Missing start up disk

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Level 1

9 points

Missing start up disk

My laptop can't find its startup disk.

It's a 2011 model, but has Lion 10.7 software

I've been trying a few different troubleshooting things since last night but nothing has worked.

Starting up while holding option or command+r will get me through internet recovery to the disk utilities window, but I can't use repair or erase because it won't recognize the Macintosh HD disk

Same goes for trying to reinstall Mac OS X

I'm currently studying abroad so I don't have my computers installation disk, and there are no apple stores in Ireland (just authorized resellers)

Is there anything I can do to save my computer?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 11, 2013 5:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

DeesBek

Level 1

35 points

Oct 11, 2013 5:51 AM in response to Laurensea

You will not need a start up disk as long as you have a connection to the internet. It sounds as if you need to replace your hard disk drive. The way to recover the data is put a new drive in your mac, then connect the old one (which most probably has errors on it but is still readable) externally via USB and transfer the data you need.

The entire process should take no longer than 3~4 hours depeding on your skill.

I would go out and buy an external hard disk (portable, the ones that don't require an external power source).

Thake that apart and also remove your disk from your macbook.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA161/en_US/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY .pdf

The new disk will have nothing on it, but once you connect the laptop to the net, it will download the operating system from apple then you can connect your old drive and transfer the required data.

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