Flashing question mark on startup

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by Shanhux, Jun 8, 2013.

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  1. Shanhux, Jun 8, 2013

    Shanhux macrumors newbie

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    #1
    Brand new here, apologies if this has been asked before.

    Whilst casually browsing on my MacBook Pro this evening (mid 2010 model) it decided to freeze for basically the first time ever. After leaving it alone for 20 minutes with no change, I held down startup button and turned it off, and back on.

    Upon startup a flashing folder with a question mark in it appeared. From googling I u durst and it can't find startup disk. Holding option key brings up 'Internet recovery' option only.

    Have tried this, and am now in disk utility. Unsure where to go from here.

    Upon clicking 'first aid>verify disk' it tells me the Mac OSX Base System appears to be OK. Does this mean my hard drive hasn't died. I do not get the option to repair disk so have no idea where to go from here. Only time machine back up I have is months old so would prefer to avoid this if possible.

    Any help much appreciated!
     
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  2. justperry, Jun 8, 2013

    justperry macrumors G3

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    #2
    Try to repair disk first.
     
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  3. Shanhux, Jun 8, 2013

    Shanhux thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #3
    Repair disk is greyed out and unavailable?
     
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  4. teleromeo, Jun 8, 2013

    teleromeo macrumors 65816

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    #4
    A flashing questionmark basically means there is no valid system found to start up from. Since disk verification seems ok some system files seem to be messed up. Try reinstallation of the system.
     
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  5. justperry, Jun 8, 2013

    justperry macrumors G3

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    #5
    Is it encrypted?
     
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  6. G-Mo, Jun 8, 2013

    G-Mo macrumors 6502

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    #6
    Mac OSX Base System is the Internet recovery. You can't repair it because you are booted to it!
     
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  7. justperry, Jun 8, 2013

    justperry macrumors G3

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    #7
    Very good reading skills!:D

    True, the OP is trying to repair the Recovery HD!


    OP, take a photo and attach here.
     
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  8. G-Mo, Jun 8, 2013

    G-Mo macrumors 6502

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    #8
    It's possible but unlikely it's directory structures (do you have DiskWarrior?). Could be the hard drive, could be the hard drive cable. Do you have an external enclosure or drive bay? Can you remove the internal drive and try booting it externally?
     
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  9. Shanhux, Jun 8, 2013

    Shanhux thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #9
    Sorry for sounding like a complete idiot, but how do I boot it to anything but Internet recovery if that's the only option it gives me?
     
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  10. justperry, Jun 8, 2013

    justperry macrumors G3

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    #10
    Command-Optio-R

    ----------
    If he is booting of the Recovery HD it can't be the cable nor the HD.
     
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  11. G-Mo, Jun 8, 2013

    G-Mo macrumors 6502

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    #11
    You can't unless you have another bootable media to boot from? Carbon Copy Clone perhaps? Home made OS install disk? Original system disk, this machine came with Snow Leopard?

    ----------
    He's booting off Internet Recovery, not the Recovery HD (as I read it).
     
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  12. justperry, Jun 8, 2013

    justperry macrumors G3

    justperry

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    #12
    Yup
    I could learn something from you, twice in one thread I made a mistake. :eek:
     
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  13. Shanhux, Jun 8, 2013

    Shanhux thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #13
    Thank you so much everyone for your replies. Think I may give up and attempt to find a mac store open here on a Sunday. Attempted to select restore from time machine in the first menu but it can't find a disk to boot to so am well over my head. Mac has gone from taking 5 mins to Internet boot to over 35 so I must be irritating it to say the least. As far as my know-nothing-about-computers brain can figure it, HD must have died? :(
     
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  14. G-Mo, Jun 8, 2013

    G-Mo macrumors 6502

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    #14
    Yes, it's most likely the HD has died. Had you noticed excessive beach balling recently? It's possible it's just the drive cable, it's a common issue in this era machine.
     
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