JBNelson

Q: Why would I get a folder with a question mark after installing a new hard drive and OS?

I started getting a blinking folder with a question mark in the middle during start-up yesterday. I reviewed all the posts about possible root cause and resolutions.  Yesterday, I installed a new hard-drive and installed OS X Yosemite on the new hard-drive.  After doing so, was able to successfully bring the machine up and used it for several hours.  I shut the machine down last night.  When I turned the machine on this morning, I again received the folder with the question mark in the middle!!!  Any idea's on why this would be the case after installing a new hard-drive?????

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 6, 2015 6:24 AM

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Q: Why would I get a folder with a question mark after installing a new hard drive and OS?

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  • by D.Cohen,

    D.Cohen D.Cohen May 6, 2015 6:28 AM in response to JBNelson
    Level 6 (8,424 points)
    Desktops
    May 6, 2015 6:28 AM in response to JBNelson

    Take a look at this page: A flashing question mark or globe appears when you start your Mac - Apple Support


    Try restarting your Mac in Safe mode:

    - Shut down your Mac

    - Wait until your computer turns off and after that press the Power button

    - Right after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the Shift key

    - Release the Shift key when you see a grey Apple sign and the progress bar below this sign

    - Once you see Desktop, start a Disc Utility scan to detect and repair file system errors (don't forget to choose your main hard drive)

    - Click on Verify Disc and then, if asked to fix problems, on Repair Disk

    - After this, click on Verify Disc Permissions and then on Repair Disc Permissions

    - After the process is finished, shut down your Mac and turn it back on after about 30 seconds


    Hope this helps!

  • by JBNelson,

    JBNelson JBNelson May 6, 2015 8:04 AM in response to D.Cohen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 6, 2015 8:04 AM in response to D.Cohen

    Thanks D.Cohen.  I will give this a try.  My concern is that I went through the exercise of installing a new hard-drive and a fresh copy of OS X and everything was working fine for several hours and several shut-down and restarts.  It was only this morning that the blinking folder with the question mark showed again.

  • by JBNelson,

    JBNelson JBNelson May 6, 2015 4:03 PM in response to D.Cohen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 6, 2015 4:03 PM in response to D.Cohen

    I followed your suggested steps but still no luck.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 6, 2015 4:15 PM in response to JBNelson
    Level 9 (52,516 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 6, 2015 4:15 PM in response to JBNelson

    Your MBP may have a faulty SATA cable.  Take out the Boot drive and install it in an enclosure. Connect it ti the MBP via USB and boot the MBP via startup manager:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204417

     

    If there is no indication of the '?', then that indicates the connecting SATA cable is faulty.  It is not expensive to replace it.

     

    Ciao.