On my Macbook,I get a lot of that question mark upon reboots.

I took it to genius bar - no help.

I cannot create the issue consistently.

that said, It seems to do this (force quits) a heck of a lot more on my laptop than my desktop, why?
and why can't it find the system to often? thanks

hmm, MBP or MBPS?

white macbook.

Read If a flashing question mark appears and follow the links for more suggestions. Probably, the "genius" did these things but it doesn't hurt to do them yourself.

yes, J, I know how to fix it, boot up with option.
But man, it's not once every year. I get this a month. why?
never get it ever ever with desktops.

"Boot up with option" is a workaround, not a fix.

To fix it, use System Preferences->Startup Disk to select the desired startup disk. If the setting doesn't stick, check the PRAM battery. ("PRAM battery" is the traditional name. The actual name varies with computer model, as does the procedure for checking it.)

You might also try resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.

Startup disk (among other things) is stored in PRAM, so zapping it and resetting your startup disk as per ganbustein may help.

(PS: Your Macbook does not have a PRAM battery.)

thanks guys, I've give it a go.

There is no PRAM/Backup battery in the MacBook, it uses the system battery instead. It is entirely conceivable the system battery is shot and that is the source of the problem. Other World Computing offers a higher capacity replacement than the original battery for $99.

Joe,
thanks, I just had a brand new battery put in at the Apple store a few weeks ago. the issue is happening before and after the new battery.
are you saying resetting the Pram is not necessary on this laptop? don't bother with that?

> are you saying resetting the Pram is not necessary on this laptop? don't bother with that?

joemike merely repeated my statement that your MacBook does not have a PRAM battery (Reference ganbustein.); he did not advise you to not zap PRAM.

That suggestion, together with resetting your Startup disk in SysPrefs, still holds.

you almost certainly have a failing hard drive. it's failing to properly spin up and post sometimes and gives you the ?. Or it conks out while booted up and pinwheels you, forcing you to reboot. (and probably getting you a ? more often than not)

"genius" bar is not staffed by "geniuses" a lot of the time

get your hdd replaced before it forces the issue.

Thanks V, did disc utility, says HD ok.
Resetted Pram.
Let's see what happens.

Disk Utility's Verify Disk and Repair Disk functions do not test for a failing hard drive. DU can do a SMART verification but that isn't always accurate, except if it gets a failing score (you can trust that diagnosis).

Just to be on the safe side (and because DU isn't exactly the final word), you might want to make sure you've got the critical data on that drive backed up. If you just wait to see what happens you might just see it go poof...

I'm with you guys.
I generally have a backup disc ready...
where is that Smart utility to check hard drives? I cannot find it. also, I would have to do that from the CD/ DVD that came with the laptop correct?

Read Mac OS X - Using Disk Utility to Repair a Disk. Scroll down to SMART status.

got it, thanks. non of my externals support smart, but the laptop is the mad hd, so I'll check that out.

SMART is a bus polling protocol, so it only is supported on hard drives directly attached, such as (e)SATA, IDE, or SCSI. I assume fiber channel also supports SMART.

The usual not-included are networked, firewire, and usb.

Interesting, I just tested an esata drive of mine, attached via expresscard on my mbp, and it too supports SMART, because the card attaches it onto the SATA bus.

> Resetted Pram.

But did you also reset your choice of startup disk in /Apps/Sys Prefs/Startup Disk (as per ganbustein)?

yeah, that good ARt, thanks!