MacBook Pro 13" mid 2011

[danleeds]

hi guys

i'm brand new here and am probably one of the really annoying people that only turn up when they want something...in this case i want yoiur advice

my macbook pro 13" mid 2011 has got the flashing question mark folder of death syndrome,

i think i have tried all known commands and only been able to get to a blank grey screen,

i took advice online that my hard drive is most likely dead and gone which didn't surprise me as it was lagging anyway,

so i went ahead and replaced the hard drive and tried to start up from the osx dvd that came with the machine,

however i waqs met with the exact same situation..cannot start from dvd or get access to disk utility

so im here asking for educted advice..any experience i can leran from would be helpful


thanks guys

Dan

 

[niteflyr]

If your firmware updates are current, internet recovery might work. Cmd+option+R at boot up. You can then access disk utility from the utilities menu.

 

[danleeds]

If your firmware updates are current, internet recovery might work. Cmd+option+R at boot up. You can then access disk utility from the utilities menu.

thank you for your reply

i just tried cmd+ option+ r to no effect it lead to the flashing folder with question mark screen,

so far i have not been able to get to any other screen than the flashing folder or a apple and spinning wheel when trying to load from dvd


thank you very much for your suggestion

Dan

 

[niteflyr]

Did you hold the "C" key while attempting to boot from the OSX Installation Disk? (not the applications disk, sorry, I've made that mistake)

You also might try resetting PRAM/NVRAM.

Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

If all else fails, try running Apple Hardware Test. It is on the Applications Disk. Hold "D" on startup.

 

[danleeds]

Hello again

I have reset the pram which after the second startup chime lead to the flashing folder screen again,
Holding down D on startup had no effect and also lead to the flashing folder screen

Thank you for your suggestions they're greatly appreciated

Thanks guys

 

[Weaselboy]

Hello again

I have reset the pram which after the second startup chime lead to the flashing folder screen again,
Holding down D on startup had no effect and also lead to the flashing folder screen

Thank you for your suggestions they're greatly appreciated

Thanks guys

The C key ... not D.

Is this the grey installer DVD that came with the machine?

 

[danleeds]

Hi

Thank you for taking an interest

Holding the c key with the grey original DVD that came with the mac in the drive was the first plan of action I took and it does prevent the flashing folder from appearing, however it leads to an apple sign and spinning wheel that just doesn't go anywhere..I can also hear the mac trying to load the disc over and over to no avail...quite frustrating

Thanks for all the suggestions guys

I appreciate anyone making an effort to help

Cheers

 

[Weaselboy]

Hi

Thank you for taking an interest

Holding the c key with the grey original DVD that came with the mac in the drive was the first plan of action I took and it does prevent the flashing folder from appearing, however it leads to an apple sign and spinning wheel that just doesn't go anywhere..I can also hear the mac trying to load the disc over and over to no avail...quite frustrating

Thanks for all the suggestions guys

I appreciate anyone making an effort to help

Cheers

Have you used the optical drive lately so you know it is working? It sounds like you are doing things correctly with the C key boot. It is possible the optical drive is bad. Those things fail a lot.

If the firmware on that machine was kept updated , it may have Internet recovery. Try a command-option-r (hold all three at once) boot and see if you get a spinning globe like this.

After the globe spins a bit you should see this screen.

From there use Disk Util to erase the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then quit Disk Util and click Reinstall OS X.

 

[danleeds]

Have you used the optical drive lately so you know it is working? It sounds like you are doing things correctly with the C key boot. It is possible the optical drive is bad. Those things fail a lot.

If the firmware on that machine was kept updated , it may have Internet recovery. Try a command-option-r (hold all three at once) boot and see if you get a spinning globe like this.

After the globe spins a bit you should see this screen.

From there use Disk Util to erase the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then quit Disk Util and click Reinstall OS X.

Hi

Thank yu for your help

I have tried cmd opt r with no luck I'm afraid

It just lead on to the flashing folder as though the mac didn't even register I was holding the keys down,

Thanks again for the assistance guys

 

[ecschwarz]

I know it's a bit tough for us to try to figure out specifics and then relay and see what works and what doesn't. The advice has been good and it sounds like you're doing what you need to. If you're close to one, I'd suggest making a Genius Bar appointment at the Apple Store. Even out of warranty, they should be able to help you get booted up to something (be it Internet Recovery or the restore discs) - if your hard drive is dead, that's something you can replace yourself relatively inexpensively on your own.

 

[danleeds]

Hi

Thanks again

The apple store is pretty inaccessible to me hence the unsuccessful DIY repair

I have already replaced the hard drive in the hope it would fix the issue but even after I'm still not able to boot anything at all

But of a mystery I think

Thanks for all the advice guys

 

[ecschwarz]

If you put in a blank hard drive, it won't fix the booting issues (although shouldn't affect booting off of a DVD or Internet Recovery). I'm guessing that your firmware is a bit old (2011 was right around when Apple started offering Internet Restore, so machines released at that time either had it or had to have it added). If you have access to another Mac, you could always download OS X 10.9 (aka Mavericks) and make a bootable flash drive.

I've used this before and made a Lion, Mountain Lion, and now Mavericks install drives for offline bootable installations. Currently I have a bootable SD card with it on there: http://www.macworld.com/article/2056561/how-to-make-a-bootable-mavericks-install-drive.html

Once you get the computer running, make sure you format the new hard drive properly and then reinstall OS X: http://www.macworld.com.au/help/how-to-format-a-startup-drive-for-a-mac-110902/#.UyHzrtzleDU

The other option is that you could get a USB<->SATA adapter (about US$20-$30) and connect either drive to another machine and install a copy of OS X on it and then put it in your other computer.

I know having another Mac may not be convenient or possible, but I thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[niteflyr]

What OSX software version were you running? Do you have a time machine backup? Are you certain the grey disk is the one that came with your computer? They are machine specific. Are you certain the old HDD is dead? Try it in an external USB enclosure.

 

[danleeds]

Hi

Thanks for the input
I think my osx was bio to date but I can't be sure..I tried to remember if installed the latest update but can't recall
The grey disc is he only one I have because it's my only mac so that I can be sure of,
The old hdd was a problem in the past but it's removed and put away in a drawer now...not too concerned about that as I prefer to have the new one I have installed,
I do have a time machine backup but it's on a external wd passport hd and I can't get into utilities to load it up,
I have heard that the hdd cable can burn out and that's the only thing I can think of but it's not that likely I wouldn't think,

I think it may be a while before this mystery is solved,

Thank you for all the input fellas it's appreciated.

Thanks again

Dan

 

[niteflyr]

Hi

Thanks for the input
I think my osx was bio to date but I can't be sure..I tried to remember if installed the latest update but can't recall
The grey disc is he only one I have because it's my only mac so that I can be sure of,
The old hdd was a problem in the past but it's removed and put away in a drawer now...not too concerned about that as I prefer to have the new one I have installed,
I do have a time machine backup but it's on a external wd passport hd and I can't get into utilities to load it up,
I have heard that the hdd cable can burn out and that's the only thing I can think of but it's not that likely I wouldn't think,

I think it may be a while before this mystery is solved,

Thank you for all the input fellas it's appreciated.

Thanks again

Dan

If your OSX was Lion or later (Mavericks) You can boot to recovery from time machine.

OS X Lion and later let you:

Encrypt your Time Machine backup.
Start from OS X Recovery using your Time Machine backup disk. With OS X v10.7.3 and later, Time Machine backs up the Recovery System on your Mac to your backup drive as well. This lets you use your Time Machine drive to start up your Mac if needed. Simply connect your Time Machine drive, then hold down the option key at startup to select it as your startup disk.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

 

[danleeds]

If your OSX was Lion or later (Mavericks) You can boot to recovery from time machine.

OS X Lion and later let you:

Encrypt your Time Machine backup.
Start from OS X Recovery using your Time Machine backup disk. With OS X v10.7.3 and later, Time Machine backs up the Recovery System on your Mac to your backup drive as well. This lets you use your Time Machine drive to start up your Mac if needed. Simply connect your Time Machine drive, then hold down the option key at startup to select it as your startup disk.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Hi
Thanks again

Holding down option doesn't work currently
Flashing folder icon is all I get when holding option,

Thanks ahain

 

[kastorff]

My early 2011 15" Macbook Pro didn't come with a OS X DVD and shipped with Lion preinstalled and a recovery partition (purchased in Oct 2011). I have a client with a mid 2011 13" Macbook Pro and her machine came the same way. Did you buy the machine new? Is it possible the DVD is from another machine? If so, it wouldn't boot the mid-2011 13" Macbook Pro.

 

[danleeds]

Hi

Yes I bought the machine new from apple and it came with the DVD I currently have,

Thanks again

 

[niteflyr]

Hi
Thanks again

Holding down option doesn't work currently
Flashing folder icon is all I get when holding option,

Thanks ahain

Didn't know you tried that with time machine backup drive attached. Sounds like more going on here than just bad HDD or HDD cable.

 

[danleeds]

Hi again

Yep that's my concern, can't be bad hdd because it has a brand new one installed so has to be something else which is a Little bit worrying

Thanks again

 

[ecschwarz]

Even a failed hard drive cable should let you boot from the optical drive and/or Internet Recovery. The flashing question mark icon basically means that the system can't find a viable boot device (and holding down option should bring up a list, regardless of what devices are installed). The only other thing I can think of is that your keyboard is not working. Do you have a USB one to try?

The last thing I'd try is to disconnect (be careful with the connector) the battery and let it sit for a few minutes - this may be if there are any SMC/NVRAM/PRAM gremlins (technically the battery shouldn't affect it), but I have had some luck fixing the weird unexplainable things with that.

 

[vince22]

Hi again

Yep that's my concern, can't be bad hdd because it has a brand new one installed so has to be something else which is a Little bit worrying

Thanks again

Danleeds,
Do yourself a favor, this is pretty easy DIY repair, buy this Hard drive data cable online (Apple 13" Macbook Pro A1278 Hard Drive Cable- make sure check your HD cable part number and buy "original" apple cable only) because its way cheaper the apple, ebay link below if you like, report back here when done.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-NEW-Ori...670?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d8a9d30e

 

[mac82]

Have you tried resetting the SMC? If not, google 'macbook pro smc reset' and follow the instructions on Apple's site. Just a hint: let the computer run on battery for a while first, so when you plug in the charging cable the light on it is orange instead of green. When you correctly perform the SMC reset, the light will temporarily change to green and then back to orange. It's really the only way of knowing that the SMC has actually been reset.

 

[ecschwarz]

Have you tried resetting the SMC? If not, google 'macbook pro smc reset' and follow the instructions on Apple's site. Just a hint: let the computer run on battery for a while first, so when you plug in the charging cable the light on it is orange instead of green. When you correctly perform the SMC reset, the light will temporarily change to green and then back to orange. It's really the only way of knowing that the SMC has actually been reset.

Here's the actual article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964?viewlocale=en_US

That also made me think you should try and see if you can boot into Target Disk Mode (hold down 'T' immediately after startup). If that doesn't display a FireWire/Thunderbolt symbol and instead you get the flashing question mark, there's something wrong.