Hard drive has completely gone - has no paritition or volumes to install OS X too

My first reaction is hard drive failure.

Try using Apple hardware test to confirm before you go out and buy a new HDD.

OP wrote above:
[[ Not sure what happened but the partiton/volume then changed from 'Macintosh HD to Disk0s2' and was not able to be mounted to show up when I push power button+option.
I was then able to actually delete the disk0s2 partition...]]

Uh oh.
I think you just -deleted- the partition that your stuff was on!

Ever head the saying, "a rose by any other name...." ??
Even though the -name- of the partition had changed, what that name -represented- was still the "same as before". And you deleted it.

If you have any hope of getting that stuff back, I suggest you STOP USING THAT DRIVE RIGHT NOW (which means stop fooling with the MacBook until you get another drive). Anything you continue to do with it may "over-write" what's already on it, making recovery impossible.

If you were to put that computer into my hands, here is what I would do
(ASIDE: this is going to cost you money and time.)

First -- you need ANOTHER drive to serve as a new boot drive. Might be time to think about an SSD. In fact, I would recommend that you put an SSD into it. I put one into my own 2010 MBPro, and it now runs better than new.

Second -- you need something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Ina...6&sr=8-1&keywords=inateck+usb3+sata+dock+uasp
About $28 and the best money you'll ever spend.

Third -- you're going to need a data recovery app. Some that come to mind are DataRescue3, Disk Drill, Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery. All are free to download and run in test mode. You only pay the registration fee AFTER you have tested the software with your drive to ascertain if recovery is possible. (You can download this after you have the replacement drive up-and-running)

Fourth -- you're going to need the right tools to open the MBPro. You need a "00" Phillips screwdriver, and a Torx "T-6" driver. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER SIZES!
You should also go to "ifixit.com" and check out the drive replacement guide for the 2010 MacBook Pro. (You can find the tools at hardware stores, or at Sears)

Also -- do you still have the original System DVD that came with the MBPro ?? You need "a boot source" and the means to reintall a copy of the OS (original OS with that one was 10.6.x)

What I would do when I had these items in hand:
1. Put the SSD into the dock, connect to the MBPro (or another Mac, if available)
2a. If on another Mac, initialize the SSD and install a copy of the OS onto it.
2b. If on the MBPro, boot from the install DVD. DO NOT TOUCH THE INTERNAL DRIVE for the time being. Open Disk Utility and initialize the docked drive.
3. Install a copy of the OS onto the SSD in the dock.
4. When done, BOOT FROM the SSD by restarting and holding down the option key until the startup manager appears.
5. If you get a good boot, go through the OS X setup process to create a new account.
6. At this point, you might want to use Software Update to update your newly-installed OS to current
7. Now, shut everything down, power off
8. Now it's time to "do the drive swap". Using the ifixit guide, remove the back cover of the MBPro and change out the drives. This is actually very easy. Just be sure you take note of the three LONG screws on the back, and where they go. You don't even have to disconnect the battery cable.
9. With the drives swapped out, reboot the MBPro. If you get a good boot, you're where you want to be.
10. Now take the OLD drive, put it into the dock, connect the dock to the MBPro
11. What happens now? I'm guessing it will mount on the desktop, but show as an "empty" drive.
12. If by any chance your stuff "is there", now is the time to grab it!
13. If your stuff is NOT there, next you need to try the data recovery software on the drive. I would choose the "deep scan" option -- be aware that this could take HOURS.
14. What happens next? Get back to us....

gazblair said:

Okay at this stage all that I was upset about was losing all my music but that can easily be fixed. So basically a new HD would suffice? and if so what kind of HD should I get?

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If you're simply trying to replace the dead drive, that WD that Weaselboy suggested is a good choice.

I'd probably take an opportunity like this to upgrade to a SSD. I don't know what capacity you new but 250GB SSDs can be found for a pretty good price now.

Weaselboy said:

When in Disk Utility go to the erase tab and select the drive brand name at the very top of the list on the left. Then select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the format drop down and name the drive then apply that change and you should be all set.

Click to expand...

You need to change the Partition Map from MBR to GUID in Disk Utility (Via the Partition tab and options) as well.

gazblair said:

Yeah it did that with the replacement drive. From what Iv read 2009-2010 unibodys show that is a common fault.

Click to expand...

I had forgotten about the SATA cable. Hopefully you can find a replacement!

Weaselboy said:

You don't. If you erase the whole drive like I described it will default to GUID.

Click to expand...

Apologies, my mistake. I have always used the Partition tab and checked for GUID, I didn't realise the erase tab defaulted to GUID, provided whole disk selected.

gazblair said:

Hey so I've replaced the hard drive and also the hard drive cable and had it working for about an hour. It froze and then the flashing folder appeared. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

Faulty HDD
Faulty Cable
Cable not installed properly
Faulty controller on the Logic Board