New hdd with a fresh OS X install from a MBP 2009 to a MBP 2011?

[Molcroft]

I'm trying to help out my mum with her MBP 2011, with a dead GPU, the thing is I currently don't have the hdd that was in the 2011 MBP. Does anyone know if it's possible to use an hdd with newly installed OS X and put it into a 2011?

 

[velocityg4]

As long as it is a version supported by the 2011. It should work.

 

[Fishrrman]

A cheap SSD will work better.
But ultimately, the only real "fix" for a 2011 MBP with a failed GPU is... replacement.