Flashing folder problem, verify and repair buttons greyed out.

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Level 1

8 points

Flashing folder problem, verify and repair buttons greyed out.

Hello,

I'm trying to repair a friends macbook. It has the grey screen flashing folder problem.

If a flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac - Apple Support

I have followed the above guide untill it says that you have to verify and repair the drive, but both of these buttons are greyed out for me.

It does say you can make a backup on external harddrive but I don't have one and I need to fix this today. I can however, if it's possible, get the important data on a usb drive, but would that be possible anyway? Just transfering the files?

Also I dont know what os x is running on this macbook, its an old macbook. Is there a way for me to see?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

Posted on May 30, 2016 9:48 AM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 30, 2016 9:55 AM in response to Emre0172

Back up before you go any further.. If you don't have an external can you just get one, or bacup on a USB pocket drive?

It sounds like the hard drive is toast. You'll probably need to replace it.

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Answer 2

Emre0172 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 30, 2016 10:06 AM in response to macjack

> can you just get one

I'm trying to look for a solution around, because I cannot get one

> or backup using a usb pocket drive

What kind of backup is this? I cant do a whole backup on a small drive right? If its file transfer itd be doable, but how?

> before you go any further

How do I go further😀

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 30, 2016 10:16 AM in response to Emre0172

> or backup using a usb pocket drive

What kind of backup is this? I cant do a whole backup on a small drive right? If its file transfer itd be doable, but how?

Depends on the size of the files you are backing up and the size of the pocket drive.

If you have another Mac you can use Target Disk Mode and just drag over the Home folder.

Share files between two computers with target disk mode - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Emre0172 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 30, 2016 10:27 AM in response to macjack

> Depends on the size of the files you are backing up and the size of the pocket drive.

So is it possible to plug in a usb drive of, say 8 gb, and move files in home folder to the drive?

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Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 30, 2016 10:33 AM in response to Emre0172

Yes, 8 GB is far larger than the faulty drive you're backing up... unless the message you are getting is incorrect. You won't know if you until you try.

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Answer 6

Emre0172 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 30, 2016 10:36 AM in response to macjack

Oh wait, so what you back up isn't files in the home folder? Is it not going to format the whole harddrive?

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Answer 7

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 30, 2016 10:38 AM in response to Emre0172

I've never used that feature. If you can drag and drop just take the Home folder, that's all you need. If it backs up the entire drive ,so you've got more than need.

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Answer 8

Emre0172 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 30, 2016 11:23 AM in response to macjack

When I try to install os x on the usb drive it says this disk doesnt usr the guid oartition table scheme

But with disk utility theres no option for me to format it as guid or anything like that.

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Answer 9

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 30, 2016 12:48 PM in response to Emre0172

It does say you can make a backup on external harddrive

Yes, that is what I was afraid. Your only course of action I know of is to install a new hard drive, format it, reinstall OS X and put the old one in an enclosure and see if if can be read.

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