Need Mac help

I personally don't know how to fix this but I HIGHLY recommend going to forum.notebookreview.com and posting in their mac section.

 

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440

Resolution

If your computer starts up normally after a brief delay, you probably just need to reselect the startup disk in Startup Disk preferences (Mac OS X) or the Startup Disk control panel (Mac OS 9). It's normal to see the flashing question mark when a startup disk has not been selected. In most cases, reselecting the startup disk is all that is required to resolve the issue.

More solutions to try

If your computer still starts to a flashing question mark, follow the steps for your Mac OS version below.


Steps for Mac OS X if you have a MacBook Air

If you're using a MacBook Air, there are two options for starting up with a system software DVD:


* Connect the MacBook Air SuperDrive to the MacBook Air using the USB port and restart the computer, holding down the C key during startup.

* Use Remote Install Mac OS X to startup from a system software DVD that's located on a partner computer. For more information on using Remote Install Mac OS X, please see this article.

Steps for Mac OS X

The possible causes and solutions for this symptom appear in the order that you should try them. If any step resolves the issue, you don't need to continue to the next one. If at any time in this process you determine that your Mac OS X system software is missing, reinstall Mac OS X. Mac OS X system software is stored in the System and Library folders at the top (root) level of your hard disk. It is also stored in folders that are invisible when started up from Mac OS X but that are visible when started up from Mac OS 9. If you have started up from Mac OS 9 and deleted folders that were unfamiliar to you, you may have accidentally deleted your Mac OS X system software. If you're not sure, save reinstallation for your last option.

1. Start up from a system software CD or DVD, and repair your disk using Disk Utility:
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install or Restore disc.
2. Restart the computer, then hold the C key during startup.
3. From the Apple menu, choose Disk Utility. Do this in the first screen of the Installer. Don't click Continue. If you click Continue in a Mac OS X Installer version earlier than 10.2, you must restart from CD again.
4. Click the First Aid tab.
5. Click Repair Disk.
6. After repairing the disk, try to start from the Mac OS X hard disk.

Tip: If your hard disk is not available (mounted) when started up from CD, reset the parameter RAM (PRAM) as described in step 3, then repeat these steps. If your hard disk is still not available after resetting PRAM, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Technical Support.
2. Try to select your Mac OS X startup disk using either Startup Manager or the X key.

If this doesn't work, go to step 3.
3. Reset parameter RAM (PRAM).

Reset PRAM, then see if the computer starts up. If it doesn't, repeat step 2.
4. If none of these steps resolved the issue, start up from the Mac OS X Installation CD and reinstall Mac OS X. If your hard disk is not available (mounted) when started up from CD, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Technical Support.

any of these work???

 

I am Mac user. Try this first:

The error message you are getting is because the machine is uncertain which start up disk you want to start from. If you have the Mac OS X DVD in the DVD drive, eject it and the problem will be solved. Likewise, if you have a bootable hard drive attached other than your main drive, turn that off.

If none of these is the case, load the OS X install disk and start the computer while holding down the "C" key. Once the boot program from the DVD is loaded, go to System Preferences (under the Apple symbol) and choose the startup disk you want to use (hint: it will be the one on the drive inside your computer)