SSD Will Not Format in Optical Bay? (Early 2011 MBP, Lion, Samsung 830 SSD)

[The Arin]

Computer Specs:
Early 2011 17 Inch MBP
2.3 GHZ Intel Core i7
16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1024 MB
Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 (11E53)
No software updates available

Serial-ATA Device Tree:
-Intel 6 Series Chipset
-- Product - 6 series chipset
-- link speed - 6 gigabit
-- negotiated link speed - 3 gbit
-Intel 6 Series Chipset
-- Product - 6 series chipset
-- link speed - 6 gigabit
-- negotiated link speed - 6 gigabit

Hard Drive Specs
Samsung SSD 830 (MZ-7PC512N)
512 GB
SATA 6 Gb/S
Latest firmware from:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/MZ-7PC512N/AM

Optical Bay Drive Holder Specs
MCZ Tech OptiBay
http://www.mcetech.com/optibay/

Problem:
When I install my SSD in the Optical Bay, I'm unable to format and use the drive.

I have two of these SSD's and I plan to copy my existing MBP hard drive to one of the SSD's and then run two 512 GB SSD's in my MBP.

The SSD comes with a USB cable so I tested both drives with the cable. I can format both drives. Move files around. Restart and they still work.

I started by putting one of the SSD's in the Optical bay to test it out and ultimately clone my existing HD to the SSD quickly. When I restart it says the drive needs to be initialized, even though it already was. If I try to format the drive it gets half way and just sits there without doing anything. I've let it sit for quite some time and nothing happens. If I keep retrying eventually I can get the drive to format and work. I can move files too and from the drive but when I restart the computer, the drive is gone and needs to be initalized again.

I found Samsung has updated firmware so I had a coworker update the drives on his PC as that's the only way to do it.

I then installed the drive back in my MBP and I have the same issue with the drive not initializing properly. I've cleared the Pram 5 times in a row and nothing changed. I even rebooted into some disk mode and tried formatting their, but that didn't work either. This is true for both drives I own. I have not tried moving the SSD to the primary HD bay and don't plan to do so until I can properly back up the drive. I checked the OS X Software update and I'm all up to date as far as I'm aware. I do not know how to check my MBP Firmware and I'm not sure if this is something I need to do.

Has anyone experienced this issue and have any solutions?

 

[Jimbogiant]

I have the same MBP model, and had the exact same problem that you had- I had an OCZ Agility 3 (SATA III) that worked fine out of the main HDD slot, the original HDD worked fine with my Optibay, but the SSD just would NOT initialize when I put it in the ODD slot, did all of the things you described in your post... I think this (http://blog.macsales.com/11895-2011-macbook-pro-sata-problems-resolved) has something to do with it- apparently the MBPs that have SATA III ODD slots won't work with SATA III SSDs.

I think the only way you can get a SSD to work and boot properly in that ODD slot is to use a SATA II drive.

Hope this helps

James

 

[The Arin]

I have the same MBP model, and had the exact same problem that you had- I had an OCZ Agility 3 (SATA III) that worked fine out of the main HDD slot, the original HDD worked fine with my Optibay, but the SSD just would NOT initialize when I put it in the ODD slot, did all of the things you described in your post... I think this (http://blog.macsales.com/11895-2011-macbook-pro-sata-problems-resolved) has something to do with it- apparently the MBPs that have SATA III ODD slots won't work with SATA III SSDs.

I think the only way you can get a SSD to work and boot properly in that ODD slot is to use a SATA II drive.

Hope this helps

James

So if I understand correctly, we lucked out and got SATA III in our optical bay, but must use a SATA II drive.

Major bummer.

Does anyone have any ideas if this will be addressed in the future with a firmware update since it doesn't appear to be a problem on the 13" MBP or is this an inherent problem that cannot be fixed with software?