Wilfredfromct

Q: folder with question mark on it

while attempting to migrate from one computer to another something went wrong and now my computer that i was trying to migrate from is showing me the flashing folder with a question mark on it.  I have tried everything I know to fix it but nothing seams to work.  I won't let me boot into disk utilities or acess it through the FireWire port from another computer.  I don't have a boot disk for Yosemite is a download nor do I have any boot disks at all.   Is there a way I can gain access back to the drive to reinstall Yosemite?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.0.x), Logic X

Posted on Mar 20, 2015 10:44 PM

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Q: folder with question mark on it

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  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Mar 20, 2015 11:22 PM in response to Wilfredfromct
    Level 5 (5,850 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 20, 2015 11:22 PM in response to Wilfredfromct

    Boot to Recovery HD and repair the drive or install Yosemite.

    OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

  • by Wilfredfromct,

    Wilfredfromct Wilfredfromct Mar 21, 2015 12:41 AM in response to kaz-k
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 12:41 AM in response to kaz-k

    I Have tried that.  The problem is the CD players doesn't work at all.  Trued holding down the command + R and the folder comes back.  Can't get to it by hooking up to another computer for the folder cones back.  I have no idea how to get it to boot so I can install the operating system back on it.  Nothing works.   There is no recovery disk with this computer.  It was bought second hand.  It was working then it just stopped while trying to transfer to another computer. I need help with this one

  • by Wilfredfromct,

    Wilfredfromct Wilfredfromct Mar 21, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Wilfredfromct
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Wilfredfromct

    Ok.  I got pass that problem by reconnecting the firewire cable and let it boot up.  That seemed to have fixed that problem but I did it the wrong way.  Copied the wrong system and now I can't find some documents I had on the desktop.  I am  not sure but I thought that it only copied the system files and left folders.  If so then could someone help me find out where to look on the computer for these documents there were on the desktop?  I have searched on the hard drive but I don't see them.  I see a couple of files I don't recall putting on but the ones I am looking for I don't see.  Thanks in advance.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Mar 21, 2015 10:29 AM in response to Wilfredfromct
    Level 9 (52,521 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 21, 2015 10:29 AM in response to Wilfredfromct

    It would be helpful if you indicated the EXACT model/year Macs that you are using and the respective OSXs.

     

    Ciao.

  • by Wilfredfromct,

    Wilfredfromct Wilfredfromct Mar 21, 2015 10:44 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 10:44 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    It is a Mac mini (mid 2010) running  Yosemite 10.10.2 with 4 GB ram, 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.  This was suppose to be something straight forward and it turn into a knightmare. Thanks again for your response.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Mar 21, 2015 10:50 AM in response to Wilfredfromct
    Level 9 (52,521 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 21, 2015 10:50 AM in response to Wilfredfromct

    Your post indicates that you are using two Macs.  What is the other Mac and OSX?

     

    Is the mini with the '?' showing when booting?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Wilfredfromct,

    Wilfredfromct Wilfredfromct Mar 21, 2015 11:23 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 11:23 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    I Was migrating from my Mac mini to a mac  tower 8 core running Yosemite 10.10.2 with 16 GB of ram.  I got past the problem with the folder.  What I did wrong was I thought I was migrating from the. Mac mini to the tower but that is not what happened.  It went the other direction.  Now I have de stop documents I cant find on my mac mini.  Not sure if they were erased or not.  I didn't think that it would erase documents on the desktop but put them into a folder.  Isn't it just suppose to copy system files?  I have some important files on the desktop and would like to recover them hopefully. Both computers are up and running.  I am coping files from the mini to the tower now because I am afraid to try that again.  All my apps are still on my Mac mini but I will have to relegated most of them.  I don't have a problem with that.  I just need back the contents of my old desktop folder to copy to my tower if all possible. Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated.  Thanks again.  

  • by OGELTHORPE,Solvedanswer

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Mar 21, 2015 11:59 AM in response to Wilfredfromct
    Level 9 (52,521 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 21, 2015 11:59 AM in response to Wilfredfromct

    May I assume you were using Target Disk M<ode?

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1661

     

    If that is the case, your files still should in the source HDD.  You would actively have to delete the files for them not to be present.

     

    My understanding is that the mini may have data from  the Mac Pro based on what you have said.

     

    Did you boot the mini and check for the specific files in question?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Wilfredfromct,

    Wilfredfromct Wilfredfromct Mar 21, 2015 3:14 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 3:14 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thank you for your reply.  The case is now solved.  Appreciate the help very much.  Thanks once again.