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new internal harddrive not recognised by macbook!

Hi,


Sorry to make a new thread on the subject but I've looked around the web and whilst finding similar threads I havnt found an answer to help me so any advise would be much appreciated!


I’ve got a macbook A1181 2.16ghz core 2 duo built in 2007. I got the harddrive replaced in early 2010 when it failed (clicking noise etc) at the Apple store where they replaced the original with a Hitachi 160gb 5400 rpm.


Recently this hdd failed too (clicking noise etc). I’ve got a back up on the time machine on an external hdd so getting data back shouldn't be a problem.


Rather than go to the Apple store again (seeing as they stopped giving outhdds early 2011) I thought I’d buy and replace my own hdd. I bought a WD Scorpio Blue 320gb WD3200BPVT after reading many reviews and forums etc.


I followed the instructions on the Apple pdf guide to replacing hdds, booted up the macbook with the snow leopard disk (I don’t have any other system disks) but I can’t install Snow Leopard or even erase/format the hdd as disk utility wont recognise the hdd, only the disk (dvd/optical) drive.


Starting to lose hope as to what to do (aside from forking out a lot of cash on a new macbook), any help or advise would be much appreciated! Just want to get my mac working again 🙂


Thanks in advance

Posted on Nov 3, 2011 3:41 AM

Reply
5 replies

Nov 3, 2011 4:28 AM in response to iDVD headache

I googled that hard drive and it is 3 Gbps data path. Your old 2007 MacBook unfortunately may not support that without a jumper, since it predates the Macs that had an available firmware update to address the issue:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3561

Contact Western Digital and ask if there is a jumper solution for older pre-2009 computers to use that drive, and if there is not, return the drive for a replacement older drive that uses 1.5 Gbps data path.

Nov 4, 2011 2:54 AM in response to a brody

Thanks for the quick reply! I wasn't aware of the firmware problem for older macbooks, thanks again for bringing it up. I'll get onto Western Digital and see what they say.

In the meantime, if I have to get a different harddrive, has anyone successfully replaced the harddrive in a macbook of same age and model and if so, what make and model of harddrive? Once again, any advise or help is much appreciated 🙂

Nov 4, 2011 3:31 AM in response to a brody

a,


That link is for firmware updates for MacBook Pros and iMacs. It doesn't say anything about updating a MacBook's firmware.


Do you have a link for the firmware update which addresses this issue for a MacBook?


The only firmware update I've been able to find for the 2.16 GHz MacBook is here:


http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacBook_EFI_Firmware_Update_1_1

Nov 9, 2011 4:00 PM in response to a brody

Got a reply from Western Digital:


"Sorry to hear that you are having problems with the installation of your Scorpio Drive.
Unfortunately the Scorpio drives do not have a reduction option to sata 1, So this drive will not work with your Mac.

Western Digital has produced drives with Sata 1 speed but the maximal size is 250 GB

Model number : WD2500BEVS"


At least there's a harddrive I can use, and 250Gb isn't bad. I'm based in Australia, does anyone know where I can purchase the 250gb WD2500BEVS harrdrive? I've checked umart and spotit to no avail, are there any other online stores that sell it? Thanks for any help anyone can offer.


Also, just thought I'd ask again but has anyone successfully replaced the harddrive in a macbook of same age and model and if so, what make and model of harddrive?

Nov 9, 2011 5:37 PM in response to iDVD headache

Also, just thought I'd ask again but has anyone successfully replaced the harddrive in a macbook of same age and model and if so, what make and model of harddrive?



I did one on a 2009 Macbook; OWC (macsales.com) has excellent how-to videos on their site; they also carry hard drives, RAM, etc. and speak Mac. I believe they ship internationally - you can check on that.


Here is the link to the how to:


http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/


(scroll down; yours should be the white/black Macbook?)


Here is the link to their notebook hard drive page:


http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/

new internal harddrive not recognised by macbook!

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