Macbook OSX not starting up

[jenmb]

I turned my computer on but all I got was the start up music and a blank blue screen, after leaving it on for several minutes in this state, the folder with the flashing question mark appeared.

I inserted the first installation disc, and attempted the reinstall, deciding to cut my losses and just erase the entire hard drive.

After asking which hard drive to install to and checking the install disc etc, somewhere during the process of reinstalling, there was an error and it was unable to compete the reinstall.

So I started playing around in the disk utility, and at some point decided to zero write the hard drive. I left the computer to it and came back to an error in zeroing hard drive message.
Also the name of the hard drive had changed, there’s the primary hard drive thing (Toshiba or something) and then there was the Mac hard drive bit, and the mac name had changed to some letter numeral jumble.

I reset with the installation discs and reattempted to install, but this time when it asked which hard drive I would like to install to, there are no options available, the mac drive is gone.

In the disc utility thing, I am unable to mount the drive.


Haha. I obviously have no clue what I’m doing. I fear the hard drive has died? Not sure. If it has, did I kill it?

Any helpful ideas much appreciated!

It’s under warranty, but if it’s the hard drive it will probably come back to me, as the computers fallen off my bed a couple of times when I’ve fallen asleep watching movies.

 

[Doctor X]

Reads like a dying/dead HD.

Post your machine specifics and someone might give you a suggestion on how to replace it.

--J.D.

 

[jenmb]

Sorry about the delay in response.

I’m not exactly sure about which specific model it is, either MB061LL/A, MB062L/A or MB063L/A.

The specs are 2.16GHz, Intel core 2 Duo, 1 GB memory (2 x 512 mb)

The Hard drive was an 80gb 5400 rpm and I’m pretty sure it was a Mitsubishi.

After much procrastinating, I’ve decided to attempt to replace the dead hard drive.

I found the mac instruction manual for hard drive replacement online (http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY.pdf)

However around page six I get a little confused – I’m pretty sure I’m going to need some instructions on how to take the old one out of the casing/metal bit and put the new one in.

Also, as far as purchasing the new hard drive goes, I will probably get one off trademe.co.nz (New Zealand’s ebay).

There seem to be two main brands to choose from: Western Digital or Seagate.
Any idea which is better?

And as far as specs for the new hard drive go, I am unable to find a comparable one to my old one, but would there be any negative impact if I was to get one with a much higher GB capacity? Also rpm and cache – how do these affect it? I don’t need it to be super fast or have heaps of room, I just want it to work and not break again!


So yeah, how do I swap the casings and what sort of hard drive should I go for?

Any help much appreciated. Cheers!!