07-14-2010, 05:14 PM

Ok, so a couple of days ago my MBP was running fine with no problems or glitches. However, while I was looking something up online, the computer froze. I thought nothing of it, so I let it sit. Forty-five minutes later I got pretty nervous. I tried moving the mouse, but as soon as it moved the cursor disappeared. So, after 30 more minutes, I went to a last resort. I flipped the Macbook over and pulled out the battery.
After trying to turn it back on after that, the MBP went to the usual white screen with the Apple logo. The gray gear-type thing on the bottom started to rotate, but that's as far as it got. I left it like that for hours but nothing.
So I turned it off and tried booting from the installation CD. That worked, so I opened up the Disk Utility. Thankfully, it seemed as though my hard drive was still intact after verifying it. Still, I couldn't do anything other than that.
So I decided to do an archive install to at least be able to use my computer and keep my old files (which I really need). However, the install froze at about 15% and stayed there. The mouse still moved, but the installation didn't. I left it overnight to try and see if it would work out the problems, but it didn't progress. Seeing as it wasn't moving at all, I had to turn off my computer mid-install

So now, I pretty much don't know which way to turn.

(Not sure if this is a hardware or software problem, sorry if it's software)

07-14-2010, 05:26 PM

So you're saying that you were:

- able to boot the computer with the "installation CD"
- were able to run Disk Utility...and it said that the hard drive was ok?
- you then tried to reinstall the OS...and that's when the computer froze during installation?

My initial thoughts are something is wrong with the hard drive...but if Disk Utility (while booting from the CD/DVD)...say it's ok..then it shouldn't be the HD.

- Nick

07-14-2010, 05:34 PM

Yepp, all of that is true. I thought it was the HD as well but when I clicked "Verify Disk" and it scanned it and what not, it said that the "disk appears to be OK". So I'm not worried about the disk that much. Also, when I clicked on it on the list, it gave me some information on it, such as the amount of gigs I've used which was perfectly accurate. Idk :/

07-14-2010, 05:40 PM

Do you know how full your hard drive is...or was...before the problem?

If it's too full...you won't be able to do an archive & install.

- Nick

07-14-2010, 05:45 PM

I had plenty of space, about 70 gigs

07-14-2010, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by qtip2293

I had plenty of space, about 70 gigs

Another option to try is...instead of an "archive & install"...just do a clean install.

- Nick

07-14-2010, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

Another option to try is...instead of an "archive & install"...just do a clean install.

Well, I really need to keep all of my old files intact, and from my understanding, I can't with a clean install.

07-14-2010, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by qtip2293

Well, I really need to keep all of my old files intact, and from my understanding, I can't with a clean install.

We're kind of running out of options.

Do you have the original "gray" disks that came with the computer when new? Maybe this was the CD you were booting from before. On one of the disks is a hardware test program...you could try running this test...as a double check...to see if the hard drive is good/bad.

- Nick

07-14-2010, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

On one of the disks is a hardware test program...you could try running this test...as a double check...to see if the hard drive is good/bad.

- Nick

I don't believe I do, but then again I'm not sure. The disc that's in my drive now is a Mac OSX install CD and the other one says "Applications Install". I don't remember a 3rd disc with a hardware test.

07-14-2010, 06:23 PM

Wait, nevermind I just read the writing on the 2nd disc about the test haha I try that, thanks.

07-14-2010, 06:24 PM

Is the CD/DVD disk you've been using black or gray?

- Nick

07-14-2010, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by qtip2293

Wait, nevermind I just read the writing on the 2nd disc about the test haha I try that, thanks.

Ok...nevermind my previous post. Do the hardware test on CD#2.

- Nick

07-14-2010, 06:27 PM

I believe it's gray but I have another problem now. In order to use the 2nd disk, I would have to eject the current disk in there. However, I can't eject it because OSX won't boot without it. So even if I can get to the disk utility, I would be ejecting the OSX, which it won't let me do.

07-14-2010, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by qtip2293

I believe it's gray but I have another problem now. In order to use the 2nd disk, I would have to eject the current disk in there. However, I can't eject it because OSX won't boot without it. So even if I can get to the disk utility, I would be ejecting the OSX, which it won't let me do.

Believe me...you're not the first person to do this.

Read this:

Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test

- Nick

07-14-2010, 06:34 PM

I still have no way of getting the OSX CD out to put in the other one. How can I eject it?