Replacing Hard Drive, Running into Interesting Problem

[fivetoadsloth]

Hey,

So I'm trying to replace the hard drive in my friend's 2010 macbook pro. THe hard drive definitely died recently, though it is possible other things died as well.

In short: The computer stopped working. I made an install USB, booted from it, open disk utility, I tried to reinstall the OS, and it told me the hard drive wasn't good.

So, I had an extra laptop hard drive laying around, so I opened the laptop up, popped it in (I did NOT out in the Torx screws- I just wanted to see if it'd work), and it didn't even show up in disk utility.

So, I put the old hard drive back in- it showed up in disk utility, just said it didn't work.

At this point, my friend just bought a new hard drive. It came today, and I installed it (again, without the Torx screws). Again, the hard drive does not show up in disk utility.

However, the original hard drive still does, it just doesn't work.


So, what should I do at this point? Is there some circuit that is complete by ensuring that the Torx screws are in place? That'd explain everything. It recognizes USB drives no problem.


Any input would be appreciated.

 

[negativzero]

Hey,

So I'm trying to replace the hard drive in my friend's 2010 macbook pro. THe hard drive definitely died recently, though it is possible other things died as well.

In short: The computer stopped working. I made an install USB, booted from it, open disk utility, I tried to reinstall the OS, and it told me the hard drive wasn't good.

So, I had an extra laptop hard drive laying around, so I opened the laptop up, popped it in (I did NOT out in the Torx screws- I just wanted to see if it'd work), and it didn't even show up in disk utility.

So, I put the old hard drive back in- it showed up in disk utility, just said it didn't work.

At this point, my friend just bought a new hard drive. It came today, and I installed it (again, without the Torx screws). Again, the hard drive does not show up in disk utility.

However, the original hard drive still does, it just doesn't work.


So, what should I do at this point? Is there some circuit that is complete by ensuring that the Torx screws are in place? That'd explain everything. It recognizes USB drives no problem.


Any input would be appreciated.

Very likely the ribbon connecting the hard drive or the logic board is dead. Changing hard drives won't solve your problem, more likely the old hard drive is still working too.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

Very likely the ribbon connecting the hard drive or the logic board is dead. Changing hard drives won't solve your problem, more likely the old hard drive is still working too.

IS that something that is replaceable?

Also, I'm not convinced it is dead- the last few times I've tried the old, known to be dead, drive it worked!

 

[negativzero]

IS that something that is replaceable?

Also, I'm not convinced it is dead- the last few times I've tried the old, known to be dead, drive it worked!

If it has AppleCare, Apple will replace it no problem, else you might have to take it in to a 3rd party and it will cost an arm and leg to replace the logic board.

Yes, the old hard drive is working, your SATA controller on the logic board is most likely dead, thats why you need the logic board changed or your hard drive won't function.

 

[johnnnw]

Well I can tell you this much... there is definitely not a circuit that involves the torx screws.

It's likely the cable if they don't show up in disk utility.

 

[alphaod]

I works replace the HDD cable. Probably cheapest way.

Perhaps gets an optibay adapter and use the optical drive bay instead is something else you can try.