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Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
#12077 09/29/10 03:11 AM
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kevs Offline OP
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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

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12078 09/29/10 03:19 AM
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hmm, MBP or MBPS?

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
Hal Itosis #12079 09/29/10 03:38 AM
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white macbook.

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12080 09/29/10 09:45 AM
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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.


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
jchuzi #12082 09/29/10 12:39 PM
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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.

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12093 09/29/10 04:45 PM
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"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.)

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12099 09/29/10 10:11 PM
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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.)


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
artie505 #12102 09/30/10 12:06 AM
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thanks guys, I've give it a go.

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
ganbustein #12112 09/30/10 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted By: keys
white macbook

Originally Posted By: ganbustein
check the PRAM battery

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.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
joemikeb #12113 09/30/10 03:37 PM
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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?

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12131 09/30/10 09:21 PM
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> 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.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12163 10/03/10 02:37 AM
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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 wink

get your hdd replaced before it forces the issue.


I work for the Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
Virtual1 #12173 10/03/10 04:37 PM
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Thanks V, did disc utility, says HD ok.
Resetted Pram.
Let's see what happens.

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12176 10/03/10 05:26 PM
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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).


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12178 10/03/10 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted By: kevs
Thanks V, did disc utility, says HD ok.
Let's see what happens.

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...


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Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
alternaut #12180 10/03/10 07:35 PM
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kevs Offline OP
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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?

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12181 10/03/10 08:03 PM
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Read Mac OS X - Using Disk Utility to Repair a Disk. Scroll down to SMART status.


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
jchuzi #12184 10/03/10 09:48 PM
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got it, thanks. non of my externals support smart, but the laptop is the mad hd, so I'll check that out.

Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12188 10/03/10 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted By: kevs
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.


I work for the Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
kevs #12212 10/05/10 04:20 AM
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> Resetted Pram.

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


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Laptop, always getting the question mark on reboot
artie505 #12214 10/05/10 04:35 AM
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kevs Offline OP
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yeah, that good ARt, thanks!


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