How do I fix this? I have tried resetting the RAM and I have unplugged all external devices (USB connections, Ethernet connection Ect...).
I am running Snow Leopard server MAC Mini. Yesterday it was running fine and this morning I start up the computer and get the folder with a question in it.
Bob H.
There are four general causes of this issue:
1. The computer's PRAM no longer contains a valid startup disk setting when there aren't any problems with the disk itself. This can be checked for by pressing the Option key and seeing if the drive appears.
2. The internal drive's directory structure has become damaged. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to perform the repair.
3. Critical system files have been deleted. This requires usage of an alternate bootable system to reinstall them.
4. The internal drive has died or become unplugged. This is the most likely case if the computer took a sharp impact or there are unusual sounds coming from the hard drive's location.
(84989)
When I boot up holding the option key all I get is a WIFI bar on the lower left side of the screen and a drop down menu with CableWIFI, Chromatech, or XFINITYWIFI as my options. Then when I select the Chromatech option the screen moves to another section and asks for a password. When I put one in then nothing happens.
Insert a Mac OS X 10.6 DVD, start up the computer with the C key held down, and open the Disk Utility. See 2, 3, and 4 above.
(84994)
This is asking me what language. Is this going to blow out my computer? I cannot loose the additional programs I have installed.
No, it's not. Note that whatever caused the blinking question mark may have erased the programs.
(84996)
Ok, I am running the Disk Utilities now and running the repair disk now.
It came back checking and there is a green line that says "The volume CT Server appears to be OK." The next line says Volume repair complete and Updatine boot support partitions for the volume as required.
Is it OK now to just reboot normally?
If it performed a repair on it, yes. If it didn't or it still doesn't work, reinstall the OS.
(84998)
Still not booting just the folder with a question mark. Is there a way to reinstall OSX without loosing applications?
Reinstall 10.6 normally. It won't affect the applications.
(85000)
Thank you for your help.
When I started the reinstall the installation said 30 minutes but it has been 6 minutes already and now it still says 28 minutes? Is this normal to take this long?
The OS X estimated-completion time estimates can vary from reality, yes. Sometimes widely.
FWIW, there's one other sequence that I'd encourage when something goes sideways involving disk storage: before attempting any repairs or reinstallations or other operations, try getting a backup of the contents of the disk to an external disk device. Getting a current copy of your data adds more time onto the total length of the outage, but — if the disk hardware is failing, as does eventually happen to all hard disks — the I/O load involved in a repair or reinstall might well push a previously-just-a-little-flaky disk over into full failure.
Grey screen with folder containing a question mark flashing?
