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Has my Air finally died? 🙁 blinking question mark folder ❓

M

MacAttackKev

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 18, 2014
168
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So earlier today my 2013 air suddenly froze so I had to force restart it.

when I booted it up I got a blinking folder with a question mark. I tried to boot up internet recovery and did a repair/diagnosis and it seemed to check out okay?

I tried rebooting it again no luck, but when I rebooted it back to recovery mode it somehow reverted back to an older version? In that the revert OS option is now mountain lion instead of Catalina.

I tried diagnostics in this recovery mode and it said it was okay… again.. and so I rebooted it and still no luck.

I then tried reinstalling mountain lion but there is no disk option to select to install it from.

I’m gonna head to the apple store tomorrow, but Anyone here got any ideas?
 
The issue is almost certainly a dead SSD. They're very easy to replace, and I recommend you do it yourself rather than go to an Apple Store. A 128GB SSD is about $30 on eBay (link), all you then need is a pentalobe screwdrive to open the Macbook up and a torx screwdrive to undo the 1 SSD screw. Here's the guide. When it's installed, you just start the mac holding CMD + ALT + R, and then click "install macOS".
 
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Thank you both for the super quick replies!
I’ve never done this before and classes have just started for me and I’m in need of a laptop so I’ll need something temporary while I look into this!

many chance the apple store could swap it out for me same day?

and just making sure, are any of my files on my air recoverable?
 
The files are gone, you'd have to pay a lot of money to have them recovered by a specialised company. The Apple Store won't help you, except by selling you a new Mac. Order a new SSD with fast shipping and you'll have your laptop back in a few days!
 
segers909 said:
The files are gone, you'd have to pay a lot of money to have them recovered by a specialised company. The Apple Store won't help you, except by selling you a new Mac. Order a new SSD with fast shipping and you'll have your laptop back in a few days!
Click to expand...
Oh dang they wouldn’t do that for me?
Thanks for the advice! Saves me a bus ride.

I currently have a 256 gb model and I’m not Sure about compatibles, but could I upgrade it to a higher SSD configuration?

I also noticed that some of those drives require it to be running high Serria and above, which my air was but I’m not sure why it’s only showing up as mountain lion at the moment.
 
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MacAttackKev said:
I’m not sure why it’s only showing up as mountain lion at the moment.
Click to expand...
That's fine. In simple terms, with the SSD non-functional, it's dropped back to the 'base' OS that originally came with the computer. When you install a new SSD you can install High Sierra again.
 
Nermal said:
That's fine. In simple terms, with the SSD non-functional, it's dropped back to the 'base' OS that originally came with the computer. When you install a new SSD you can install High Sierra again.
Click to expand...
Thanks for explaining!
I noticed on eBay that some of the listings required the Mac to already be on high Sierra and up before installing (I was looking at a 512gb ssd) just double checking, that means I can use those specific SSDs Since it’s at mountain lion again correct?
 
MacAttackKev said:
I’ve never done this before and classes have just started for me and I’m in need of a laptop so I’ll need something temporary while I look into this!
Click to expand...

If you have an external drive lying around, you can install macOS to that and run the Air off of that until you figure out something with the internal drive.
 
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Thanks, everyone for the help!

I ended up buying an air at the apple store temporarily while waiting for the SSD and screwdriver to fix my old air.
Hopefully, I can get it back up and running soon.
 
MacAttackKev said:
I ended up buying an air at the apple store temporarily while waiting for the SSD and screwdriver to fix my old air.
Click to expand...

You’re not going to want to go back to a 2013 Air after using an M1 for a few days - or few minutes, for that matter.
 
steve217 said:
You’re not going to want to go back to a 2013 Air after using an M1 for a few days - or few minutes, for that matter.
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, or maybe it's because I got the base model.
But I haven't experienced that yet haha.
 
MacAttackKev said:
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, or maybe it's because I got the base model.
But I haven't experienced that yet haha.
Click to expand...
If you don't feel a preference between even the base model M1 and 2013 MBA, then you, my friend, have learned, in what ever state you are, to be content.

I envy you.
 
steve217 said:
If you don't feel a preference between even the base model M1 and 2013 MBA, then you, my friend, have learned, in what ever state you are, to be content.

I envy you.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected haha.
I was doing some video editing and not having imovie stutter and throttle like an airplane with every clip/effect/sound addition I add is something I'm definitely going to miss if I go back to my 2013 air lol.
 
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**Update**

Thanks so much, guys! I was able to revive my laptop! Everything seems to be working great now! (Well the battery has still deteriorated) But it should hopefully last me this semester!
 
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MacAttackKev said:
**Update**

Thanks so much, guys! I was able to revive my laptop! Everything seems to be working great now! (Well the battery has still deteriorated) But it should hopefully last me this semester!
Click to expand...
What did you end up doing?
 
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