PLEASE HELP! WD Scorpio Blue 1TB HD in MBP Mid-2009 - issues

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Level 1

5 points

PLEASE HELP! WD Scorpio Blue 1TB HD in MBP Mid-2009 - issues

Here's the short of it:

I am trying to upgrade the HD in my Mid-2009 MBP. Previously, it had a Seagate Momentus 250GB 5400RPM HD in it. I have tried to put BOTH a Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Hybrid AND NOW a WD Scorpio Blue 1TB 5400 RPM in it.

-I install the hard drive in the laptop.

-I boot from the install disk.

- The installer starts, and gets to "Checking Volume" in the install log.

-I can hear the hard drive powering up, head moves, head parks, then powers off (happened on both models).

-It does this forever.

Now I could see this issue on the Hybrid drive (7200rpm), drawing too much power ( as some web posts have suggested), but this little 1TB drive, 5400, is standard up and down. There should be NO REASON why this is doing this.

The firmware is up to date (1.7), and the install disk is Snow Leopard.

I dont have an external connector for cloning either.

Could someone PLEASE enlighten me as to what is going on?

Thank you so much for your time!

MacBook Pro, Mid-2009, 2.53GHz

Posted on Aug 3, 2012 12:57 PM

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Answer 1

yamata45 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 3, 2012 1:00 PM in response to yamata45

Here are the only Errors in the Installer Log:

- Looking for system packages

- no system packages found

- No or Invalid system receipts found on /Volumes/MacintoshHD

- Attempting fallback using: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SystemMigration.framework/REsources/FallbackS ystemFiles.plist

-Finding system files

- Writing system path cache.

- Error writing cache to /Volumes/MacintoshHD/Library/Caches/com.apple.FindSystemFiles.plist

- Failed to enumerate /Volumes/MacintoshHD/Library/Caches, cannot prune (

"com.apple.user*pictureCache"

)

And the log is stuck on:

- Checking catalog file

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Answer 2

Aug 3, 2012 1:03 PM in response to yamata45

Some Macbook have issues with Western Digital Scorpio Blue - The only way around this is to return the drive and exchange it with either a Hitatchi 1TB or Samsung 1TB.....

You could try purchasing a USB external enclosure - around $10 and see if it helps when you clone it....

Best thing to do however, is to replace the drive with a different brand.

It is however, still a good idea to invesnt in a USB enclosure..

Good luck....

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Answer 3

yamata45 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 3, 2012 1:05 PM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

Thanks for your reply, Bimmer,

I've tried both the Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Hybrid drive, and now the WD Scorpio Blue. Both drives did the exact same thing.

The drive that came with it is a Seagate 250GB Momentus 5400 RPM.

The drive I'm trying to put in it now IS an exchange from another brand 🙂

Any other ideas? Please? This is SO frustrating.

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Answer 4

samberl

Level 4

2,007 points

Aug 3, 2012 1:10 PM in response to yamata45

Is the original 250gb drive working in your MBP?

A faulty SATA cable will produce the symptoms you are describing.

I am using both a Seagate Momentus XT 750gb and a Western Digital 1tb in my 2009 MBP without any issues.

Btw, I agree a USB or Firewire enclosure or dock will ease the formating and testing new HDD installation.

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Answer 5

Aug 3, 2012 1:10 PM in response to yamata45

To be honest, I've tried installing a Western Digital Blue Edition in a friend's 2010 Macbook.....

After hours of trying, had nothing but issues - so I returned it and got a Hitachi instead and he's up and running within an hour after cloning his drive....

Never had any issues with Seagate Hard Drives.....

Have you tried erasing/formatting your hard drive before you tried to install the OS? I know, dumb questions - but I have to ask.....

I still however, suggest you replace it with a different brand or get the Scorpio Black Edition....

Yes, it might be another trip to wherever you bought it from......But it's better than spending so much time in trying to find a solution for a drive that has issues.....

good luck...

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Answer 6

yamata45 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 3, 2012 1:19 PM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

Thank you Bimmer and Samber for your suggestions,

Samber: Yes, the original drive is working fine with no issues, and no errors when I perform disk checks.

Bimmer: Sure, the first thing I did after booting from the installation DVD is formatted the drive, so it was clean, and then started the installation.

I have already TRIED two different brands, Seagate first, now WD. BOTH behaved in the SAME way. I have tried to upgrade to TWO DIFFERENT HARD DRIVES from two different brands. They BOTH powered up, down, up, down, up down.

Is there any technical reason why the Mid-2009 MBP cannot handle drives other than the 250 GB? Samber i've read where people have upgraded, but at this point, I just dont believe it! You can understand my frustration.

Apple techs, you reading these? Please, any suggestions?

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Answer 7

samberl

Level 4

2,007 points

Aug 3, 2012 1:39 PM in response to yamata45

There is no reason your 2009 MBP shouldn't be able to handle the Seagate XT or WD drives larger than 250gb, other than a hardware issue.

I have exactly the same model MBP and as I said have both the XT and WD installed and running happily.

I wouldn't rule out the SATA cable as the cause of your problems.

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Answer 8

yamata45 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 3, 2012 2:22 PM in response to samberl

Thanks Samber. A new SATA cable shouldnt be too bad, any ideas where I can get one easily?

I hope that's the problem, but with the old drive working fine, I'm not entirely sure. . .

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Answer 9

yamata45 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 3, 2012 2:24 PM in response to yamata45

Better yet: Are there any other kinds of tests or diagnostics that I could run to determine if it is a hardware issue with my LAPTOP?

Thanks!

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Answer 10

samberl

Level 4

2,007 points

Aug 3, 2012 2:59 PM in response to yamata45

You can't test the drives themselves without placing them in an external enclosure.

If you purchase a carrier for the HDD, you can install the drives in the optical bay and use that interface for testing.

ifixit.com will have SATA cables.

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Answer 11

Aug 3, 2012 3:12 PM in response to yamata45

Humour yourself and have a look at this link.....

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/macbook-pro-owners-still-plagued-with-sat a-ii-issues/

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