had to replace my HD... PLEASE HELP!

jdmfastdc2 · Oct 9, 2012

so I had a HD failure on my macbook pro. I purchased a replacement HD from newegg and installed it. Now my problem is I realized I never received a software disc with my computer. how do I go about getting software on this thing?

MYmacROX · Oct 9, 2012

What version of OS X are you running? Did you purchase the MBP new or used?

P.S. if you have a bootable clone of your Mac on an external you can boot from that and transfer everything over using whatever app you cloned with.

pigoo3 · Oct 9, 2012

jdmfastdc2 said:
so I had a HD failure on my macbook pro. I purchased a replacement HD from newegg and installed it. Now my problem is I realized I never received a software disc with my computer. how do I go about getting software on this thing?

You didn't tell us what model MacBook Pro you have…but I'm going to assume it's a newer model…which no longer comes with install disks.

This is a pretty tough situation…since you probably should have done at least one of the two things I'm listing below (both would have been better) with your old computer:

1. Made a bootable OS thumb drive in case of an emergency.
2. Made a backup of your old hard drive (or a clone)…just in case of emergency.

Is your old HD completely useless…or can you boot the MBP from it?

- Nick

jdmfastdc2 · Oct 9, 2012

MYmacROX said:
What version of OS X are you running? Did you purchase the MBP new or used?

im not positive. i bought it new in 2010

jdmfastdc2 · Oct 9, 2012

pigoo3 said:
You didn't tell us what model MacBook Pro you have…but I'm going to assume it's a newer model…which no longer comes with install disks.

This is a pretty tough situation…since you probably should have done at least one of the two things I'm listing below (both would have been better) with your old computer:

1. Made a bootable OS thumb drive in case of an emergency.
2. Made a backup of your old hard drive (or a clone)…just in case of emergency.

Is your old HD completely useless…or can you boot the MBP from it?

- Nick

the HD would not boot which is what the problem was. I just got the gray screen and the spinning wheel. I had apple store check it out and they said it needed a new HD.

pigoo3 · Oct 9, 2012

jdmfastdc2 said:
im not positive. i bought it new in 2010

You need to be EXACT on this point. We need to know EXACTLY what you have otherwise we cannot help you. This is a VERY important point…because it determines if your computer can use OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or not…which is the last Macintosh OS to come on a disk.

And if it truly is a MacBook Pro from 2010 or before…then it DID come with two gray-colored OS install disks…and you need to find them (assuming you purchased this computer new).

- Nick

jdmfastdc2 · Oct 9, 2012

pigoo3 said:
You need to be EXACT on this point. We need to know EXACTLY what you have otherwise we cannot help you. This is a VERY important point…because it determines if your computer can use OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or not…which is the last Macintosh OS to come on a disk.

And if it truly is a MacBook Pro from 2010 or before…then it DID come with two gray-colored OS install disks…and you need to find them (assuming you purchased this computer new).

- Nick

i know snow leopard was the OS but I dont know if it was 10.6. its a unibody with no battery access on the bottom. i had to remove the entire bottom cover to get to the HD if that means anything. If I did receive the discs but no longer have them, what are my options?

pigoo3 · Oct 9, 2012

jdmfastdc2 said:
i know snow leopard was the OS but I dont know if it was 10.6. its a unibody with no battery access on the bottom. i had to remove the entire bottom cover to get to the HD if that means anything. If I did receive the discs but no longer have them, what are my options?

Snow Leopard IS OS 10.6!

As far as options. Since OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) is no longer sold…you need to call Apple at their "800" (not the Apple Stores)…and ask them about purchasing an OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) install disk.

This will get you going!

- Nick

jdmfastdc2 · Oct 9, 2012

pigoo3 said:
Snow Leopard IS OS 10.6!

As far as options. Since OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) is no longer sold…you need to call Apple at their "800" (not the Apple Stores)…and ask them about purchasing an OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) install disk.

This will get you going!

- Nick

if i can find a friend with one will it work?

pigoo3 · Oct 9, 2012

jdmfastdc2 said:
if i can find a friend with one will it work?

Not really.

- Firstly (just to be sure)…you need a retail install disk (white with a Snow Leopard on it). You cannot use an other persons gray discs…they are model specific.
- Second…only one install/person/computer/disk.

You need to purchase your own Snow Leopard disk.

- Nick

MYmacROX · Oct 9, 2012

Dude, $29 for a SL DVD and $19 for ML via Mac App Store. How hard is that? Less than the majority of us are spending on a tank of gas these days.

jdmfastdc2 · Oct 9, 2012

MYmacROX said:
Dude, $29 for a SL DVD and $19 for ML via Mac App Store. How hard is that? Less than the majority of us are spending on a tank of gas these days.

where can i purchase the disc?

harryb2448 · Oct 9, 2012

Go back and read Nick's link No. 8.

had to replace my HD... PLEASE HELP!

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