mhakulet
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: Cloned SSD wont boot on my Macbook Pro Mid-2012

Hi, I'm trying to replace my old HDD on my MacBook Pro Mid-2012 13" with a new SSD I bought from the store.

I have formatted it to Mac OS Extended and done cloning my HDD to this new SSD I bought. But when I installed it on my MBP it won't boot. The screen only shows a grey folder with question mark on it. Then when I tried installing back the old HDD it still boot on my MBP. Also I tried installing the said SSD to an external hard drive case and connecting it to my MBP through a USB and booting it from there and it booted.

Now I can't figure out what went wrong. Does anybody have an idea why I'm experiencing this on my Mac? Is there a step I did wrong? or is there a way to fix this?

 

Any help is much appreciated.

 

Cheers

MacBook Pro

Posted on Sep 3, 2016 5:16 PM

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mhakulet

Q: Cloned SSD wont boot on my Macbook Pro Mid-2012

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  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Sep 3, 2016 7:57 PM in response to mhakulet
    Level 7 (22,895 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 3, 2016 7:57 PM in response to mhakulet

    Did you replace the internal SATA cable?  Relatively inexpensive—they are easily damaged.

     

    SSD is more demanding than HD on the same SATA cable, could have some fault in the  printed circuit traces that does not show at HD R/W speeds.

     

    Apple replaces the SATA cable by default when installing a new HD/SSD

  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Sep 3, 2016 10:20 PM in response to mhakulet
    Level 5 (5,650 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 3, 2016 10:20 PM in response to mhakulet

    Resetting NVRAM could solve the problem.

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by mhakulet,

    mhakulet mhakulet Sep 4, 2016 6:39 AM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 4, 2016 6:39 AM in response to leroydouglas

    Thanks leroydouglas.. but the internal SATA is new. I bought it the same time as the SSD but when I install it on my MPB it can boot the old HDD but not the cloned SSD. Well maybe you are right as I bought the SATA cable on ebay and not on legit store the sells apple spare parts.

  • by mhakulet,

    mhakulet mhakulet Sep 4, 2016 6:41 AM in response to kaz-k
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 4, 2016 6:41 AM in response to kaz-k

    Thanks kaz-k but that doesnt work on my MBP.. tried it a couple of times but still the same.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Sep 4, 2016 9:03 AM in response to mhakulet
    Level 7 (22,895 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 4, 2016 9:03 AM in response to mhakulet

    mhakulet wrote:

     

    I bought the SATA cable on ebay and not on legit store the sells apple spare parts.


    Also I tried installing the said SSD to an external hard drive case and connecting it to my MBP through a USB and booting it from there and it booted.

     

    SSD booting externally, but not internally.

     

    No harm in trying resetting the  SMC http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964  as well.

     

    After a NVRAM reset and no love,  a slight fault in the  SATA cable could cause this.

     

    SATA cables are actually not cables but fexible circuit boards, usually mylar®, with printed circuit traces taking the place of wires. This type of cable can experience cracks in traces due to aging, heat, vibration, abrasion and impact. They can be damaged quite easily if the unit is mishandled during assembly or re-assembly.

     

      http://www.PowerbookMedic.com  also sells on eBay

  • by mhakulet,

    mhakulet mhakulet Sep 5, 2016 3:17 AM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 5, 2016 3:17 AM in response to leroydouglas

    Thanks leroydouglas. Yep done all that but still the same. Maybe its really the SATA cable i need to replace.