2008 Mac Pro booting to a question mark folder

Hello all,

I have a 2008 mac pro that is booting to a question mark folder.

No matter what I try I cant get it to boot to any environment. Back story, my son installed Linux on this pc without dual booting. Im trying to get it back to MAC OS but it doesnt seem to want to go back

Tried getting in to recovery mode ( command r) or booting to a CD ( C) or booting to the start manager ( option key) but all it does is boot to the folder icon.

Thinking the hard drives are bad I replaced them all. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

*mac worked 100% fine as a linux machine but i want it back on Mac.

The linux install blew away OS X, so you can't boot back into it. Unless you are careful with the install, the install also likely blew away the recovery partition. You'll have to use the original media that came with the Mac and boot into it and then re-install OS X.

Raz0rEdge said:

The linux install blew away OS X, so you can't boot back into it. Unless you are careful with the install, the install also likely blew away the recovery partition. You'll have to use the original media that came with the Mac and boot into it and then re-install OS X.

Click to expand...

I tried that but its just keeps ejecting the DVD. ( actually its a copy of my original DVD). maybe it just doesnt like this disc...

So do you have the original Leopard install disks that came with the mac pro? I know you will need the original grey disks that came with it or a black disk version that can be used on any mac. If not you can still purchase Snow Leopard but Apple no longer sells Leopard.

I don't believe you would have a recovery partition because you had Linux on it and also from the question mark on the folder I am going to say it is possible the boot drive is dead or damaged.

It should still respond to holding down the Option key if there is a bootable cd in a functioning dvd/cd drive. What happens if you remove all the drives and just have the cd in the cd/dvd drive?

Also are you using an official Apple video card? I have a non-EFI video card in my mac pro and if I want to see the startup screens I have to use the original Apple video card.

Lisa