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    Any reason why a 250GB drive won't install in an Intel Macbook?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by count_schemula, Jun 24, 2007.

  1. count_schemula

    count_schemula Notebook Deity

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    A friend has an issue trying to upgrade his Macbook with a 250GB drive.

    OSX installer does not seem to see it?

    Any ideas?
     
    count_schemula, Jun 24, 2007
    #1
  2. KelchM

    KelchM Notebook Evangelist

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    Can you test the drive in another system?
     
    KelchM, Jun 24, 2007
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  3. count_schemula

    count_schemula Notebook Deity

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    Dunno, he's 700 miles away, let me ask him... lol

    But is there anyway to know if the new 250GB drives are just flat out not compatible with any of the Intel Macbook/Macbook Pro notebooks?
     
    count_schemula, Jun 24, 2007
    #3
  4. Wu Jen

    Wu Jen Some old nobody

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    You might want to have him check out

    http://www.ifixit.com/

    For information on getting it to work. If anyplace has the info Ifixit should.
     
    Wu Jen, Jun 24, 2007
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  5. duffyanneal

    duffyanneal Notebook Deity

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    There shouldn't be any issues with the larger capacity drive. Your friend may be having issues because he didn't format the drive before trying to do the install. If the hard drive was installed correctly then he should do the following:

    1. Boot from the Mac OS install DVD.
    2. When the install app launches cancel out of it.
    3. Start Disk Utility (believe it's in the menu bar). The new drive should show up in the list of drives. Format the drive (Mac OS Extended - Journaled would be a good choice).
    4. After the format completes quit Disk Utility.
    5. Restart the install app (if it doesn't automatically) the new drive should appear as an install option.
     
    duffyanneal, Jun 24, 2007
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  6. Paul

    Paul Mom! Hot Pockets! NBR Reviewer

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    Maybe the BIOS doesn't support that large of a hard drive. I've never heard of that being an issue, but I'm not sure what else it could be. You could try using a third party software (such as gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd) to partition the drive (to hfs+) before you install in case the DVD doesn't let you.
     
    Paul, Jun 24, 2007
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  7. duffyanneal

    duffyanneal Notebook Deity

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    There may be some unknown incompatibility, but I think that is fairly unlikely. Installing Mac OS isn't quite as straight forward as XP when using a new drive. You have to follow the instructions I posted above. I'm not sure why Mac OS doesn't just give you the option to format a new drive from the install app like Windows does. You have to go thru the extra step of using the disk utility to format it. FYI, Intel Macs don't have BIOS they use EFI. :)
     
    duffyanneal, Jun 25, 2007
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  8. ilkevinli

    ilkevinli Notebook Enthusiast

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    I agree. I bet he didn't partition and format the drive.


     
    ilkevinli, Jun 25, 2007
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