Question mark after installing 840 pro in mbp 09

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Hey everyone like the title says i just installed the ssd and whenever i boot i get a question mark folder that blinks. I did not convert any files over. If someone could help that would be great
 

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What have you done? Did you clone your old drive to the new SSD before installing it? The question mark means that the computer can't find appropriate system files which leads me to believe that you didn't install OS X on it (assuming you didn't clone your old install to it).
 
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You are correct i did not clone anything yet. My friend who has a ssd in said you could just fresh install but maybe thats wrong. What options do i have?
 

bobtomay

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Do a fresh install from your OS X disc.
 
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I tried putting in the cd and i hear the cd driving working but only get the question mark. After a bit the cd ejects. I have an external hd and my sisters macbook does that help at all?
 

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Are you holding down the C key while the computer is booting? If you don't, the computer will not boot from the disc.
 

bobtomay

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Insert the DVD - reboot the machine while it's in - press and hold the 'C' key of the option key while it is booting and then select the DVD to install OS X.

If it's not reading the disc - Try taking a can of air and shoot 3-4 quick blasts in the slot of the DVD drive to clean the lens.
While the machine is shut down naturally.
 
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Awesome thank you guys for the help this far. Now when it takes me to the install mac os x select the disk you wAnt nothing shows up. Is the mac not reading the ssd?
 

vansmith

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You need to format the disk first. In the Utilities menu, open up Disk Utility and format the disk (it's the erase option). Make sure the partition scheme is set to GUID.
 
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Is there a guide i can follow from here on out? I dont want to bug younguys with all these ? Since idk what im doing. I domt think i formatted the ssd right
 

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What happened after you formatted the drive?

It's very possible that the drive wasn't installed properly. Let's exhaust all other issues first.
 
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I erased the ssd and then went to restore and dragged the install cd as source to the 256 gb ssd for destination( i thought this is what i was supposed to do) and it took about 30-40 min to dl and yea i trird to restart and same issue
 
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Boot from the DVD. LEave Installer and go into Utilities > Disk utility and run Erase and select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Then into partition > Options and make sure GUID is selected. back to the Installer and then install OS X.

Take it you are using a Snow Leopard OS X.6 full retail install DVD and not a silver/grey system disc from another computer?
 

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I've never used an SSD so I could be wrong but here's my take. I think what has happened is that dragging the installer to the SSD basically copied the installer to the SSD. I think that after you format the SSD you need to run the installer and choose the SSD as the destination disc.

@Harry Beat me to it buddy.
 

vansmith

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You said that you were using a disc to install OS X so I assume that you're using Snow Leopard (10.6). If that is the case, read this. If that's not what you're using, let us know what version of OS X you're trying to install.
 
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Boot from the DVD. LEave Installer and go into Utilities > Disk utility and run Erase and select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Then into partition > Options and make sure GUID is selected. back to the Installer and then install OS X.

Take it you are using a Snow Leopard OS X.6 full retail install DVD and not a silver/grey system disc from another computer?

The issue is now that i cant erase anything. The option when i would select the format and name are grayed out and cant hit any of the buttons. Thanks everyone for the help thus far. Slydude you are correct in i think i copied the cd to the ssd.
 

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Boot to the Install DVD and select the Partition Tab instead of Erase. Where is says Current Partition, Click and select One Partition and under Options be sure GUID is selected as the Partition type. Then Hit apply. If you can't access the Partition tab let us know.

Also if the drive is formatted 2 options will show up, Select the Top drive.

In my first pic below I have 3 partitions set up. Notice the very top where it gives the drives model is selected!

Screen Shot 2013-08-05 at 2.24.29 AM.png

Screen Shot 2013-08-05 at 2.25.10 AM.png
 
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Not sure how to attach multiple files in one post but this is what the partition tab is saying.

image.jpg
 

Slydude

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I could be wrong here but it looks like you have booted from the installation disc that got copied to the SSD. OS X is not going to let you format the same drive that you boot from. You are going to need to boot from something else (install DVD) to make the changes.
 

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