Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

1 points

MacBook Pro 15" - New internal Hard Drive?

Hi Guys

After a full weekend of trying to clean install my MacBook Pro 15" from the spring of 2011, which had Mountain Lion installed, I have to conclude that reinstalling Mountain Lion or Lion really isn't an option at the moment... 😟

I called Apple Support twice yesterday, thanks to them I got a lot further in reinstalling Snow Leopard from the DVD, (thanks Apple Support! 🙂 ) but they think that my internal hard drive might be damaged, which causes the crashing of Mountain Lion and Lion when installing.

So, which internal hard drive should I install, can I take a bigger one (now 500 GB) than I had before, and can I also upgrade my processor?

Thanks in advance guys!

Bob

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 20, 2013 10:00 AM

Best reply

sdpitbull

Level 3

965 points

Posted on Jan 20, 2013 2:15 PM

Yes, there are bigger HD out there that your machine will support. Mine came with 500 GB and I upgraded to 750. There are even 1 TB drives out now. You simply remove the old and plug in the new.

Processor upgrades are not widely available for the Mac and probably not worth the effort but I'm sure others will chime in.

View in context

24 replies

bobmermans Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 27, 2013 10:40 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi Ogelthorpe,

I'm afraid downloading it still fails. I can download it from the App Store, it takes about 30 minutes, but when it tries to install from your desktop (so right after you downloaded and the application opens), after a few minutes I get the well-known error message that the download was corrupted... :(

Can you help?

Thanks

Bob

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jan 27, 2013 11:52 AM in response to bobmermans

Are you following these directions?

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11273

As soon as you get the screen with 4 options, select Disk Utility. Click on ERASE and format the HDD to 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. Then proceed with the install.

Note: I assume that your new HDD has no data on it. It will be totally erased.

If this fails again, then you will have to go back to the Apple store. The 'do not have enough time' excuse is bogus. It does not take more tha 5 minutes to start the download and then while the OS is downloaded and installed, they can attend to other customers. For different reasons I had Mt. Lion installed at the Apple store. Given any resistance, ask for a manager.

Incidentally, just prior to where the MBP restarts on the install is where one 'pulls the plug' in order to make a USB installation thumb drive.

Let me know how you do.

Ciao.

bobmermans Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 27, 2013 12:49 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi Ogelthorpe,

I came back from the store (wasn't an Apple Store by the way) last friday, the drive installed, and I partitioned it myself.

Now I can work on my MacBook on OS X Lion but the App Store won't download Mountain Lion, telling me it is a corrupt download.

So I can work on my computer but downloading Mountain Lion doesn't work. I reinstalled Lion via the way you show in your most recent post here, but not Mountain Lion although I had it until 2 weeks ago.

I've tried several ways and instructions in order to be able to download it via the App Store with removing com.apple.appstore.plist etc., but nothing seems to work. Freakin' me out 🙂

Thanks!

Bob

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jan 27, 2013 1:28 PM in response to bobmermans

I know it cannot be the Mt. Lion application. There have been thousands upon thousands of downloads. I had it done at the Apple store and I downloaded it to make my USB thumb drive. I am pleased that at least you have a working MBP with Lion. That means that we are not in a crisis situation.

At this point I am grasping at straws and wondering if you have any third party applications that may be inhibiting the installation? In my prior response I was trying to get you to try the install on a completely empty disk. That was the point of Disk Utility>Erase. I suppose you might try that on an external HDD if you have time to spare.

At this point I think that the issue can best be resolved by a visit to a bonafide Apple store genius bar. Maybe someone will read what has now become our collaborative Russian novel and offer a solution. I cannot come up with another options at the present.

Ciao.

bobmermans Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 27, 2013 2:37 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi Ogelthorpe

I think I'm getting there. While reading another website about being unable to download MTL., I read that a lot of buyers were unable to install because of the corrupt download when they had paused downloading. I think that, because of the situation of trying and trying, not one download had been downloaded without pausing. Now it has downloaded in one time and at the start-up of the installation the error message has disappeared.

Now only the finishing of the installation and I'll be a very happy boy :)

Thanks!

Bob

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jan 27, 2013 3:31 PM in response to bobmermans

I can accept that as an explanation. Obviously when I had Mt. Lion installed by the Apple store, they have an excellent Wi Fi connection. When I downloaded Mt. Lion I went to a site known to have a good Wi Fi connection and I had no problems. I have a totally wireless Internet connection, so it can be erratic at at times.

Maybe I am too 'old school' and prefer to have a physical copy of an OS. I encourage you to make a USB thumb drive for those situations when the Internet or Apple servers are not available. It may not be essential for you, but as stated, when the Internet connection is not 100% reliable, it is a comfort to know I have something to fall back on to.

It's been fun and the best of luck.

Ciao.

bobmermans Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 30, 2013 3:22 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi Ogelthorpe

Tried a final clean install last monday starting by downloading Lion from the internet (with the cmd + alt + R method) after having the MT Lion installed on a USB thumb.

Since the disk was totally clean now, Lion installed fine (had to restart installation because of failure, but after that it worked fine) and then I tried MT. Lion from the USB Thumb, and guess what, IT WORKS!

All of the troubles I had in the past few weeks have disappeared. Everything works fine, not one error has occured since monday! Unbelievable!

Thanks a lot man! You've really helped me!

Bob

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jan 30, 2013 3:31 AM in response to bobmermans

Well now, you have put a smile on my face. Keep good care of the USB thumb drives.

Note that I had Mt. Lion installed on my 'working' MBP but I had to revert to Lion in order to run a 32 bit application which Mt. lion will not run. The point is that if you should encounter such a situation, the Lion USB drive can be installed on a partition so you are not left out in the cold.

Again I wish you the best.

Ciao.

Aug 31, 2013 9:03 PM in response to bobmermans

Yesterday When i switched on my mac . Just after pressing the power button i also pressed the command + s button then a terminal appeared in the screen and then my mac was switched off automatically . Now when ever I switch on my mac a screen pops up showing my account and a guest user account and when i try to open my account , after typing the password for my account and press enter , again the terminal screen pops up with some things written on it . This screen pops up for 3 to 4 seconds and then my mac gets restarted every time, i dont know what to do now , please help me out . .

MacBook Pro 15" - New internal Hard Drive?