support.apple.com/mac/startup

[whatisreal]

Hi unfortunately I have a mac that is showing a folder with the question mark and 'support.apple.com/mac/startup'. I had a look at the support page that says 'how to repair a mac disk with disk utility'. If that doesn't work is there a way to reinstall the OS without deleting the data on the disk?

 

[IWT]

This might help you and explain what has happened and how you might be able to solve it:

If your Mac starts up to a question mark – Apple Support (UK)

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your computer's startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.

support.apple.com

Ian

 

[whatisreal]

This might help you and explain what has happened and how you might be able to solve it:

If your Mac starts up to a question mark – Apple Support (UK)

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your computer's startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.

support.apple.com

Ian

Thanks for your answer. I already had a look a that. I just wanna know if I reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery, will I be able to save my data or will it be completely wiped out?

 

[RadDave]

Thanks for your answer. I already had a look a that. I just wanna know if I reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery, will I be able to save my data or will it be completely wiped out?

Hello - neither using 'Disk Utility' to attempt to repair your startup disk or 'reinstalling macOS' will remove your data or settings (of course, erasing your drive will delete all - do you have a backup - if so refresh the backup if possible). Dave

 

[IWT]

The answer is in that article. That is to say that if all actions fail:

1. If the question mark returns after restarting, press and hold the power button to turn off your Mac again. Then follow the steps to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery.

This shouldn't affect your data because it's the OS which is affected. That said, your situation is perilous because if you can't restart your Mac, then there's no way of recovering your data other than through very expensive data recovery companies.

I am bound to enquire whether you have any backups of your data eg Time Machine, a Cloner like CCC, or on another external hard drive?

I do hope you have.

Ian