Flashing folder with question mark....

[clifford83]

So im a long time windows user and only ever had a mac briefly a number of years ago. Back then i remember i used a OS disc to recovery my OS.

Now i've bought myself a used macbook pro, however i need to steal the HDD out of it for a windows laptop i needed to upgrade for a customer, it didn't bother me as i thought it would be a easy reinstall after i've replaced the hdd. How wrong was i!. I since replaced the HDD with the same HDD (samsung 850 SSD 500GB). I've read ENDLESS video tutorials online and guides, with no success so far.

They all seem to only be helpful if you can access OS X in the first place, but i cant.

So when i boot it up i get the flashing folder and question mark inside the folder.

I've tried booting it up pressing CTRL+R which goes into some internet recovery mode which asks me to connect to my network. Now i connected to my network, note i have restricted download GB and EXTREMELY slow speed where i live. So i went through all the motions of erasing the disk and partitioned it accordingly, then i went to install OS X via the recovery, it is around 6GB? and it takes for EVER. I cancelled it 10% of the way in as it was eating up my bandwidth.

I then went through all the motions of creating a USB stick (16GB) and putting the OS on it in .DMG format. WHich i did using TransMac on a windows PC. I followed a guide on this. Once that had finished, i plugged the USB back into the mac and tried to restore the image to the HDD.

It finishes fine, but still the OS doesn't boot up! i still get the flashing folder.

So what are my options now?.

1. I cannot be doing internet update again.
2. USB restore doesn't seem to work??
3. disc restore????

I can't find any info other than restoring the OS via the internet.

Yes hands up, n00b windows user has spent 2 days solid on this

N00B HELP?

 

[pigoo3]

So when i boot it up i get the flashing folder and question mark inside the folder.

This can mean a number of things:

- There's no storage device installed (easy to figure this out).
- The storage device has crash/failed...or is otherwise dead.
- The SATA data cable could be disconnected (again easy to figure out).
- The SATA cable is damaged.
- The storage device isn't formatted properly (Mac OS Extended Journaled is the preferred format).
- No Mac OS installed on the storage device.

But the most likely causes for the flashing ? are:

- HD is dead.
- HD has no Mac OS installed on it.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[ferrarr]

Make an appointment at the closest Apple Store Genius Bar. They will help you install the Mac OS X/OS X/macOS version that shipped with that model MBP.

 

[harryb2448]

The oprating system does not come as a .dmg file, but a full blown installer usually of about +5GB and PCs can't do it. You need to open an App Store Account, known as an Apple ID, see link, and go from there. Bob's idea is a good one, subject to the purchase being a +2012 model, otherwise it is considered one of the 'over the hill' gang.


https://appleid.apple.com/account#!&page=create

 

[IWT]

Good Evening Clifford and a warm welcome to Mac-Forums.

This is the situation as I see it (correct any misunderstandings please).

You bought a used MacBook Pro (MBP).

You didn't use it or create an Apple ID to be linked to it.

You removed the Internal Hard Drive (IHD) for other purposes, after which, you reinstalled the IHD into your MBP.

As far as the Mac is concerned, this is like having a brand new IHD with no OS on it and no Apple ID associated with it.

The options are limited:

You can try to reinstall the OS which was last associated with this Mac - this you do by rebooting with Command + R (not Control + R) - but I doubt this would work?

Or, you can reboot whilst holding down Command + Option + R which takes you into Internet Recovery and, from there, download the original OS with which the Mac was shipped. This takes time.....lots of time....like overnight.

I understand your slow speed and your bandwidth limits, but remember you removed the IHD & reinstalled it as a blank disk. It needs to formatted OS X Extended (Journaled) and an OS download onto it.

Now, we have another problem. Do you remember which OS was on your MBP? Because if you know that, you could, perhaps, prevail upon a friend who owns a Mac to download that specific OS and create a bootable installer USB stick and use that to download your OS.

Please feel free to correct anything that I have mis-stated. You have a real problem here, not least of which is the absence of an Apple ID linked to you.

Ian

 

[pigoo3]

Would also be great to know the exact specs on this MacBook Pro. Knowing this we can offer more specific solutions.

- Nick

 

[clifford83]

Thanks for the quick replies, nice to see a forum which is supported well for once!.

@pigoo3 hdd and cabling are definitely fine.
@ferrar closest apple store to me i think is 70 miles away eeek!
@harryb2448 the DMG i got hold of is is 6GB in size i believe... it didn't work.
@IWT everything you said is correct. However there is no options button on my keyboard. Only CTRL+R takes me to internet recovery. Or holding down ALT (i think maybe classed as options?). The OS i had on it when i checked briefly im sure was 10.10.5 and my specs are i7, 8gb ram, intel HD 4000 gpu. Hmmm i don't think i know anyone with a mac either.

 

[clifford83]

Oh and its a MID 2012 model

EDIT:

I have a post pending in moderation queue if anyone was wondering my short response to all the above question.

 

[pigoo3]

Oh and its a MID 2012 model

Since this is a mid-2012 MacBook Pro...it supports "Internet Recovery":

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

3-key combo on startup: option + command + r

- Nick

 

[clifford83]

Since this is a mid-2012 MacBook Pro...it supports "Internet Recovery":

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

3-key combo on startup: option + command + r

- Nick

Is there any easier option?. The only way for me to do this is if im away from home and stealing a friends wifi or staying in a hotel for business. But that wont be for at least 2 weeks time.

I remember the first mac i ever had allowed me to load snow leopard was it? via dvd. Nothing like this available?.

 

[IWT]

You can't load an OS earlier than the one which shipped with your Mac. The 2011 models shipped with 10.7.2 and 2012 models shipped with 10.8.2 (info derived from EveryMac.com).

Ian

 

[pigoo3]

Is there any easier option?. The only way for me to do this is if im away from home and stealing a friends wifi or staying in a hotel for business. But that wont be for at least 2 weeks time.

Come on man...it's a solution...and probably THE solution in this case. How is it you don't have an internet connection to do this?

If the Internet connection is the issue:

- Visit an Apple Store (as mentoned above).
- Use free WiFi at Starbuck's, Panera Bread, McDonald's...or any other free WiFi source.
- Use a library or university WiFi.

I remember the first mac i ever had allowed me to load snow leopard was it? via dvd. Nothing like this available?.

Not really. OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) was the last Mac OS to come on DVD/disk. Mid-2012 MacBook Pro cannot run Snow Leopard. And if it could...you would need to purchase a Snow Leopard DVD (from Apple...via the internet)...which would take at least a few days to get to you. Doing Internet Recovery via the internet is faster.

Only other way is a bootable USB drive...with an OS installer on it. And this installer needs to come from Apple (at least a 5gig download)...which is really just about the same thing as "Internet Recovery".

You need to try Internet Recovery. It really is the easiest option. But I'm still confused about the WiFi issue on your end.

- Nick

 

[clifford83]

Come on man...it's a solution...and probably THE solution in this case. How is it you don't have an internet connection to do this?

If the Internet connection is the issue:

- Visit an Apple Store (as mentoned above).
- Use free WiFi at Starbuck's, Panera Bread, McDonald's...or any other free WiFi source.
- Use a library or university WiFi.



Not really. OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) was the last Mac OS to come on DVD/disk. Mid-2012 MacBook Pro cannot run Snow Leopard. And if it could...you would need to purchase a Snow Leopard DVD (from Apple...via the internet)...which would take at least a few days to get to you. Doing Internet Recovery via the internet is faster.

Only other way is a bootable USB drive...with an OS installer on it. And this installer needs to come from Apple (at least a 5gig download)...which is really just about the same thing as "Internet Recovery".

You need to try Internet Recovery. It really is the easiest option. But I'm still confused about the WiFi issue on your end.

- Nick

I do have the internet, just not able to download 6GB right now or able to leave it on for 24 hours or however long it needs. I did try to download it, but my internet cut off and it wouldn't start off from where it stopped when the internet came back. The loading bar went to FULL 100% and stuck there. I then tried again and it got to 10% and i cut it off, it was on for hours and hours.

Nearest apple store i think is 170mile round trip, not really ideal.

As for Library, Mcdonalds, coffee shop.. do you think they;ll let me sit in there for 24 hours?. Their wifi is as bad as mine.

Internet recovery is not the easiest option for me, and i'd imagine for a whole lot of other people too.

Ok, let me rephrase this.

I want the laptop up and running, like today or tomorrow or as soon as possible. If i want to get a windows laptop up and running, i can in 30 minutes. I can get the macbook up and running but not for at least a week. Last time i owned a macbook i used a dvd to restore it, it was as simple as a windows pc. So what have apple done?.

The easiest way is to obtain a dvd from someone/somewhere.

The second easier method would be to get it running via a USB dongle.

This is my opinion, your opinion may be different.

What about this USB dongle i have with the dmg file on, i can't do anything with this?. Its about 6GB.

Thanks

 

[harryb2448]

It will not work from an illegal .dmg file. Internet downloads the full 5.1 or so Installer File. First up and have a look in the Applications Folder for an 'Installer File' in case it did complete and you were not aware of this. You do have an Apple ID to access the App Store? You may like to look on eBay and such for smart operators who download free, put on a cheap thumb drive and sell it. It is one way of doing things. What operating system were you aiming to use? Suggest Sierra or El Capitan.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/SanDisk-USB...df7b62&pid=100012&rk=1&rkt=12&sd=272515408406

 

[ferrarr]

If you want to get the OS installed as soon as possible, make an appointment at the Apple Store Genius Bar. No, it's not perfect, but you will be up and running. If all the appointment times are full for the next few days, you "may" be able to go there and have it done, but you may end up being there for a few hours.

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

You will need to create an Apple ID, if you do not already have one.

 

[MacInWin]

Apple abandoned DVDs years ago, they don't even put DVD drives in Macs any more. The only way to get the OS is now over the Internet. That's how it is. You can rail against it, but that is just how it is. I appreciate the difficulties with a slow or limited internet but if you really want that machine up and running in 24-48 hours the only available solution is to install over the Internet.

EDIT: Just a thought, but do you know anyone who has a Mac? You might be able to create a bootable USB stick on their Mac and boot yours from it, then look at the USB stick you created to see if there is an installer file on it from which you can format the SSD and install the OS. But you need a suitable Mac with a suitable OS on it to even try.

 

[chscag]

If you want to get the OS installed as soon as possible, make an appointment at the Apple Store Genius Bar. No, it's not perfect, but you will be up and running. If all the appointment times are full for the next few days, you "may" be able to go there and have it done, but you may end up being there for a few hours.

The OP stated that it's a 170 mile round trip to the nearest Apple Store.

 

[ferrarr]

The OP stated that it's a 170 mile round trip to the nearest Apple Store.

I know, the OP also stated they wanted it don in 2-3 days, if possible, which it is. 85 miles each way, or, less than 1-1/2 hours each way. In my opinion, that is time well spent.

 

[pigoo3]

As for Library, Mcdonalds, coffee shop.. do you think they;ll let me sit in there for 24 hours?. Their wifi is as bad as mine.

All I can say is give it a try. I haven't done any speed tests. But WiFi speeds I've experienced at these places has not been that slow. 5gig/24 hours = 208 megabyte/hour = 3.5meg/minute.

When folks offer solutions...embrace them & give them a try. Holding out for the "most convenient" way for that you prefer (which may or may not be legal or possible)...will not get this project completed.

Good luck,

- Nick

 

[Csmac]

FYI, this link has how to make the installers for a range of OSx versions. http://osxdaily.com/gsearch/?q=create osx installer.

The big question is if you need to have the original OS on your HD to install a later one. I'm sure others on this forum know the answer. Depending on the answer then, as Macwin said, get a friend with a mac to download the correct version for you and make the installer. Boot the USB stick on you MBP and it should be able to format the drive and do the install.