helenatruralhome

Q: How to install a new hard drive without bootable disc/usb

Hi- my hard drive has totally failed and although I can get into disk utility it won't let me create images and keeps coming up with input/output errors when I try.

 

I don't have another mac to work from and have no discs whatsoever even for older OS versions

 

I've ordered a new hard drive(a seagate 750GB 7400rpm one) but how do I get mountain lion on the new hard drive without any discs? If I just put in my new hard drive will it come up with an option? I have a mid 2009 MBP if that helps

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 15, 2013 8:22 AM

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Q: How to install a new hard drive without bootable disc/usb

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  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Jul 16, 2013 8:16 AM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 8:16 AM in response to helenatruralhome

    From the Email I got from your post below, I have deleted it so I no longer have it, I think I remeber reading that you used a Windows computer to install Mountain Lion on that external drive. To do that you had to of used some type of HACKED version of Mountain Lion and in doing that I seriously doubt that Bastardized version of ML will ever work on a Real Mac computer.

     

    You need to stop fooling around and ORDER a set of Replacement System Disc from Apple for your model year Mac computer.

     

    IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO RESTORE YOUR MAC TO A WORKING COMPUTER.

     


    helenatruralhome wrote:

     

     

    I've now got an external hard drive which I managed to install Mountain Lion on- how do I get Mountain Lion off the external hard drive and onto the new hard drive?

     

    Do i just select the external hard drive as the one to run from and 'set up' my macbook then go into disk utility and partition the new hard drive and download/ install it again on that? Also- when creating the partition do I partition it into two and if so- how much in each partition?

  • by aasheash,

    aasheash aasheash Jul 16, 2013 8:43 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 8:43 AM in response to LowLuster

    > "Bastardized version of ML" LOL

     

    If that's the case he can try putting his newly procured hard disk to superdrive's SATA connection & then proceed installation process to the newly connected drive.

  • by helenatruralhome,

    helenatruralhome helenatruralhome Jul 16, 2013 8:59 AM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 8:59 AM in response to helenatruralhome

    Well I've managed to copy my failed Macintosh HD's user folder- does that mean I've copied all my photos/mail, etc?

     

    Also- I've got ML running on my external hard drive but I can't access things that came pre installed- such as iPhoto, etc- I'm not intending on downloading them to the external HD but I'm concerned about how to install them once I've got the replacement HD in- any advice?

     

    When I phoned Apple they said to just go into Itunes and authorise the computer and they should come up in the app store but as I didn't purchase them through the app store I'm unsure as to if that will work?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 16, 2013 10:01 AM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 9 (60,692 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 16, 2013 10:01 AM in response to helenatruralhome

    Well I've managed to copy my failed Macintosh HD's user folder- does that mean I've copied all my photos/mail, etc?

     

    If the Users folder is complete, all your old files are intact.

     

    Since Mac OS X is inherently a Multi-User system, System files are kept in separate, protected directories. No user files or substantial Preferences are stored in System Directories (only a few things like physical screen size which is quickly recreated for you).

     

    Mac OS X has over 350,000 files. If some of those were lost, no problem, you installed a fresh copy of everything.

     

    Apple is correct in that iWork and iLife are not restored as part of the Mac OS X Restore. If you purchased them in any form, they should be available for you to re-download in the Mac App Store.

     

    So go ahead and Install Mac OS X on your new Internal, and copy over your old User files. Later, you can re-download iWork and iLife stuff from the App Store.

  • by helenatruralhome,

    helenatruralhome helenatruralhome Jul 16, 2013 11:35 PM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 11:35 PM in response to helenatruralhome

    So just to confirm- where in the Users folder will I find my mail if I want to import it? I'm having trouble locating it...

     

    Also- when I partition the new hard drive how many partitions should I select and what size? It is a 750GB hard drive.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 17, 2013 11:26 AM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 9 (60,692 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2013 11:26 AM in response to helenatruralhome

    Unless you intend to Install Windows as well, make 1 regular, mountable, named partition (default was "Macintosh HD"). A recovery partition and an EFI partition will be added for you automatically.

     

    If you fire up Mail and your previous mail documents are present, just tell it to re-import and it should take of everything for you.

     

    your Mail files are located on the Boot Drive in:

     

    /Users/your-Id/Library/Mail

  • by helenatruralhome,

    helenatruralhome helenatruralhome Jul 17, 2013 11:20 PM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 17, 2013 11:20 PM in response to helenatruralhome

    Well I've downloaded Mountain Lion onto the new hard drive and authorised my computer but when I go to redownload iLife & iWork it is saying I have to pay for them again- arrghh- I've got all the purchases I've made using the App Store on there but not iLife and iWork- should I restart my computer to see if that helps? My Macbook came preinstalled with them so I have no physical discs to reinstall them and the App Store wasn't in existence when I purchased my Mac...

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 18, 2013 8:20 AM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 9 (60,692 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 18, 2013 8:20 AM in response to helenatruralhome

    Make sure they are not Hidden purchases:

     

    Mac App Store: Hiding and Un-Hiding purchases

     

    .

  • by helenatruralhome,

    helenatruralhome helenatruralhome Jul 18, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I don't have an option for this in App Store- I'm running iLife 09 when I did have iLife 11 but it won't let me update it without paying- arrghh!!

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 18, 2013 2:38 PM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 9 (60,692 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 18, 2013 2:38 PM in response to helenatruralhome

    What part do you not have an option for?

     

    Can you get to the Account Information page?

  • by helenatruralhome,

    helenatruralhome helenatruralhome Jul 18, 2013 10:50 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2013 10:50 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Yes I can get into account info but there is no option for purchases or hidden purchases- just my contact info and credit/debit card, etc

  • by Heights89,

    Heights89 Heights89 Dec 18, 2013 4:07 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2013 4:07 AM in response to LowLuster

    The comment above that "IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO RESTORE YOUR MAC TO A WORKING COMPUTER." is totally false. I just put a brand new unformatted hardrive in my 2012 Macbook pro, turned it on and it then asked if I wanted to boot from the internet. I did so, formatted the drive with the utility that it downloaded and in one eve have a fully functional laptop again. I did this because of old hardrive failure. As long as you have a legal computer that was registered prior to the crash and update then this is possible.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 18, 2013 7:06 AM in response to helenatruralhome
    Level 9 (60,692 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 18, 2013 7:06 AM in response to helenatruralhome

    Purchases is in the top bar shown in every window:

     

    App Purchases.png

     

    .

  • by joncapri,

    joncapri joncapri Sep 3, 2016 1:43 PM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 1:43 PM in response to LowLuster

    I have the original discs and still doesn't  work. I have the same issue. Still showing the locked screen..

  • by joncapri,

    joncapri joncapri Sep 3, 2016 1:48 PM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 1:48 PM in response to LowLuster

    I have the same issue, but I have the Installation disks,..but still after installation the first thing I see is the locked icon in the screen.. I dont recall setting a password on the firmware before

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