iMac (Flashing Folder w/ Question Mark)

Discussion in 'iMac' started by cArLo000, Nov 22, 2013.

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  1. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    Hi, i have an iMac which is when i try to open it it's stuck on gray screen with folder and a question mark on it(hoooo nosebleed ako) i searched the internet for some solutions and tried it but its stil not working. I already tried resetting the PRAM/NVRAM actually thats the only thing i did na gumana, also tried startup manager but it doesnt show the bootable drives, safe boot nothing shows on the screen but it says on the internet i will see a progress bar, also tried a disk utility without a boot disk and now trying with a boot disk but same output. Now, nadagdagan problem ko kasi i can't eject the CD. please help! thanks in advance
     
    #1 cArLo000, Nov 22, 2013
  2. mark_17

    mark_17 Active Member

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    either you have a corrupted os x install and needs to be re-installed or you have a dead drive that needs to be replaced first then re-install mac os x.
     
    #2 mark_17, Nov 22, 2013
  3. madmax168

    madmax168 Active Member

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    It usually means a defective HDD or no system found or a defective SATA/IDE interface thus cannot detect the HDD or ODD. Have you tried plugging a bootable USB Flash Drive or USB HDD?
     
    #3 madmax168, Nov 22, 2013
  4. antski

    antski Well-Known Member

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    hope your files are backed up.
     
    #4 antski, Nov 22, 2013
  5. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    i tried plugging external ODD and it shows the Mac OS X install disc.. but when i click the arrow nothing happens.
     
    #5 cArLo000, Nov 22, 2013
  6. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    I just tried to plug usb HDD but it doesn't show on bootup manager.
    @antski i'm not sure if its backed up.
    if ever it has a defective HDD, can i still retrieve the files on it?
     
    #6 cArLo000, Nov 22, 2013
  7. winn_316

    winn_316 Member

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    You might need a new hard drive ...
     
    #7 winn_316, Nov 24, 2013
  8. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    btw, how can i check if my hdd still works or detected? is there a BIOS like in a mac where i can check if my mac still detects the HDD? Thanks :)
     
    #8 cArLo000, Nov 25, 2013
  9. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    to eject the cd. restart the computer - press mouse (press not click) while booting up :)
     
    #9 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  10. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    If you want to check the HDD, boot up with the install DVD. Press letter C on the keyboard while booting
     
    #10 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  11. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    Thank you for the reply. My problem is I don't have the install DVD that comes with it, can I use other install disk?
     
    #11 cArLo000, Nov 25, 2013
  12. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    If it's a dead HDD, you can't retrieve anything
     
    #12 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  13. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    If you can borrow one - yes. What is you OS by the way?
     
    #13 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  14. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    or a defetive RAM
     
    #14 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  15. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    Here's what you can do to isolate the problem. Buy, borrow or steal MacOS install disc or DiskWarrior. Press C on keyboard and start the computer. If it successfully run on a CD then you can check HDD's status but if it doesn't boot at all, you may have a busted RAM.
     
    #15 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  16. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    I already have a install disc ver 10.5 and it did boot, but when i go to disk utility all i can see is the odd and the mac os x install disc. Does it means my HDD is busted?
     
    #16 cArLo000, Nov 25, 2013
  17. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    there's a big chance that it's busted. Can you mount the HDD?
     
    #17 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  18. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    how will i mount the HDD? :)
     
    #18 cArLo000, Nov 25, 2013
  19. kenshinx

    kenshinx Active Member

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    If you can see the HDD icon on the left pane of the Disk Utility, maybe you salvage it but if you don't see it, its probably time to replace it.
     
    #19 kenshinx, Nov 25, 2013
  20. cArLo000

    cArLo000 New Member

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    oohh.. that's sad coz' I don't see the HDD! And one thing, I can't boot on CD using its ODD now I'm using external optical drive.
     
    #20 cArLo000, Nov 26, 2013
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