Apple MacBook Air Logo
Brooke Pitts Posted on May 22, 2012
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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My apple macbook air shows a question mark when i turn it on

I just got a apple mac book air and i was trying to reset password and i accidently pressed the wrong key know it shows me the question mark with the file.i tryied doing all the different commands and it still didnt work/it just goes straight to the question mark thing/how do i fix this problem

1 Answer

Kerry Hostetter

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  • Expert 97 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 31, 2014
 Kerry Hostetter
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Resetting the PRAM may do the trick:
You reset the PRAM by rebooting a Mac and then immediately hold down the Command+Option+P+R keys, you will then hear the Mac reboot sound again, signifying your PRAM has been reset. You must hit the key combination before the grey screen appears otherwise it won't work.

you've tried rebooting, you've reset the PRAM, you've done it all, but your Mac is still behaving strangely. What next? In certain circumstances, resetting your Mac's System Management Controller (SMC) can be a solution. This is sometimes necessary to restore normal lower level system functionality to your Mac.

Here's how to reset the SMC on any type of Mac (and any version of OS X) and the type of problems that it may resolve.
When & Why Reset SMC on a Mac? Some Common Hardware Reasons

Typically it's power and hardware related issues that can be helped or resolved by resetting a Mac SMC, particularly if you're having these types of problems:

* Issues with your Mac's cooling fans and fan management: fans run constantly at high speed, fans run high despite low CPU usage and adequate ventilation, fans not working at all, etc

* Power management and battery problems: Mac isn't turning on, sleep isn't working, random shutdowns and reboots, battery isn't charging, Mac won't wake from sleep etc

* Light problems and improper lighting management: battery indicator lights aren't working, display backlighting isn't adjusting to ambient light changes, keyboard backlights not working, etc

* Video and external displays not working: display brightness functionality not working properly, target video mode isn't working properly, external display isn't working, etc

* General performance and functionality problems: abnormally sluggish behavior despite no CPU or disk usage, external ports not working, airport & bluetooth aren't showing up, external devices are not being found, etc

So now that you've concluded you need to reset your SMC (Note that the SMC is on Intel Mac's only), here's how to do it on MacBook's, MacBook Pro's, iMac's, Mac Mini's, and Mac Pro's. Notice that the reset instructions are different for MacBook and MacBook Pro's if you have an internal or detachable battery.
Reset SMC of a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Retina, or MacBook Pro's with an internal non-removable battery

This is how to reset SMC on most modern Mac laptops:

Shutdown your MacBook Air / MacBook Pro
Connect the power adapter to your Mac
On the MacBook/Pro's keyboard, hold down the Shift+Control+Option keys and the Power button at the same time
Release all keys and the power button at the same time
Boot your Mac as usual

Here's the key sequence to hold down:

Reset the SMC of a MacBook Air or Retina MacBook Pro

Do keep in mind that by resetting the SMC you will lose power specific settings, like the time it takes to sleep a Mac and other customizations to power settings. No big deal, but if you have made many changes to your hardware behavior you will want to adjust stuff like sleep behavior again.
Reset SMC of an iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini

Resetting SMC is different for non-portable Macs:

Shut down your Mac
Disconnect the power cord
Press and hold the Mac's power button for 5 seconds
Release the button
Reattach the power cables and boot the Mac as usual

Reset the SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro's with detachable batteries

mac reset the smc Older MacBook laptops with a removable battery can reset SMC with the following approach:

Shutdown the MacBook/Pro and remove the battery
Disconnect the power adapter, hold the Power Key for 10 seconds
Release the power key and reconnect your battery and power adapter
Turn your Mac on
Let boot as usual

Hopefully that will clear up your problems, if not it might be worth a visit to the Apple Store or a certified repair center.

Happy New Year,
Kerry

5 Related Answers

Jesse Techno

JT Features

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SOURCE: Macbook keeps restarting

all macbooks have a security that will not let you switch the harddrive from one the the other.  Apple will need to reset the computer at an Apple store!!!  His drive is DEAD!!!

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Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Feb 07, 2009

SOURCE: key board freezed

I did an archive and  install and it solved my problem.  I could not sign in.  When i went to enter my password nothing could be typed in.

Anonymous

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  • Posted on Jul 13, 2009

SOURCE: Mac book will not turn on... it was working fine earlier in the d

Go to the service center...

Anonymous

  • 1305 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 21, 2009

SOURCE: delete key on macbook pro won't work

you may have inadvertently set up a keyboard short cut on the delete key... go to your system preference app in the dock. Then select keyboard shortcuts... if you select "default" at the bottom of the window it will revert to the factory shortcuts and eliminate any you may have accidentally created...
Hope that solves your delete issue...
K

Anonymous

  • 25 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 10, 2009

SOURCE: help with reseting root passwords

If you have the discs available that came with the Macbook you can use the utility on them to reset the password. 1. Reboot insert the disc and hold the C key untill you get the welcome screen. 2. Click on the language you prefer and proceed as though you are going to reinstall the software. 3. At some point you will notice the menu bar at the top. Click on the drop down menu for utilities and you will find "Reset Password" If you do not have the discs available you can also use terminal to create a new administrator account and then reset the password. To do this 1.Reboot 2.Hold down the apple and S keys after you hear the chime. 3.At the text prompt enter these commands following each one with the return, • mount -uw / • rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone •shutdown -h now
reboot and you should have a new admin account

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Help me please i tried resetting the admin password on my macbook air without the disc i looked it up on the internet and i did what it said i typed in theses codes then it wont start up at all please help...

I suppose you have a l&te 2010 Macbook Air... - Plug the Macbook Air to a power outlet
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Dear Sir,
Welcome to Fixya Support

Resetting Your Password You can reset your administrator password and passwords for all other accounts. To reset your password, using a partner computer and Remote Install Mac OS X:
1 Follow the procedure for using Remote Install Mac OS X
To use Remote Install Mac OS X: 1. Insert the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 into the optical disc drive of the other computer. 2 .If the other computer is a Mac, open /Applications/Utilities/Remote Install Mac OS X. On Windows, choose "Remote Install Mac OS X" from the Install Assistant. 3. Read the introduction and click Continue. 4 .Choose the install disc you want to use, and click Continue. 5. Choose a network connection: AirPort, if you are using an AirPort network, or Ethernet, if the other computer is on an Ethernet network and you have an optional Apple USB Ethernet Adapter connecting your MacBook Air to the same network. Click Continue. 6 .Restart your MacBook Air and hold down the Option key as it starts up, until you see a list of available startup disks. 8. If you chose AirPort as your network in step 5, on your MacBook Air choose your AirPort network from the pop-up list. If the network is secure, you are prompted for a password. You can enter a private network name by choosing the ellipsis (...) and typing the name. 9. If you chose AirPort as your network in step 5, when you see the AirPort status icon indicating signal strength, click Continue in Remote Install Mac OS X.
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I think it helps.Let Me know.
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font.f1 {font: 12.0px Helvetica} Thanks for asking your question with Fixya Support. I will be glad to assist you.


If you are referring to locked in regards to your user administrator account, all you have to do is take your Mac OS X installation disc and run the Password Reset utility to reset your password and gain access back into your Macbook Air once again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

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• When the booting to the Mac OS X disc is completed, you will now be in the
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• Two spaces over you should see Utilities. Click Utilities>Reset Password.

• Select your user name from the drop down list and reset your password.

• When you are done, simply exit the Reset Password and Installer and reboot.

• At the Login window, enter your new password and you should be back into your home profile.

Let me know if this helps!

Thanks!

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• If with decent charge, try to start the Macbook Air, with only the battery.

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If you have the discs available that came with the Macbook you can use the utility on them to reset the password. 1. Reboot insert the disc and hold the C key untill you get the welcome screen. 2. Click on the language you prefer and proceed as though you are going to reinstall the software. 3. At some point you will notice the menu bar at the top. Click on the drop down menu for utilities and you will find "Reset Password" If you do not have the discs available you can also use terminal to create a new administrator account and then reset the password. To do this 1.Reboot 2.Hold down the apple and S keys after you hear the chime. 3.At the text prompt enter these commands following each one with the return, • mount -uw / • rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone •shutdown -h now
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