Can't find hard drive to install osx

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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009

Mid 2009 Model A1278 / 2.26 or 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo processor EMC 2326

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[deleted] @deleted66765

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Posted: Sep 29, 2011

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Can't find hard drive to install osx

So I purchased a new hard drive because the last one was broken (couldn't get past the white screen with the apple logo) I got the seagate momentus 7200 750 gb 7200 rpm Sata 3 gb 16 mb cache 2.5 inches

I put it in using the repair manuals, and then I booted from my recovery disk, followed the directions but when I got to the step that ask where I want to install osx nothing appears as an option.

I went into disk recovery and the new hard drive is listed as a disk but I do not have the option to verify or repair disk.

Answer this question I have this problem too

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Walter Galan @mr2incredible Rep: 694.5k 1.2k 882 3.7k · Answer 1 · 2011-09-29T12:31:34-07:00

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Walter Galan @mr2incredible

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It sounds like you need to format the drive to Mac OS X Extended (Journaled).

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JonnyLine @graphicist Rep: 124 4 1 1 · Answer 2 · 2012-07-04T12:33:10-07:00

JonnyLine @graphicist

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FYI, I had the same issue (couldn't get past the white login screen, with or without the apple icon, and/or a flashing question mark in folder icon, or a circle with a slash through it; either couldn't find it with Disk Utility, or was unable to repair it, erase it or reformat it). I replaced the Hard Drive, and the new one also failed in an identical way. The good news: We're not alone, and there IS an inexpensive fix for this. Dozens and dozens of others have experienced almost identical behavior. — check out the user stories at the bottom of iFixit's MBP 13" Mid-2009/2010 Hard Drive Cable page, as well as this iFixit forum — in addition to this forum on Apple Discussions, as well as this one. The consensus is that it's NOT the hard drive, but turns out to be the Hard Drive Cable (Apple Part #922-9062), for these units, which seems to have a reputation for failing. IMHO I would suggest that DIY'rs do the most important test first: Remove the drive and see if it functions — either in another unit or as an external drive, with a SATA to USB interface or similar. If it does, then erasing the hard drive and/or reformatting it will not only prove ineffective, but unnecessary. Just replace the hard drive cable (in my case it was this one) and you should be all set.