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Trying to upgrade a MacBook Pro 2009 to ssd

P

Peterlg

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 21, 2020
8
1
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
 
Did you partition the SSD in the proper format using Disk Utility? You want HFS+ journaled (non case sensitive) on a GUID Partition.
 
Thanks for responding. I did Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and GUID Partition Table.
 
Peterlg said:
..and as it worked when connected via the SATA to USB cable I assume those details were correct.
Click to expand...
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)?
 
Peterlg said:
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
Click to expand...

Macs demand respect and don't just work with any SSD. Samsung, Kingston are tried and true.
 
Audit13 said:
Get a replacement for the existing internal hard drive cable. Sounds like it could be bad.
Click to expand...
I tried that. Installed a new
Audit13 said:
Get a replacement for the existing internal hard drive cable. Sounds like it could be bad.
Click to expand...
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?
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PBG4 Dude said:
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)?
Click to expand...
Yes, it boots up and works from the disk when it's loaded into that SATA to USB cable.
[automerge]1590148793[/automerge]
avz said:
Macs demand respect and don't just work with any SSD. Samsung, Kingston are tried and true.
Click to expand...
I've tried a Crucial and a Western Digital so far.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
azentropy said:
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.
Click to expand...
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
 
azentropy said:
Try booting from the old drive in the USB enclosure, does it then see the internal SSD drive?
Click to expand...
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?
 
Peterlg said:
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?
Click to expand...

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)?
 
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.
 
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