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New SSD will not boot internally, only from USB.

I'm trying to install a 480gb Crucial m500 SSD in my late 2011 13 inch macbook pro (i5 2.4 ghz). I can connect the ssd via usb and format/partition/erase/clone it however I want. Once it is cloned from my current HD, I can boot from the ssd while it is still connected via the USB port. If I replace the internal HD with the ssd and attempt to power on the mac, I receive a white screen with a flashing question mark inside of a folder icon.


I am running Mavericks and I have erased and cloned the ssd using both super duper and carbon copy cloner. The ssd is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I am seeing this problem on the Crucial forums where users update the firmware, replace the drive, etc, but the issue persists. Crucial is stating "I would also recommend contacting Apple about this issue as I personally don't think it's a fault with the SSD." Here is a link, http://forums.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/MBP-Mid-2010-doesn-t-see-M50 0-960GB-when-installed-in-the/td-p/138529/highlight/false/page/2.


PLEASE HELP!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 13, 2013 8:07 AM

Reply
131 replies

Mar 24, 2014 1:06 PM in response to Grinchpaws

I had the same problem, but I swapped the drives before cloning using Disk Utility on my second try. My original HDD was plugged in through USB with the new SSD installed internally. That worked like a charm. You will probably need to hold down the Option key on the first startup following the cloning though and select the SSD. After that, it boots automatically to the SSD. I hope this helps everyone else.

Mar 24, 2014 7:25 PM in response to ccm1192

Because the SSD is a lot more demanding on the cable than an HD. It's carrying a lot more data than the HD, so a marginal cable is going to cause problems. Search these forums, this happens all the time and a new cable resolves the problem. It makes no sense that it would be a Crucial problem. You've already proven the drive works.

Apr 4, 2014 7:29 PM in response to BobRz

So here is an update on my situation...


I received the cable from PowerBook Medic.com. I replaced the cable however after calling about another issue they said the cable was incorrect for my unibody. I have an Early 09 15" MBP. They are sending me a new one. There customer service is fantastic.


Note to those attempting to do this themself. iFixIt.com does not mention that when removing the right speaker wire that it is soldered to the board! They made it seem as if it was sticking by ashesive. So now I may need to replace my logic board! 😟


I put my old HD back in, despite the wrong Sata Cable, booted fine. The Crucial SSD won't boot. Tomorrow I plan on doing another clone and dropping it in. I hope that works; this is rather frustrating!

Apr 7, 2014 7:41 PM in response to Grinchpaws

Here is more of an update. I hope someone can help me because I am very frustrated.


1) I erased the drive and re-cloned it with no issues.


2) The drive does show when I go to boot from it. I think I booted into the drive. It was asking me for my DropBox login information. Is there any other way for me to know if I booted into the drive? I only HD was still showing on my desktop.


3) When I go to reinstall the new SDD I still have the question mark folder appearing. The SATA cable has been replaced. Could it be the drive is bad??


HELP!!!

Apr 8, 2014 6:37 AM in response to BobRz

Yes, it was.


This morning, after doing further research, I decided to swap the drives. Meaning put my old HDD in the external and install the SSD inside the machine. I held down command R and wiped the drive clean. I am now in the process of installing the OS X.


I hope this works. This was a solution that worked for many people.

New SSD will not boot internally, only from USB.

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