Format and clean install El Capitan on bricked MBP

[garirry]

I've attached the process I see on screen.

Image 1 - option of booting from TM Backup (named TARDIS; apologies)
Image 2 - Apple loading bar

Then, about 5-10mins later...
Image 3 - 'failed to open OS X installer'

From here I am only left with shutting down and restarting. Utilities menu in the menu bar is all greyed out.

Opening Startup Disk in Apple Menu only shows current internal drive for startup disk (image 4).

I am fairly convinced that you had a broken hard drive and not all of the data ended up being successfully copied. Can you press Command+R while booting and see if it boots into the recovery partition? Considering you have a 2010 computer, you probably don't have Internet recovery, so you may need to use the Recovery DVD that came with your computer to restore from the backup (assuming the files aren't too damaged) or just do a clean install, copy your files manually to somewhere else, change your hard drive if it's broken, and then start using a clean install.

 

[tejaykay]

I am fairly convinced that you had a broken hard drive and not all of the data ended up being successfully copied. Can you press Command+R while booting and see if it boots into the recovery partition? Considering you have a 2010 computer, you probably don't have Internet recovery, so you may need to use the Recovery DVD that came with your computer to restore from the backup (assuming the files aren't too damaged) or just do a clean install, copy your files manually to somewhere else, change your hard drive if it's broken, and then start using a clean install.

Do you mean the internal drive is broken, or that my time machine backup is broken?

The time machine backup is from another computer - a 2008 MacBook Pro.

Would you suggest the clean install from the recover DVD? If so, could I use a El Capitan bootable USB to the same effect? I see that are about £12 on eBay.

 

[garirry]

Do you mean the internal drive is broken, or that my time machine backup is broken?

The time machine backup is from another computer - a 2008 MacBook Pro.

Would you suggest the clean install from the recover DVD? If so, could I use a El Capitan bootable USB to the same effect? I see that are about £12 on eBay.

The internal drive. The backup drive might be fine, but I'm not sure whether your 2008 MB's drive might be compatible with your computer. What OS is it running?

Don't buy a bootable El Cap drive as they are pretty much standard 8GB drives with El Capitan installed on it as a bootable drive. If you have a functional Apple computer where you can download 10.11 and if you have an extra 8GB flash drive, you can save some time and directly do a clean install. Note that if you are restoring from Time Machine, it doesn't matter what version you're using to restore it, it'll be the same. If you don't have a computer or flash drive, don't bother, just use the recovery DVD and download El Cap later (assuming you're not going to just do a Time Machine restore). Sorry if this seems a bit confusing, as I didn't have time to read the whole thread.

 

[tejaykay]

The internal drive. The backup drive might be fine, but I'm not sure whether your 2008 MB's drive might be compatible with your computer. What OS is it running?

Don't buy a bootable El Cap drive as they are pretty much standard 8GB drives with El Capitan installed on it as a bootable drive. If you have a functional Apple computer where you can download 10.11 and if you have an extra 8GB flash drive, you can save some time and directly do a clean install. Note that if you are restoring from Time Machine, it doesn't matter what version you're using to restore it, it'll be the same. If you don't have a computer or flash drive, don't bother, just use the recovery DVD and download El Cap later (assuming you're not going to just do a Time Machine restore). Sorry if this seems a bit confusing, as I didn't have time to read the whole thread.

2008 backup is using Yosemite. That 2007 MBP is dead but I think it just needs a new battery. Should be fixed before then end of the week.

Sounds like my options are
1. Use recovery DVD
2. Fix 2008 MBP and make USB flash bootable disk

Both options result in a clean install and both will require me to do some heavy data lifting to restore the two active users on the Mac. If I am going down this route, should I return the current hybrid drive if you all think it's faulty? It passes the health check in disk utility. I only ask as it would be nice to save on some of this faff!

Cheers. Tim

 

[garirry]

Alright, so you DON'T want to restore from the 2008 backup? If the computer only needs a new battery, then it should run when plugged in. Otherwise, something else's wrong. If the drive is in warranty, get it replaced, and if it breaks again, return it. Otherwise, buy a new drive. Keep in mind ALL HDDs die eventually, so there's no consistency in that regard really. So, yeah, as you said, either use the DVD that came with your computer and then upgrade to El Capitan, or fix your laptop and create a bootable flash drive. In that case, use this: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201372

 

[tejaykay]

Alright, so you DON'T want to restore from the 2008 backup? If the computer only needs a new battery, then it should run when plugged in. Otherwise, something else's wrong. If the drive is in warranty, get it replaced, and if it breaks again, return it. Otherwise, buy a new drive. Keep in mind ALL HDDs die eventually, so there's no consistency in that regard really. So, yeah, as you said, either use the DVD that came with your computer and then upgrade to El Capitan, or fix your laptop and create a bootable flash drive. In that case, use this: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201372

The 15" 2008 MBP is my love but it's on its last legs. I have to switch off and reset the SMC to switch it on. Once it's on I don't switch it off.

Unfortunately my wife unplugged it whilst I was on a weekend break. It died and now I can't switch it back on. I was hoping a new battery and the SMC reset might work as I know the battery is way past its healthy lifespan. The SKC reset has always been a patient endeavour. It's been a complete lottery trying to get it on in the past.

 

[tejaykay]

We are talking about two computers here:

Original thread is about rescuing the 13" 2010 MBP. Whilst I tried to upgrade to El Cap.

The 2008 only came up as I was trying to use its TM backup to boot up the 2010 Mac.

 

[garirry]

The 15" 2008 MBP is my love but it's on its last legs. I have to switch off and reset the SMC to switch it on. Once it's on I don't switch it off.

Unfortunately my wife unplugged it whilst I was on a weekend break. It died and now I can't switch it back on. I was hoping a new battery and the SMC reset might work as I know the battery is way past its healthy lifespan. The SKC reset has always been a patient endeavour. It's been a complete lottery trying to get it on in the past.

Understandable. It's fairly certain that there is something other than the battery there, something with the logic board.

We are talking about two computers here:

Original thread is about rescuing the 13" 2010 MBP. Whilst I tried to upgrade to El Cap.

The 2008 only came up as I was trying to use its TM backup to boot up the 2010 Mac.

Alright, I got it now. You only wanted to boot into the system using the 2008's backup. Yeah, no, that isn't possible unfortunately. If you can't get your computer to work to make a USB and you don't have the recovery DVD, I think you may be able to go to an Apple store or see a friend with a Mac and do it on their computer.

 

[tejaykay]

Understandable. It's fairly certain that there is something other than the battery there, something with the logic board.

Alright, I got it now. You only wanted to boot into the system using the 2008's backup. Yeah, no, that isn't possible unfortunately. If you can't get your computer to work to make a USB and you don't have the recovery DVD, I think you may be able to go to an Apple store or see a friend with a Mac and do it on their computer.

I'm trying out internet recovery mode now. Didn't even know it existed!

So scared I'm going to lose data through this whole process. Even though I know that we have TM backups and docile inaccessible hard drives.

 

[tejaykay]

OK. I'm in the OS X utilities manager as part of Internet Recovery.

Should I attempt to restore from TM backup, or Reinstall OSX?

 

[garirry]

OK. I'm in the OS X utilities manager as part of Internet Recovery.

Should I attempt to restore from TM backup, or Reinstall OSX?

Oh, I didn't even know Internet Recovery existed in pre-Lion computers! It's your choice. Restoring the backup will make the computer exactly as it was on the computer the data was backed from, and reinstalling will install stock OS X. I still recommend that you first scan the drive and reformat it. Make sure all data is backed up, obviously!

 

[tejaykay]

Oh, I didn't even know Internet Recovery existed in pre-Lion computers! It's your choice. Restoring the backup will make the computer exactly as it was on the computer the data was backed from, and reinstalling will install stock OS X. I still recommend that you first scan the drive and reformat it. Make sure all data is backed up, obviously!

Making sure all data is backed up is a little late now, right? If I restore from TM Backup then I will revert back to that point. Hence losing all new data in between then and now.

Reinstall OSX will install stock OS X - Yosemite or El Capitan?

Does Internet Recovery allow the ability of formatting the hard drive and then installing the new OS X? I don't see how that's possible.

 

[garirry]

Making sure all data is backed up is a little late now, right? If I restore from TM Backup then I will revert back to that point. Hence losing all new data in between then and now.

Reinstall OSX will install stock OS X - Yosemite or El Capitan?

Does Internet Recovery allow the ability of formatting the hard drive and then installing the new OS X? I don't see how that's possible.

I can't answer your questions, sorry, I don't know that much about Internet Recovery on older Macs. It certainly won't be El Capitan though. Also, I think you can format the hard drive and then install it. Even if you can't, it simply won't let you. But it doesn't matter TBH as it'll erase all the data on the drive anyway.

 

[tejaykay]

The Reinstall OS X option takes me to the attached image. No disks show up for selection... It does seem to give me El Cap as the option.

It looks like Erasing the hard drive and then trying the Installer is my only option. I'll report back.

 

[garirry]

The Reinstall OS X option takes me to the attached image. No disks show up for selection... It does seem to give me El Cap as the option.

It looks like Erasing the hard drive and then trying the Installer is my only option. I'll report back.

Yep, no disk means nowhere compatible to install to. Go to "partitions" and create one empty partition. Erase the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and go to options and make sure GUID is selected. It should be already selected, but just to be sure.

 

[tejaykay]

Yep, no disk means nowhere compatible to install to. Go to "partitions" and create one empty partition. Erase the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and go to options and make sure GUID is selected. It should be already selected, but just to be sure.

I've erased the drive and I'm now running the OS X installer for El Capitan.

I didn't create a new partition for this due to the issues I've had up to now. I want a full, clean install. Previous First Aid did not run on the disk, but now I've erased it, the First Aid check says all OK.

See: https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/image-jpeg.591314/

I just hope I can recover all our old data after this. No way this is going to be explained well to the wife. She won't like the tinkering.

 

[garirry]

I've erased the drive and I'm now running the OS X installer for El Capitan.

I didn't create a new partition for this due to the issues I've had up to now. I want a full, clean install. Previous First Aid did not run on the disk, but now I've erased it, the First Aid check says all OK.

See: https://forums.macrumors.com/attachments/image-jpeg.591314/

I just hope I can recover all our old data after this. No way this is going to be explained well to the wife. She won't like the tinkering.

Never mind, I just wanted to make sure the diagnostic was perfect, but it's no big deal to be honest. So, if you run into any more problems with the drive, I guess the hard drive is dead or near-death and you will need to change it (maybe).

 

[tejaykay]

Never mind, I just wanted to make sure the diagnostic was perfect, but it's no big deal to be honest. So, if you run into any more problems with the drive, I guess the hard drive is dead or near-death and you will need to change it (maybe).

Thanks so much for your help.

I'll see if I can get the 2008 up and running in the next week or so. Might need to take it to Apple to confirm if it is the logic board. Some of those young geniuses will be shocked to see a 2008 Mac.

 

[Weaselboy]

Hmmm... I'm kind of baffled here. The best I can suggest at this point is to boot to that old drive in the enclosure and use that to erase the internal then clone that drive to the internal to get going again.

 

[duervo]

For future ref, this is how you reinstall OS X using a time machine backup:

1. Plug in your TM drive to the Mac.
2. Boot to recovery environment (CMD-R). If the system can't find a recovery partition, it will fall back to booting from Apple's servers. If this happens you will see an Earth globe with a progress bar below it. The bar represents the download progress of the boot/recovery image from Apple's servers.
3. When available in the recovery environment, open disk utility, and use it to repartition and reformat the internal disk (this may not be possible if it booted off a recovery partition on the internal drive, as there will be a lock on the drive, preventing repartitioning. If that's the case, then just reformat "Macintosh HD" (or whatever the OS X partition is called.)
4. Use the recovery menu/wizard to restore system from TM Backup.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18848

 

[tejaykay]

Hmmm... I'm kind of baffled here. The best I can suggest at this point is to boot to that old drive in the enclosure and use that to erase the internal then clone that drive to the internal to get going again.

Thanks for your help Weasel. I ended up using the internet recovery method - see below.

For future ref, this is how you reinstall OS X using a time machine backup:

1. Plug in your TM drive to the Mac.
2. Boot to recovery environment (CMD-R). If the system can't find a recovery partition, it will fall back to booting from Apple's servers. If this happens you will see an Earth globe with a progress bar below it. The bar represents the download progress of the boot/recovery image from Apple's servers.
3. When available in the recovery environment, open disk utility, and use it to repartition and reformat the internal disk (this may not be possible if it booted off a recovery partition on the internal drive, as there will be a lock on the drive, preventing repartitioning. If that's the case, then just reformat "Macintosh HD" (or whatever the OS X partition is called.)
4. Use the recovery menu/wizard to restore system from TM Backup.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18848

This is what I did. It ended up booting from Apple's servers (Earth globe with progress bar). I was then able format the drive and install El Cap as new.

 

[Weaselboy]

For future ref, this is how you reinstall OS X using a time machine

The method I mentioned does work with a Time Machine backup made since 10.7.2. No idea why it would not work here. Sounds like the recovery partition may have been missing in the source , so Time Machine has no way to copy it over into the backup drive. But this does work.