New SSD will not boot internally, only from USB.

Help please.

I have a white Macbook 13 inch. This is the model.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/specs/macbook_2.0_white.html

1. I connected my new SSD (Sandisk Plus 120GB) via USB and then cloned my old HDD to the SSD via Disk Utility sucessfully. I did it using my original Tiger installation CD.

2. I tried booting from both the SSD (connected via USB) and the HDD (internally). Both boots worked normaly.

3. Then I swapped the two disks but now the SSD connected internaly via SATA is nowhere to be seen. Not pressing alt at startup, nor can be seen via disk utility when I booted from the HDD via USB.

4. What to do?? I formatted the SSD in Tiger via disk utility to Mac Journaled. Boots great from USB. But it cant be seen connected internaly.

I have another machine running capitan, should I try formating it there with the GUID partition or what?

Thanks

Replace the internal (sata) cable that connects the drive to the motherboard.

there is no cable in this mode (Macbook 2.1) there is just the connector.....

ok, sorry, i found it on ebay....ordering the same cable will do the trick?

It may or not, but it is the first thing to try

For me it is the last thing to try. I tried everything else!

Hi all,

I also have an issue with an SSD disc that works, but doesn't work.

In my case when I shut down the MacBook and turn it on with the power button, I get the document with question mark and the MacBook won't start.

When I turn on the MacBook with the power button and do a PRAM reset, it boots perfectly fine and the SSD works like a charm.

Restart is no problem, it boots up normally....but....when I shut down and power up again the document with question mark is back. Then, When i reset PRAM again, it boots, and so on...

So:

- SSD is working fine

- did all checks with disc utility and already formatted with GUID table and reinstalled with no different result

- SATA cable seems fine, after PRAM reset everything is working fine

- tried PRAM reset, but this only works that specific boot up. Next time I shut down I need to reset PRAM again to be able to boot into OSX.

- of course I also checked startup disk

- even tried repartitioning with same partition size to force a new EFI or master boot record

nothing helps permanently...

I really feel I am missing something obvious, but read so many forum posts and tried every suggestion without prrmanent result.

Who will give me the freeing advice on how to make my MacBook understand it has to boot from the SSD?!

thanks for any help!

Have same problem MBP Late 2010. GOODRAM SSD - cant intsall OS when inside (it hags about 40%).. I installed with usb and there it boot OK. But if I but SSD inside than it loads 100% (apple logo screen loading) and than hangs in there.. But I can do anything in disk utility when its inside.. CMD+V when booting hangs in rc.installer.cleanup NO such file or diregory and rc.server same.

Cable?

I am having similar problem with the SSD. Is it with the SATA cable? It was serving me well for about 1 year before all these problem started.

Change the cable

Changed the cable not work for me.. Same problem like original cable (loads 100% and than hangs there). Now I have Original cable and China cable... But if i connect SSD with USB its boot and work good..

Grinchpaws wrote:

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!

Change the internal SATA cable.

But what I should try? I tryed 2 internal SATA cables (1 original, 1 china). Trim is enabled, but not boot when internal...
Please help.

A new SATA cable, again, buy it from iFixit

Are you sure?

I have 2 cabels with exactly same problem.