Hi I have a c2d black macbook here that had a sugary drink spilled on it(not mine and I didn't do the spilling just trying to help this also happened a while back so the machine is definately dry, he initially tried to turn it back on right away). The machine will boot but just shows the question mark folder. The dvd drive try's to read the install dvd but fails. So I was wondering how I could go about setting this machine to boot from an external drive? Essentially how I could get a macbook image and set a drive up to boot(all I have are usb external drives). All we have at the house is an al 24" imac.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Liquid damaged macbook how to boot from external with no backup
- Thread starter joebells
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
From the Imac you should be able to install OSX. Make sure you use the GUID partition table if you want it to be a bootable drive though. Then, connect it to the MacBook and boot up holding OPTION. Good luck. To be honest, I think it sounds like your machine is rooted. 
By the way, have you tried booting into Target Disk Mode with the iMac?
By the way, have you tried booting into Target Disk Mode with the iMac?
Boot the macbook in target disk mode (holding the "t" button on startup) and then connect it to the iMac via firewire. If the macbook's drive shows up on the imac, backup your macbook's data. at least it will show you if the hd is corrupted.
But perhaps it would be better to clean the macbook at first. Search for the other spilling threads in this forum for good cleaning advices.
But perhaps it would be better to clean the macbook at first. Search for the other spilling threads in this forum for good cleaning advices.
thanks for the replies. Yeah I already cleaned the machine and its not mine thankfully. I accidentaly damaged the fan header( didn't have a spudger or whatever its called and it broke two of the leads off the motherboard but I saudered the leads back and the fan turns on so thats something.) I think that the logic board might actually be ok but the hd and the dvd drive are both shot.
So I was hoping for a way to set up osx on a usb drive and boot the macbook from that so I could see if the logic board is ok. I have read that it is possible but all the info I see is for machines that have working drives and they just copy over the osx install from the hd. I need to find a way to get an osx install meant for a macbook onto one of my usb drives and then boot to that drive from the macbook to see if the logic board still works(definately seems like it does to me I'd almost bet on it.) If the logic board is shot I would think it wouldn't show anything.
but I saudered the leads back and the fan turns on so thats something.) I think that the logic board might actually be ok but the hd and the dvd drive are both shot. So I was hoping for a way to set up osx on a usb drive and boot the macbook from that so I could see if the logic board is ok. I have read that it is possible but all the info I see is for machines that have working drives and they just copy over the osx install from the hd. I need to find a way to get an osx install meant for a macbook onto one of my usb drives and then boot to that drive from the macbook to see if the logic board still works(definately seems like it does to me I'd almost bet on it.) If the logic board is shot I would think it wouldn't show anything.
thanks for the replies. Yeah I already cleaned the machine and its not mine thankfully. I accidentaly damaged the fan header( didn't have a spudger or whatever its called and it broke two of the leads off the motherboard
So I was hoping for a way to set up osx on a usb drive and boot the macbook from that so I could see if the logic board is ok. I have read that it is possible but all the info I see is for machines that have working drives and they just copy over the osx install from the hd. I need to find a way to get an osx install meant for a macbook onto one of my usb drives and then boot to that drive from the macbook to see if the logic board still works(definately seems like it does to me I'd almost bet on it.) If the logic board is shot I would think it wouldn't show anything.
osx should be able to be installed from a USB drive. i am unsure as to whether the speeds from the USB drive would be reasonable, would go pretty darn slow.
No, I've run a MacBook off an external USB drive and although it was definitely slower at booting and at launching applications it worked pretty well otherwise.
oh ok should be all sweet then to do it. i could see the advantage of being able to do that, take it wherever you want it
.8gb flash drives do cost quite a bit tho!!!!!!
oh i see. in that case it will be easy. i have that setup now lol.
firewire owhns tho....
I'm not on an intel based machine yet, but as far as i know intel macs can boot from an external USB HD.
Connect your external hd to your iMac (backup your stuff to your iMac).
Pop the Mac OS X Disc in your iMac .
Go to:
Mac OS X Install Disc/System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg
(you'll need list view to see the folders)
double click the mpkg and install the OS to your external hd.
(Be aware! your external hd will be erased)
After you're done with that, go to the startupdisk pref pane and check, if your are able to boot from the external hd. If so, plug your external hd into your macbook and hold the Option/Alt key when the gray Apple logo appears during startup.
Your MacBook should boot.
This whole process worked for me several times, but as I sad, I used a PPC Mac with a firewire drive.
Good luck
Dave
Connect your external hd to your iMac (backup your stuff to your iMac).
Pop the Mac OS X Disc in your iMac .
Go to:
Mac OS X Install Disc/System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg
(you'll need list view to see the folders)
double click the mpkg and install the OS to your external hd.
(Be aware! your external hd will be erased)
After you're done with that, go to the startupdisk pref pane and check, if your are able to boot from the external hd. If so, plug your external hd into your macbook and hold the Option/Alt key when the gray Apple logo appears during startup.
Your MacBook should boot.
This whole process worked for me several times, but as I sad, I used a PPC Mac with a firewire drive.
Good luck
Dave
thanks I'll give that a try I thought that would result in an install meant for an imac and that it wouldn't work on the macbook I know the disks won't work across machines so I thought it would install custom stuff per machine I'll try it in a couple of days probably and post back.