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nMP: internal storage seemingly dead

theSeb

theSeb

macrumors 604
Original poster
Aug 10, 2010
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Anyone know where I can buy the internal Samsung PCIe SSD for a nMP in the UK? Obviously I can take it to Apple and get them to do this, but I can get back to normality quicker if I can get it somewhere else.

My nMP started throwing kernel panics a few weeks ago and it got worse and worse to the point where it would just freeze a few minutes after logging in. It does not even bother throwing a kernel panic anymore. I cannot get into the recovery partition on the drive. It starts to boot and then freezes. If I use internet recovery, disk utility does not see the internal storage. Or it sees it, but if you do anything like diskutil list or gpt show then it works the first time and shows the internal storage, but then it magically disappears and cannot be accessed via the command line, or disk utility. I also get blue screens in Windows 10 every now and then.

Everything works perfectly fine if I boot from an external SSD clone, except that I cannot see the internal storage. The internal storage does still show up if I hold alt when booting up though. The internal storage is also accessible via target disk mode from another Mac, so I nuked it and then cloned a fresh copy of OS X into it and created a new recovery partition, but the same issues persist as before.
 
I believe it's the same PCI-e SSD that are in the rMBPs (somebody correct me if I'm wrong please) :)

You can quickly check SSD SMART data to confirm it's corrupted. SMART Utility on OS X, HD Tune Pro on Windows (click 'health tab' in HD Tune Pro and review the status at the bottom-left).

Just be aware that fitting it yourself may void any AppleCare you have on the SSD. Even if you're OOW, a replacement SSD is likely to be cheaper with Apple than third-party.
 
I would seek to clarify with apple if you can replace this part yourself and still retain your warranty. It's removable with the removal of only a single screw. Also you can get the much faster MZ-KPV1T00 / 0A8 SSD blade online from third party sellers to improve your speed
 
Reticulum said:
I would seek to clarify with apple if you can replace this part yourself and still retain your warranty. It's removable with the removal of only a single screw. Also you can get the much faster MZ-KPV1T00 / 0A8 SSD blade online from third party sellers to improve your speed
Click to expand...
I have no warranty as such left since I did not take the extended AppleCare. In hindsight that was a bad idea, but I've grown complacent because I've never had an issue like this with any other Macs and I've had quite a few of them. I can easily tinker with it myself, but I just need the replacement blade. I'll try to see if I can find the model you've just mentioned.

If not, then I guess I'll just have to trundle to the Apple store as per @keysofanxiety.
 
I am not surprised your SSD went out. I have replaced at least 20 SSD in the past year in all kinds of Macbook airs, and lately even in the the 2013-2014 Models which use practically the same blades as in the rMBP and nMP. Lol, and they call these Workstations!

Also, there's no telling that SSD will give up. You won't see any errors in any diagnostics program as far as I can tell. Something in that SSD blade will just go "Plink" and you've got yourself a paperweight!

However, there's probably a way to restore there SSD. It's usually the controller on the blade itself or some blown resistor. The blown resistors can be easily replaced, and some guys across the street do that job for me for an equivalent of USD 20 (500 CZK)
 
BillyBobBongo said:
Yes you do. I recently took my MacBook Air to Apple as the hard drive appeared to be giving up. I noticed that they now have a question in their notes 'Is this a consumer law case?'.

I'd first go speak to Apple and see what they have to say, they won't charge you anything to take a look at your Mac.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's what I am planning to do when I get a moment free. Thanks for the reminder about warranty, @ActionableMango
 
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