mac flashing folder on startup cant find disk.

Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
1
my 2007 imac running mountain lionwould only show a flashing question mark folder when i would start up the computer. i tried holding alt during the startup but it didnt do anything. i bought a copy of snow leopard to install and it got me past the startup but on the installation it is asked me to select the disk where i wanted to install it but no disks showed up. can someone please help me to get my computer working again?
 
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
25,564
Reaction score
486
Points
83
Location
Blue Mountains NSW Australia
Your Mac's Specs
Silver M1 iMac 512/16/8/8 macOS 11.6
G'day and welcome to the forums.

Rather than Option try and boot into ML Recovery and run Repair Disk from there as it does sound like your hard drive is failing. As you have Snow Leopard, boot from the DVD, leave Installer, go into Utilities > Disk utility > Repair Disk and see what is reported. Also have a read of this link on using recovery:-

OS X: About OS X Recovery
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
Your hard drive has died which is why command + r or booting from the Snow Leopard disk can not see it. The cure is to replace the hard drive which is not an easy task to do on an iMac. Hopefully you have a backup so that your data is not lost.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
could i use an external hardrive?

Yes, you could operate the iMac from an external hard drive but it will be slower than from an internal drive.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top