Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Getting the Folder Question Mark - Click Noise at Boot - Won't Boot

A

ATL Golfer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 16, 2011
9
1
Sounds like the clicking noise is coming from the hard drive.

We've been using time machine as back-up on an external. If it is just the hard drive being dead, will I be able to boot off of external and load everything (files and application/programs) back on eternal?

I wanted to get a bigger hard drive anyways, but does that sound like the problem?

Thanks,
ATL
 
Yep, sounds like the drive is dead. You can't boot from a time machine backup though.
 
Jolly Jimmy said:
Yep, sounds like the drive is dead. You can't boot from a time machine backup though.
Click to expand...

How would I boot?

Its also sounds like the noise is coming from the upper right section of the keybaord (optical area)....there is also a faint beeb noise as well (vveeep...vveep...vvveep).
 
Kippered drive most likely.

To restore from Time Machine you'll need to boot the machine from an OS X DVD. Press and hold C when you hear the chime and the Mac will startup from the DVD (which takes a while longer than the HDD).
 
Install a new hard drive.
Use the install DVD to re-install the OS.
During the install, select recover from a time machine backup.

This does a fresh install of the OS, but loads all of your users and personal data.
 
Thanks everyone. Hopefully this will do the trick. Going to buy a new HD tomorrow.

Now I just need a OS disk. Last disk we used was an upgrade disk and not a full OS.
 
Just thought I'd report that the Apple Store came through.

They are grossly overcharging me for the hard drive, however, they threw in free labor and are going to replace the bezel for free as well which was out of warranty. $132 (US) at the end of the day. I can live with that.
 
Solution

This happens to mine every few weeks. This works for me:

1. Power off computer.
2. Unplug computer.
3. Remove battery.
4. Press power button for 10 seconds.
5. Reinsert batter.
6. Plug back in.
7. Power up.
8. Voila!
 
Perfect

Thank you, thank you. This worked perfectly!...

Rlhurley said:
This happens to mine every few weeks. This works for me:

1. Power off computer.
2. Unplug computer.
3. Remove battery.
4. Press power button for 10 seconds.
5. Reinsert batter.
6. Plug back in.
7. Power up.
8. Voila!
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back