Flashing folder w/ question mark!

appler · Aug 27, 2009

Hi all I've done some research and know this problem has been talked about many times . . .
But here it is again.. This is really frustrating it'll be great if anyone can offer me some help.

I tried rebooting from disc and under the "disk utility" my HD is not detected . . . My guess is the HD is dead.. I do have applecare and would like to bring it to the genius bar.

BUT the problem is.. this leopard that I'm using is an unofficial version (though it was working w/o a problem before the HD died). I tried rebooting using the 10.9 disc that comes with my macbook but it doesn't work.

What should I do now? Will they not fix my MB because of that?? Any advice??
Any help will be appreciated! Thanks in Advanced!

D3v1L80Y · Aug 27, 2009

Sticky thread at the top of this forum: http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/162425-flashing-question-mark-start-up.html

appler · Aug 28, 2009

thanks but I've tried all those already.

any other advice?

bobtomay · Aug 28, 2009

If you didn't use illegal software, you wouldn't have this worry.

However, if your machine is covered by Applecare, a dead drive is a dead drive.

pigoo3 · Aug 28, 2009

appler said:
Hi all I've done some research and know this problem has been talked about many times . . .
But here it is again.. This is really frustrating it'll be great if anyone can offer me some help.

I tried rebooting from disc and under the "disk utility" my HD is not detected . . . My guess is the HD is dead.. I do have applecare and would like to bring it to the genius bar.

BUT the problem is.. this leopard that I'm using is an unofficial version (though it was working w/o a problem before the HD died). I tried rebooting using the 10.9 disc that comes with my macbook but it doesn't work.

What should I do now? Will they not fix my MB because of that?? Any advice??
Any help will be appreciated! Thanks in Advanced!

There are a bunch of things that don't make sense here:

- you're using an "unofficial" version of Leopard, not sure what you mean by this
- your hard drive is dead
- rebooting with your 10.9 disk, there is no such thing as a 10.9 disk

If you still have warranty/Applecare...great for you!

Take it to your nearest Apple Store for them to look at! Take advantage of that warranty!!!;D

- Nick

appler · Aug 28, 2009

Thanks for the replies.

pigoo3 said:
There are a bunch of things that don't make sense here:

- you're using an "unofficial" version of Leopard, not sure what you mean by this
- your hard drive is dead
- rebooting with your 10.9 disk, there is no such thing as a 10.9 disk

If you still have warranty/Applecare...great for you! Take it to your nearest Apple Store for them to look at! Take advantage of that warranty!!!;D

- Nick

Now I just noticed that I typed in 10.9 instead of 9

No wonder it doesn't make sense at all. So yea I meant Mac OS 9. And "unofficial" I meant illegal version.

bobtomay said:
If you didn't use illegal software, you wouldn't have this worry.

However, if your machine is covered by Applecare, a dead drive is a dead drive.

Yes I learn my lesson now

So this does sound like a dead HD right?

harryb2448 · Aug 28, 2009

If not it probably should be lol! Do not use the OS 9 discs. Go out and purchase a full retail install copy of Leopard, pop it in the drive and reboot holding down 'C'. if she boots, go to the menu bar and run Repair Disc.

If not, take the machine and disc along to your Genius Bar of Apple dealer.

appler · Aug 30, 2009

Thanks for all the replies. I'll bring it to the Genius Bar and see how it goes.

Flashing folder w/ question mark!

appler

D3v1L80Y

appler

bobtomay

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pigoo3

Well-known member

appler

harryb2448

appler

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