Apple - Can't start Mac in recovery mode - only get folder with question mark instead

This is pretty easy - the folder with a question mark means no bootable volume is connected to the computer despite what disk used to be the startup disk was in the past.

You'll want to connect to a WiFi or wired network and try booting to internet recovery or bring a known good bootable OS to this machine so you can boot to disk utility and see if the internal drive needs first aid or a wipe and erase.

To manually start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet, hold down Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R at startup.

• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

Barring that, you'll need to seek hardware service if you don't have internet boot or a way to bring a bootable OS to this Mac.

The only one thing to try is resetting the NVRAM one time. Hold Command - Option - P - R at boot and make sure you hear the startup chime twice before letting go.

• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

All the other commands won't help get you past the folder with a question mark.