Trying to upgrade a MacBook Pro 2009 to ssd

[Peterlg]

I've a very good....but increasingly slow MacBook Pro Mid 2009 13". I purchased a new ssd for this - 250gb 3 NANd 2.5" 7mm 6gb - but can't get the MacBook to work with it.

Whenever I load it to initialise and format it, I get a ?file. I can connect, initialise and format it through a SATA to USB cable, but when I connect it internally - I just get the ?file.

I've changed the Drive cable to a matching 821-0814-A, but this has had no impact. Still the same ?file. And when I switch back to the HHD, all works fine.

If it is the cable, is there an upgrade to the 821-0814-A that would fit and work?

If the disk itself is the wrong one, which one would work with my MacBook?

Or could it be something else?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Peter

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Did you partition the SSD in the proper format using Disk Utility? You want HFS+ journaled (non case sensitive) on a GUID Partition.

 

[Peterlg]

Thanks for responding. I did Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and GUID Partition Table.

 

[Peterlg]

Thanks for responding. I did Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and GUID Partition Table.

..and as it worked when connected via the SATA to USB cable I assume those details were correct.

 

[Audit13]

Get a replacement for the existing internal hard drive cable. Sounds like it could be bad.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

..and as it worked when connected via the SATA to USB cable I assume those details were correct.

You are able to boot from the SSD when it’s connected externally (not just read / write but actually boot from it using the option key at boot)?

 

[avz]

I've a very good....but increasingly slow MacBook Pro Mid 2009 13". I purchased a new ssd for this - 250gb 3 NANd 2.5" 7mm 6gb - but can't get the MacBook to work with it.

Whenever I load it to initialise and format it, I get a ?file. I can connect, initialise and format it through a SATA to USB cable, but when I connect it internally - I just get the ?file.

I've changed the Drive cable to a matching 821-0814-A, but this has had no impact. Still the same ?file. And when I switch back to the HHD, all works fine.

If it is the cable, is there an upgrade to the 821-0814-A that would fit and work?

If the disk itself is the wrong one, which one would work with my MacBook?

Or could it be something else?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Peter

Macs demand respect and don't just work with any SSD. Samsung, Kingston are tried and true.

 

[Peterlg]

Get a replacement for the existing internal hard drive cable. Sounds like it could be bad.

I tried that. Installed a new

Get a replacement for the existing internal hard drive cable. Sounds like it could be bad.

Tried that. Installed a new 821-0814-A cable but no change. I wondered whether there was an upgrade to this cable that might work better with an SSD?
[automerge]1590148765[/automerge]

You are able to boot from the SSD when it’s connected externally (not just read / write but actually boot from it using the option key at boot)?

Yes, it boots up and works from the disk when it's loaded into that SATA to USB cable.
[automerge]1590148793[/automerge]

Macs demand respect and don't just work with any SSD. Samsung, Kingston are tried and true.

I've tried a Crucial and a Western Digital so far.

 

[azentropy]

Have you tried installing the previous drive to see if it still works?
Also which OS/Firmware are you using? I seemed to remember an issue with certain drives working that was fixed in an OS update and found this.

 

[Peterlg]

Have you tried installing the previous drive to see if it still works?
Also which OS/Firmware are you using? I seemed to remember an issue with certain drives working that was fixed in an OS update and found this.

Yes, the previous drive still works internally.
I'm using version 10.11.6 and the firmware details are:
Model Identifier: Macbook Pro 5.5
Boot ROM:MBP55.00AC.B03
SMC Version: 1.4712

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Macs demand respect and don't just work with any SSD. Samsung, Kingston are tried and true.

Never heard of this before. Upgraded my late 2008 MBP with a cheap SanDisk from BestBuy and have zero issues.

 

[azentropy]

Try booting from the old drive in the USB enclosure, does it then see the internal SSD drive?

 

[Audit13]

Macs demand respect and don't just work with any SSD. Samsung, Kingston are tried and true.

I have used Sandisk, OCZ, Samsung, Adata, Crucial, Samsung, and Intel 2.5" drives is various 13" and 15" MacBook Pros ranging from 2009 to 2012.

 

[Peterlg]

Try booting from the old drive in the USB enclosure, does it then see the internal SSD drive?

Do you mean swap them round so the old HDD drive is in the USB enclosure and the new SSD is connected internally? Or, leave the SSD out for the reboot?

 

[azentropy]

Do you mean swap them round so the old HDD drive is in the USB enclosure and the new SSD is connected internally? Or, leave the SSD out for the reboot?

Yes, boot off the old drive in the USB enclosure while leaving the new SSD internally connected. This is to see if it at least sees the SSD hooked up internally. Or have you done so previously (or with USB or DVD)?

 

[Peterlg]

OK. Yes, it sees them both, but won't load either of them when I click each one - not even the HDD in the USB enclosure.

 

[azentropy]

OK. Yes, it sees them both, but won't load either of them when I click each one - not even the HDD in the USB enclosure.

Click on them to boot, or in Disk Utility?

 

[Peterlg]

Click on them to boot, or in Disk Utility?

It's OK...all sorted! I changed the drive cable a second time...and this time it worked! So, it must have been that all the time.

Thanks everyone for all your help.
Peter