Help needed with MacBook Pro start up

[Lavictoire]

hi guys, New to the forum. I was hoping to get some advice/help with my mrs MacBook Pro 2009 13inch model. She hasn't used it that much but the other day when she tried to turn it stayed on the spinning wheel on start up screen, It can be like this for hours but it just won't load up. I've been reading up on this and tried all the usual software fixes to no avail the most common fault seemed to be the HD cable which I have now replaced however it is still not working! Is there a way to test the hard drive before thinking about replacing this next?
Many thanks in advance

 

[CoastalOR]

I was hoping to get some advice/help with my mrs MacBook Pro 2009 13inch model. She hasn't used it that much but the other day when she tried to turn it stayed on the spinning wheel on start up screen, It can be like this for hours but it just won't load up. I've been reading up on this and tried all the usual software fixes to no avail the most common fault seemed to be the HD cable which I have now replaced however it is still not working! Is there a way to test the hard drive before thinking about replacing this next? Many thanks in advance

What OS do you have installed on the MBP?
What "software fixes" did you try?
Do you have any bootable backups on an external disk?
That model came with OS 10.5.7. Try starting up with the System DVD that came with the MBP (hold the c key on start up with the DVD in the optical drive). What happens? If it starts, it should, launch Disk Utility and Verify Disk. What does it say?

My first impression is that you have a HD problem.