Level 2

367 points

Hard drive not recognized - cable?

When I try to boot up my computer, I get a flashing folder with a question mark on it. However, when I move the hard drive to another computer and then boot up, there are no problems at all. Would I be correct in guessing that it's the hard drive cable at fault here? Has anyone had this problem, and if so, how did you fix it?

Nathan

Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 14, 2010 4:56 PM

180 replies

Aug 9, 2017 10:53 AM in response to Csound1

The parts are interchangeable. If anything, I'd go with the newer one because Apple clearly new there was a problem and attempted (unsuccessfully) to fix it; I can't think of any other reason you'd spend money designing/producing an entirely new, backward compatible part than to improve the old one.

Oct 31, 2017 2:32 PM in response to Nathan H

After a little more than a few weeks outside the warranty period of ownership of a mid 2012 macbook it crashed..for what seemed no apparent reason. We booked an appointment at an apple store some 200km from our home. We live in a remote village. After bringing it in we were quickly told we'd likely need to replace the HD. I wasn't about to replace a faulty one with what might be yet another so I inquired about upgrading to a solid state compatible. NO WAY. VERBOTTEN. We were directed to a third party who could do the job for us but would face apple excommunication as a result. We decided to go ahead but on inspection at the wonderfully helpful third party front counter we were told that the hard drive was fine and the problem lay elsewhere...HUH. We had driven some three hours and then sent goosechasing to find out something the genius' couldn't or wouldn't help us with at the their swanky apple lounge and deli bistro. What happened next told me everything I needed to know about Steve Jobs spoled

child. They have no interest in fixing things they make badly. We were quickly ushered into a Russian sounding genius expert's curt hands who without so much of a history told us the problem lay in a defective power ribbon cable which they'd fix sometime in the next couple days if we'd care to wait around for $60+ plus labour. I was outraged but outnumbered by all the happy apple loving crowd enjoying the latest greatest gadgets being purred over by the loving devotees. Nobody makes a scene on apple turf. Its tantamount to treason..To be continued

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,500 points

Nov 14, 2010 5:13 PM in response to Nathan H

It could be something as simple as the computer forgetting where the startup volume is. Please read this Apple Service Letter:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440

Try it's suggestions and it may be OK. If the drive has failed then you will need to replace it however it's a very simple process, about 10 minutes. If have have been backing up then you should have nothing to worry about.

Roger

Nathan H Author

Level 2

367 points

Nov 14, 2010 9:21 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I've actually used the hard drive in another computer, and it boots up without any issues. Sometimes if I disassemble and fiddle around with the cable, the computer will boot up for a short time. After I try to wake it from sleep, it freezes, however. Regardless, the drive will power up and spin without any signs of damage, it's just not being read by the computer itself.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,500 points

Nov 14, 2010 9:32 PM in response to Nathan H

How is the drive formatted and have you tried a different cable? Also what kind of other computer was it connected to, have you tried another external HD to see if the computer boots OK with it?

Nathan H Author

Level 2

367 points

Nov 15, 2010 1:08 AM in response to rkaufmann87

The drive is fine. It was in a MBP Unibody; I moved it to an older MB and it booted up fine. I ran diagnostics and there's nothing wrong with the drive itself. I'm pretty sure it's some sort of hardware problem within the MBP itself.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,500 points

Nov 15, 2010 7:24 AM in response to Nathan H

If the drive hasn't been re-formatted and had OS X (from the Install Discs that came with the NEW machine) installed that is exactly what your problem is! The version of OS X that was on the MBP Unibody is specific to that hardware installation and will not work in any other hardware configuration. What you are trying to do is have your new MBP look identical to your old MBP. This is possible but your short cut simply does not work. What you need to do is put the original HD that came in the MBP back in and the un-working HD back into your old MBP Unibody. Then you can run Setup Assistant or Migration assistant to migrate all the apps, data and settings from the old machine to the new one. If the old MBP isn't working for some reason then you can put that drive into an enclosure and do the same.

Nathan H Author

Level 2

367 points

Nov 15, 2010 9:42 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Sorry, I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. The drive just isn't recognized at all by my MBP when I open up Disk Utility via DVD. It powers up and spins, but the computer doesn't recognize it at all. It doesn't matter what sort of bootable drive I have in there, whether it is the original or one from another computer.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,500 points

Nov 15, 2010 12:16 PM in response to Nathan H

Well I'm not sure what is going on. I think it's time to take it into an Apple Store and have it looked at.

Jan 12, 2011 9:29 AM in response to Nathan H

I'm having the exact same problem. Did you ever figure out what was causing the problem?

My computer just froze and then the blinking question-mark-in-folder icon appeared. I bought a new drive, thinking that original drive had gone bad, but that didn't work. It wouldn't show up in Disk Utility.

I suspect that the cable has gone bad because I was able to get the computer to boot once, after swapping out the NEW drive I bought with the OLD drive. When I look in System Profiler, the NVDIA controller still shows up but the drive does not. I'm guessing that there is a broken link, and the break is between the drive and the controller, which would be the cable (right?).

I hope you resolve this very frustrating hard drive problem.

musicgod

Level 1

0 points

Jan 16, 2011 9:18 AM in response to Juan Monroy

has any one resolve this issue or know what is the fault.
this seems like a manufactory fault. as a few people has the same fault,
as I treat my macbook like a new born baby. I take good care of it.

I have the same problem with 13 macbook pro unibody . late 2009. no apple care. lil bit over a year old
My wife has the same specs macbook not the pro,
so i swap out harddrive and memory. the drive from the faulty macbook pro worked fine in my wife macbook so is the memory cards.

I took the macbook to apple store today. the apple agent was really helpful as usual. Nothing beats apple good customer service.
I was told it looks like the the cable that connects from the drive to the logic board is the fault. so he placed an order for the cable. was told as a good will gesture they will only charge me for parts. which is about £12 for cable.
So fingers cross I hope the cable is the fault. as i forgot to buy the apple care before the year was up.
but then again for a lil bit over a year macbook pro with this fault should not me my fault.

musicgod

Level 1

0 points

Jan 16, 2011 10:00 AM in response to musicgod

this wiki link says apple knows of the harddrive cable fault

http://appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?title=MacBook_Pro

Jan 16, 2011 10:44 AM in response to musicgod

A trip to the Apple Store resolved this issue. It turned out to be the hard drive cable. I too was out of warranty and without Apple Care, and it cost $60 USD to fix. I was thankful that it wasn't the logic board but annoyed that such a blatant manufacturing defect existed.

Jan 16, 2011 9:39 PM in response to Nathan H

Same problem here. Got the folder with the question mark. Tried swapping the hard drive with my back up with no luck. HD boots fine when connected externally. I ordered a cable from iFixIt.com, will report back when it comes in.

musicgod

Level 1

0 points

Jan 19, 2011 12:07 PM in response to musicgod

Ok got my laptop back from apple, yes it was the harddrive cable that caused the fault.
cost me £12 for repair they only charged me for parts at the apple store lakeside shopping mall UK.

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Hard drive not recognized - cable?