Defective SSD or something wrong with startup items?

[Giuanniello]

My old MBPro 2011 reboots as soon as graphics is called into play, fans spin with no apparent reasons, I changed the two RAM modules and still having big problems just booting up, don't know what else to try so today I found an old spinning HD from the same computer with 10.7 on board, swapped the SSD for the spinning one and voila, no more reboots, no more spinning fans, I could even launch and play X-Plane which is a kinda demanding piece of software.

I'd clean up the SSD and try a new install but at this moment in time have no disk to back it up, do you think there is something I might attempt before I format and reinstall?

Grazie

 

[Audit13]

It's a 13" or 15"?

 

[Fishrrman]

The OS install on the old HDD boots and runs the MBP fine, is this correct ?

If it does, then...

Get CarbonCopyCloner (FREE to download and use for 30 days). MAKE SURE you download the correct version for the older OS from CCC's download page:
Carbon Copy Cloner - Download

Get an external 2.5" USB3 enclosure or a USB3/SATA adapter/dongle.

Put the SSD into the enclosure (or connect it to the dongle), then connect that to the MacBook.

Use CCC to clone the contents of the HDD to the SSD.

Now, do a "test boot" BEFORE you put the SSD into the MacBook. Reboot and hold option key CONTINUOUSLY until the startup manager appears, then select SSD and hit return.

Do you get a good boot?
If so, power down and do the "drive swap".

Now, try booting again (AGAIN, do the option key trick).
Do you get a good boot?
If yes, fine, go to the startup disk preference pane and set the SSD to be the boot drive.

If no, it could be the internal ribbon cable that connects the drive to the motherboard.

 

[Giuanniello]

It's a 15" to which the main board got replaced a while ago once Apple ack them being defective in the graphic board.

The machine boots but hangs long time after login and fans start to spin very early without anything running yet so I suspect there either being something starting up with the os (even tho I removed it all from login preferences and manually from the system folder) or I won't know what.

As a matter of fact I don't mind a clean install, I already backed it almost all up to a MacMini 2014 which I use mainly for office and photography use, will still need half a TB to backup other stuff (you know, "male" stuff...) but no big issue at all, my only concern now being does the MBPro has a temp sensor on the HD which I am missing?

It is now running smooth off a spinning disk where I upgraded all the way to Sierra, not using it much but can tell that fans spin just the necessary when in use whereas before by just hitting the Photo icon the fans spin like mad and computer rebooting...

As soon as I can I will save what I need to on an external drive and try and go for a clean install but still wondering if there is anything I can do to make sure the SSD is fine and that I won't again run same issues.

Grazie