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Question

MacBook Pro 15" hard drive problem

Aug 7, 2012 9:47PM PDT

A friend has a MacBook Pro 15" (200Cool which has stopped booting up from the hard drive. He has been informed that he requires a new hard drive as the one in the laptop has ceased to work for some unknown reason. The major problem is that he cannot retrieve any of his files as the HD is unreadable. He's quite happy to replace it, but he needs the operating system which I believe was something like OS 10.4? May have that wrong but as his laptop cannot be booted, and he has no paperwork, or any back-up discs to help him, I was hoping that someone could advise me what I should be doing to help him. I'm a PC user, so not used to Macs.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Whatever you do,
Aug 7, 2012 11:14PM PDT

You will need the OSX installation disk to bring the new hard drive into use.
Priciple is the same for Windows as it is for Mac. Install new drive, format the drive and install the OS on it

It is possible that the files on the old drive may be recoverable if, once you get the new drive running, you connect the old drive to the laptop in a USB enclosure.

P

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Answer
Just for info. Accessing that drive from your PC?
Aug 8, 2012 2:44AM PDT
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Excellent info
Aug 8, 2012 8:40PM PDT

Hi guys, many thanks for the excellent info. I have had a look at the links, so as soon as I get the laptop back from my friend, I will try out the suggestions. Many thanks.