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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 8:20 AM

Best reply

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Posted on Jul 15, 2013 8:31 AM

If you have a 2009 model then you must of gotten the original system DVD discs that shipped with every Mac made before Lion came out. If you no longer have them you can order a replacement set from Apple for a small charge. There is no other way to reinstall OS X on your model Mac without them. Then you would need to upgrade to Snow Leopard !0.6.6 or above to get access to the Mac App store to reinstall Mountain Lion. That is unless you have a Time Machine backup made when Mountain Lion was installed. If you do have a TM backup you can boot the system from the Recovery HD system on the TM backup drive and then restore that TM backup to your new HDD.

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29 replies

aasheash

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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...

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

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!!

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?

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

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.

Dec 18, 2013 7:06 AM in response to helenatruralhome

Purchases is in the top bar shown in every window:

joncapri

Level 1

9 points

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..

joncapri

Level 1

9 points

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

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