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

TengHau

TengHau

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 17, 2017
6
0
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
 
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.
 
Audit13 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Gjwilly said:
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
Click to expand...

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?
 
TengHau said:
How can I check if it's on the latest firmware?
Click to expand...
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.
 
Weaselboy said:
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.
Click to expand...

So you would suggest to change the hard drive cable as well?
 
I've had the same problem. I assumed it was internal drive cable but now think otherwise... I used a second machine of the same type (in my case MBP 2011) and tested the 'faulty' SSD on both machines, both internally and via USB connector externally. The drive only works when used externally (previously it has only been used internally and worked flawlessly until I developed boot problems). Unless both macs share the same (rare) fault, the problem lies with the SSD itself.

Reinstaling the system (High Sierra in my case) makes no difference. Disk utility finds no faults. Harware analyser shows no faults (including extended run). I should mention, those diagnostics could only be made with the drive plugged into USB as when internal I get a continual boot cycle and system restore can't find the disk.

The only explanation that makes any sense to me would be if the SSD data flow is physically damaged in the drive in a place/pin that is only used by the internal SATA ribbon and not used when USB is used. I don't know how feasible that is.

I intend to clone the faulty drive to a new internal SSD to determine/confirm this to be a drive hardware problem.

If anyone has made any progress (the same problem is asked about on several forums and never has a solution) please post (I have spent four days of very tedious installs/swaps on this!)
 
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