HT204323: If a flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Learn about If a flashing question mark appears when you start your MacQ: Bought used Macbook pro that doesn't have a recovery CD. I get the ? mark that doesn't go away, can I install another OS or ... Bought used Macbook pro that doesn't have a recovery CD. I get the ? mark that doesn't go away, can I install another OS or do I have to re-install the original OS? If so where can I get one? more
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Helpful answers
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Jun 7, 2016 2:09 PM in response to diana473by Niel,★Helpful1. It depends on which Mac you have. Click here and check its original OS; if this is 10.6.2 or earlier, you can use a retail Snow Leopard DVD.
2. Depending on the Mac's original OS and firmware, you need one of its original disks, a retail Snow Leopard DVD, or to restart it with the Option, Command, and R keys held down.
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Jun 7, 2016 2:08 PM in response to diana473by JimmyCMPIT,★Helpfuldeepening on the age of the laptop you may or may not have internet recovery as an option
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
in the event you don't you will need either a bootable OS X installer or the disks that came with your computer at the time of purchase, the latter procedure does recommend you use THOSE disks for THAT model mac, if you have disks for ANOTHER model fact DONT use them, USE an OS X instal disk from Apple instead.
if you do not have any of those you can purchase Snow Leopard from Apple for $19.99
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
make sure your Mac Model was current at the time of the release of this OS or it won't work. In the event you don't know please let us know what model it is and we can identify with the information.
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Jun 8, 2016 9:48 AM in response to diana473by Eric Root,If you used Niel's link to find out what Mac you have, if you would post that, people could provide better advice. Without that, everything is a best guess.
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Jun 8, 2016 5:41 PM in response to diana473by diana473,Thank you for the great information. Niel posted a great link to find out which Mac and OS and also specs. Here it is:
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=
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Jun 9, 2016 10:57 AM in response to diana473by Eric Root,The link doesn't show up filled in with your computer model. Please post what output you got.