my apple mac wont start (hav no reboot disc) and shows a smilie and a thumbnail folder ?

Question

i dont no that much bout computers ,cant even get a main screen up tho due 2 thumbnail folder with question mark ,wot do i do ?

Answer 1

For best help, mention more details such as which model of computer, did it ever work, what version of operating system?

With the flashing "?" on the screen, I think it's an older computer with OS 9 or before. This flashing "?" means the computer doesn't find the operating system folder on the hard drive. Several possibilities for that such as:
* No hard drive
* Hard drive has bitten the dust
* Hard drive has corruption (may or may not be fixable)
* System Folder is gone
* System file that should be inside System Folder is gone
* Finder file that should be inside System Folder is gone
* NVRAM is corrupt

The last option is the easiest to correct. Restart and then quickly press four keys: command (has an Apple symbol) + option + "R" + "P" and hold those four keys while you watch the screen. You should see the screen light up and go dark and light up again. Also, you might hear the musical chime repeat a couple of times. When you have gotten the screen to go off and on two or three times, release all the keys. Then wait a couple of minutes. If it gets stuck forever on the flashing "?" again, shutdown, unplug the power cord and open the case. If you're not an expert, get one. Ask Mr. or Ms. Expert to reseat the hard drive cable. After that, if it still won't startup, you need to reinstall or do a clean installation of the operating system from the CD that came with the computer or from a newer system CD that is compatible with your model of computer. Version OS 9 is compatible with all Apple computers built from late 1995 to early 2003. For more details, use the forum at the link below.

Answer 2

If the smiley is a sad face then it's the dreaded sad mac. You have serious problems. The folder indicates that it's a system problem (not a virus as such though a virus may have caused it) If you have another mac handy, connect the two together with an 8 pin firewire cable. Start up the good one first, then start up the sick mac and hold down 't' (might be apple+t, can't remember) This will start the sick mac up as a target drive (a large firewire symbol will apppear) The drive will then mount on the good mac. Transfer everything you need to keep. After you've done this, start the sick mac up from the install DVD/CD and do a clean re install of the system (set it to completely wipe the drive). If you still have problems then you may have a faulty harddrive which will need replacing. If the icon you see is in the shape of the old mac classic with a sad face then you may have bigger hardware problems, send it to a techy for fixing. If the icon is a folder with a question mark it means the mac cannot find a viable system folder so you will need to re install.

Answer 3

If you don't have the installation discs, there isn't much. Your Mac is saying it can't find a good operating system.

You didn't say what kind of Mac you have, so that might make any suggestions unworkable.

Restart the Mac, and hold down the option key while you do so. If there is a useable operating system in there, it will show up as a choice. Click on the workable OS choice, and hit the arrow button on the screen.

Get a copy of Disc Warrior or TechTool, and boot off of those. Run the tests and make any repairs necessary.

Answer 4

You have a system fault. Your only recourse is to boot from the system disc and then archive and replace the system. I could send you a copy but it would take a couple of days. What os are you running???? I have most including Tiger.
Are you in the UK, if not then go to ebay for one.

Answer 5

You should be asking this question at the help option of the Apple website. It sounds like your mac already has serious problems so you need expert help and lots of it.