SSD won't boot internally but works fine when boot externally via USB

[TengHau]

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a SSD (Samsung 850 Evo) . However after installation, my Macbook just simply couldn't boot. I have tried a few ways to try to solve this but have failed in doing so. However, my SSD seems to be working fine when i put it in enclosure and I can boot it externally via USB but it doesn't work when I boot it internally.

Here's what happened:

1. I first formatted the drive and used carbon copy to clone my HDD into SSD via an enclosure (USB)
2. I then took out my HDD and installed my SSD into my Macbook
3. I power up my laptop and it booted extremely slow.
4. My MacBook Pro was running at an extremely slow speed after that (it freeze at times and took a long time to run any software and programme)

I then took out the SSD and put my HDD back. Everything was back to normal.
I then formatted/erase my drive again using the enclosure, this time i decide to run a clean Mac OS Sierra installation. Here's the step:

1. I downloaded Sierra on app store and install it in my SSD (externally)
2. I then booted my Macbook Pro using the SSD (externally) and it works fine
3. I then installed it into my Macbook Pro and boot it up with my SSD (this time internally)
4. But all I got is a "No entry/Prohibited" sign.

It's pretty frustrating. The SSD works fine whenever it's in the enclosure but not when I install it into my Macbook Pro. Can anyone here provide any advice or tell me what's the problem? My Macbook Pro is a 13" Early 2011 model and I am running on a Maverick 10.9.5

 

[Gjwilly]

Non-retina MacBooks Pros are very prone to hard disk cable failure.
I'd start there.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBoo...+Early+2011+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/5120

 

[Audit13]

The 850 EVO is a good match for your Macbook as I'm using one in a 2011 13" MBP too.

Change the sata cable as mentioned. I did this on a 2010 13" and 2009 15" using generic cables from Amazon.

 

[TengHau]

The 850 EVO is a good match for your Macbook as I'm using one in a 2011 13" MBP too.

Change the sata cable as mentioned. I did this on a 2010 13" and 2009 15" using generic cables from Amazon.

Non-retina MacBooks Pros are very prone to hard disk cable failure.
I'd start there.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBoo...+Early+2011+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/5120

I was thinking that it could be the SATA cable problem as well. But it works fine and everything was back to normal when I installed my old HDD back to my Macbook Pro.

Does that still indicate a Hard Disk Cable failure?

 

[Audit13]

Could be a cable fault and perhaps it arises with an ssd? Is the Samsung running the latest firmware?

 

[TengHau]

Could be a cable fault and perhaps it arises with an ssd? Is the Samsung running the latest firmware?

How can I check if it's on the latest firmware?

 

[Weaselboy]

How can I check if it's on the latest firmware?

Even if you are not on the latest firmware, it would not cause this issue. Sounds like you have a bad internal cable. It is common for this to manifest with an SSD and not a HHD due to the higher bandwidth moved with an SSD.

 

[TengHau]

Even if you are not on the latest firmware, it would not cause this issue. Sounds like you have a bad internal cable. It is common for this to manifest with an SSD and not a HHD due to the higher bandwidth moved with an SSD.

So you would suggest to change the hard drive cable as well?

 

[Weaselboy]

So you would suggest to change the hard drive cable as well?

Yep... exactly.

 

[TengHau]

Yep... exactly.

Let me try that up and update my progress after that.

 

[Resist]

I'm curious about the solution for this myself.