MacBook Pro 13”

[Networkrail]

Hello all,

I’ve had a MacBook Pro 13” late 2011 for around 5 years and it’s been amazing, one of the best laptop I’ve ever had.

I’ve been using boot camp with Windows 7 Ulitmate and it’s been truly amazing until now.

Today I turned my MacBook on where I got a delayed white screen and then an error message came up saying no bootable device - insert boot disk and press any key.

Initially I thought it was the hard drive but then when I swapped the hard drive for one that I know works I got the same error. I’ve tried the original hard drive and it works in another computer.

Can anyone advise what this could be and how I could fix it?

I was looking at the newer models of the MacBook Pro but have found out they don’t support Windows 7 through boot camp which is a real shame.

Lee

 

[0002378]

I would take it to the Apple store. Even though you are almost certainly way past the service period, they will sometimes fix it up for free (depending on how much effort it takes and/or any parts).

I had a boot problem on my MBP after an Apple update, and that was way past the service period, and they happily reformatted the HDD and reinstalled the OS for me and fixed it up ... for free.

Can't hurt to try, if the Apple store is not too far away from you. Don't call them to ask ... they will likely tell you you need to pay. Just schedule an appt with the store and take it in.

 

[Audit13]

Sounds like it could be a bad sata hard drive cable too.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Initially I thought it was the hard drive but then when I swapped the hard drive for one that I know works I got the same error. I’ve tried the original hard drive and it works in another computer."

I agree with Audit above.
Could be the internal SATA ribbon cable to the drive.
If this fails, it will "look to the computer and you" as if the DRIVE failed, but the drive remains ok (that's why it works when used with another computer). But it's not the drive, it's just the cable.

This is why you can "swap the drive" with another known-good one, yet still get the same results -- it's a "failure to communicate" with the drive (again, not the drive itself).

Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved with swapping the ribbon cable.
It's actually a very easy procedure, about 15 minutes IF you use the right tools.
You can also get the cable part number at ifixit, and buy it from them if you wish (along with the tools).

 

[Networkrail]

Thank you all for your advice, I ended up getting a replacement MacBook Pro 13” i5 late 2011 and swapped the hard drive and it’s working a dream.

Will still try and fix the original laptop though. I’ve ordered a replacement data cable from eBay.

Thanks again.