Blinking folder icon

The blinking folder icon (formerly a blinking floppy icon) appears on Macintosh computers when no startup disk can be found during the process of booting. This icon is stored on the Macintosh Toolbox ROM chip on Old World ROM Macs. In New World ROM Macs, it is stored with Open Firmware on the logic board.The Mac ROM Enters a New World, Apple Computer. 1999-05-17. Archived 2001-04-13. On Intel-based Macs, it is stored as part of EFI firmware.Limited reports of Catalina installation bricking some Macs via EFI firmware by Ben LoveJoy, 9to5Mac. 2019-10-24.
==History==
A variant of this icon existed since the original Macintosh 128K, which had no internal hard drive. It could only boot from a 400KB floppy drive, so this icon was originally a floppy disk with a blinking question mark.Question Mark Disk by Steve Chamberlin, Big Mess o' Wires. 2011-09-18.
Even after Macs had built-in hard drives, the floppy disk icon remained until the introduction of Macs with New World ROMs, when it was changed to a folder icon with a question mark repeatedly changing to a System Folder icon and back.iBook G4 (Apple users help requested) *Resolved* by silverperzon, YouTube. 2012-01-06.
Intel-based Macs use a blinking folder with a question mark. The entire icon blinks.MacBook Pro flashing question mark but I can't repair because hard disk not found in disk utility by Luccas, StackExchange. 2012-08-14.
==Gallery==
Old World Blinking Folder.jpeg|The floppy disk icon on an Old World ROM Mac. The question mark flashes repeatedly.
New World Blinking Folder.jpg|The blinking folder icon on a New World ROM Mac. The question mark repeatedly changes to the System Folder icon and back.
Intel Blinking Folder.jpg|The blinking folder icon on an Intel-based Mac. The entire icon blinks repeatedly.
Apple Silicon Mac Blinking Folder Icon.jpg|The blinking folder icon on an Apple Silicon-based Mac. In later revisions, a URL is displayed for support.apple.com/mac/startup
==References==
==See also==
*Happy Mac
==External links==
*If your Mac doesn't start up all the way at Apple Support (2022-05-17)
**If your Mac starts up to a question mark (2022-06-27)
* at Wikipedia
Category:Apple icons
Category:Mac OS