MacBook Pro's Flashing Question Mark: A Frustrating Experience

Are you experiencing a MacBook Pro with a gray screen and a flashing question mark/folder? This is a common issue that can be frustrating, but don't worry, I've been there too! In this article, we'll explore the various solutions I've tried to fix my own mid-2009 MacBook Pro's blinking question mark problem.

The Problem

I recently encountered an issue with my MacBook Pro where it would only display a gray screen and a flashing question mark/folder. This was after trying to boot from a bootable USB flash drive, which I had created using TransMac software on my PC. The bootable USB disk contained the El Capitan dmg file downloaded from Apple.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, I followed various online instructions and tried different solutions. Here are some of the steps I took:

1. Booting from a bootable USB flash drive: As mentioned earlier, I created a bootable USB disk using TransMac software and El Capitan dmg file.

2. Resetting PRAM and SMC: I reset my MacBook Pro's PRAM (held down option+command+P+R after powering off) and SMC (disconnected the internal battery and reconnected).

3. Suspecting a malfunctioning hard drive cable: I acquired an external SATA hard drive to USB cable, removed the hard drive from the internal hard drive cable, connected it externally to the USB port, and bypassed the internal hard drive cable.

4. Ordering a new hard drive cable: After suspecting that my installation of the hard drive cable was poor, I ordered a new one from Ebay.

5. Repairing the hard drive: Samsung repaired my hard drive under warranty, updating the firmware and testing it to ensure it was working fine.

The USB Mouse Solution

After trying all these solutions, I decided to add a USB mouse to see if that would solve the problem. To my surprise, it worked immediately! The trackpad cursor was jumping all over, but with the USB mouse connected, the issue disappeared.

Other Relevant Details

To give you a better understanding of my situation, here are some additional details:

* I have a mid-2009 MacBook Pro (used) that I purchased in 2013.

* I upgraded to a Samsung Evo SSD hard drive in 2017.

* The USB mouse solved the problem immediately.

In this article, we've explored the various solutions I've tried to fix my MacBook Pro's flashing question mark/folder issue. From booting from a bootable USB flash drive to ordering a new hard drive cable and repairing the hard drive under warranty, I've exhausted all potential solutions I could find online. If you're experiencing the same issue,

Macbook blinking question mark