Start-up...

[MalcolmJID]

...on a normal start up on my MB, the grey screen comes on, dings, then the folder with a question mark comes up for a second. But then the Apple logo comes up as normal and everything works fine.

Should I worry? Is this a sign of impending HDD failure?

 

[yellow]

No, and No.. at least, not necessarily.

System Preferences -> Startup Disk -> Select your startup disk -> Restart button.

Did the ? go away?

 

[gr8tfly]

Sounds like it's looking for a boot volume. For some reason (maybe recently set to boot off an external drive, for instance), it no longer has a pre-set boot volume.

Go to System Prefs->Startup Disk and select your OS-X install on your harddrive.

Hopefully, it'll now boot directly to your internal drive.

 

[ozontheroad]

...on a normal start up on my MB, the grey screen comes on, dings, then the folder with a question mark comes up for a second. But then the Apple logo comes up as normal and everything works fine.

Should I worry? Is this a sign of impending HDD failure?

it could be a hard drive problem. (but more than likely something else) start up disk change?

open Disk Utility and check the S.M.A.R.T status of the hard drive it should say "verified"

then on the "first aid" tab (it will be selected by default) "verify disk"

 

[MalcolmJID]

SMART status verifyed.

But Verify Disk gave me:

Volume Header needs minor repair
The volume MacBook HD needs to be repaired.

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit


1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair




Where from here?

 

[72930]

I have this too, only after a failed Vista RC2 bootcamp.

 

[deadpixels]

SMART status verifyed.

But Verify Disk gave me:

Volume Header needs minor repair
The volume MacBook HD needs to be repaired.

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit


1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair




Where from here?

you should not worry, i had that on my alu pbook for years, it's nothing wrong, your hard drive s fine i'm sure.

 

[WildCowboy]

Boot from your install DVD and click Repair Disk for your hard drive in Disk Utility.

 

[MalcolmJID]

I have this too, only after a failed Vista RC2 bootcamp.

Wow, I uninstalled Windows XP SP2 off here about a week ago? Looks like it's the same.

Oddly enough, Disk Utility won't let me click Repair Disk? It's still greyed out, even when selecting either the "Toshiba..." or "MacBook HD" in the left hand pane, after clicking verify disk. Odd?

 

[WildCowboy]

Oddly enough, Disk Utility won't let me click Repair Disk? It's still greyed out, even when selecting either the "Toshiba..." or "MacBook HD" in the left hand pane, after clicking verify disk. Odd?

Yep...you can't repair a disk you're booted from. That's why you have to boot from your install DVD in order to repair.

 

[MalcolmJID]

Boot from your install DVD and click Repair Disk for your hard drive in Disk Utility.

Unfortunately I don't have access to the Install DVD 'till tomorrow. It's been running fine the last week, so I guess it'll run fine for another day?

 

[WildCowboy]

Unfortunately I don't have access to the Install DVD 'till tomorrow. It's been running fine the last week, so I guess it'll run fine for another day?

I assume so.

 

[MalcolmJID]

No, and No.. at least, not necessarily.

System Preferences -> Startup Disk -> Select your startup disk -> Restart button.

Did the ? go away?

Thank you, all sorted now. For some reason, a network startup was in the start up options. OS X selected now. Thank you!