golfinw71

Q: 2007 iMac was running Yosemite, now folder with question mark

I have a 2007 iMac that was running Yosemite.  I THINK the old hard drive failed so I replaced it.  Prior to replacing, I tried everything I knew of.  Couldn't ever get recovery mode to show up, tried to boot to original install disc but received the same folder with question mark every time.  Tried booting to time machine but again, received the folder with question mark.  I've reset the pram and smc numerous times but nothing worked. 

 

I have since replaced the hard drive as I assumed it was a dead hard drive and receive the same folder with question mark, no matter what I do. 

 

Any help would be appreciated as I would like to get a year or two more out of the computer. 

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Posted on Jul 11, 2015 3:21 PM

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Q: 2007 iMac was running Yosemite, now folder with question mark

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  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 11, 2015 3:22 PM in response to golfinw71
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    Jul 11, 2015 3:22 PM in response to golfinw71
  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 11, 2015 3:26 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
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    Jul 11, 2015 3:26 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    It is a folder with a question mark.  When I try to boot to the time machine external drive, it takes a while and will sporadically flash the folder and question mark again.  I am at a loss...

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jul 11, 2015 3:45 PM in response to golfinw71
    Level 9 (58,746 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 11, 2015 3:45 PM in response to golfinw71

    golfinw71 wrote:

     

    It is a folder with a question mark.  When I try to boot to the time machine external drive, it takes a while and will sporadically flash the folder and question mark again.  I am at a loss...

    Time Machine is NOT a bootable volume. In other words it will not boot from a Time Machine EHD.

  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 11, 2015 3:57 PM in response to golfinw71
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    Jul 11, 2015 3:57 PM in response to golfinw71

    rkaufmann87, do you have any suggestions on what I can do to get it working again?  If I installed yosemite, does that make my original OS X install discs useless?   Or, should the computer still be able to boot from them?   I have restarted holding the option key, selected the OS X install disc 1 and it still gives a folder with questions mark.  I am becoming very worried

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 11, 2015 4:52 PM in response to golfinw71
    Level 6 (17,234 points)
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    Jul 11, 2015 4:52 PM in response to golfinw71

    You should follow the steps in the article I linked to.

  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 11, 2015 6:05 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2015 6:05 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    I must be doing something wrong  because I have gone through all those steps and still haven't had any luck.  I appreciate you sending the link though.

     

    Is there a reason the iMac that was running yosemite would not boot from the original OS X install disc?

     

    Also, when I restart the computer and hold down option, nothing else is on the screen except for the icons for the time machine volume and the OS X install disc volume.  When I click on the OS X install disc, the icons briefly disappear and after a few moments the dreaded folder with question mark blinks sporadically. 

     

    I have never seen or been able to get to a screen where it shows either Disk Utility or Recovery HD, not sure why.

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 11, 2015 6:03 PM in response to golfinw71
    Level 6 (17,234 points)
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    Jul 11, 2015 6:03 PM in response to golfinw71

    The Mac should boot from the original discs regardless of the installed OS. Your drive may be malfunctioning, the disc may be faulty or incorrect. Are you sure you've got the correct disc? Are you rebooting while holding the C key?

  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 11, 2015 6:07 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
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    Jul 11, 2015 6:07 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    I am fairly certain it is the correct disc, we've had a few different macs through the years.  Is there a way to verify? Or should I just call apple and see if they can send me the disc that goes with this imac?  

     

    I hope the drive is ok, it is brand new and I am fairly certain it was installed correctly and carefully.  

  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 11, 2015 6:12 PM in response to golfinw71
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2015 6:12 PM in response to golfinw71

    Mike Sombrio, you were right, it was the wrong CD.  I just verified the CD and it is for an older macbook pro.

     

    I will call apple and have a new one shipped and report back.  thanks so much for the help.

  • by Mike Sombrio,Solvedanswer

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 12, 2015 4:04 AM in response to golfinw71
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    Jul 12, 2015 4:04 AM in response to golfinw71

    If Apple no longer provides those discs get a retail Snow Leopard disc http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 14, 2015 6:51 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
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    Jul 14, 2015 6:51 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Thanks!!  I ended up finding my Leopard disk. I loaded that and get the computer going again. In order to Restore from Time Machine, I have to get snow leopard and upgrade to Yosemite. I have since ordered snow leopard through the Apple store and think this will solve all the iMac problems.  thank you for all the help

  • by golfinw71,

    golfinw71 golfinw71 Jul 19, 2015 6:38 PM in response to golfinw71
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 19, 2015 6:38 PM in response to golfinw71

    I just wanted to follow up to let everyone know what I had to go through and to thank those who helped along the way.  After purchasing the snow leopard disc from Apple, I was able to update to Yosemite and get back to the operating system I was using before the crash.  After the install, I anxiously plugged in the time machine drive hoping to restore everything back to normal, not so...     My external hard drive's directory had been destroyed.   Now, at this point, I am out my main hard drive AND my external back up drive.  What are the chances??  After doing a little research and using disk utility, I found out that the directory had indeed been corrupted some how.  My research led me to Disk Warrior.  I took the chance of spending $129 and sure enough, my external drive with time machine back ups was as good as new. 

     

    I am now back up and running as if nothing every happened.  I spent a total of $200 between apple (snow leopard), newegg hard drive 1TB, and $129 for disk warrior to repair my external drive without having to reformat. 

     

    Bottom line, don't erase a drive until you have tried disk warrior as it works magic (in my case).    Hope this helps those who have a similar issue to mine.

  • by Mike Sombrio,Helpful

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jul 20, 2015 3:17 AM in response to golfinw71
    Level 6 (17,234 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 20, 2015 3:17 AM in response to golfinw71

    Disk Warror has saved my bacon more than once over the years, it's worth every penny. I now keep a Time Machine backup AND periodic bootable clones using Carbon Copy Cloner on a second external hard drive. Some people even keep a backup off site, which is wise, in case some disaster destroys your home.