Q: SSD not recognised

kssady wrote:

 

Put it as external and it is visible. Thought it could be the cable inside the macbook

Replace the cable.  More often than not, that cures the problem with SSDs.

Ciao.

Hi Kssady:

Here is the cable you need. https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Parts/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2012-Hard-Dri ve-Cable/IF163-041-1

And here is how to replace it, if you chose. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Cab le+Replacement/10379

Kim

The older drives cables may be less capable of managing the high data flow of SSDs.  This is not the first time a new SSD overwhelmed the old drive cable.

Until you try it and eliminate it as the cause, the drive cable is still possibly the cause.

Hi Kssady:

I am confused by your posts. In one post you say you have found the solution. In the next post you say your broken hard drive is also not working.

Does that mean the SSD is working in your computer?

Here is a video showing how the SATA cable fails. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amg5w0rlwDo

Kim

Glad to hear everything is now working ok.

Hello Kim,

I have a question on the cable. Indeed, I am facing the same issue (trying to install a SSD Samsung 850 EVO) and I assume it is likely to be the cable as my MBP 13' mid 2012 was very slow with the old HDD even if I did a fresh install of El Capitan.

I am in Australia and it is difficult (very long) to buy from ifixit US. So the question is: Does it need to be a non Apple cable (which would be better, assuming that all  Apple cables for this model do not support the SSD speed) or I can buy it from Apple (assuming that the new cables Apple sells do not have the same issue).

Indeed, my problem is that I have found only used cable in Australia and I do not want to get a faulty cable because someone changed it and decided to sell it to a newbie like me

Thank you

Hi Kris972:

That is the same SSD I have in my computer. Early 2011 Macbook Pro 13".

The cable does not need to be a non Apple cable. If you can get an Apple cable the quality would probably be very high, but I am not sure if Apple sells them.

Usually when buying aftermarket parts the problem is to find one with equal quality to the original Apple parts.

The SATA cable in your computer does support SSD speeds. The problem is the cable is easily damaged, and the way the cable runs under your hard drive and the fact that the inside case of the Mac is not machined as smooth as the outside, means the cable can develop small pin holes due to abrasion with the case, which would allow the cable to short out against the case. The hard drives do not seem to be bothered as much by a bad cable, depending on how bad the damage is. Sometimes the HDD will show no signs of trouble, but the SSD will not work due to the cable.

Did you watch the video and see how he fixed his bad cable using electrical tape to protect it from shorting to case. It may not work in all cases but it is worth a try.

If you can find a used cable you may get lucky assuming they were removed carefully.

Kim

Thank you.

I will try this week end and let you know!

Hello everyone,

First of all thank you for your help! It was the cable... I had the confirmation when I tried the old Hard Drive which worked perfectly through USB.

I decided to change the cable, and I will give you the secret to have it fixed without any effort!

I went to Apple with my Samsung 850 EVO in the MBP 13' mid 2012 this morning, told the guy the cable is damaged... 30 minutes later, he gave me back the MBP with a fresh install .

I do not know what he did obviously, but it worked and it is sufficient for me.

Last thing, the cable costed $30 (cable) + $40 (labor) =  $70 AUD in total (Apple Sydney).

I have not checked yet but I hoped he did not remove the electrical tape I put to protect the cable (thank you KIM).

I hope that it will help as it took me almost a month to fix it so I know how people can get frustrated lol.

Cheers