Q: On an older G5 Mac, on boot-up I only get a tiny icon of an alternating "?" and a "Finder" folder in the center of the monitor. That result continues until I finally turn the Mac off. Any comments?

On an older G5 Mac, on boot-up I only get a tiny icon of an alternating "?" and a "Finder" folder in the center of the monitor. That result continues until I finally turn the Mac off. Any comments? Note: There were a couple of books on the keyboard upon power-up. Could that have initiated a special boot process? If so, how do I return to a normal boot?

Posted on Jan 13, 2016 1:45 PM

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Q: On an older G5 Mac, on boot-up I only get a tiny icon of an alternating "?" and a "Finder" folder in the center of the monitor. Th ... more

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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Jan 13, 2016 3:40 PM in response to Louie The Photo Guy
Level 10 (123,880 points)

Jan 13, 2016 3:40 PM in response to Louie The Photo Guy

The flashing question marks means it cannot find the OS it thinks it needs to boot from.

Try holding alt key or sometimes called option key at power on to bring up the Start Disk Selection...

Does anything show & is selectable?
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by Louie The Photo Guy,

Louie The Photo Guy Jan 16, 2016 11:29 PM in response to BDAqua
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Jan 16, 2016 11:29 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the info. It did not help. I think the HD is bad because it is now making rapid, clicking sound for about a minute on power-up. I am taking the desktop to the Apple Genius. This drive has lasted 11 years, so it may be time to replace it. Thanks anyway,
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Jan 17, 2016 10:35 AM in response to Louie The Photo Guy
Level 10 (123,880 points)

Jan 17, 2016 10:35 AM in response to Louie The Photo Guy

OK, good luck, but I'm not sure an Apple Store will even look at a G5, an independent AASP might.
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Q: On an older G5 Mac, on boot-up I only get a tiny icon of an alternating "?" and a "Finder" folder in the center of the monitor. That result continues until I finally turn the Mac off. Any comments?

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by BDAqua,

by Louie The Photo Guy,

by BDAqua,

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