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Stevetheobscure · Stevetheobscure #1 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 11:49 AM

Hi, I'm kinda new to the Apple scene, but I just bought a used macbook pro A1150 on eBay and I upgraded the hard drive from an 80gb to a 500gb. Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I keep getting a folder with a question mark on it when I turn it on. What does that mean?

cwa107 · cwa107 #2 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 11:53 AM

It means that there is no bootable media. I suspect that's because the drive has yet to be formatted or prepped. You'll need OS installation media to get the ball rolling.

Stevetheobscure · Stevetheobscure #3 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 11:55 AM

I got an iMac a while ago with Snow Leopard which is what I wanted to put on it. Could I use that backup disc to load Snow Leopard?

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #4 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevetheobscure

...I keep getting a folder with a question mark on it when I turn it on. What does that mean?

I think as long as we have Macintosh computers with "formattable" hard drives that need OS's installed on them...this question will never go away!

First time this question was asked for a Macintosh (1984)...last time it will be asked (???)

- Nick

p.s. @"Stevetheobscure"...I'm not picking on you for asking...it was just a random thought that entered my "brain"!

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #5 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevetheobscure

I got an iMac a while ago with Snow Leopard which is what I wanted to put on it. Could I use that backup disc to load Snow Leopard?

Not if it's a grey/silver colored disk. These discs are model specific...you need a "white" disk with a picture of a Snow Leopard on it (retail disk)...like this:

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.)

- Nick

Stevetheobscure · Stevetheobscure #6 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 12:00 PM

Thanks pigoo3!

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #7 (**permalink**)

11-05-2011, 12:01 PM

You're welcome!

cwa107 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,951 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	11-05-2011, 11:53 AM It means that there is no bootable media. I suspect that's because the drive has yet to be formatted or prepped. You'll need OS installation media to get the ball rolling. Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

pigoo3 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,674 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	11-05-2011, 12:01 PM You're welcome! - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

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Stevetheobscure #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Posts: 22	11-05-2011, 11:49 AM Hi, I'm kinda new to the Apple scene, but I just bought a used macbook pro A1150 on eBay and I upgraded the hard drive from an 80gb to a 500gb. Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I keep getting a folder with a question mark on it when I turn it on. What does that mean?
	QUOTE Thanks

Stevetheobscure #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Posts: 22	11-05-2011, 12:00 PM Thanks pigoo3!
	QUOTE Thanks

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