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    apple forum dead... any help here?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Lobot, Feb 3, 2016.

  1. Lobot

    Lobot Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am currently trying to fix a co-workers MBP. since this is my first time diving into the MAC trouble shooting scene is there anyone here that could give me a hand since the mac forums on this site are pretty much dead?
     
    Lobot, Feb 3, 2016
    #1
  2. jpowell490

    jpowell490 Notebook Evangelist

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    Lobot,

    What are you trying to do?
     
    jpowell490, Feb 3, 2016
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  3. Lobot

    Lobot Notebook Enthusiast

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    His OS is bad and I am working on trying to do a fresh install. Ran into a snag where I cannot partition, erase or mount the hard drive. Before I tell him to spend money I just want to make sure that my assumption that he needs a new one is correct really.
     
    Lobot, Feb 3, 2016
    #3
  4. jpowell490

    jpowell490 Notebook Evangelist

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    Not to ask the obvious, but you went into the drive tools and checked that way through the OS right? Or are you saying you cannot get to the OS and you are mounting through the command line?
     
    jpowell490, Feb 3, 2016
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  5. Lobot

    Lobot Notebook Enthusiast

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    Original problem: friend dropped laptop off counter. It stopped booting.
    I was able to get into the command + R disk recovery tool thingy and attempted to reinstall OS X. Hard drive would not mount. Next step I did is install the OS on a flash stick and booted his MBP from it to see if I would have better luck with installing the OS.
    Now the HD is in responsive to anything I do in the software cannot erase, mount or select any partition options in the disk utility.
     
    Lobot, Feb 3, 2016
    #5
  6. jpowell490

    jpowell490 Notebook Evangelist

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    Depending on the year of MacBook (assuming it isn't a built in SSD drive) and an actual physical drive, sounds like it came out of it's cradle. Might have to pop the bottom cover off and reseat the physical connection.
     
    jpowell490, Feb 3, 2016
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  7. Lobot

    Lobot Notebook Enthusiast

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    Connector was guten tight ;) first thing I checked forgot to mention that. And yes it is the generation before Retina display so it is a mech drive.
     
    Lobot, Feb 3, 2016
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  8. jpowell490

    jpowell490 Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok, the. You are correct. You have power, you are getting to the disk recovery which means it is not the motherboard, of the disk recovery can't see HD then, it is shot. Must have hit very hard.
     
    jpowell490, Feb 3, 2016
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  9. Lobot

    Lobot Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah the corner is dented pretty good. Does it matter what hard drive I get to replace it?

    Also would it be better if I try and make an El Capitan installer thumb drive for it or have it install lion and then upgrade?
     
    Lobot, Feb 3, 2016
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  10. jpowell490

    jpowell490 Notebook Evangelist

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    Do the El Capitan thumb if possible. That upgrade is a BIG one. Doesn't really matter in the drive, just make sure you get one that matches of course.
     
    jpowell490, Feb 3, 2016
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  11. Lobot

    Lobot Notebook Enthusiast

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    Installed a toshiba 1tb HD I got on sale from Amazon. Created the El Capitan installer thumb drive and everything is working!! Thanks for your help jpowell490
     
    Lobot, Feb 7, 2016
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  12. jpowell490

    jpowell490 Notebook Evangelist

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    Anytime Lobot!
     
    jpowell490, Feb 7, 2016
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  13. MikeBravo

    MikeBravo Notebook Evangelist

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    Could I possibly impose upon you, jpowell490, to ask if you can direct me to a current MacBook Pro thread if there is one? I just recently picked up a late 2011 15” i7 and have a couple of questions as well as wanting to follow any threads that provide tips and assistance.
     
    MikeBravo, Sep 30, 2016
    #13