HI guys
MY firmware password was unblocked by Apple, so now I believe i have to reinstall OS X from the disc, so as it advised need to format SSD ( 128 GB , Mac book pro early 2011 model )
Laptop has been performing this task for nearly 18 hours already, so my question is am I doing this procedure right way ?
MacBook Pro
I see that you are using a MacBook Pro. And you are starting from an Install disc (DVD). Which OS version is that?
18 hours does seem like a long time though maybe it is finished by now. If you have chosen one of the "Security Options" and are writing zeros several times, maybe it would take many hours.
It sounds as though there is a complicated underlying story there with "unblocking" of firmware passwords. Maybe this process caused other problems.
Here is a discussion in another Support Community that might make for unpleasant reading if you did choose a "Security Option." Are security options even available for SSDs.
If this continues, do you have access to an Apple Store and the Genius Bar for their help?
dick glendon
HI Dick
I had to stop it, then tried again with DU disk repair, and was not successful....
Yes it is a long story, I just have feeling that something went wrong with my SSD , so ordered new one , it seems easier to try this way, if not then will go back to Genius Bar. Already read lots of info on different threads
thnx
If you are using Disk Utility from the boot disk, it will not allow you to format it.
You must boot from the recovery disk.
Restart your Mac, Immediately hold down the Command and R keys after you hear the startup sound to start up in OS X Recovery.
When the Recovery window appears, select DU, then click Continue.
Select the drive you want to format, select erase and then click OK.
From the Format pop-up menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
See the following: How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support
Follow "Erase your drive and install OS X".
It was not clear from your post whether or not you have already done this.
If you have done this already, I apologize.
Kim
Hi Chelskie:
Assuming that you were trying to format/erase your drive the correct way, maybe you have an issue with your drive SATA cable.
Startup Screens : About the screens you see when your Mac starts up
MacBook Pro 13" Mid 2012 Hard Drive Cable Symptoms: Symptoms
MacBook Pro hard drive SATA cable issue. MacBook Pro Hard Drive Cable Failure-Free fix and preventative maintenance
Kim
HI Kim
You do not have to apologize, as I am the one to ask for help, so any advice will be appreciated 🙂
I will try your option, but also i have stopped that process ( on the photo ) and tried to repair the disk using DU - and it could not be repaired
Now will try your suggestion , do you know how long does it normally take to format the disk?
ANd is there any way to check if everything Ok with SSD ? I have feeling that something wrong with it , and Command + D equals grey picture of a folder and question mark inside on my machine....no diagnostics whatsoever
It has started from nowhere , I mean 2 weeks ago machine did not want to boot, so I tried recovery mode and it asked me for firmware password, so I took it to Genius Bar, to unlock it , and now having troubles to start it from scratches, it is Snow Leopard OS , and I still have OS installation disc, just can not format it .
And really willing to crack it myself
Thank you
Alex
If you had a firmware password that you forgot and the genius bar disabled it for you. You should not have needed to reinstall the operating system. Because all it is is a security measure just as having FileVault on. To erase the drive, you only needed low level erase. In fact if you clicked on the drive(not the indented volume) and used the partition tab in disk utilities. That would work. You would set one partition, the option is GUID. The formate is mac os extended journaled and then apply.
Hi Chelskie:
To test whether the problem is your hard drive or SATA cable:
You can remove your hard drive from Mac and install in an external enclosure OWC external case or using a USB to SATA adapter USB to SATA adapter and connect it to your MBP via USB. And then try to boot from it using Startup Manager. This will help to identify if your hard drive or SATA cable are at fault. If it boots the MBP, most likely the problem will be the drive SATA cable needs to be replaced.
Boot from the disk using Startup Manager: How to choose a startup disk on your Mac
Kim
Formatting SSD for too long or am I not too patient .
