MacBook - OSX Won't Boot/Vista Damaged

itsinmyhead · itsinmyhead #1 (**permalink**)

06-18-2008, 06:51 PM

So, I have a friend with a troubled Macbook. This isn't one of those "My friend did this dumb thing" situations, because I wouldn't let such a dumb situation go down on my Macbook if I actually owned one.

Nonetheless.

A friend of his split the hard drive into 2 partitions and installed Vista on one of them. Let's keep in mind that this isn't a very legal version of Vista.

I guess things were working alright for a while, but now it's all just crapped out. Vista is asking for a serial/code to start up, which he obviously doesn't have. Additionally, he can't boot from the partition with the Mac OS on it.

I've run the gamut of keys to hold down on start-up, and I haven't found anything that helps me out in this situation. Can't get it to boot from the disc drive, can't get it to do anything but boot in Vista.

One button combination did allow me to choose whether I wanted to start on the Mac partition or the Vista one, and even if I chose Mac, it would start Vista.

So, I'm at a loss. He DOES have a legal version of the Mac OSX that came with his Macbook, but I can't even figure out a way to start from it. Right now that disc is in his drive, and it's not ejecting.

So, does anyone have any ideas on what I could do to help this dude out? I realize that this probably isn't a typical situation, but I've been trying all sorts of things for a day and a half now, but all of them come up short because I just can't get around starting up in Vista.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

06-18-2008, 07:15 PM

Boot with the Leopard install DVD and run the Disk Utility direct from the DVD. Wipe the drive and re-install OS X.

Regards.

itsinmyhead · itsinmyhead #3 (**permalink**)

06-18-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chscag

Boot with the Leopard install DVD and run the Disk Utility direct from the DVD. Wipe the drive and re-install OS X.

Regards.

I can't get the computer to boot from the disc drive.

Noels · Noels #4 (**permalink**)

06-19-2008, 10:14 AM

Have you tried using a Safe Boot? Hold the shift key down and try booting? Or won't it even do that?

Maybe try removing the battery and then try booting...

If you can get it to boot, then run Boot Camp and remove that illegal Vista partition...

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MacBook - OSX Won't Boot/Vista Damaged

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itsinmyhead #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 18, 2008 Posts: 2	06-18-2008, 06:51 PM So, I have a friend with a troubled Macbook. This isn't one of those "My friend did this dumb thing" situations, because I wouldn't let such a dumb situation go down on my Macbook if I actually owned one. Nonetheless. A friend of his split the hard drive into 2 partitions and installed Vista on one of them. Let's keep in mind that this isn't a very legal version of Vista. I guess things were working alright for a while, but now it's all just crapped out. Vista is asking for a serial/code to start up, which he obviously doesn't have. Additionally, he can't boot from the partition with the Mac OS on it. I've run the gamut of keys to hold down on start-up, and I haven't found anything that helps me out in this situation. Can't get it to boot from the disc drive, can't get it to do anything but boot in Vista. One button combination did allow me to choose whether I wanted to start on the Mac partition or the Vista one, and even if I chose Mac, it would start Vista. So, I'm at a loss. He DOES have a legal version of the Mac OSX that came with his Macbook, but I can't even figure out a way to start from it. Right now that disc is in his drive, and it's not ejecting. So, does anyone have any ideas on what I could do to help this dude out? I realize that this probably isn't a typical situation, but I've been trying all sorts of things for a day and a half now, but all of them come up short because I just can't get around starting up in Vista. Thanks in advance for any advice!
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,974 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	06-18-2008, 07:15 PM Boot with the Leopard install DVD and run the Disk Utility direct from the DVD. Wipe the drive and re-install OS X. Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

Noels #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 03, 2008 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 945 Mac Specs: Macbook, 2.2 GHz, 4GB RAM	06-19-2008, 10:14 AM Have you tried using a Safe Boot? Hold the shift key down and try booting? Or won't it even do that? Maybe try removing the battery and then try booting... If you can get it to boot, then run Boot Camp and remove that illegal Vista partition...
	QUOTE Thanks

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