question mark and finder icon blinking at start up

But if I don't have the v10.3 cd, what should I do?

You could try booting into Safe Mode. This will take quite awhile longer than a normal startup because it does a file check and repair of the hard disk.

If this works you will see your normal desktop. Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally, and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click on the top hard drive icon in the left sidebar and note the S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom right of the pane. What does it say?

Select the named boot volume in the left sidebar, ("Macintosh HD" unless you've renamed it). What is the hard drive capacity and how much space remains available on it? Repair permissions on it.

Probably, the best course is to buy the OS X 10.3 CD's. You will undoubtedly need them some time in the future. Be sure you get the retail version, and not some system-specific (gray) discs.

http://www.applerescue.com/

Pendragon:

If you are running Panther (10.3.9) you should have the install disks, not only for installation but for system maintenance. You can purchase disks at applerescue. However, you should still be able to boot from the Jaguar install disk holding down the "C" key and use Disk Utility.

Good luck.

cornelius

Pendragon89,

Do you have any system or install disks?

ali b

One should not try to use for maintenance an Install disc that does not match the OS which is installed on the computer.

You could, however, do an Erase and Install with the CD's that came with the iBook and go back to the OS that came with it.

Ronda:

One should not try to use for maintenance an Install disc that does not match the OS which is installed on the computer.

Is there any specific reason for not using DU from a previous OS X version? I tried searching the knowledge base, but did not come up with anything specific.

Thanks.

cornelius

A newer installation of the OS has items on it which the older install CD does not have. It is not possible for an older install version to adequately repair a newer installation.

Ronda:

I guess I was asking if there was any documentation, of which you are aware, that explains how this works. I cannot document it, but I think I have seen others suggest it when the current install disk could not be located.

Thanks.

cornelius

The Apple Knowledge Base article with instructions for repairing the startup disk in OS X 10.3 presumes that you have the OS X 10.3 Install disc:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=162662

This is the closest "official documentation" I've found.

Safe Mode is a good alternative if you don't have the Install disc, but doesn't always work.

cornelius...

"Is there any specific reason for not using DU from a previous OS X version? I tried searching the knowledge base, but did not come up with anything specific."

My take on the issue is that older utilities do not know a thing about any Mac OS future changes so there can be unpredictable results or risks involved.

Now on your side of the coin see this
under the Backward Compatible heading.

Most disk utilities designed to work with the Mac OS Extended file system can also be used when journaling is turned on. You should check with your disk utility vendor before using earlier disk utilities with a journaled file system." (Underlined my emphasis)

It still kind of leaves us in questionable territory, doesn't it?


...Ron

Ron:

Here are some other perspectives in a question I post specifically on this issue in the Tiger Forum: Disk Utility from Previous OS installer disk

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

cornelius

cornelius...

Nice Pow-Wow that other topic generated. 🙂

Now another point I would have is over Mac OS 10.3.9. At what point should that have been called Mac OS 10.3.10?

Well, my take would have been in Aug 2006 when the Security Update added in so many Core and other apps. Sept. 2006 perhaps should have been called 10.3.11.

For now Mac OS 10.3.9 has 2 different versions of Finder of which loused me up back in August.

Anyway, utilities may not fix anything at this rate.

...Ron

Ron:

Pow Wow, indeed!

I still have questions in my mind about the Disk Utility question, although I may not have the technical knowledge to express them. Thanks for your input.

cornelius

Pendragon:

A flashing question mark appears when you start
your Mac indicates that your computer cannot find
a boot volume. Try Option Booting (Holding down the
Option key after you hit the Power button). If this
works you will see a screen come up almost
immediately with one or more drives. Select the drive
you want to boot from and click the right-pointing
arrow. If no drives appear click the circular arrow
to refresh. If you are able to start go to Apple Menu

System Preferences > Startup Disk. Select your

startup disk and click restart.

If Option booting does not work you have a more
serious problem. Read the article linked and follow
suggestions or post back with your report.

Good luck.

cornelius

Cornelius,
I have a similar problem.
I wanted to go from OS X 10.3 to OS 9 because of an application I have on OS 9. Anyway, I went to system preference>OS 9 , I got a disk with a question mark on it. I followed what you mentioned above ( press "C" etc...) I see a circular arrow and a right arrow and my HD. I clicked on the right arrow but it just went back to the disk with question mark.
Any thoughts?

Vera:

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Because your issue may not be identical, and to avoid getting two different threads becoming entangled here, as well as to give your issue the full attention it deserves, I suggest starting a new topic.

I will be looking for your topic.

Good luck.

cornelius

Message was edited by: cornelius