how do i format a new hard drive without using an external drive

Hi d,

Boot from your install disc, Utilities menu, Disk Utility.

Do you have access to another Mac?

If it will not boot from the install DVD, it sounds like you might have broken something when you changed the hard drive. It may be time to take it in for some profession repair work now.

Allan

Did your optical drive work before you replaced the hard drive? And it doesn't work at all now? Doesn't even make any noise? It's probably worth going back in and checking to see that the optical drive is securely plugged into the logic board. It's possible that you accidently dislodged the cable.

Good luck!

drdarren wrote:

i believe the dvd player does work. it shows the disk in there but then nothing happens

Do you hold down the c or option key while booting?

Formatting, Partitioning Erasing a Hard Disk Drive

Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and anythird party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.

• With compute rshut down insert install disk in optical drive.

• Hit Power buttonand immediately after chime hold down the "C" key.

• Select language

• Go to the Utilities menu and launch Disk Utility.

• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.

• Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create asingle partition volume.)

• Click on Options button

• Select GUID Partition Table(Intel Macs)

• Click OK

• Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volumediagram.

(Note 1: One partition is normally preferable for an internalHDD.)

• Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)

• Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

• Click Partition button at bottom of panel.

• Select Erase tab

• Select the sub-volume (indented) under Manufacturer ID (usuallyMacintosh HD).

• Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.

• Click Erase button

• Quit Disk Utility.

Open installer and begin installation process.

😉 cornelius

drdarren wrote:

yes i also have an imac. what is the process

Boot into FireWire Target Disk Mode:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583

Open Disk Utility on your iMac, select the MBP's HD, partition it GUID and format it.

drdarren wrote:

ok thanks for the link. here is what happened. i hit the C key and after a period of time i got a circle with a line through it in the middle of the screen and the timer circle at the bottom. i was able to eject the disk and put it back in . the apple symbol came up and then went back to the circle with the line in it

Ok, so you're apparently not going to be able to do this through your optical drive. Try booting your MBP in FireWire Target Disk Mode (per my link above) and see if that works.

drdarren wrote:

when i boot my mbpro holding the T key, it does not see the remote drive

Not sure what you mean. The iMac could see the MBP for the format, but now it cannot anymore?

The process is to put the install disc into the iMac and start the installer. When it gets to the window to select the HD to install on, that's where you need to select the MBP's HD.