Q: Macbook pro 13" 2011 can't recognize any SSD

I've got an old Macbook pro 13" 2011 A1278 with original Hitachi HDD.

I tried to swap it to SSD with no success. The SSDs tested can't be recognized both in primary SATA port and in optibay, both by OSX itself and by diskutil in recovery mode. However, the SSDs work fine via USB, I can install the system and load macbook from it.

Also I tested a Fujitsu HDD and it works fine via SATA port.

I tried updating EFI and SMC as well as updating SSD firmware. Seems that macbook SATA has some incompatibility with SSD SATA (SATA II support? AHCI support?).

The SSDs tested:

Silicon Power V60 60Gb

Kingstone ssdNow v300 240Gb

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.0.x), null

Posted on Nov 13, 2015 12:54 AM

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Q: Macbook pro 13" 2011 can't recognize any SSD

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by OGELTHORPE,

OGELTHORPE Nov 13, 2015 5:59 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD
Level 9 (52,516 points)

Mac OS X

Nov 13, 2015 5:59 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD

Even though a HDD will function properly when installed inside the MBP, and an SSD will not work inside, often the solution is a new SATA cable. That has been the solution in a number of situations on these forums.

Ciao.
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by John Zoidberg MD,

John Zoidberg MD Nov 13, 2015 7:56 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
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Nov 13, 2015 7:56 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

So it seems than both cables don't work properry since SSD doesn't work both in primary SATA and in optibay?
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by OGELTHORPE,

OGELTHORPE Nov 13, 2015 8:06 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD
Level 9 (52,516 points)

Mac OS X

Nov 13, 2015 8:06 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD

That may be the case. Does a HDD function in the 'optibay'?

Ciao.
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by lllaass,

lllaass Nov 13, 2015 8:15 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD
Level 10 (189,435 points)

Desktops

Nov 13, 2015 8:15 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD

Can you boot to an OSX version on one disk with an SSD installed internally?
If so do that and then post a screen shot of what Profiler
OS X: About System Information and System Profiler - Apple Support
says about what is connected to that STA bus.
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by John Zoidberg MD,

John Zoidberg MD Nov 13, 2015 8:39 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
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Nov 13, 2015 8:39 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yes it does
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by John Zoidberg MD,

John Zoidberg MD Nov 13, 2015 8:41 AM in response to lllaass
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Nov 13, 2015 8:41 AM in response to lllaass

It shows that nothing is connected
http://prntscr.com/92cg1m
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by lllaass,

lllaass Nov 13, 2015 8:54 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD
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Desktops

Nov 13, 2015 8:54 AM in response to John Zoidberg MD

I would try a different brand of SSD, at least as a test.
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by John Zoidberg MD,

John Zoidberg MD Nov 13, 2015 10:06 AM in response to lllaass
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Nov 13, 2015 10:06 AM in response to lllaass

I also tried Kingstone SSD with absolutely no success. At the same time, Fujitsu HDD worked fine
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Q: Macbook pro 13" 2011 can't recognize any SSD

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by OGELTHORPE,

by John Zoidberg MD,

by OGELTHORPE,

by lllaass,

by John Zoidberg MD,

by John Zoidberg MD,

by lllaass,

by John Zoidberg MD,

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