I have a MacBook Pro bought in dec 2009. Currently has mountain lion osx installed. Worked like a dream until today. Randomly froze, so I restarted it. To find I got a grey screen. It wouldn't start. Also note my DVD drive doesn't work, but mountain lion

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I have a MacBook Pro bought in dec 2009. Currently has mountain lion osx installed. Worked like a dream until today. Randomly froze, so I restarted it. To find I got a grey screen. It wouldn't start. Also note my DVD drive doesn't work, but mountain lion

I have a MacBook Pro bought in dec 2009. Currently has mountain lion osx installed. Worked like a dream until today. Randomly froze, so I restarted it. To find I got a grey screen. It wouldn't start. Also note my DVD drive doesn't work, but mountain lion was installed via App Store anyway.

So here's what I done so far:

tried resetting PRAM - No success

Done disk utility. Disk verified with no errors. I even re formatted disk. - no success starting.

Tried re installing mountain lion via download . It froze halfway installing -no success.

Tried backing up a time machine backup from my USB hard drive. It froze at 1% - no success

Tried booting from safe mode - no success

Tried the command line boot - no success.

Please someone help!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 3, 2013 2:39 PM

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Answer 1

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Apr 3, 2013 3:10 PM in response to Poundii

Sounds like hardware issues, take it in for evaluation.

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Answer 2

Poundii Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 3, 2013 3:13 PM in response to ds store

Its booked in for Genius Bar soon, but if I can avoid apple flogging me new parts I have to pay for by trying something different, that would be great. Don't think anyones going to be able to help me on this one. I think I've tried everything possible!

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Answer 3

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Apr 3, 2013 3:21 PM in response to Poundii

Sounds like the hard dre has left the building, Died, in the Sh*tter, Gone to the hard drive resting place in the sky.

Buy a new drive connect it to the system with a SATA to USB adapter and see if you can install Mt Lion on that drive connected externally. If you can then the drive inside your system has failed.

Oh Wait!!!! You have the 2009 model. They are known for bad drive to logic board cables. So it may not be the drive itself but the cable going from the drive to the logic board. Do the same as above then if the system runs OK with the new drive connected externally install it in the system and see if it boots. If it does you are good to go. If it doesn't then it is more then likely the cable that hs failed.

I would suggest you also SAVE a copy of that download of Mt Lion and create a USB install drive from it using Lion Disk Maker, once you get your system up and running.

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Answer 4

Poundii Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 3, 2013 11:34 PM in response to Shootist007

Hi thanks for reply. If I have to buy a new drive, surely I may as well get it from the Genius Bar and let them sort it anyway?

Even if I did get one, how would I install mountain lion on it, as the computer doesn't even load to any screen or disk utility to get to an installation?

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