MacBook - Only Grey screen and ?

Hail · Hail #1 (**permalink**)

09-30-2009, 08:25 PM

I was viewing a legit online site when I got
"the beachball of death", which wouldn´t go away.
Everything froze so I tried to shut my MacBook 10.4.11
off. The screen went black instantly without the usual message
asking if I want to restart or shutdown.

Now when I push the start button, the screen just goes
instantly grey. Nothing comes up except sometimes a question
mark.

Usually my toolbar and desktop pic icons come up
but now there´s just grey with nothing appearing that would
let me do something.

I tried disconnecting the current and battery for a few hours but
it didn´t help.

I would be most grateful for suggestions.

bobtomay · bobtomay #2 (**permalink**)

09-30-2009, 10:40 PM

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

D3v1L80Y · D3v1L80Y #3 (**permalink**)

10-01-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobtomay

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

...which is also a Sticky Thread at the top of the forum.... Flashing Question Mark on start up

Hail · Hail #4 (**permalink**)

10-01-2009, 12:02 PM

Yes, that´s it : the flashing question mark.

Thanks for steering me to the right thread !

Hail · Hail #5 (**permalink**)

10-14-2009, 08:44 AM

On one forum it said I probably need to "reselect the Start Up
disk in preferences."

Can some one tell me how to do this please, as my
screen remains grey with only a question mark ?

One friend said
I need to hold the option key down while turning the
computer on, until the Hard Drive icon appears. I tried
this but no icon or anything except a screech occurred.

I appreciate any ideas as from here in Mexico it is a bit
difficult to get info.

bobtomay · bobtomay #6 (**permalink**)

10-14-2009, 09:25 AM

Follow the two links provided in the above posts. The answer has not changed.

bobtomay #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 22,036 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	09-30-2009, 10:40 PM A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 22,036 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	10-14-2009, 09:25 AM Follow the two links provided in the above posts. The answer has not changed. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.
	QUOTE Thanks

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Hail #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 5	09-30-2009, 08:25 PM I was viewing a legit online site when I got "the beachball of death", which wouldn´t go away. Everything froze so I tried to shut my MacBook 10.4.11 off. The screen went black instantly without the usual message asking if I want to restart or shutdown. Now when I push the start button, the screen just goes instantly grey. Nothing comes up except sometimes a question mark. Usually my toolbar and desktop pic icons come up but now there´s just grey with nothing appearing that would let me do something. I tried disconnecting the current and battery for a few hours but it didn´t help. I would be most grateful for suggestions.
	QUOTE Thanks

Hail #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 5	10-01-2009, 12:02 PM Yes, that´s it : the flashing question mark. Thanks for steering me to the right thread !
	QUOTE Thanks

Hail #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 5	10-14-2009, 08:44 AM On one forum it said I probably need to "reselect the Start Up disk in preferences." Can some one tell me how to do this please, as my screen remains grey with only a question mark ? One friend said I need to hold the option key down while turning the computer on, until the Hard Drive icon appears. I tried this but no icon or anything except a screech occurred. I appreciate any ideas as from here in Mexico it is a bit difficult to get info.
	QUOTE Thanks

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