Failing to install a new hard drive

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Level 1

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Failing to install a new hard drive

Hello,

I have a mid-2010 13-inch Macbook Pro (I know it's old, I'm just trying to make it work until I can upgrade). A year and a half ago, the hard drive died so I replaced it with a Western Digital 1TB HDD. A few weeks ago, that drive died so they sent me a new replacement under warranty. I tried to follow some tutorials to set it up, but when I get to Disk Utility, it fails to erase the new drive. I can't install the OS because it doesn't recognize the new internal drive (because I failed to set it up in Disk Utility, I think) and I can't restore it from a Time Machine backup for the same reason. I've found other work-arounds to erase a drive, but they don't work for a brand new drive because I can't get to the Terminal app, for example. I'm stuck - please, help! I'm starting to wonder if maybe the problem isn't the drive but something else, like the cable that connects to the HDD? Or maybe Western Digital just tried to fix my faulty drive, instead of replacing it, but failed and I still need a brand new one?

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Aug 14, 2020 8:13 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

77,954 points

Aug 14, 2020 8:30 AM in response to cal146

13-inch MacBook Pros made between 2009 and 2012 are generally bullet-proof but you may have encountered their only weak point: the hard drive CABLE.

The cable suffers a circuitous routing over sharp metal edges on the chassis. After 3-5 years of the vibration from normal use and transport, the thin insulation on the cable can chafe and cause drive problems. The symptoms of a worn drive CABLE can mimic those of a failing hard drive.

The good news is that the cable are cheap and easy to replace. The bad news isf that my regular parts supplier, OWC, only carries them for the 2011 and 2012 models. However, check Amazon--I've seen them there. Don't pay of about US$15-20.

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,708 points

Aug 14, 2020 9:03 AM in response to cal146

What version of macOS was on the old failed drive? If you had macOS 10.12.6 or 10.13 installed at some point, then you can boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R) or Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) where you can access Disk Utility and erase the drive.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496

If Disk Utility doesn't see the hard drive, then you either have a defective cable as @Allan Jones mentions or your replacement drive is defective (many warranty replacement drives end up being refurbished drives).

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

68,708 points

Aug 14, 2020 4:15 PM in response to cal146

Check out the Apple article I provided earlier as it has directions on how to view & select the physical drive within Disk Utility on recent versions of macOS (Disk Utility hides the physical drive from view by default). You need to erase the physical drive.

If you are booting a macOS 10.10 (maybe 10.11) or earlier, then you will need to use the "Partition" tab within Disk Utility to properly partition & format the new drive. If you are booting a 10.11 or earlier macOS installer, then let me know and I can provide instructions.

It is hard to say if a defective cable is preventing macOS from erasing the drive since it can run First Aid. It is definitely a possibility though. If you remove the drive and use a USB to SATA Adapter to connect the drive externally it will give you an idea if the cable may be bad.

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Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

77,954 points

Aug 14, 2020 12:06 PM in response to cal146

Could be. The bad cable issue has delivered a variety of interesting symptoms. The part is so cheap and easy to change that it has become both a diagnostic step and preventative maintenance. Most of us now recommend that one always change the cable when you change out the hard drive in those models.

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Answer 5

cal146 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 14, 2020 11:59 AM in response to HWTech

Thanks for your reply. I don't remember exactly which OS I last installed, but I kept it up to date. Though I vaguely remember I maybe couldn't install the newest OS.

Let me clarify, anyway: Disk Utility recognizes the hard drive but fails to erase it. First Aid says that there is nothing wrong with it. Then when I try to install the OS, it doesn't show the hard drive. Could it still be a bad cable if it shows up in Disk Utility?

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Answer 6

cal146 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 14, 2020 12:01 PM in response to Allan Jones

Thanks for your reply. I can imagine that it could be a bad cable. My only confusion is that Disk Utility recognizes the hard drive and can run First Aid successfully but it can't erase the drive. Would a bad cable allow the computer to see the drive but not operate on it?

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Failing to install a new hard drive

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