Help! My sisters iBook G3 has a blinking finder logo and "?" It had expensive programs on it too.
iBook, Mac OS 9.2.x
I did this Google search:
https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=%22os+9%22+flashing+question&as_qdr=all&ne wwindow=1&num=100
and thought the following may help you:
http://www.mac-help.com/threads/my-mac-is-showing-a-flashing-question-mark.382/
This did not help me.
i'm still at the "?" mark and the blinking finder icon.
I got the mac used and it had no mac os 9 disks.
Is my hard drive dead?
It is several years since I last had this problem but from what I can remember it is simply an indication that the firmware cannot find a valid System Folder.
There can be many causes such as:
1 - missing or damaged hard disk
2 - PRAM needs resetting
3 - missing or damaged RAM or other components
4 - System Folder not blessed - may be OK but Finder and System need taking out of folder and putting back
Do you have another Mac or a Mac friend who can help you?
No I don't have anyone that can hep me but i live next to a computer shop with tiger.
Btw, How do reset the PRAM?
I do have another mac and that is the mac i'm using now to post this.
The blinking "?" indicates that your "System Folder" has become corrupted. The easiest (and the most reliable) way to repair the disk is to locate a CD that contains a bootable copy of Mac OS 9. This can take the form of an official Apple Installer disk, a Disk Repair Utility such as Diskwarrior or a disk image from a web site such as Macintish Garden (www.macintoshgarden.org). Once you boot the computer from the CD, you can look at the system disk and retrieve stuff from it and possibly restore the disk to a functional status.
By the way, what is the "expensive program" that is on the computer? It may not be expensive any longer.
Gary
The expensive program is Microsoft Word, iMovie 4, and alot of itunes music.
Gary - former developer wrote:
The blinking "?" indicates that your "System Folder" has become corrupted.
I think this is only one of several possibilities - see my earlier posts. As far as I can recall the simple question mark image is part of firmware and only indicates that firmware is unable to find a valid System Folder. You can probably get this question mark with an almost empty box as long as a basic PCB and firmware are available.
DylUsesMac wrote:
I do have another mac and that is the mac i'm using now to post this.
What Macs and install CDs/DVDs do you have?
Recently we burned a copy of 9.2.2 but the file was corrupt though :/ and the drive is only a cd rom only.
I am unable to help unless you answer my question in full with details.
We have no cds for mac we got it used and had no disks they never gave them to us. we just made a copy of the system folder on a cd.
You said you have another Mac.
In order to try and help I would like to know what Mac equipment and OSs you have.
I have a MacBook Pro 2007 intel based running snow leopard.
Blinking ? on mac os 9.2.2
