Need to Format Hard Drive No Disk Utility No Other Macbook

Question

Level 1

0 points

Need to Format Hard Drive No Disk Utility No Other Macbook

Hi! I bought a MacBook Pro Retina 2013. The previous owner attempted to install windows 7, but not with boot camp. He wiped the drive and installed it. There is no backup partition, and can't can't access utilities etc.. Can't do a internet recover it gives a generic error. I believe it's because there is no wifi, because there isn't a wifi driver. Can't load OS X from a Flash Drive, because the hard drive is formatted for windows Fat32.. I don't have another MacBook to us to try and format the hard drive on this one properly. Is there a program that I can make a bootable flash drive with that will allow me to format my HD? Is there any suggestions as to what I can do.. Thanks..

Posted on Dec 25, 2015 8:05 AM

Reply

Answer 1

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Johnb-one

If I hold the option key down it will allow me to boot from a USB. However, after a minute I get the circle with a slash through it (another words it can't do it). I'm assuming it's because the drive is partitioned now for windows. If I create a bootable windows 10 USB it will load the whole thing.. However, no drivers for wifi etc... since i've deleted windows off of it if I just let it boot it will go to the blinking question mark inside a folder. So, there is nothing to boot into safe mode.. command r just gets me to apple/com/support -1005F error... Anyways, that's the error I was getting when I do internet recover, and I believe it's because the wifi card has no drivers installed now.. . Unfortunately, the only I can seem to do right now is load windows onto it, but that really doesn't do me any good....

Merry Christmas

Reply

Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:19 PM in response to topurdue2

Have you tried to boot the MBP with the OPTION + COMMAND + R keys? If successful you will get this display:

By following the directions you should be able to get Disk Utility and install the original OSX.

(you will get this menu:

A solid Internet connection will be required.

Ciao.

Reply

Answer 3

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 10:52 AM in response to topurdue2

any advice would be greatly appreciate....

Reply

Answer 4

Johnb-one

Level 6

9,180 points

Dec 25, 2015 11:41 AM in response to topurdue2

sounds like you're in a pickle for now-whether it's a Christmas Pickle, I can 't say. If you reboot and hold down the option key, you should get a list of all bootable hard drives. If you reboot and hold down the "s" key, I think that's safe mode (only the most basic drivers and stuff get loaded). if you can do command+R you may be able to boot from the recovery partition if available....I'm sorta stumped on this one right now. I'm sure someone else will chime in here....otherwise, you're gonna have to take it in, make an appointment with the genius bar, and let them take a swing at it

Merry Christmas to you

John b

Reply

Answer 5

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:20 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Like I stated, there is no wifi. I think it's because the drivers are no longer present...

Reply

Answer 6

ManSinha

Level 6

12,183 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:25 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

The OP is saying he cannot connect to the Internet due to no WiFi driver -

Can the computer detect an external DVD drive? The thought would be to get a back up DVD of the last OS that was supplied on a DVD and install it - but going to the Genius Bar may be the best bet - that overcomes your "No other MBP" issue - they can connect and format the HD and load the latest OS for you

Sorry - as Johnb-one said above - no easy answers .....

Reply

Answer 7

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:32 PM in response to ManSinha

The macbook reads the usb port. So, I can load a os via a thumb drive. However, since I can't format the drive properly it won't load the OS properly. I'm trying to figure out a way to format the Hard Driver properly, like you would with disk utilities, but without disk utilities...

Reply

Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:33 PM in response to topurdue2

topurdue2 wrote:

Like I stated, there is no wifi. I think it's because the drivers are no longer present...

Are you saying that you have no wifi available at your location? If that is the case, go to where there is wifi.

Did you try to boot the MBP with the three keys that I described (OPTION + COMMAND + R)? If you did and if there was no response, then the only course of action you can take is to make an appointment at an Apple store genius bar and have the MBP evaluated.

Ciao.

Reply

Answer 9

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:36 PM in response to topurdue2

Thanks for your help guys, and yeah the genius bar would be easier, but it's over an hour away for me...

Reply

Answer 10

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:42 PM in response to ManSinha

ManSinha wrote:

The OP is saying he cannot connect to the Internet due to no WiFi driver -

Can the computer detect an external DVD drive? The thought would be to get a back up DVD of the last OS that was supplied on a DVD and install it - but going to the Genius Bar may be the best bet - that overcomes your "No other MBP" issue - they can connect and format the HD and load the latest OS for you

Sorry - as Johnb-one said above - no easy answers .....

The retina MBP cannot use any OSX that came with DVDs. That ended with the introduction of the late 2011 models when Lion was introduced. A Mac cannot run an OSX older than what it originally came with. A 2013 MBP came with Mt. Lion or Mavericks, depending upon if it is an early or late model.

The only way the MBP can get a OSX installed is via the internal recovery (COMMAND +R) or Internet recovery (OPTION + COMMAND + R). Failing that, the genius bar is the last option.

Ciao

Reply

Answer 11

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:49 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

I'm saying that the MacBook no longer see's the wifi card. I'm assuming it's because of a lack of drivers. The HD was completely wiped, and formatted Fat32 with windows loaded, but no proper drivers... I

Reply

Answer 12

topurdue2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

There has to be a way. I can boot from a USB. I can install a bootable version of any of the latest OS X. Also, If I had another mack then I could connect this one to it, and use disk utility to format the drive properly. So, I know the genius bar isn't the ONLY POSSIBLE option. I need a tool to format the drive properly, and it needs to be able to be done via a bootable usb...

Reply