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Folder w/flashing gray question mark

Hello,


I have tried every and all the suggestions given here for when all that shows is a folder with a flashing gray question mark. I was told that the reason for the flashing question mark is the hard drive is no longer working. I have a lot of things on my computer and would like to make a back up of them, before I have it repaired. Is there anything else I can try to be able to reboot it and get all my files out of there? I'd appreciate any help or suggestions. Thank you very much!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 30, 2013 6:56 PM

Reply
20 replies

Jan 31, 2013 4:12 PM in response to Arranques

Hello, what shows up if you hold alt key at bootup?


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

Jan 31, 2013 6:04 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi!


Thank you so much for responding to my post. When I hold down the alt key to boot it up, it still comes up gray with the flashing gray question mark. At one point, doing this with the startup disc, I was able to get into the system, but that does not work anymore.


And I tried, the fsck thing today. It took me to the command line interface and I followed those very instructions. When I rebooted, the same question mark came on. Then when I tried the fsck again, it didn't show up as the command line interface and it only showed the folder with the question mark once again. It's deteriorating even more with everything I'm trying. I don't think there is anything else left to do. Beside replacing the hard drive, is there anything else I could try? I'd like to retrieve all my files I had on the hard drive.


But I do have one question? Once it showed on errors on the command line interface, what should I have done? What I did was to reboot to see if anything had change. Was that the right thing to do? Much obliged for what you've suggested!


P.S. Forgot to mention that I was still using Leopard, when the system was working.

Jan 31, 2013 6:14 PM in response to Arranques

Sounds like the drive is in a bad way, but on repairing the errors you repeat it until no errors are reported.


Though the Drive is suspect, it could easily be RAM, or other things.


If you hold t key at bootup, do you get a big floating Firewire symbol?


And do you have access to another Mac with Firewire?


If so we might recover, because that makes the Mac look like a big FW drive to the other Mac.

Jan 31, 2013 6:47 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes. When I held down the T the other day, it showed up the floating Firewire symbol and I do have access to anonther Mac with Firewire. I'll have to see if that T shows up again.


Would you please give step by step instructions as to how to do this. I don't want the most recent computer ruined in any way, by doing anything that will harm it, then I'd be up ____ creek, if you know what I mean? But please go ahead and instruct if you will. Thank you so much!

Feb 1, 2013 10:37 AM in response to BDAqua

Aqua



Pram Reset shouldn't do that.


How to use FireWire target disk mode...


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Disk_Mode


Can you or I be more specific?


I know how to set up to get to the T mode. What I'd like to know is, once I'm there, what is it that I'm supposed to do? And can I be more specific about what? I just looked at the disc I inserted to be able to startup, and it is Tiger. So the OS is Tiger and did have the computer partition. I had Tiger on one side and Leopard on the other. I know, it keeps getting more complicated as I go along. Thank you for the links.

Feb 1, 2013 1:52 PM in response to Arranques

Ok, you nice and wonderful people. I really appreciate all the help you've provided me with, but it is inevitable, that I'll have to replace the hard drive, as I had intended to. I tried inserting another CD with Leopard OS 10.5 and the computer was able to read it, but when I went to try to install it, where it asked me where it was I wanted to install the system, there was no hard drive icon. The window was empty. I also, tried the Firewire and it show no hard drive on the host computer. So, that's where it remains. I guess the hard drive totally gave out. I don't even know if when I take the hard drive out, I can have a computer tech transfer everything that was on it over to the new hard drive. Thank you all and have a great day!

Folder w/flashing gray question mark

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