Folder with interrogation mark (?) at startup. Macbook.

can't you just restart and press alt/option key to manually select startup drive? i thought that would fix it... unless of course, the main harddrive has gone bad

note: i believe that folder with question mark means they can't find Operating System on the presumed startup drive

 

That sounds like a dead or disconnected drive.

 

Once you boot from the installer, then select Disk Utility from the menu bar at the top (in a pull-down) and check the HD. If Disk Utility doesn't see the drive, then the drive is hosed. If disk utility can see it, try to fix the drive from there. But, you may want to replace it as it might have problems anyway.

 

File recovery is indeed expensive. All depends on how critical those files are to you.

Try Disk Utility from the installer DVD. You might be able to at least get the drive up to recover files.

Also. Invest in a external HD to make backups to.

 

I had this exact same problem. The Apple Support man (what a savior) saved my bacon. I hope I'm not too late and you are still searching for answers. Here's what to do:

- As long as the computer is on, it will accept a disk, so turn it on, insert the install disk, then reboot, while holding the C key (or Option, then select the dvd)
- You should see a window beginning to guide you through the install process for OSX. Ignore this, and click the options button in the lower left corner of that window.
- Choose "Archive and install". This will archive your current installation of OSX, and install a new one. When everything is up and running again, you should still have all of your settings, apps, and personal files in their locations. There will be a folder named "Previous Install" or something similar in your root folder I believe. You can just delete this whole folder, and all should be well!

Forgive me if these instructions are inaccurate, this happened to me at the beginning of september, and i don't exactly remember the process.

Good luck.

EDIT: you might try taking the battery out and making sure the drive is fully pushed into its cave.
I just saw the part about disk utility not being able to see the drive, and I am sorry for that. mine showed up, and I was able to verify it, repair it, and in the end, reinstall the os while keeping my files on the drive.

ps: you wouldn't happen to have installed Crossover recently? I had, and the next time I tried to boot my macbook, this happened.

 

I'm having the exactly same problem with a little difference. Apparently, there is no problem with the disk. The Leopard installer finish without problems. BUT, when the system restarts, the mac isn't use the new installed to boot and instead of it uses the Leopard installer AGAIN. And then I'm walking in circles for 2 days.

I don't know what to do. Is there a some kind of special way to install the Leopard? I mean setting some type of partition, or mount the partition in a specific directory or something like that?

Really thanks for any help, and I'll follow these steps Jahdio! Thanks!

 

doesnt work if the computer cant detect the drive in the first place though