White MacBook does not see new Hard drive either. What could it be?.

M

mr.light

macrumors 6502

Original poster

• May 9, 2009

• #1

Hello all. I hope someone can advise on this one.

A friend of mine brought her MacBook to me with a large file folder and flashing question mark on the screen. She told me it started slowing down and then just beach balled. So she restarted and this was the result.

So I offered to help. I tried to reinstall OS X but the software could not find the HD. At this I figured the HD was fried so I purchased a new one and installed it. The software still cannot find the drive.

My Question is: If not the HD, What else could be the problem?

Thanks in advance

 

spinnerlys

Guest

• May 9, 2009

• #2

Have you used Disk Utility from the installation DVDs to see if the HDD is recognized or even formatted?

http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=3810

 

M

mr.light

macrumors 6502

Original poster

• May 9, 2009

• #3

It thought of that. The install CD goes directly to the Mac OS install screen. If I hold down the "D" key at start up I get the hardware test. That has proven useless. Am I missing a way to get to the Disk utility?

 

spinnerlys

Guest

• May 9, 2009

• #4

mr.light said:

It thought of that. The install CD goes directly to the Mac OS install screen. If I hold down the "D" key at start up I get the hardware test. That has proven useless. Am I missing a way to get to the Disk utility?

Click to expand...

Just as described here: http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=3810

Start the installer, but don't install. Use the Menu > Utilites to get to Disk Utility.

 

M

mr.light

macrumors 6502

Original poster

• May 9, 2009

• #5

OK. That works. Thank a bunch. It needs to be formatted. Don't know how I missed the utilities menu. I feel totally inept now!😱