HT204323: If a flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

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lupita70

Q: I change the hard drive to my mac book air and Now just show the question mark folder


my MacBook air shows a white lock and does't accept any usb or cd-rom

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 5:04 PM

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Q: I change the hard drive to my mac book air and Now just show the question mark folder

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jun 3, 2016 5:07 PM in response to lupita70
    Level 10 (120,054 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 3, 2016 5:07 PM in response to lupita70

    Hi,

     

     

    Startup your Mac while holding down the Option key. That should launch the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk then click Restart. Then open System Preferences > Startup Disk > MacintoshHD > Restart.

     

    How to choose a startup disk on your Mac

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jun 3, 2016 5:14 PM in response to lupita70
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 3, 2016 5:14 PM in response to lupita70

    This is the third post for your problem. We appreciate it when you do not do this. An answer has been posted in your previous two posts.

     

    Install Lion Through Mavericks on a New HDD/SDD

     

         Be sure you backup your files.

     

    1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears. Wait patiently - 5-15 minutes - until the Utility Menu appears.
    2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
    3. After Disk Utility loads select the drive (usually, this is the out-dented entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the side list. Click on the Partition tab in Disk Utility’s main window.
    4. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions to one volume. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait for the process to finish. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
    5. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utility Menu and click on the Install button.

     

    [Permission to use part or all of the above has been granted by Kappy, exclusively, to theratter.]

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 4, 2016 10:16 AM in response to lupita70
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 4, 2016 10:16 AM in response to lupita70

    If you have access to another computer, if the 2 computers have the correct cable connections, try the Target Disk Mode. You can then download the OS installer on the other computer and install it on the Air.

     

    Target Disk Mode - Mavericks

     

    Target Disc Mode

  • by OGELTHORPE,Apple recommended

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jun 4, 2016 11:34 AM in response to lupita70
    Level 9 (52,074 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 4, 2016 11:34 AM in response to lupita70

    If this is the display that you are seeing and do not know the password, bring the Mac into an Apple store genius bar.

    Screen Shot 2016-06-04 at 2.32.40 PM.png

    Ciao.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 7, 2016 9:04 AM in response to lupita70
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 7, 2016 9:04 AM in response to lupita70

    .

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Jun 8, 2016 6:45 AM in response to theratter
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 8, 2016 6:45 AM in response to theratter

    This is the third post for your problem. We appreciate it when you do not do this

    We? Who is We? Probably a good idea to speak for yourself.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Jun 8, 2016 6:57 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 8, 2016 6:57 AM in response to WZZZ

    Oh, and what is exclusive permission from Kappy? Please clue me in, how does one go about arranging something like that?  You mean that even if I gave proper attribution, I wouldn't be able to quote from that, all or in part? Can you provide documentation for this claim of yours? I have never seen anything like this before at ASC. Very interesting.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jun 8, 2016 6:58 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 10 (123,496 points)
    Jun 8, 2016 6:58 AM in response to WZZZ

    Good friend of Kappy & when Kappy quit he passed his notes to theratter.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Jun 8, 2016 7:01 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 8, 2016 7:01 AM in response to BDAqua

    BDAqua wrote:

     

    Good friend of Kappy & when Kappy quit he passed his notes to theratter.

    "Good friend", or alter ego/doppelganger?