OS Reinstall after failed install of BootCamp
 

Hey everyone. I was trying to install Boot Camp and my Macbook (Pro) shut off before the format stage of Windows' install was completed. Now, the computer won't boot (it only goes to a grey screen) and I can't install MacOS X off the install CD even when I hold C while the computer is booting. Help please!

Try zapping the PRAM. (Hold down Cmd-Opt-P-R while turning the power on, and keep holding until you hear 3 of the "bong" sounds.)

What do I do after I hear the three sounds? Hold C again?

I'd try letting it boot the normal way, without the CD, first (this might have fixed the whole problem). Then go back to trying to boot the CD.

I think it's very strange that you can't get the CD to boot.

i tried zapping the PRAM (i let it do it 3 times). I then tried to boot without the CD, and that failed. Then I tried booting with the CD, which failed as well.

What's really weird is that the screen is usually just blank. However, if I hold down the option key, I get a mouse cursor that I can move for a few seconds before the computer locks up again.

Zapping PRAM shouldn't work on the Intel Macs. Try this:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

i tried that as well, no luck. the computer doesn't act any different after i do that.

Try to boot to your hardware diagnostics:
Insert that same restore DVD, which should be disk #1 of the set of 2
If you need to restart, shut down by holding the power button until the power shuts off - about 5 seconds.
press your power button again, and release, and immediately hold the 'D' key. No other keys, just the D.
This should boot to the diagnostic test. If you get there, run the test. Let us know if you get an error code of some kind.


I'm concerned that your MacBook Pro 'Shut off' when you were trying to format the Windows partition. Were you trying to do this without the power adapter connected, and just running on batteries? Did it shut off because the battery was depleted? If not, then you may have other problems, and you should have your MBPro checked at an Apple Specialist. That should be your next stop, if you can't boot to the Hardware test...

i shut the macbook pro off because I realized that it was formatting the entire harddrive, not just the 5 GB partition that it was supposed to be formatting. I think the setup utility had started deleting MacOS components before I was able to stop the formatting.

oh yeah, tried running the hardware diagnostic, but the holding the D key did nothing.

Hold down the opt key at boot up, does it give any bootable options to boot off any bootable volume?

Also, you choose which partition to install windows on during the windows installer and it lists the size of the partition. So unless you accidently selected the wrong one it shouldn't have done anything. In fact I almost want to go as far to say that the windows installer won't even recognize the HFS+ partition but its been about 4 or 5 months since I have installed windows from scratch on a Mac, so I can't be 100% sure.

You mean that the same thing happens (just a grey screen, then nothing more), or do you mean it does nothing (no power, no video, nothing at all?) Please be more detailed in your answers, it will help others to provide you with other suggestion.

If you hold the Option key, you should see the option boot screen (grey, with drive icons for bootable drives) and you should, at least, see your OSX install icon.
Do you see that, or something else?

If you still see nothing other than a grey screen, I suspect that you have ruined your hard drive, with the only choice is replacing the drive completely.
If, as you report, you entire hard drive was being formatted, that happens quite quickly, and forcing a shutdown then is probably the worst way to treat the hard drive.

Just a note: at the Windows format screen, you would normally choose the C: partition. Watch the partition sizes, and that will help you past the formatting stage for Windows.
I think it's one of the hazards of throwing a Windows install at a Mac person. You are too used to the installer taking care of everything, without a need for a confusing setup. I know, it also happened to me :( once!

Do you have a second mac lying around?

If so try to boot the MBP in FireWire diskmode and see if your hard drive shows up on the other mac and run diskutil/diskwarrior

If you have stopped in the middle of a format I fear your System folder is gone and that the only thing you can do is try and salvage whatever files you can :(

When I hold the option button down while the computer is booting, the computer boots but the screen stays blank. The only thing that pops up is a mouse cursor which freezes after a few seconds. No icons appear.

While I was installing windows, there was only one partition available to install Windows on. The partition, however, was the size of my entire harddrive. I realized this while the format was occurring so I terminated the format midway.

I don't have a second mac lying around.

btw, i tried holding T while booting the laptop and it doesn't do anything. I don't think having another Mac will help.

well the boot option menu is completely firmware based so perhaps we need to reset your firmware on your mac.

To reset the SMC follow these steps

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

i've already tried that, it changes nothing with the computers behavior.

Well I suspect hardware issues at this point then, because this is how the boot strap works

Power > POST > EFI (firmware) > launchd > loginwindow > GUI

EFI controls the boot functions, like boot from: CD, Target Mode, Netboot, Diagnostics, etc. It runs before the OS ever gets a chance to load. So, if you cannot pull up a boot menu, boot from CD or boot into target disk mode, I suspect you may have a hardware issue. I would run it by your nearest AASP for a check up.

hey, i left the battery out of the laptop and left it unplugged for a while. I then held the power button for 5 seconds, popped the battery back in and booted up while holding C. The Windows XP cd was in the drive and the computer ejected it, displaying a folder with a question mark on it on the screen. Any suggestions?

Good, now reboot and hold down the opt key. Does it show any bootable hard drives, specifically your OS X install?

hm, i tried that and it was the same as before. the mouse shows up and i can move it for about 5 seconds before the computer goes back into its coma.

I will predict that you will not be able to do more testing until you replace the hard drive.

Nothing else has worked, so try this:
battery in, power adapter plugged in.
Press and _hold_ the power switch. You should hear an extra long tone, and then you should see the light in the case latch start flashing. I'm not sure of the sequence of those two things happening, but when the second happens, you can release the power switch. If you get nothing else after that (wait for a couple of minutes just to make sure), press and hold the power switch until your MBPro shuts off. Remove the battery, unplug the power, and then press and hold the power switch for 5 seconds, and release
battery, and power adapter back in. Power back on normally, and try to boot to your restore DVD (just on a chance). Hold the C, and no other key along with the C. Make sure that nothing else is attached to the MacBookPro, except the power adapter.
If you don't make any other progress this time, then I think you are done, get some service.