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Helpful answers
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Jan 6, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Pollyfromvtby Duane,★HelpfulIt sounds like your Mac restarted and couldn't find the startup disk. See About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support
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Jan 6, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Duaneby Pollyfromvt,Duane, thanks for writing!
Even though it didn't happen at start-up, but by just being on, it probably is the same problem.
Since I can cure the problem by restarting, should I be in a hurry to buy a new Mac?
I do have everything backed up, both with Time Machine and offsite.
Thanks!
Polly
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Jan 7, 2016 3:12 AM in response to Pollyfromvtby rkaufmann87,★HelpfulPollyfromvt,
What you can check is System Preferences - Startup Disk and click the startup disk so it is highlighted. Then click restart and the machine should start-up. However please remember, your computer is almost 10 years old now which is quite old. At the very least you should be backing the computer up with Time Machine and also checking on occasion that the back up is working okay by restoring a file or two.
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Jan 7, 2016 3:10 AM in response to rkaufmann87by Pollyfromvt,R, thanks for writing!
Actually, the gray question mark showed up, not on start-up, but just on sitting there. Restarting made the question mark go away.
But the actual meaning of the symbol, that suddenly the computer can't find the start-up disk, probably holds true. And yes, it's 8.5 years old.
It never hurts to be be reminded, but I do have a Time Machine backup, and an offsite backup too, both recently checked.
Thanks!