To install OSX or Windows 10 on an HDD, you’ll need to format the drive and then reinstall the operating system.
To install OSX or Windows 10 on an HDD, you’ll need to format the drive and then reinstall the operating system.
Hi everyone, I just acquired an old MacBook Pro from 2006. The hard drive started making noise during boot, so I assumed it was faulty. After replacing the drive with a new one and trying to boot into recovery mode (command + r), it still doesn’t start properly—it shows a grey screen. I considered switching to Windows 10, but I made an installer using Bootcamp on another Mac and managed to boot in that environment by pressing the option key (alt). However, the issue persists. I’m considering installing Windows 10, Linux, or OSX onto the existing HDD, then transferring it to the laptop. I’m unsure how to proceed. BTW, I’m confident this isn’t a hardware problem since it worked with a Windows 7 drive in another laptop. Thanks!
I don't believe you can start up in recovery mode after installing a new SSD. The recovery area is still on the previous hard drive. The new SSD is empty and has no data. You can only work with it by setting up a brand-new OS version (like macOS or Windows) using a valid product key. Unless you create a clone of the old drive on the new one.
Just confirming the new hard drive is installed and media loaded. Press Alt, hold it down, then power on while keeping Alt pressed. The screen should show a grey display with a question mark folder. The boot menu should open via EFI, indicating it’s not tied to the hard drive. Switch to another Alt key or use an external keyboard to verify functionality.