Disk Utility Doesn't Recognize SSD

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Disk Utility Doesn't Recognize SSD

Hello all:

I've been reading through the forums (and elsewhere) and want to be sure I ask a question specific to my issue before returning this drive.

I'm attempting to install a Samsung 840 Pro SSD (256g) on my MacBook Pro 2.53GHz (15-inch Unibody w/SD card slot - June '09).

My previous HD failed, so I replaced it with the SSD, used the install DVD to create a bootable flash drive, and attempted to access the SSD for formatting from both the install screen's Disk Utility and the ** from the flash boot. Neither will recognize the SSD.

Before I return the drive, would anyone recommend trying an external enclosure to attempt the format?

If so, do I need a specific product, or can I function with any enclosure?

Also, why would it make a difference?

If anyone needs additional information, please let me know.

Thanks,

Ryan

MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.53 GHz), Mac OS X (10.6), Memory: 8 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

Posted on Mar 28, 2013 10:38 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 28, 2013 12:42 PM in response to __work

A FireWire enclose is a good investment anyway, and it will give you a second opinion that there is/is_not some other gross problem. If you do not already have one for Backups, that is another good reason to get one.

I like these all-metal ones at about US$60:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEQM0GBK/

You could save money with a USB-only adapter or enclosure, but it would only be good for really slow backups.

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Answer 2

BGreg

Level 6

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Mar 28, 2013 10:51 AM in response to __work

When I've seen that happen, sometimes it's been a cable issue. You're sure both ends of the SSD cables are attached well?

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Answer 3

__work Author

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Mar 28, 2013 10:53 AM in response to BGreg

The drive is attached by one cable (internally).

I don't have an external enclosure.

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Answer 4

Mar 28, 2013 11:22 AM in response to __work

A drive that cannot supply BOTH its Make&Model AND a reasonable size/capacity to Disk Utility cannot be initialized or repaired in its present state.

If the cabling is correct, the drive has failed.

I did a Drive swap in a white MacBook of about that era, and found it was easy to insert the drive upside down, and that I could close it up that way. Of course the connector did not mate that way, and the drive was not detected.

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Answer 5

__work Author

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Mar 28, 2013 12:07 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks all for the responses.

Grant,

Would there be any benefit to aquiring an external enclosure to attempt a format? or should I resolve that the drive is faulty because the internal dock is no different than the process of externally recognizing the drive?

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Answer 6

__work Author

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Mar 28, 2013 2:03 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I purchased an enclosure and was able to format the drive from Disk Utility.

Currently installing OS X to the SSD.

I also formatted my old HD from the enclosure.

*fingers crossed*

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Answer 7

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Mar 28, 2013 2:06 PM in response to __work

If your system didn't see the SSD or your original drive when installed inside the system but yet you could format and instyalll the OS on either when in an external enclosure then you have a Bad Cable. Until you replace that no drive will work inside your system.

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Answer 8

__work Author

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Mar 28, 2013 2:14 PM in response to Shootist007

The system did acknowledge the old drive (which was failing—prompting this upgrade). After formatting the old drive, I placed it back in the internal dock and booted to the Install DVD. From there, Disk Utility acknowledged the old drive (newly formatted and in the internal dock) and allowed the formatting and (now) installation of OS X to the SSD.

I'm not sure why this procedure seems to be working, but when I took the old (faulted) drive and MbP into the Apple store, they were convinced it wasn't a connectivity issue.

We'll see.

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Answer 9

__work Author

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Mar 28, 2013 7:37 PM in response to __work

Well, with the drive formatted, installed with OS X, then recovered with Time Machine, all seemed well when booted successfully from the enclosuere.

Hook up drive to internal dock: failure. Must be the dock. F*$$&.

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Answer 10

Shootist007

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Mar 29, 2013 2:31 AM in response to __work

What do you mean the "DOCK"? Do you mean the USB Enclosure?

I Don't Think So! It is the Cable inside your Mac that connects the drive to the Logic board. This is a Known Failure Point for all Mac Notebooks.

Your Original drive did not fail, The Cable failed. If the drive had failed you would not of been able to Partition and or Erase it when it was installed in the USB Enclosure.

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Answer 11

__work Author

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Mar 29, 2013 9:06 AM in response to Shootist007

By 'dock', I meant the space inside the Macbook Pro. Both drives boot from the external enclosure. However, when placed inside the Macbook, the old HDD is recognized, but doesn't boot well and the SSD doesn't appear at all.

I believe you are right about the cable, but wonder if there isn't another problem considering the cable, at least, recognizes the old drive.

I'm taking it in to the Apple store today (unfortunately, the same store that misdiagnosed the initial problem).

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Answer 12

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Mar 29, 2013 9:17 AM in response to __work

In all fairness it is almost impossible to diagnose a bad cable unless you take the drive out of the system and connect it to the system by USB, Adapter or enclosure. Otherwise a bad cable will look just like the drive has failed because the drive won't show up. Normally that is the sign of a failed drive.

What other problems with the cable? A bad cable is a bad cable. Although in your case it hasn't totally failed as you can still see the original drive. But that may be due to you moving it around switching out drives. But the simple fact is it has failed for all intent and purposes.

The reason it won't see the SSD is the SSD is just to fast and the cable can't handle it.

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Answer 13

Mar 29, 2013 10:22 AM in response to __work

"mis-diagnosed" is not quite adequate to explain the whole situation. These are complex, interesting problems.

When a drive shows up with serious problems, the "guaranteed success" plan is to replace the drive. So if you are dealing with almost any service provider, Apple included, that is the proposal that will give them the fewest headaches. It works in (almost) every case. And today's drives are pretty cheap.

But many of those drives still have substantial life left in them, and re-writing their data in a major way (either by Zeroing or by "erase" and re-install) can cause the drive to substitute spare blocks and recover to 100 percent good blocks.

One downside is that long-term studies by google (using "always on" drives) seem to indicate many of these drives will have similar problems again with 6 months.

Even more insidous, some drives given this treatment will take an investment of several hours only to discover they are dead, dead, dead.

Executive summary: Calling a troubled drive dead and replacing it is the simplest solution, and it always works.

If YOU are willing to fiddle with it, you may yet get more life out of that drive. Service Providers are not willing/able to take that risk.

--------

In this particular case where the drive cable may be complicating the situation, it is even more difficult to decide what is going on.

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Answer 14

__work Author

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Mar 29, 2013 12:36 PM in response to Shootist007

I'm not sure the exact process of checking drives from the 'Genius Bar' side, but when I went in today, stating clearly that I believed the issue to be the cable, the technician ran a test and acknowledged that the cable was not functioning at capacity. The only reason for me to be 'frustrated' with the service was that the initial recommendation was to replace the HDD, even though we now know the drive was fine.

[mobile]

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Answer 15

__work Author

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Mar 29, 2013 12:41 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Well now that I have a new SSD, I'll use it and be excited about the upgrade. The old drive will be used as a functional backup.

I figured that the process of 'testing' for failures in the unit would be thurough enough to uncover a cable failure. Hey, we all have off-days at work, but I was assuming that a process for diagnosis would include what the tech verified immediately today when I pointed specifically to the issue with he cable.

It seems a simple test before recommending that someone invest in a new drive. I'm happy for the upgrade, but in the end, it'll be unecessary.

[mobile]

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