Walls4ever
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Installed new hard drive, won't let me start from recovery, shows flashing question mark folder at power on, no start-up options work.

So I took my computer (2011 Macbook Pro 15" Intel i7, not sure on operating system, it crashed before I could look and see what it was) into Apple earlier this week, they tested it, said my hard drive failed and I needed a replacement. They wanted an ridiclous amount of money to replace the hard drive and transfer all my data over. I'm pretty savvy when it comes to computers, so I ordered a new hard drive off Amazon, backed up my old drive to my work computer using a firewire. Data transferred perfectly, no problems. Installed new hard drive, no problems. Powered on Macbook, I get the flashing question mark folder.

 

I googled it, everyone says this is an easy fix. I double checked my connectors, they are all attached perfectly. (I didn't have the flashing folder problem with my old drive, so I don't know if the connector is bad?)

 

I power on, tried holding down Command + R to open Recovery mode, nothing happens. I power off, wait a few seconds, power back on, try holding down Option (ALT) to get my drive to show up and boot that way, nothing. After a few seconds, I either get the flashing question mark folder, or I get just the mouse curser.

 

Please help.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5), Not 100% sure on operating system

Posted on Apr 9, 2015 2:16 PM

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Q: Installed new hard drive, won't let me start from recovery, shows flashing question mark folder at power on, no start-up options w ... more

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Apr 9, 2015 2:21 PM in response to Walls4ever
    Level 10 (270,928 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2015 2:21 PM in response to Walls4ever

    First, check this: Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery. If you can use Network Recovery, then do the following:

     

    Install OS X Using Internet Recovery

     

    Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.

     

    Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:

     

    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears on the screen. Wait patiently - 15-20 minutes - until the Recovery main menu appears.

     

    Partition and Format the hard drive:

     

    1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
    2. After DU loads select your newly installed hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.

     

    Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button. Be sure to select the SSD.

     

    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

     

    This should restore the version of OS X originally pre-installed on the computer.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Apr 9, 2015 2:25 PM in response to Walls4ever
    Level 9 (53,581 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2015 2:25 PM in response to Walls4ever

    Try booting with Command + Option + R depressed to invoke the internet recovery as  directed at OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

  • by Walls4ever,

    Walls4ever Walls4ever Apr 10, 2015 7:31 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 7:31 AM in response to Kappy

    Command + Option + R did NOT work. No keyboard strokes work except connecting it to firewire with T.  I'm connected to an ethernet wire, wait for the chime, immediately hold down Command + Option + R for awhile.... nothing happens... eventually the flashing question mark comes back on the screen.

     

    I don't want to purchase a new ribbon cable for the hard drive and have the same problem... Can a ribbon cable literally stop working when you replace the hard drive?

  • by Walls4ever,

    Walls4ever Walls4ever Apr 10, 2015 9:27 AM in response to Walls4ever
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 9:27 AM in response to Walls4ever

    Put old hard drive back into computer to see if cable was bad (if I got a flashing question mark) and did NOT get the question mark folder.

     

    With old, crashed drive inserted, machine will power on to gray apple logo screen. I can hit the Option key to access my Macintosh HD drive, however, It doesn't load, because it is crashed. However, I know that the Option key still works.

     

    Whereas, with my new drive installed, no commands work. Does the new hard drive need to be configured somehow to work with my Mac?  I upgraded from 500GB 5400RPM in old to 1TB in new with 7200RPM... does this make a difference?

  • by FatMac>MacPro,

    FatMac>MacPro FatMac>MacPro Apr 10, 2015 10:03 AM in response to Walls4ever
    Level 5 (4,815 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 10:03 AM in response to Walls4ever

    Walls4ever wrote:

     

    Command + Option + R did NOT work. No keyboard strokes work except connecting it to firewire with T...

    Since you can connect using Target Disk Mode, why not try the method described here. The OS is different but that may not matter.