El Capitan install from bootable USB not working

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Level 1

13 points

El Capitan install from bootable USB not working

Hi all.

To start, I have a 13" MacBook Pro (circa 2009) that slowed right down and eventually began displaying the notorious folder with question mark.

I purchased a new hard drive straight away, supposedly with El Capitan already installed, but experienced difficulty turning the laptop on, as the progress bar would be interrupted with this before the computer restarted again:

Thinking something may have been wrong with El Capitan, I loaded it onto a bootable USB. To begin, the "Macintosh HD" showed up and stayed there for me to click on the bootable USB when holding "option" on restart, but now it shows up only intermittently, and often when it does, it disappears behind one of those cloud bursts (similar to when placing things in the trash). This generally means I only have the bootable USB detected, and when I go through that process, the progress bar freezes towards the end, or "Macintosh HD" is greyed out in Disk Utility, leaving me unable to erase it for fresh install.

Does this suggest a different hardware fault?

Thanks for any tips in advance!

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 9:33 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,317 points

Jun 4, 2016 3:28 AM in response to L-J

L-J wrote:

Does this suggest a different hardware fault?

Yes, there is a hardware problem based on the information shown in the display.

Check the connection on the new HHD.

I would try to use the original install disk (Leopard) and see if that will install an OSX.

Also use the #2 install disk and run the Apple Hardware Test per the instructions.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

L-J Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 4, 2016 3:26 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

OGELTHORPE wrote:

Yes, there is a hardware problem based on the information shown in the display.

Check the connection on the new HHD.

Hi OGELTHORPE.

Thanks for taking the time to reply!

I did put it down to another hardware fault. I've already disconnected and reconnected the HD a couple of times, both new and old. I was going to buy a new HD cable, but I'm not sure if that's even the problem. It's a shame the nearest Apple Store is over an hour away 😟

OGELTHORPE wrote:

I would try to use the original install disk (Leopard) and see if that will install an OSX.

Also use the #2 install disk and run the Apple Hardware Test per the instructions.

Ciao.

Thanks - will try and hunt down the discs and give this a try (but I have a feeling I no longer have them.

Thank you again!

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,317 points

Jun 4, 2016 3:29 PM in response to L-J

If you think the cable may be faulty, take out the HDD, connect it to the MBP via USB, boot the MBP with the OPTION key down and the HDD icon should appear. If it boots the MBP, then the cable is the prime suspect.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

L-J Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 4, 2016 3:43 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

I'll have to order a SATA to USB then.

Thanks again - you're a legend!

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,317 points

Jun 4, 2016 3:58 PM in response to L-J

An inexpensive SATA enclosure will do.

Ciao.

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Answer 6

L-J Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 5, 2016 6:08 PM in response to L-J

Whilst waiting for my SATA enclosure, I've further tried booting from the El Capitan USB install. I'm now seeing "Macintosh HD" more and more, and it stays when I click on "El Capitan Install". This takes me to the apple logo with grey progress bar screen. It loads all the way, but stops at the very end and doesn't do anything. I've had it sitting there for almost 3 hours.

When accessing restore mode (Cmd+R), the "Macintosh HD" screen is still greyed out, and says "unmounted". When clicking on "erase", I usually get an error message before it completes the action. On one occasion, it did erase, and when I clicked on "Install OSX" on the DU screen, it asked for login and began downloading, but an error message popped up shortly after.

I'll still have to wait until I receive the enclosure to see if the cable is at fault.

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Answer 7

L-J Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 5, 2016 9:30 PM in response to L-J

I'm not sure exactly how I did it, but I managed to finally reinstall El Capitan, and the system is now working well.

I was eventually able to erase "Macintosh HDD" and download/reinstall OS X via Disk Utility. I guess it mustn't have actually been installed properly on the HD to begin with...

Thanks for all of the help, OGELTHORPE!

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