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Flashing ? Folder

LouiseG

LouiseG

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 31, 2015
107
61
Scotland
Turned on my 11" MacBook Air yesterday, done some browsing then noticed Operating System update available so clicked to update it and left it to do its thing. When I returned the MacBook was displaying a flashing ? folder.
Done some checks and it appears my MacBook can no longer see the SSD - has the update killed my SSD? Anyone ever experienced this before? Can't get an Apple appointment until Saturday afternoon.
 
Exactly what update was done?
Was this a full update from Sierra to High Sierra?
Or just a point update

An update from Sierra to High Sierra will update the SSD to APFS automatically, and in some cases cause issues
 
LouiseG said:
Thanks, That’s the guide I followed to determine my SSD wasn’t being found.

It’s a 2015 MacBook Air 11.6”
Click to expand...

Did it start up in Internet Recovery (a spinning globe) after you held down Cmd-R?

If so I assume you’ve run Disk Utility and confirmed the SSD does not appear there?
 
drlunanerd said:
Did it start up in Internet Recovery (a spinning globe) after you held down Cmd-R?

If so I assume you’ve run Disk Utility and confirmed the SSD does not appear there?
Click to expand...

Yeah. Internet recovery. No SSD showing in Disk Utility, only thing that is showing is the OS X Base System
 
LouiseG said:
Yeah. Internet recovery. No SSD showing in Disk Utility, only thing that is showing is the OS X Base System
Click to expand...

Drat. Well just to be thorough I’d try resetting the PRAM and SMC, then try Disk Utility again.

To be sure the SSD is gone you can load Terminal and look for it using the diskutil command - I’m assuming you’re running High Sierra, sometimes Disk Utility in that won’t see SSDs even though they are present.
 
drlunanerd said:
Drat. Well just to be thorough I’d try resetting the PRAM and SMC, then try Disk Utility again.

To be sure the SSD is gone you can load Terminal and look for it using the diskutil command - I’m assuming you’re running High Sierra, sometimes Disk Utility in that won’t see SSDs even though they are present.
Click to expand...

Yeah tried the PRAM and SMC too. Will try and see if I can load Terminal tonight on it. Thank you.
 
I had this once although not after an update. It turned out to be the disk cable which I was told was a common fault with Mac laptops, caused by the way Apple bend them inside the machine. There was never anything wrong with my drive and the new cable enabled the Mac to see the drive and run as before.

It could be that, in your case, the update is a coincidence so it's worth trying a cable first. Mine was a MBP. I’m assuming the MBA has a similar cable but you’ll need to check.

If your machine is out of warranty perhaps try a local repair shop that is familiar with Macs. Most big towns in Britain will have one or two. They may well be able to try a cable on the spot rather than having to send the machine away.
 
PhilMacbook said:
I had this once although not after an update. It turned out to be the disk cable which I was told was a common fault with Mac laptops, caused by the way Apple bend them inside the machine. There was never anything wrong with my drive and the new cable enabled the Mac to see the drive and run as before.

It could be that, in your case, the update is a coincidence so it's worth trying a cable first. Mine was a MBP. I’m assuming the MBA has a similar cable but you’ll need to check.

If your machine is out of warranty perhaps try a local repair shop that is familiar with Macs. Most big towns in Britain will have one or two. They may well be able to try a cable on the spot rather than having to send the machine away.
Click to expand...

Good advice for older MBPs but MBAs don’t have SSD drive cables. Unfortunately it looks like the OP’s SSD has failed. If I were them I’d be asking an Apple Store for an SSD replacement free under UK Consumer Law assuming there’s no AppleCare cover in effect.
 
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drlunanerd said:
Good advice for older MBPs but MBAs don’t have SSD drive cables. Unfortunately it looks like the OP’s SSD has failed. If I were them I’d be asking an Apple Store for an SSD replacement free under UK Consumer Law assuming there’s no AppleCare cover in effect.
Click to expand...

Got my appointment for Saturday so hopefully if they come to conclusion it is just the SSD, hopefully they will replace it free under the UK consumer law as I do not have AppleCare.
 
LouiseG said:
Yeah. Internet recovery. No SSD showing in Disk Utility, only thing that is showing is the OS X Base System
Click to expand...

One other thing to try: in Disk Utility click on the View button and select Show All Devices if it isn't already. Your SSD drive may show up then.
 
610e531f30ca140154d790166dce9207.jpg


This is all I see in Disk Utility
 
I’ve just tried to boot from my old hard drive from other MacBook but just comes up with the slashed circle. Booted from my Mac mini no problem so wonder if it is more than a dead SSD
 
Audit13 said:
Hopefully, the Apple store can either fix the issue or replace the drive for free.

Let us know how it turns out.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Here’s hoping! Managed to get external HDD connected and booting with version of Yosemite so seems like could just be the SSD.
If they won’t replace it I’ll just need to take the hit and buy another for it!
 
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