Installing OSX on brand new HDD on Macbook Pro 13" Mid 2009

Question

Installing OSX on brand new HDD on Macbook Pro 13" Mid 2009

I have installed a brand new solid state hard drive in my macbook pro 13" mid 2009.

I replaced the old hard drive because it was failing.

Now that I have the new hard drive installed I am struggling to get OS X installed onto the new hard drive. I have ruled out using a USB enclosure on the old hard drive to do the transfer because it was failing.

I do have the original OSX snow leopard start up disk. I have tried using this to install OSX onto the new HDD but it would not work.

I think it might be because the new HDD is unformatted?

I have also been into disk utility to try to resolve this but this does not work.

I have tried partitioning the new HDD but I get an error message "Partition failed .... POSIX reports: The operation cannot be completed. Cannot allocate memory".

I have also tried the restore function in Disk Utility to restore the disk using my time machine backup disk, but I get the error "Could not erase target - Operation not permitted"

I have also tried to restore the HDD from a time machine backup, but when I try to select a Destination it says the "disk does not have enough space to restore your system"

Any suggestions on how to solve this would be much appreciated 🙂

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 22, 2014 7:31 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jul 23, 2014 7:28 AM in response to bolderclimber

I assume that you have an original Leopard installation disk or a white retail Snow Leopard disk.

Start your MBP with one of these disks holding the C key down.

Commence the installation process until you get a display with the menu bar on top.

Click on UTILITIES.

From the drop down menu, click on Disk Utility.

Select Disk Utility>Erase.

Format the SSD to 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'.

Continue the OSX installation.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

snsn8r

Level 1

0 points

May 22, 2015 3:33 PM in response to bolderclimber

i recieved a Macbook pro 13" early 2011 without HDD. I added an 80GB i had laying around. Wiped it with windows. installed into macbook. Here are the steps i used to install lion. Be advised i used a windows to make my USB bootable for mac.

1. Used Transmac to format 8GB USB drive for Mac use.

2. Downloaded a OS X Lion 10.7.2.dmg

3. Restored USB using the OS X Lion 10.7.2.dmg by using Transmac

4. rebooted Macbook by holding Option key and USB plugged in

5. Noticed USB was recognized with OS X lion in it.

6. Disk Utility came up and wiped 80GB to prepare for install.

7. Installed Lion 10.7.2 as we speak. Will update as soon as possible to Maverick.

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Answer 3

goknicks

Level 1

4 points

Jul 22, 2014 8:45 AM in response to bolderclimber

Warning: Not an expert here.

Just did this on my '09 15" MBP. Bought an OWC 240 GB SSD.

did you boot from the CD then run Disk Utility after boot up?

My steps:

1. boot from USB stick with Mavericks (via DiskMaker)

2. Run Disk Utility to format and partition new SSD

3. after format/partition, install OSX

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Answer 4

Jul 22, 2014 9:08 AM in response to goknicks

Hi Goknicks

Thanks for your reply.

In answer to your question, yes - I did boot from the startup CD and then run the Disk Utility. From there I tried to partition the drive but it would not work for some reason...

I will try your suggestion of using Diskmaker to create a boot disk on USB...

Thanks

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Answer 5

goknicks

Level 1

4 points

Jul 22, 2014 9:12 AM in response to bolderclimber

what brand SSD did you get?

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Answer 6

Jul 23, 2014 6:06 AM in response to goknicks

I got a Crucial M500 240GB 2.5 inch SSD

I tried to use Diskmaker to create a USB boot drive on my other computer (a MacBook Air 13inch 2014) but it didn't work. I downloaded the software and followed the instructions but it cannot find the Installer for OS Mavericks on my computer... Any suggestions?

Thanks

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Answer 7

goknicks

Level 1

4 points

Jul 23, 2014 6:41 AM in response to bolderclimber

try these steps for Diskmaker. It's what I used

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6sTMvluakY

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Answer 8

Jul 23, 2014 8:51 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi Ogelthorpe. Thanks for your note.

That is correct I have the original Leopard install disk.

I did exactly what you said. However, when I try to erase the HDD, it says there is an error "Cannot Allocate Memory".

When I try to format/ partition the HDD to Mac OS Extended Journaled, it says there is an error " POSIX reports - Operation Cannot be completed. Cannot Allocate Memory"

Any ideas what this error message means?

Thanks

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Answer 9

goknicks

Level 1

4 points

Jul 23, 2014 8:55 AM in response to bolderclimber

try to Partition first then Erase

Make sure it's partitioned as GUID in options

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