Mac Powerbook shows file wih flashing question mark, won't boot.

Try taking out the RAM chips and re-inserting firmly. Nothing? Try re-installing the operating system. Nothing? Try replacing the hard drive and then re-installing the operating system. Nothing? Try replacing the RAM with new higher memory RAM. Nothing? Your fu.kd and need to take the thing in for more thorough inspection by the Apple dorks.

Your hard drive has lost a file needed to start up the machine. The folder with the question mark means it cannot find a useable Operating system. I hope you backed up your files you needed becuase the only real way to recover the machine is to reinstall the OS from the install disk. You must format the Hard Drive from the format option on the install disk and reinstall the OS.

try booting with control command P and R all pressed at the same time, wait for second chime then release.

Suchisart,
If you want a stand alone backup solution, you can download a free program called "Carbon Copy Cloner" and purchase a USB 2.0 external hard drive. You can use the CCC software to backup the entire contents of your Powerbook's hard drive or just selected files to the external USB hard drive.

If your Powerbook is unable to boot into OS X and you need to recover the files that are on the internal hard drive, you can boot the Powerbook into "Target Disk Mode" and transfer the files via firewire cable to another Mac. To do this do the following.

1. With both Macs off connect them with a firewire cable.
2. Turn on the Powerbook and hold down the "T" during startup.
3. Once the large icon shows up on screen your in "TDM".
4. Turn on the other Mac and login to your account.
5. The Powerbook's hard drive should mount on your desktop.
6. You'll be able to transfer your files from the Powerbook's hard drive just like you would an external hard drive, thumb drive, etc.

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Scott Computer Services http://www.scottcomputerservices.com

since apple drives are formatted in HSF+, a file system that windows cannon read, the chances of it even being bossible to run anything on it from a PC is very very slim.

It sounds like the system is corrupted. What I would do is to get your instal disk and boot up holding down the c key on your keyboard. Once you have booted up go to the file menu and run disk utility to verify and repair the hard drive if necessary. Then go to the instal menu and instal a fresh system remembering to preserve the users data so you do not wipe anything. Hopefully this will work.

Your mac doesn't recognize the system folder. Try to find the original boot disks that came with the machine, and see if you can mount the hard disk while booting from the CDs. If you can, I'd backup the data as soon as possible and reinstall the operating system, including a full hard drive reformat. If you can't see the hard drive from the boot cd, another option is to hold down the T key during startup to boot the mac into "target disk mode" - this will allow you to hook up the g3 to another computer as an external hard disk in order to back up the data.

sounds like the hard drive may be bad. Kind of like the heads are banging together, try a different hard drive in there and reset the laptop back to factory defaults. If you have the disks, i'll walk you thru it.

The hard drive is probably on it's way out. You can get and run Disk Warrior and you could repair permissions and such but the hard drive is probably on it's way to the grave.

A couple things though. It isn't enough to just put the disk in, you need to hold down "c" while the computer starts for it to try to run off your disk. You can then try to repair permissions and fix the disk from the installation program that starts. When the Install OS X screen comes up (looks like a desktop but with the big dialog box in the middle) click on Utilities at the top and then on Disk Utility. HERE IS APPLE'S SITE for you to read about how to try to repair your disk. I've found that this sometimes works and may help it work enough for you to get your files off, but may not.

Another method would be to get another Mac, and hook the two together with a firewire to transfer your files, then reinstall OS X in your ailing computer. Go HERE to read about this technique.

Insert the system CD, restart the computer holding down the C key until it boots using the CD. Then run through the initial screens as though you are going to reload the system software until you are given a menu bar. Select Disk Utility from the menu bar when you can and then you can run disk first aid and 'Repair disk'. If this works OK then you are back up and running after a restart. Otherwise you will have to reload the system. Note: when you have booted of the CD, you should be able to access the hard disk and retrieve any files you want first to an external disk or memory stick before reinstalling the system software. Good luck - TT