mac users

[gilby]

When I turn my mac on, I get a grey folder with a flashing ? any ideas on how to fix it.
thanks

 

[natfrac]

Try searching your problem on Google and a bunch of sites will pop up--mostly Apple discussion boards. You should be able to find some ideas/solutions. Personally I've never experienced that problem with any of my Macs.

 

[mikehn]

haha, first time I used a Mac, I got stuck on a screen and couldnt advance. I had to go to my windows laptop to google the solution.

 

[oneandonlytara]

All I've read about this is that the flashing folder usually means it cannot find the operating system.

This may help:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5565827

 

[AquaDame]

How old is the mac...? Either the hard drive is toast and it can't find the system or the system is messed up and needs to be reinstalled. If its a newer mac and/or you don't have installation media you can try plugging it into your network and holding down "command" & "r" as you turn it on until you get a progress bar. That will boot over the internet to Apple's servers and you can try to reinstall your OS. If you don't see a drive there to install to, that is likely the culprit. If you CAN see the drive but that fails you might want to take it to an apple store for a free diagnostic at their "Genius" bar.

 

[karetv]

It is a hard drive problem, either your Hard Drive crashed or the connector from the hard drive to the motherboard is fried. I have a late 2011 model mac book pro, and it was the connector I didn't have apple care so I ordered the part from ifixit.com and I followed the tutorial that they have.

 

[mieuxmew]

Had the same problem recently on my Mac book Pro - it was a hard drive failure. Fortunately, I had Apple care and will still under warrantee and it was fixed with a new hard drive.

 

[gilby]

I'm going to start with the data cable first, it is about 2 years old, I believe. I am hoping this will be the culprit, but if not, I guess I am getting a new hard drive.
It is interesting, if it sits long enough it will come up with my log in password, and I got as far as youtube and it asked for update adobe, and then I couldn't get any farther.