How can I operate a macbook with a replaced hard disk and water damaged monitor in clampshell mode to install mac OS?

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How can I operate a macbook with a replaced hard disk and water damaged monitor in clampshell mode to install mac OS?

Hi,

I have a late 2010 Macbook which is water damaged. The water damage has impacted the monitor and the hard drive. I replaced the hard drive since I had a spare but

didn't think it was economically prudent to replace the monitor. Hence, I planned to use an external monitor as the primary monitor for the Macbook in clampshell mode.

Now I am faced with the problem of having to connect my mac machine with no operating system to an external monitor and use the external monitor to install mac OS. I have all the necessary CD's to instal the mac OS but I can't think of a way to get the external monitor to work.

Would the clampshell mode work in this scenario? i.e does the clampshell mode rely on the OS? If not, is there any other alternatives?

Thank you and excuse any ignorance.

Posted on Aug 26, 2015 1:07 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

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Aug 26, 2015 1:15 PM in response to lazyspot74

That requires a USB attached external keyboard and the external monitor. This computer has a Firewire port. If you have another computer with a Firewire port you can use Target Disk Mode to install OS X on the MB.

Using Target Disk Mode to install an operating system

Share files between two computers with target disk mode

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Answer 2

lazyspot74 Author

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Aug 26, 2015 1:52 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks for that reply.

By using a USB attached external keyboard and mouse, I am assuming you are referring to the clampshell mode. Just to make sure, I wouldn't need my external monitor to be USB attached right? I am using the thunderbolt to VGA adapter to connect to the external monitor.

Thanks for referring Target Disk Mode, didn't know about this.

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Answer 3

Kappy

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Aug 26, 2015 3:51 PM in response to lazyspot74

Just the keyboard and external mouse will need to use USB. Not the monitor.

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Answer 4

lazyspot74 Author

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Aug 27, 2015 7:42 AM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy,

I tried using USB attached keyboard and mouse to enable clampshell mode but this didn't work. I used a Logitech mouse and keyboard to do this.

I am thinking that the mac hardware does not have the necessary drivers to run the mouse and keyboard since it does not have the OS to communicate with the USB hardware. Please advice if I am getting something wrong in working with the clampshell mode.

I am now going to try the Target Disk Mode method and see if this might work. I will post my findings here. Meanwhile, if you think of something please keep me posted.

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Answer 5

lazyspot74 Author

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Aug 27, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Kappy

Kappy,

I was looking into Target Disk Mode and it turns out that my version of Macbook (Model Number: A1342) does not have a firewire port. So I guess this is also a dead end.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

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Answer 6

Csound1

Level 9

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Aug 27, 2015 9:20 AM in response to lazyspot74

Do you have the remote for the Mac?

I have only found 2 ways to wake the Mac when the lid is closed and it is asleep, plug a USB device in (flash drive will do) or send a command via the remote. A USB keyboard and mouse will be needed to operate it once it is awake, drivers are not needed for basic functionality.

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