Trying to install OS X

[StokeLee]

Hi,
So its been a while since I last posted. Hopefully theres some help out there

My macbook pro froze, crashed, and when it rebooted i had the dreaded Question mark folder screen. So attempted internet recovery, and it ccould not see my hard drive. Not able to check in another machine if its ok, or if it died.. So ordered a new drive, installed it, and ran internet recovery again. nothing, couldnt see the drive. Reset Npram.. and finally, it was there. Then went to start the install, format etc etc, an error started it couldnt write to last sector, and it stopped.. rebooted, tried again, couldnt find the drive. reset Npram again,, still nothing.. im out of ideas, and searches just tell me to do what ive already done.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Hi,
So its been a while since I last posted. Hopefully theres some help out there

My macbook pro froze, crashed, and when it rebooted i had the dreaded Question mark folder screen. So attempted internet recovery, and it ccould not see my hard drive. Not able to check in another machine if its ok, or if it died.. So ordered a new drive, installed it, and ran internet recovery again. nothing, couldnt see the drive. Reset Npram.. and finally, it was there. Then went to start the install, format etc etc, an error started it couldnt write to last sector, and it stopped.. rebooted, tried again, couldnt find the drive. reset Npram again,, still nothing.. im out of ideas, and searches just tell me to do what ive already done.

It'll be the SATA cable they are notoriously flaky when fiddled with, they are cheap and easily available online.

 

[shoehornhands]

Hi,
So its been a while since I last posted. Hopefully theres some help out there

My macbook pro froze, crashed, and when it rebooted i had the dreaded Question mark folder screen. So attempted internet recovery, and it ccould not see my hard drive. Not able to check in another machine if its ok, or if it died.. So ordered a new drive, installed it, and ran internet recovery again. nothing, couldnt see the drive. Reset Npram.. and finally, it was there. Then went to start the install, format etc etc, an error started it couldnt write to last sector, and it stopped.. rebooted, tried again, couldnt find the drive. reset Npram again,, still nothing.. im out of ideas, and searches just tell me to do what ive already done.

If you have another Mac, you can download OS X in the app store, and create an installation USB from the downloaded copy. You can then boot from the installation USB and install OS X from there (i.e. running the installation entirely from the external USB).

To create the install USB, simply download OS X from the App store (it should download to your applications folder), insert a USB drive that's at least 8GB (formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)), rename the USB drive "USB" and then run the command below in Terminal (you can simply copy and paste, and it will ask you to enter your password):

For El Capitan:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --no interaction


For Yosemite:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app --no interaction


You can then boot into the install USB / installer by restarting the computer, and holding down the option key immediately after you hear the startup sound.

Anyway, I've found this method to work several times, when nothing else would.

 

[mas bravo]

If you have another Mac, you can download OS X in the app store, and create an installation USB from the downloaded copy. You can then boot from the installation USB and install OS X from there (i.e. running the installation entirely from the external USB).

To create the install USB, simply download OS X from the App store (it should download to your applications folder), insert a USB drive that's at least 8GB (formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)), rename the USB drive "USB" and then run the command below in Terminal (you can simply copy and paste, and it will ask you to enter your password):

For El Capitan:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --no interaction


For Yosemite:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app --no interaction


You can then boot into the install USB / installer by restarting the computer, and holding down the option key immediately after you hear the startup sound.

Anyway, I've found this method to work several times, when nothing else would.

yes, now what if i dont have another mac or a friend with a macbook but can access a windows pc, what can i do to make the usb botaable and then after that what steps do i take to reinstall the os on my my mac using the debootable usb, i already have a copy of os x 10.8.5 on the windows pc, what should i really do, your help is higly apprecaited

 

[Fishrrman]

Is it a non-retina MacBook Pro?
If so, I agree with the above opinions about the ribbon cable.

A failed drive ribbon cable will cause the Mac to behave like the hard drive (or the OS) has gone completely bad. But it's NOT the drive or OS -- it's just the cable.

Apple has (or had?) a FREE replacement policy for these.
Worth taking it to a brick-n-mortar Apple store to find out.

If you don't have an Apple Store close by, the cable is easily changed out in about 15 minutes. ANYONE can do the job.