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PowerBook G4 displays question mark

Dear Community,


i switched on my PowerBook G4, it was running fine for a few hours with Internet connection, it then went blank with a question mark in the center. I tried switching it off and starting it up a few times but the same question mark appears. I don't know any troubleshooting steps.


THank you

iPad, iOS 5.1

Posted on Jan 11, 2016 5:47 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 11, 2016 10:55 PM

Usually the appearance of a flashing folder with question mark on startup, indicates the

inability of the computer to find a working system; so that may mean the hard drive has

failed, or a cable, or perhaps other related hardware has made the previously installed

operating system unavailable to start and run the computer.


• How to choose a startup disk on your Mac - Apple Support


There are several related issues and general answers listed here:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_doesn't_boot


If you have the install-restore DVD of the system installed, you could start the Mac from

the install disc #1 and see if you can use the Installer's version of Disk Utility check &

repair the hard drive; you can also choose the Startup disc (the computer or the DVD,

or an external drive) by use of Startup Manager to choose a bootable volume.


• Startup key combinations for Mac - Apple Support

• About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support


Also, now that the newest OS X versions running in later model Macs use OS X Recovery

because their systems were not installed from DVD media, most later support articles do

not specify directly the old methods for dealing with the boot-up form install-restore discs.


One of the processes, along with boot-up from install DVD, is this install method:

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/archiveinstall.html


Newer articles tend to omit the basics necessary to perform tasks in older configurations.


In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

1 reply
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 11, 2016 10:55 PM in response to piihonua

Usually the appearance of a flashing folder with question mark on startup, indicates the

inability of the computer to find a working system; so that may mean the hard drive has

failed, or a cable, or perhaps other related hardware has made the previously installed

operating system unavailable to start and run the computer.


• How to choose a startup disk on your Mac - Apple Support


There are several related issues and general answers listed here:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_doesn't_boot


If you have the install-restore DVD of the system installed, you could start the Mac from

the install disc #1 and see if you can use the Installer's version of Disk Utility check &

repair the hard drive; you can also choose the Startup disc (the computer or the DVD,

or an external drive) by use of Startup Manager to choose a bootable volume.


• Startup key combinations for Mac - Apple Support

• About the screens you see when your Mac starts up - Apple Support


Also, now that the newest OS X versions running in later model Macs use OS X Recovery

because their systems were not installed from DVD media, most later support articles do

not specify directly the old methods for dealing with the boot-up form install-restore discs.


One of the processes, along with boot-up from install DVD, is this install method:

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/archiveinstall.html


Newer articles tend to omit the basics necessary to perform tasks in older configurations.


In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

PowerBook G4 displays question mark

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