Flashing folder with a question mark

[dacoolest]

Hi, my friend has an old macbook pro with Leopard installed. Recently it stopped booting up and started displaying a flashing folder icon with a question mark in it after few seconds of a empty white screen. In the same time, it produces a clicking noise as well.

He has lost his install disks as well.

Any suggestions/tips would would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[GGJstudios]

Hi, my friend has an old macbook pro with Leopard installed. Recently it stopped booting up and started displaying a flashing folder icon with a question mark in it after few seconds of a empty white screen. In the same time, it produces a clicking noise as well.

This may help, if you haven't seen them already:

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
Mac doesn't boot​

He has lost his install disks as well.

He can order replacement discs for his model by calling Apple (800-767-2775 in the US).

 

[old-wiz]

Most likely the HDD has died.

 

[dacoolest]

This may help, if you haven't seen them already:

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
Mac doesn't boot​

He can order replacement discs for his model by calling Apple (800-767-2775 in the US).

Thanks for the reply. I followed almost all instructions there but still I couldn't get it working.

----------

Most likely the HDD has died.

Thank you for replying here. Yes, I will get the HDD replaced.

 

[justperry]

Most likely the HDD has died.

Hmm, last thing one can suspect.

Thanks for the reply. I followed almost all instructions there but still I couldn't get it working.
Thank you for replying here. Yes, I will get the HDD replaced.

A flashing question mark shows up because it can not find a valid OS install, reinstall the OS.

 

[Grazey16]

Grazey

My macbook OSX 10.5 has done this twice. First time I tried all the tips and tricks without formatting the HD. All no good. I left it untouched for some weeks and then it came good on switch on. This morning same thing - grey folder of death and HD clicking. Sounded like the drive was stuck or hunting. I then thumped the MacBook on my knee and it booted up normally.
It is quite probable that eventually I will have to make the treck to the Apple shop for a new computer when my "fix' fails. Sometimes brute force works when all else fails.