Macbook Pro - folder w/ flashing question mark at startup

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Level 1

4 points

Macbook Pro - folder w/ flashing question mark at startup

Hi all, I have a 2011 Macbook Pro that's showing a folder w/ flashing question mark at startup. It doesn't go away after a few minutes. I used the Option-D startup command to run the advanced Apple Hardware Test over the internet, and it said no problems were found. When I start up from macOS Recovery mode, I can open Disk Utility but I don't have the option too verify or repair anything--the hard drive is labeled "Mac OS Base System." The only solution I can find is to reinstall the OS. Sadly, I don't have a current backup for my drive. Before I lose everything on my drive, I thought I'd ask here and see if anyone can possibly help me troubleshoot further. Many thanks.

Also...I've just realized my disk is rather full - 225MB are available on the 1.4 GB drive.

Posted on Jan 2, 2017 7:07 AM

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Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Jan 2, 2017 1:20 PM in response to kelea

Hi,

The question mark means the MBP cannot find a viable system to boot from.

The Base System is the Recovery HD built in to your HD (unless you're booted from Internet Recovery).

If you cannot see any other parts of your HD, it either means that it cannot be used because it's too full or it's dying/dead.

Reinstalling the OS, if you even can, will not erase anything, it will just install a new OS over the old one. Erasing, OTOH, will erase your entire HD and all data on it.

If you cannot reinstall the OS, and your data is important to you, and you have access to another Mac, you can try to start your MBP in Target Disk Mode: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262 and if that's successful, copy your data to the other Mac.

If that doesn't work, you're pretty much stuck using a data recovery service or trying data recovery software.

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