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Mallrat · Mar 8, 2005, 11:54 PM

When I restart my computer, I see a blue folder with a blinking question mark which I thought meant very bad things, but it vanishes quickly and the apple logo appears. It restarts just fine.

I'm running Mac OS 10.3.8.

I was wondring if seeing this folder/question mark is a bad sign and how I can resolve it.

thank you.

-Matt

OptimusG4 · Mar 9, 2005, 12:08 AM

Probably just means you don't have a specific startup disk selected. Open system prefs, click on startup disk, then choose your disk.

Mallrat · Mar 9, 2005, 01:32 AM

Originally posted by OptimusG4:
Probably just means you don't have a specific startup disk selected. Open system prefs, click on startup disk, then choose your disk.

Perfect. Worked like a charm. Thanks.

OptimusG4 · Mar 9, 2005, 10:15 AM

Glad to help

juanvaldes · Mar 9, 2005, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by OptimusG4:
Probably just means you don't have a specific startup disk selected. Open system prefs, click on startup disk, then choose your disk.

That is exactly it. You can also force it to scan the primary disk for systems by holding down option (I think, someone correct) at boot. I used to do this all the time back in the 10/10.1 era.

mdc · Mar 9, 2005, 07:05 PM

that is correct. holding option will make it scan for all bootable volumes and let you choose one.

holding x will force it to boot os X

CharlesS · Mar 9, 2005, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by mdc:
holding x will force it to boot os X

This one never seems to work for me. Are there only certain specific machines that it works on?

OptimusG4 · Mar 9, 2005, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
This one never seems to work for me. Are there only certain specific machines that it works on?

I think its for machines that have OS 9 installed as well. I've never gotten it to work with my G5 or even my Powerbook G4 that can boot into OS 9.

Millennium · Mar 9, 2005, 10:22 PM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
This one never seems to work for me. Are there only certain specific machines that it works on?

Not that I'm aware of, but do you have OSX and OS9 on the same volume, or do you have them on different volumes? I know the Option-key trick only works if they're on different volumes, and although I haven't tested the X and 9 tricks I suspect that they might be the same way.

CharlesS · Mar 9, 2005, 10:43 PM

Originally posted by Millennium:
Not that I'm aware of, but do you have OSX and OS9 on the same volume, or do you have them on different volumes? I know the Option-key trick only works if they're on different volumes, and although I haven't tested the X and 9 tricks I suspect that they might be the same way.

I think I've tried it both ways, although maybe I'll have to give it another shot. I do remember trying it with both on the same volume a while ago, and it didn't work.

SS3 GokouX · Mar 10, 2005, 12:39 AM

If it's a very old machine, the option trick won't work. I think Macs after B&W G3s have it.

benb · Mar 10, 2005, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by SS3 GokouX:
If it's a very old machine, the option trick won't work. I think Macs after B&W G3s have it.

It must be a New-World (Open Firmware) Mac to work.

Millennium · Mar 10, 2005, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by SS3 GokouX:
If it's a very old machine, the option trick won't work. I think Macs after B&W G3s have it.

It's not that it doesn't work; it's that it works differently. I've done it on a Beige G3; what happens is that holding down Option forces the machine to boot into OS9 (like the 9-key trick on New World machines). I don't know if the X-key and 9-key tricks work on Beige machines, though; I wasn't aware of them until that machine had already died.