Formatting Macbook HDD In Another Computer
Jun 29, 2012
I had to format my Macbook HDD, and I couldn't use the install disk. So I pulled it out of my macbook, put it in my linux computer, formatted it to FAT, and put it back in. I tried various ettings, but nothing worked; when I tried to reinstall OSX from the install disk, I would get some form of a flashing older with a ? mark on it, a cross in a circle, or it just being white forever, this would change depedning on when I tried different formats and methods of booting(holding c and option).So what is a software for Linux I could use to format the HDD to MAC OS Extended Journal so I can install OSX back onto that thing? Or some other method that could allow me to achieve a reinstall?
Info:
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6)
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Dec 28, 2010
First off I would like to say that I did try searching (I know it's hard to believe that coming from a member with no posts) but its difficult to search for my problem because I don't really know how to describe it in keywords and get results. This probably isn't the right section but once again I'm not really sure how to describe my problem.
Here is the story. I primarily use Windows 7 on my computer through Bootcamp. (I also have Linux Mint 10 on my computer, don't think either of these are part of the problem but I thought I should let you know) I have had both of these installed for a while, and switch between them with no problems until yesterday. I booted into Snow Leopard (10.6.5) to update my iPhone firmware. The first time I booted into it, it would only load my wallpaper. I rebooted and this time I got my dock and task bar, but was unable to do anything other than move the mouse. I got right down to business and started the formatting process. I put the Snow Leopard disk in, but that somehow kicked my computer into action. I was able to use it, but it was very slow. So I uninstalled my themes thinking this was the problem. the themes required me to log off so I did that but it froze from there. Then I rebooted and tried the Snow Leopard disk trick again. It didn't work, but my computer was responsive after a few minutes (I don't think the disk had anything to do with it becoming responsive either, just think my computer was being slow) After that I ran Onyx thinking it would fix all of my problems. It didn't.
From here I started the formatting process. The first time around I really messed up (it was 2am and I had only gotten three hours of sleep, give me a break) instead of doing a clean install I accidentally did an upgrade. I woke up to find my computer still being it's slow self. I then spent the entire day today, formatting, reinstalling multiple times. It was slow even when I didn't restore from a backup. No matter what I would do my Mac would be unbearably slow (it wouldn't even load the welcome video, just show a blue screen while playing the music)
Here is the part that baffles me. My Windows partition still works (haven't tried my Linux Partition but I assume it also works) I don't think that my multiple partitions are the problem because I have had them all working since about July (I even upgraded Linux 9 to 10 two months ago without a problem)
I don't think I'm technologically inept but this is beyond me. My next step will be to replace my hard drive, but I have low hopes for that doing much, unless bad sectors are my problem (dunno if that could even be a culprit)
Hopefully I can fix this problem without sending it into Apple. I do have Apple Care but I doubt that warranty actually does anything, they'll just blame it on me so I have to spend another $1,000 to fix it or buy a new computer. Lets just say it won't be another Mac.
I have the late 2008 aluminum MacBook (non pro) intel core 2 duo
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Nov 11, 2009
is it ok and possible to reformat an sd card to mac os instead of fat 32 like with an external hdd
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Apr 15, 2012
I have Formatted my Macbook Pro and went to use my OS disc from my Imac I brought but it won't let me install. Says it's a different version.
Info:
MacBook Pro
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Jun 21, 2014
I lost a hard drive with important personal data on a trip overseas. There is no way of getting that hard drive back. However I have an MacBook Pro which once had that same data stored. "Once" because I've reformatted it and installed OSX. I know this is a very tall order to recover data, but is there any computer forensics tricks or any way to get get that data back?
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Sep 21, 2010
Just ordered a Momentus XT 500 GB to install in my current model 17 inch MBP. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this drive, and if there were any special tips along the way as far as installation/data migration goes?I generally format my drives as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), is this drive OK with that as well? Do I need to do anything special in partitioning for the 4GB SSD portion?
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Oct 24, 2010
I just received my new MacBook Air 11" and love it! Though I no longer want the USB Software Reinstall Drive to contain the 10.6 and iLife '11 and I am looking for a way to format the USB thumb drive into a usable flash drive. I tried using the disk utility, but it only sees the drive like a CD containing the information and not like a flash drive, eliminating the simple option to just use the disk utility to erase. Hoping that someone can help me use this neat looking USB drive for something more than a piece of plastic I never pull back out of my box.
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Oct 27, 2010
I want to upgrade one of the two 500GB HDD I currently have in my MBP 5,3 with a 1TB one. Given that I had good experience with WD, I am looking at their offerings. While their standard WD10TEVT is hardly available around here and if it's much more expensive (for what ever reason), I am interested in the WD10TPVT. Now that HDD has the new Advanced Formatting with 4k sectors which seems to be only a problem for WinXP. But could any Mac user share its experience with that HDD? Is it gonna work the same with Time Machine, backups, file transfer between disks or can issues occur when files are exchanged/transferred between disks with different sector sizes? Only want to upgrade one of my HDDs for now, so is there any preferable setup (in terms of which HDD to have the OS and which the files)?
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Jul 25, 2009
I'm selling my old white Macbook so I can purchase the new Unibody one. I wasn't sure how exactly to "wipe" my old hard drive on Mac. Do I have to install the OS all over again? Did my Macbook come with the disc so I could do this? If not, is there a way to wipe everything without formatting the hard drive?
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Oct 11, 2009
I bought the new 13" MBP and I'm selling my Late 2007 15" MBP to cover the cost. I will be formatting the hard drive so that my account and info on the computer are erased. My question is, how can I erase my account on the system so that whenever the new owner gets it, he/she gets the Leopard start up screen (The one like when you purchase a new Mac and you have to setup your account i.e. the "welcome" screen)?
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Mar 12, 2012
My MacBook Pro won't recognize my portable hard drive, so I can't format it.
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Apr 9, 2012
I'm selling my Macbook Pro and the buyer said when formatting my harddrive, I don't need to reinstall the OS (10.6.8) because he is going to install 10.7 on it. This is good news for me because I don't have the OS installation disk anymore. I read somewhere that it could be possible to format my hard drive using another Mac (my roommate has a Macbook so that works) but I can't seem to find exact instructions.
Info:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
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May 7, 2012
I asked about running Snow Leopard on my mac after a hard drive fail. I'm having issues with formatting a new hard drive in my mac. I have a 2007 black macbook and I'm trying to run a 160gb SATA seagate hard drive. After replacing this hard drive, I booted my mac up from cd, ran through setup fine until I got to the 'select a drive to install to' - the point where my hard drive should be visible. Nothing there at all. Nothing to click on in the box. My question is, is there a process I need to undertake to format the hard drive or is this an indicator of a much bigger problem?
Info:
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
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Jun 9, 2012
My hard drive died last week on my MacBook and I failed to back up anything forever the last couple of months. Anyway, I took it to the genius bar and they confirmed its death, and showed me how to replace it. I decided to go ahead and do so on my own, and also upgraded the memory while I was in there. I also decided to upgrade to lion since my DVD drive was giving me trouble and it'd be easier to use the USB - and yes the computer meets the requirements for Lion.The problem is that when I try to boot up to format the HD, I only get a black screen. No disk utility when holding option, nothing. What am I doing wrong?
Info:
MacBook (13-inch Mid 2007)
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Jun 2, 2014
After reformating de disc do i have to insert the disc with the os that came with the mac originaly or i can start it directly from the back up made?
Info:
MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)
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Sep 30, 2010
I am trying to format a SDHC card on my MBP. I am trying to create a recovery SDHC disk for my MBP.
The disk is a Transcend 16gb (class 10).
I formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) w/ a GUID Partition Table but after this, Disk Utility is now showing only 10.38 gb of usable space, but finder is showing me the full amount (15.79 gb). When I look in finder there are NO files or folders on the drive.
I tested trying to put more than 10.38 gb worth of files on the disk and was told there was not enough space. If I format the disk to anything other than Journaled, I get the full 15.79 gb. Has anyone ever experienced this before?
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Dec 26, 2007
I think I'm going to format my hard drive to delete everything from it and start fresh with leopard. I already have leopard installed, but I think I should just format my hard drive (after backing up what I truly need like my music and other files) and then just install leopard.
Question, I have read that I go to disk utility to do this (format and install leopard), is this correct? If so, what else do I need to know before I do this?
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Jan 24, 2010
I just bout this Western Digital External Hard drive, Passport SE. Anyways, I formatted it to MS-DOS (FAT) so I can use on mac and/or windows. One of the other main reasons I bought it was so I could use it to watch videos on my Xbox 360.
Now I've seen tutorials online with windows how to re-format it to FAT32 so it works properly on xbox 360 but cannot figure it out on mac? On some of the tutorials they use certain programs to do it, is there something like that for mac I can download? Is fat32 and fat the same? I know there has to be a way for me to be able to format it to FAT32 using mac.
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Mar 22, 2012
Is there a way to avoid a Snow Leopard reinstalling/formatting if someone steals my macbook?
I mean, if the stolen macbook gets formatted I won't be able to use hidden app that locates the mac, uses the iSight camera, takes screenshots and send them to my mail.
Info:
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
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Jun 5, 2012
what are the disadvantages of formatting an external drive as FAT32?
Info:
MacBook Pro
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Jun 14, 2012
How I synchronize again devices after formating harddrive?
Info:
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
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Jun 25, 2012
Whenever I try to manipulate a chart in Excel, my formatting palette will not open all of the way? The formatting palette opens completely in Microsoft Word.
Info:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
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May 16, 2012
Ive recently purchased a new external hard drive. I plan to use it on both Apple and Windows OS.
I was told that if I do, then i could corrupt the files/data that I will be accessing on both computers.
Is there a "universal" format for an external drive which would prevent/avoid this kind of thing happening ? How should i format it or which format should i use so that i can use the drive both OS ?
Info:
MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), Mac OS X (10.7)
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Dec 8, 2006
If I were to run the disk utility that asks for the CDs that come with the MBP, what will that do? It is a software utility of sorts. Can I just re-install the basic system files for the OS, or perhaps even just download or copy over from another computer the "Preferences" file? This seems too simplistic, but I am an ex-Windows user. Don't want to format and re-install or anything of that nature if possible.
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Apr 8, 2010
got a real basic question to ask and you're gonna think im an idiot for asking...I just bought a 320gb western digital elements hard drive and want to reformat it so that its compatible for both mac and pc's. i intend to format it as NTFS-3G as it would allow me to use it on the 2 platforms without having the 4GB file size restriction that fat32 has, anyway.....
when I go to reformat my external hard drive in disk utility, I see my external hard drive to the left, and there's a "sub" hard drive as a child of the external hd listed uppermost. just wandering which one of the two do i select before going to Erase>Windows NT filesystem (NTFS-3G)>erase? Do I select the uppermost drive and erase that or the lower one? or both
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Jul 27, 2010
I just got my new Seagate 640gb external hard drive and am in the process of formatting it on my MBP. However, I am not sure which format to do? My main use for the hard drive is for transferring media files back and forth between my MBP and PC using just one partition on the drive. I already know I'm not supposed to pick 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' because I believe that is to use it as a boot drive. So should I pick 'Mac OS Extended' or maybe 'Free Space'?
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Sep 7, 2014
My macbook pro laptop recently died and I am trying to access its time machine backup data through Finder on a different computer. In each one of my folders from different dates, however, the majority of the computer folders I would like to access (i.e. desktop, documents, dropbox, etc) have a little red "no" sign in the corner and prompt the following message when selected:
"The folder “FolderName” can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents"
How can I gain permission to see its contents? As the former user, I know whatever passwords are restricting these files, but I don't know how/where to go to give permission to these folders. I've tried going into Disk Utility and changing the permissions there, but to no avail, despite successful changing of the "Sharing & Permissions" to "Read & Write" for all listed accounts.
I'm currently trying to view this on an imac OSX 10.6.8. The dead MacBook pro ran OSX
Info:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
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Mar 17, 2012
Tried to restart didn't work. Light is on, but nothing makes noise or anyhting. Been charging it for hours so it has power. Tested the chord on my ther computer and it worked
Info:
MacBook
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Aug 26, 2009
I've previously installed OSX on my MBA using an external DVD, using a wifi remote disc option, but because of my current network situation (and current lack of external disc drive) I'm wondering if it would be possible to install OSX on the Air through a direct ethernet connection to another Mac.
Basically it would go like this: MBP <> ethernet cable <> USB ethernet adaptor <> MBA
Possible? Any problems? Any special procedures I need?
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May 13, 2012
I hear the computer physically turn on, but a blank screen remains. I recently purchased a new battery for the computer for the battery status read replace soon about a week ago. I sense that maybe there is a shortage in the wiring that connects what shows on the screen to the computer, but I'm not completely sure.
Info:
MacBook Pro
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