MacBook Pro Won't Boot - HD failure?

Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Have a MacBook Pro with Leopard. Today, computer froze. Rebooted. Initially got grey screen with apple logo and eventual circle with line through it. Did several restarts. At one point, would not POST (no initial audio tone). So, I cleared PRAM with CMD+OPT+P+R. Now will POST.

Have since tried several things:

Attempted to reach startup manager (turned on with option held continuously). No results, just grey screen.

Started in single user mode. Ran fsck -fy. Got result - "Failed to issue COM RESET successfully after 3 attempts. Failing..."

Subsequently, booted Leopard install disc by restarting and holding "C". Ran disk utility. Disk utility only found DVD drive. I don't see hard drive at all.

Since initial attempt, I've tried starting in single user mode again. However, now cannot get this to work. Just get flashing folder / question mark.

Tried booting "Applications Install DVD" by holding "C". Couldn't get this to boot.

Battery appears to be functioning OK. Pressing of button on left side (front) gives 7 solid LED and one blinking LED.

At various times have seen:

1.) Apple logo followed by circle with line through it.

2.) Flashing folder with question mark.

I'm much more adept at diagnosing Windows based computers. However, from the diagnostics I've performed and my little knowledge of MAC's - looks like a hard drive failure to me. Can anyone confirm this? Are there other possible options at this point? Any more diagnostic testing I can do?

If this is a hard drive failure, I assume the hard drive is easily replaced? I've never replaced a hard drive on a laptop (and have never worked on MAC's at all). However, there are directions for replacing the hard drive in the user manual. As such, it shouldn't be too complicated. Agree?

Thanks in advance for all the help. Chad
 
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
25,564
Reaction score
486
Points
83
Location
Blue Mountains NSW Australia
Your Mac's Specs
Silver M1 iMac 512/16/8/8 macOS 11.6
G'day and welcome to the forums. Shame you got here with problems.

Sure sounds like a dead hard drive if not found by the Leopard DVD. go to Ifixit.com and look up your precise MBP model.

http://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro
 
OP
C
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Went to ifixit. Looks like it is a 13" Unibody - Mid 2009. Ordered a new hard drive.

Put new hard drive in with ease. However, after installation of new hard drive, booted with OS install DVD. Neither disc utility or OS installation program can find the new hard drive.

Given above, I'm assuming there is a problem with either the hard drive cable or logic board? Any other advice?

Thanks again for the help.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top