Hard drive not recognized - cable?

Have you been able to fix the problem with the cables? It seems I have the same issue with my MacBook Pro...

I first thought it was a problem with my hard drive, but I brought it to the apple store and had the connector cable replaced. They only charged me for the cable ($20+tax) and it fixed the problem without losing any data. If you want, you can just as easily replace it yourself (just search up tutorials on info ifixit.com) but the parts cost more and you have to wait for shipping.

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, I will try to change my cable (as the disc itself works perfectly through USB), but I am thinking which is the better way to do it: having it changed at Apple Store, or ordering it and replacing myself. The question is time and money. I read that some people got it fixed for more than 50$, I would like to avoid spending so much to just a small cable.

I think I will first try to go to Apple Store and find out how long it will take and how much they will charge me.

No problem. I was lucky and got someone who only charged me for the parts. I just told him I suspected it was a problem with my connector cable and I got it back fixed within an hour. You should probably schedule an appointment with the Genius Bar though if you're going to the apple store.

Replacing the connector cable is very simple and probably won't take more than an hour, but you may need special tools if it is one of the newer models. Also, even if you buy it online, the price usually ranges from $30-$50 + tax/shipping (and waiting), so its probably better off just getting it replaced at the Apple store. Here's a link to a tutorial anyways [http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2009-Hard -Drive-Cable/1340/1]

Hope your problem gets fixed! 🙂

I am happy to report that my MacBook has also been fixed 🙂

I went to the Apple Store today. I was sure that I had an appointment, but turned out that I didn't (some error probably occurred during the reservation). Nevertheless, they found a spot for me.

So, I also explained the problem in detail, the guy first explained that I would have to pay for the part itself (14€) and for work (something around 26€) + the tax (I am in Barcelona). On my question whether I could just get the cable and change it myself, he first answered that they don't sell parts, but then just erased the "work" line in the order, took my laptop and told me to wait around an hour.

I think in even less than one hour they gave me back my Mac, fixed 🙂

So in the end I paid just 17€, and got it the same day. Awesome! Not all of my Apple Store visits were so enjoyable.

Same issues from all of others. Since 2009, had replacing the hdd cable four times. One of good thing was all the files was remained but couldn't stop complaints with MBP. I think this is really serious issue even minor ppl had. Does anyone know, apple's view of this point?

hi kaijo

back when i was having this problem, the apple tech told me it was a due to a manufacturing or design flaw, and the problem is very common, although not happening to everyone. i think they fixed the issue with the later versions of mbp. im using the 2011 version now, and so far not having this issue anymore. ***** isnt it?

just got mine back from the apple service center for this same repair. 2010 MBP.

Add my name to the list...Mid 2010 MBP...worked flawlessly up until recently, when it froze while using Skype and had to force power it down twice, then after it failed to boot. Tried all the usual initial steps (safe boot, fsck, reset PRAM) to no avail, so took it into Apple. They diagnosed a failed drive so I duly ordered another one, which, upon installation, failed to be recognised. I tried both the old and new drives in a caddy via USB and they both worked, although my original drive had been corrupted so a reformat was required, but fine apart from that. It will now live in the caddy and be my backup drive. Ordered a new cable as it was the only idea I had left, £25 USED off Amazon, the only one I could find, and now the new drive has been recognised and OS X is happily installing away as I write..! A bit worrying reading others' tales of multiple cable changes required; these machines are not cheap and apple should be standing behind their products regardless of warranty state, with either a redesign or making new ones cheaply and freely available.

You can add me aswell. MBP Mid 2009, it has been working great since I bought it more than 3 years ago. It's getting old a little bit but I replaced the hard drive with an SSD like 5 months ago and it was working great ever since.

This morning, it suddenly refuses to boot while I'm at the university and I'm starting to freak out a little bit, of course I thought the disk had failed, as it didn't appeared at all when I holded ALT, and honestly I would have preferrend since it's still on warranty and all of my datas are stored on my Time Machine as well as my dropbox ... I could have had a new free hard drive ...

After I removed the guy and put it in an external usb case, it started fine so I installed an old drive into the macbook to see that it appaers to be either the logic board or the connector.

A little bit of google takes me here and I rapidly order the new cable for 50€ (+11€ of UPS 48h shipment).

I will update as soon as I replace the cable but it seems that it will be ok since this is a "known issue". The only thing that bugs me a little bit is that my IR and breathing led are still working though it's located on the same connector. But I was unable to make any hard drive work inside the macbook so it can't be anything else than this little connector. I hope so !

Thanks everyone for making this topic, that helped me a lot !

Looks like it is the same cable issue.

But 50€ for the cable seems too expensive for me... Anyway, I hope you will manage to fix it successfully. Good luck!

Add me to the list

July 2010 I bought MBP 13''

Last week, it froze.. have since ordered the cable so hopefully it will sort it.

Currently using the HDD in an Ext case and working ok..

Called apple but they just said take it to the nearest store which is 80 miles away..

Ok I got the cable this afternoon. And it seems to be more of a logic board problem in my case, i guess. I installed the cable perfectly but still my mac wouldnt reboot, I was stuck with a white screen and a spinning flower. However I'm sur my old cable was failing because when I tried to use it, no drive would appear when I hold the option key. However with the new cable my macintosh hd is showing up as a bootable device but my mac wouldn't get through the booting process ...

I tried to plug and unplug the cable like a thousand times and now it seems to work. I've been able to boot on my system. But i can't figure why since I just messed up with the cable to try to make it work. Anyway, it does boot now, I'm thinking of buying the second drive kit to plug a second hd on the superdrive connector cause I'm not using it anymore. This way I hope everything will work out smoothely.

Now it seems ok but I'm not really confident ... i still havent figure why didn't it worked in the first place (I tried like fiftee, times). Anyway I hope everything will be all right now. We'll se

Good thing I'm planning on buying a new mac. As this one's getting old

this week i have same problem with my MBP 15" early 2011, its start when mountain lion always frozen and blue screen show several times a day. i try to reinstal OS,but blue screen always stopping me.finally drive hardisk didn't show up when i press "control" at booting.

it.s make sense because i had replace hardisk?

because i changed the original seagate Hardisk 500 gb 5400 rpm ,with seagate 1 TB 7200 rpm almost 1 years ago.

nice trik for use enclosure usb.

sorry about my english,i am indonesian.please add me everyone.

I hate Apple.

I'm an IT support specialist at a University Service Desk, and we get this issue around 4-6 times a week. Calling Apple, and getting a "technician", I got "I don't see this issue anywhere." The closest place in town to get this fixed, when you're post-AppleCare costs $180. They aren't an Apple store, only an Apple Certified repair location, but they at least acknowledged the issue and said it was on/around Mid-2009 MBPs to current.

This should be a recall, straight and simple. This is a piece of crap cable that Apple refuses to even acknowledge is a problem.

Apple: It's hard to fix a problem when you can't bring yourself to admit you have one.