Why can't I install osx into my drive?

Question

Hard Drive

Repair information on hard drives or hard disks. Hard drives are magnetic data storage devices. They are used in most desktop, laptop, and server due to their low cost and high data density.

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minyonglam @minyonglam

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Kho 23, 2011

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Why can't I install osx into my drive?

So I'm using a mid 2009 15" MacBook pro and recently purchased a 500 GB Hybrid Seagate SATA Hard Drive, followed all the instructions, ie, disk utility format, format. But it always gets stuck in the middle of the installation process for example it says 24 mins left and 2 hours later it's still there. Eventually an error message would pop up saying installation error please restart or disk error please try on another disk. I've had the hard drive replaced and the same error pops up, I've tried a different osx installation disk and the same error popsup, what am I doing wrong?

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Is it this drive? http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/500-GB...

Where did you get it from?

crwdns2934271:0Kho 23, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 mayer crwdne2934271:0

Yes, that's the one, I got it here, ifixit.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 24, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 minyonglam crwdne2934271:0

Are you using the software that came with the computer or at least a retail copy (black) of the software. If you are using a grey disk for another computer you sometimes have this problem.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 24, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 rj713 crwdne2934271:0

If you have access to another Mac and an external SATA hookup use a program like "super duper" to make a bootable clone, then repair permissions,

crwdns2934271:0Kho 25, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 Chris crwdne2934271:0

I even tried the snow leopard copy I got from apple store and it doesn't work, i'll try the external way when I get the enclosure.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 26, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 minyonglam crwdne2934271:0

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mayer @mayer

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MacHale Enterprises

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Kho 28, 2011

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Try reformatting the drive using Disk Utilities and the "write zeros" option. This will map out any bad blocks that might be causing your installation to stop. Then try installing the system.

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Trying this method out as of now.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 29, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 minyonglam crwdne2934271:0

Okay, there is a problem, it says disk erase failed, " operation could not be completed. Cannot allocate memory" so I'm assuming it's my ram now? I've got 4 gb of ram though. Please advise further.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 29, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 minyonglam crwdne2934271:0

I'm doing more research now, but first thing is we've seen this before and it was a bad drive, will get back soon: Cannot format new HDD under 10.6?

* Read this and give it a try: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-104...

crwdns2934271:0Kho 29, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 mayer crwdne2934271:0

Thanks Mayer, but I would like to add that I'm doing this on a replacement hd ifixit sent to me, meaning this is the 2nd brand new hard drive, I would doubt it's the drive fault. But I'm really lost at this point after reading the links you sent me. I'll try out the command method. Thanks.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 29, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 minyonglam crwdne2934271:0

Was the old hard drive working properly before you started this?

crwdns2934271:0Kho 29, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 mayer crwdne2934271:0

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crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

Is it this drive? http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/500-GB...

Where did you get it from? — mayer
Are you using the software that came with the computer or at least a retail copy (black) of the software. If you are using a grey disk for another computer you sometimes have this problem. — rj713
If you have access to another Mac and an external SATA hookup use a program like "super duper" to make a bootable clone, then repair permissions, — Chris
I even tried the snow leopard copy I got from apple store and it doesn't work, i'll try the external way when I get the enclosure. — minyonglam
Okay, there is a problem, it says disk erase failed, " operation could not be completed. Cannot allocate memory" so I'm assuming it's my ram now? I've got 4 gb of ram though. Please advise further. — minyonglam
I'm doing more research now, but first thing is we've seen this before and it was a bad drive, will get back soon: Cannot format new HDD under 10.6?

* Read this and give it a try: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-104... — mayer
Thanks Mayer, but I would like to add that I'm doing this on a replacement hd ifixit sent to me, meaning this is the 2nd brand new hard drive, I would doubt it's the drive fault. But I'm really lost at this point after reading the links you sent me. I'll try out the command method. Thanks. — minyonglam
Was the old hard drive working properly before you started this? — mayer

score 1 · Answer 1 · 2011-06-26T19:46:27-07:00

rj713 @rj713

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Kho 26, 2011

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Here is a link to Apples guide for installing Snow Leopard. Hope it solves your problem.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3910?viewl...

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Yes, I know how to reformat a computer. But the case is, I just bought a new Hard drive, and it shouldn't give me any problems reformatting. But it did, it gets stuck half way through each time, I don't know if it's the hard drives fault or my computers fault.

crwdns2934271:0Kho 27, 2011crwdnd2934271:0 minyonglam crwdne2934271:0

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