Connecting hard drive cable problem

[lostinforums]

Hi,

Got my new hard drive cable, followed the fixit guide, but I can't seem to attach the orange cable back into the locking part. I have attached some pictures to see if anyone can shed some light on what I'm doing wrong?



I can lift the little black flap up, but it only goes back so far and i just can't see how the 2 go together.



I don't get why on mine i still have some black plastic at the end of the orange cable?



thanks

 

[JTToft]

Hmm. That doesn't match up with the iFixit instructions. The orange sensor bracket cable should be bare and not have that piece of black plastic attached to it. It looks like you tore the connector (the black part attached to the orange cable in your picture) right up off your old hard drive cable.
Compare how your old and new hard drive cables look to confirm.

See the iFixit pictures at the end here: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/10379
(I just took a random guide, as I don't know which machine you have. They should all be identical.)

If I'm right, you simply need to pull the black part directly off the orange cable and then attach the orange cable itself to the socket on the hard drive cable.

(Note: When I've replaced this cable in the past, I've been lazy and ordered it with the sensor bracket, so I haven't performed this part of it myself.)

 

[lostinforums]

I think you're right, so i've taken the black part off the orange cable - do i not need that anymore?

I don't know what to do from here though, thats the part i just can't work out - how to attach it to the new one.

Thanks for the help and advice,

My old one looks like this -

 

[JTToft]

I think you're right, so i've taken the black part off the orange cable - do i not need that anymore?

I don't know what to do from here though, thats the part i just can't work out - how to attach it to the new one.

Thanks for the help and advice,

My old one looks like this -

- That looks exactly like what I thought. You've torn the connector off and it's now missing from the old cable. Compare with the new cable, where the black socket is still attached.

The bare orange cable should fit into the connector parallel to the sensor bracket, like so (in much the same manner as when you removed the torn off socket from the orange cable just now. Just do it in reverse):

 

[lostinforums]

I just don't understand. I have now put the orange cable back into the little black piece, but i can't for the life of me figure out how to attach that to the black plastic that has the little lip on it.
[doublepost=1461242201][/doublepost]are you saying i need to remove the black piece from the new fitting, then attatch the orange cable complete with its black fitting, onto the new one in place?

I think i get it now if I'm not mistaken

 

[JTToft]

[doublepost=1461242201][/doublepost]are you saying i need to remove the black piece from the new fitting, then attatch the orange cable complete with its black fitting, onto the new one in place?

I think i get it now if I'm not mistaken

- NO. That means tearing another connector off.

The black piece that was attached to the orange cable in your original pictures can be discarded. It's a ruined socket you tore off your old hard drive cable.

The bare orange cable needs to be seated into the equivalent black socket on the new hard drive cable. Flip up the lock and push the orange cable into the socket.

 

[lostinforums]

Ok i think i get it now, i've managed to slot it in a tiny bit, and some of the black plastic has broken off the left corner on the top as i slid it under, it seems like it should go in some more but i just can't get anything small enough to grab the orange cable and slide it in some more.

 

[JTToft]

Ok i think i get it now, i've managed to slot it in a tiny bit, and some of the black plastic has broken off the left corner on the top as i slid it under, it seems like it should go in some more but i just can't get anything small enough to grab the orange cable and slide it in some more.

- That looks correct, except for the fact that you've broken the socket again. A pair of fine-tipped plastic tweezers would be suitable, I should think.

At this point, I would order a new cable, this time making sure the bracket is included so you don't have to fiddle around with it.

 

[lostinforums]

This is a new cable. I would think that the tiny bit of plastic missing off the top isn't a problem.
[doublepost=1461244746][/doublepost]I can't see any with the bracket included on eBay.

 

[JTToft]

This is a new cable. I would think that the tiny bit of plastic missing off the top isn't a problem.
[doublepost=1461244746][/doublepost]I can't see any with the bracket included on eBay.

- Yes, I know it's a new cable. But since you've now broken the new cable, I'd get a new new one. But it's your call as to how much you think the broken state of it matters.

Order from iFixit. They have it with the bracket: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2012-Hard-Drive-Cable/IF163-041-1
(Again, random model as I don't know which you have.)

 

[lostinforums]

yeah i think its alright to be honest, its only the top little bit of black plastic that it slips under, and its only the tiny left part of that thats come off.

The problem is getting it to slide all the way in!