tashbarrie

Q: Flashing question mark, suggestions not working

I have a 13" mid 2013 Macbook Pro. Everything was working fine tonight then the whole computer froze (while looking through Netflix). I manually reset the computer and it went to a white screen with a flashing question mark. I read suggestions and started it in safe mode. It started up in safe mode, so I restarted it again and it started normally. I re-opened an internet page and it froze again. I restarted it again and the blinking question mark came back. It will not start in safe mode anymore. I can't get past the blinking question mark.

 

When I hold the option key it doesn't let me select the HD, it just goes to internet recovery.

 

I've tried opening the utility manager. I click to verify disk and it says verified and will NOT let me click the buttons to repair. It says my capacity is 1.something GB. Which clearly is not right. Is the hard drive toast?

 

I NEED to get the files off the computer. I have pictures in iPhoto that are not backed up and I need them. If I re-install, will I lose the pictures?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Apr 25, 2015 12:15 AM

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Q: Flashing question mark, suggestions not working

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  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 25, 2015 3:37 AM in response to tashbarrie
    Level 9 (52,434 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 25, 2015 3:37 AM in response to tashbarrie

    When you boot the MBP with the OPTION key, do you see two HDD icons?

     

    If so, click on the recovery icon (on the right) and select Disk Utility from the 4 option menu.

     

    Run Disk Utility>First Aid, Verify and Repair.

     

    Ciao.

  • by tashbarrie,

    tashbarrie tashbarrie Apr 25, 2015 5:45 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 25, 2015 5:45 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    If I boot up using option, it takes me to choose a network so put in my wifi info, then it takes me to internet recovery. The first time I tried to boot with option it started in safe mode, then I restarted and it booted regularly, then it froze, I restarted and it does this.

     

    Also, when I go into OS X Utilities and choose to quit it, a message says "to quit choose a startup disk or restart". If I click choose a startup disk, there are no options to choose, just a empty box.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 25, 2015 6:08 AM in response to tashbarrie
    Level 9 (52,434 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 25, 2015 6:08 AM in response to tashbarrie

    Have you generated this menu?

    Screen Shot 2015-04-25 at 9.00.08 AM.png

    If so, have selected Disk Utility and then Disk Utility>First Aid?  Then selected 'Repair'?

     

    Reinstalling the OSX will not delete user data unless you ERASE the disk first.  Nevertheless, backups are essential.  I doubt that reinstalling the OSX will solve the problem.

     

    If you have access to another Mac, you can try Target Disk Mode to see if you can get to your files:

     

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

     

    Ciao.

  • by tashbarrie,

    tashbarrie tashbarrie Apr 25, 2015 6:24 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 25, 2015 6:24 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    I have gotten to that menu. If I select disk utility > First Aid I see the repair buttons but I cannot select them.

     

    Also I ran the hardware test by starting up while pressing D. It said no problems were found.

     

    I will see if I know anyone with a mac.

  • by Finding Life,Helpful

    Finding Life Finding Life Apr 27, 2015 6:44 AM in response to tashbarrie
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 27, 2015 6:44 AM in response to tashbarrie

    Hey Tash,

     

    I recently ran into the exact problem as yours few days ago. (Don't panic!)

    It could be either that your Logic Board is toasted, Hard drive is done, or your HDD cable could be done.

     

    You're taken into internet recovery because the internal drive can't be accessed (Again it's either your cable broke or internal drive got fried). When you go into the disk utility after the internet recovery download (that is the 1GB you are referring to btw), do you see iSuperDrive on your Disk Utility? If you see your SuperDrive then it means your logic board is safe, (Or I assume since it both works through logic board).

     

    If it isn't your logic board then this should be a fairly easy problem to handle, it's either you replace your Hard drive or the cable that connects to your internal drive. Either are fairly cheap compared to the Logic Board that costs 700$ : l

     

    I unscrewed the back of my Macbook Pro 13'' and popped out the internal drive to test it out on my PC desktop, and the hard drive seemed to be running without problem compared to when turning on the Macbook where my internal wouldn't even fan on. I talked to few of the computer techies and they said it's a common problem where your HDD cable fails. You can order one around a local store, or if you can find a store that has one, for around $45. Just make sure you search up what kind of cable you need for the Macbook model. Finding a new internal drive, if that is the case, for your computer shouldn't be too hard either, as for the data... It's a goner : (. There's a site where you can search your Macbook pro specs with your computer's serial number under the bottom of your macbook in small words.

     

     

    Replacing it isn't too hard either, you just need a NICE screw driver (Phillips 00#). Don't use a cheap screw driver for this, it'll shred the screws and becomes a huge pain. Look to Youtube for a guide to replacing if you are doing this manually. Good luck!

  • by tashbarrie,

    tashbarrie tashbarrie Apr 27, 2015 6:13 AM in response to Finding Life
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 27, 2015 6:13 AM in response to Finding Life

    I do see Super Drive when I enter Disk Utility. So I will assume it is either the Hard Drive or HDD cable. To figure out which it is, I just try hooking up the hard drive to another computer? If the computer reads the hard drive it's the cable, if it doesn't read the hard drive then it's the hard drive?

  • by kahjot,

    kahjot kahjot Apr 27, 2015 7:07 AM in response to tashbarrie
    Level 4 (1,347 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 27, 2015 7:07 AM in response to tashbarrie

    tashbarrie wrote:

     

    I do see Super Drive when I enter Disk Utility. So I will assume it is either the Hard Drive or HDD cable. To figure out which it is, I just try hooking up the hard drive to another computer? If the computer reads the hard drive it's the cable, if it doesn't read the hard drive then it's the hard drive?

    Most likely. An inexpensive USB enclosure or dock is useful for stuff like this: easier than installing the drive in a computer.