keys such as shift, control, option and command should be held down before other keys and released after.
Doing it any other way can have unpredictable consequences.
Agreed. Another reason to do a safe boot, since it's only one key. 😉
Wireless keyboards can also be a problem.
If I don't have my startup discs can I not fix this myself?
